Apply for Community Protection, FGM Prevention and Nutrition Support (Djibouti)

Deadline: 29-Sep-2026

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is seeking expressions of interest from eligible organizations to implement a comprehensive programme focused on the prevention and response to female genital mutilation (FGM) and gender-based violence (GBV) in the Dikhil region of Djibouti. The initiative aims to strengthen community-based protection mechanisms, improve access to essential services, and build the capacity of local and institutional actors to prevent and respond effectively to FGM and GBV. The programme combines community engagement, capacity building, case identification and referral, nutrition support, data management, and improved access to essential services to strengthen protection for girls and women.

About the UNICEF FGM and GBV Programme

The programme is designed to address harmful practices and violence affecting girls and women in the Dikhil region. It seeks to work directly with communities, families, religious leaders, community leaders, health and community actors, and relevant institutions to promote prevention and improve responses for those at risk or affected by FGM and GBV. A key objective is to strengthen local systems so that girls and women can be identified early and safely connected to appropriate services. Main Objectives of the Programme The initiative focuses on several interconnected objectives: - Prevent female genital mutilation and gender-based violence. - Increase community awareness of the consequences of FGM and GBV. - Promote the abandonment of harmful practices. - Strengthen community-based protection and referral mechanisms. - Improve access to psychosocial, health, legal, and protection services. - Build the capacity of community and institutional actors. - Improve monitoring and case follow-up while maintaining confidentiality. - Strengthen nutrition prevention, detection, and referral mechanisms. - Improve maternal and child nutrition practices. - Promote better WASH practices and access to safe water. Community Engagement and Awareness Community engagement is a central component of the programme. The selected organization will be expected to support awareness and sensitization activities targeting communities, families, religious leaders, and community leaders. These activities should increase understanding of the consequences of FGM and GBV and encourage communities to participate actively in preventing these practices. The programme also emphasizes the involvement of men, fathers, and boys in efforts to promote the abandonment of FGM and prevent gender-based violence. Preventing Female Genital Mutilation FGM prevention is one of the programme’s core areas. The initiative seeks to strengthen community understanding of the health, social, and protection consequences associated with FGM and encourage communities to abandon the practice. Engaging families and influential community and religious leaders is expected to be important in creating sustained changes in attitudes and practices. Preventing and Responding to Gender-Based Violence The programme also addresses gender-based violence through prevention, early identification, referral, and access to appropriate support services. Organizations implementing the programme will contribute to strengthening mechanisms that help identify girls and women who are at risk of or have experienced GBV. The approach combines community-level prevention with strengthened links to health, psychosocial, legal, and protection services. Early Identification and Safe Referral Early identification of girls and women at risk of FGM or GBV is an important programme component. The initiative aims to establish or strengthen mechanisms through which vulnerable individuals and survivors can be safely referred to appropriate services. Depending on their needs, referrals may include: - Psychosocial support. - Health services. - Legal services. - Protection services. Referral mechanisms should prioritize safety, confidentiality, dignity, and protection. Community Surveillance and Referral Mechanisms The programme will reinforce community-based surveillance and referral systems. Stronger local mechanisms can help communities identify protection risks at an earlier stage and connect girls and women with appropriate services. Building effective referral pathways can also improve coordination between community actors and formal service providers. Capacity Building Capacity building is another major priority. Community and institutional actors will be supported to improve their ability to: - Prevent FGM and GBV. - Identify girls and women at risk. - Conduct safe referrals. - Support appropriate case monitoring. - Maintain confidentiality. - Apply protection principles. - Strengthen community-level response mechanisms. Improved capacity among local actors can help ensure that prevention and response activities are more consistent and sustainable. Confidentiality and Protection The programme places importance on confidentiality and protection principles when managing cases involving FGM and GBV. Organizations should ensure that information concerning affected girls and women is handled appropriately and that referral and monitoring mechanisms do not expose survivors or individuals at risk to additional harm. Data Collection and Analysis Regular collection and analysis of programme data will support implementation and accountability. The initiative aims to strengthen the use of programmatic data to: - Monitor programme implementation. - Track progress and results. - Identify challenges. - Document achievements. - Inform future implementation. - Strengthen accountability to communities and partners. Reliable data can also help organizations and partners better understand emerging needs and improve programme responses. Nutrition as an Integrated Component Nutrition is integrated into the programme because vulnerable households and women and children may face multiple, interconnected risks. The initiative ai