Call for Proposals: Local Care Systems Development Initiative (Ecuador)

Deadline: 23-Sep-26

UN Women is inviting civil society organizations to submit proposals for the design and implementation of local care systems in Portoviejo and Cuenca, Ecuador. The call seeks organizations capable of developing the technical, policy, financial, legal, and management foundations needed to establish sustainable local care systems in both cities. The initiative will focus on generating key inputs for local care systems, including care diagnostics and maps, participatory policy development, management models, legal instruments, cost analysis, and financing and sustainability strategies.

About the UN Women Local Care Systems Call for Proposals

The call for proposals aims to support the development of effective local care systems in Portoviejo and Cuenca. The selected civil society organizations will be expected to contribute to the design and implementation process through research, consultation, policy development, financial analysis, and institutional planning. The work is intended to help cities develop care systems that can provide quality services while supporting their long-term sustainability and permanence. What Will the Selected Organizations Work On? The selected organizations will contribute to several components of local care system development.

The scope includes:

- Developing diagnoses of existing care needs and systems. - Preparing care maps for the cities. - Supporting the participatory formulation of local care policies. - Developing management models for local care systems. - Preparing appropriate legal instruments. - Conducting cost analysis for care services and systems. - Identifying financing strategies. - Developing strategies for long-term sustainability. - Supporting efforts to ensure the quality and permanence of care services. These activities are intended to provide cities with practical tools and frameworks for developing locally appropriate care systems. Where Will the Work Take Place? The call covers two cities in Ecuador: - Portoviejo - Cuenca Organizations applying should have the capacity and relevant expertise to undertake the proposed work in the designated locations. Who Can Apply? UN Women is inviting duly established civil society organizations to submit technical and financial proposals. The call gives particular encouragement to: - Women’s organizations. - Organizations working on issues relevant to women’s rights and care. - Civil society entities with relevant technical experience. - Organizations capable of developing and implementing local care system initiatives. Applicants must satisfy the mandatory requirements and preliminary qualification criteria specified in the call for proposals and its annexes. What Qualifications Are Required? Applicant organizations are expected to demonstrate that they have the organizational and technical capacity required to deliver the outlined services. The preliminary qualification criteria include: - Sufficient relevant experience. - Financial strength and stability. - Demonstrable technical expertise. - References from top clients. - Compliance with all mandatory requirements. - Capacity to provide the services described in the call. Organizations should carefully review the full call for proposals and its annexes to understand all qualification requirements before submitting an application. Technical and Financial Proposals Interested organizations are required to submit both technical and financial proposals. The technical proposal should demonstrate the organization’s understanding of the assignment and its ability to deliver the required services. The financial proposal should demonstrate the organization’s financial approach to carrying out the proposed activities. Applicants should ensure that their submissions address all requirements established by UN Women and provide the supporting information requested in the call and accompanying annexes. Role of Women’s Organizations UN Women particularly encourages women’s organizations and related entities to participate in the call. The involvement of women’s organizations can help ensure that local care systems are informed by relevant experiences, perspectives, and priorities. Organizations with demonstrated expertise in gender equality, care systems, women’s rights, local policy, community participation, or related areas may therefore find the opportunity particularly relevant, subject to meeting all eligibility and qualification requirements. Key Areas of the Local Care Systems Initiative The call brings together several areas of work needed to establish effective local care systems.

These include:

- Care diagnostics: Understanding local care needs and existing services.

- Care mapping: Identifying care services, resources, actors, and gaps.

- Local policies: Supporting participatory development of policies responding to local care needs.

- Management models: Establishing approaches for managing local care systems.

- Legal instruments: Developing the legal frameworks required to support implementation.

- Cost analysis: Understanding the financial requirements associated with care services.

- Financing: Identifying appropriate funding mechanisms.

- Sustainability: Developing strategies to maintain quality and continuity of care services.

Why This Call for Proposals Matters Local care systems can play an important role in addressing care needs while supporting more coordinated and sustainable delivery of care services. The proposed work in Portoviejo and Cuenca is designed to establish the evidence, policies, institutional structures, legal tools, and financial strategies necessary for local care systems. By combining diagnostics, participatory policymaking, management planning, cost analysis, and financing strategies, the initiative seeks to support care systems that can remain effective and sustainable over time. How Organizations Can Prepare Their Applications Eligible organizations should carefully review the complete call for proposals