In line with our commitment to fostering safe and inclusive digital spaces, we are pleased to announce a call for proposals for civil actors that focus on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). This call seeks to provide support for both formal and informal organizations and individuals or activists working to promote SRHR policies and practices both online.
Background
The topic of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in the West Asia and North Africa (WANA) region has long been limited due to social control and intervention by government and religious authorities. This situation puts young people, both married and unmarried women, and marginalized groups at risk of exclusion, discrimination, and violence, which directly affects their ability to access information about SRHR. In addition, the impact of the ongoing wars in Lebanon and Palestine, the political turmoil in Tunisia and persistent challenges in Egypt, Iraq and Jordan, worsens the access to knowledge and awareness about this topic. These upheavals significantly de-prioritize SRHR content although found to be of high importance and vital for marginalized groups. On the other hand, the content moderation policies of various tech companies filter out a large fraction of the educational SRHR content especially that produced in Arabic.
This creates a significant resource gap, leaving individuals without essential information, particularly harming women and marginalized groups who disproportionately suffer from these challenges.
Purpose of the MasarTech Fund
The MasarTech Fund 2025 aims to promote the development of innovative strategies and methods to enhance SRHR in the digital sphere. In this initiative, we encourage interested candidates to strengthen the intersection of SRHR and digital technologies to enable access of educational and vital SRHR information online to different communities, including marginalized groups.
The MasarTech Fund 2025 will mainly focus on supporting projects related to advocacy efforts as a whole, in addition to campaigning, influencing, and capacity strengthening.
Owing to the sensitive nature of SRHR projects, the platform will implement stringent security measures to safeguard the data of everyone involved.
The call also welcomes applications from individuals/activists.
Details of the MasarTech Fund 2025
- Open for individuals, activists, organizations (formal and informal), initiatives
- Projects related to capacity strengthening in the scope of SRHR online
- The budget allocated for this sub-granting is up to 25,000 USD.
- Fund duration: up to 6 months
- Region: West Asia and North Africa
Call opening date: Nov 11, 2024
Deadline for application: Nov 25, 2024
Start of project implementation: January 2025
End of project implementation: June 2025
Areas of Interest
SRHR
Digital rights and SRHR
SRHR, Intersectionality and Digital Rights
Intersection between feminism and SRHR
Eligibility Criteria
We welcome applications from individuals and organizations that meet the following criteria:
- Geographical Focus: Applicants must be actively engaged in, or providing support to, communities in Egypt, Tunisia, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, or Iraq.
- Leadership by Women and Youth: Eligible applicants include individuals, activists, or organizations (both formal and informal, whether registered or not) that are led by women and/or youth in all their diversities.
- Feminist Approach: Applicants must demonstrate a clear commitment to feminist principles in their work, whether they are individuals, activists, or organizations (formal or informal, registered or unregistered).
- Target Groups: Applicants should focus on serving women, youth, and other marginalized communities, including but not limited to the LGBTQIA+ community, persons with disabilities, migrant workers, and refugees, either at the local or regional level across the WANA region.
- Independence from Masarouna: Applicants who are not affiliated with Masarouna are encouraged to apply.
Proposal Criteria
- Applicants must comply with the online application form and format
- Ensure that the proposal utilizes appropriate terminology, including diverse perspectives and experiences related to SRHR.
- Applicants must clearly define how the proposal addresses specific challenges and gaps related to SRHR.
Expected Deliverables
General expected deliverables will be as follows:
- Applicants shall fill and submit the MasarTech fund application along with a budget plan, logical framework and concept note.
- Applicants shall implement their project according to the timeframe and budget plan.
- Applicants are responsible for preparing, managing, and reporting on the project. SMEX will support the reporting.
- Applicants shall adhere to SMEX policies in the event that their organizations/initiatives do not possess their own policies. If the organizations/initiatives have their own policies, they shall be shared with SMEX.
- Applicants such as individuals/ activists shall adhere to SMEX policies.
Additional deliverables will be outlined in the contract if proposal is granted.
Evaluation Criteria
SMEX shall award grants to applicants whose proposals best confrm to the call for proposal’s requirements after evaluation in accordance with the criteria listed below.
| Evaluation Criteria | Points |
| Relevance: The direct relevance of the proposed project to addressing current digital rights issues intersecting with SRHR in the WANA region. | 30 |
| Effectiveness: The proposed project to potentially create significant change and promote a more inclusive digital environment in connection with SHRH. | 20 |
| Efficiency: The effectiveness and efficiency of proposed activities in achieving project goals and the synchronization between the project outcomes and outputs. | 20 |
| Feasibility: The practicality of proposed project implementation strategies and alignment with available resources. | 10 |
| Sustainability: The long-term sustainability and impact of the proposed initiatives. | 10 |
| Alignment with SMEX’s Vision: The alignment of proposed projects with SMEX’s overarching program objectives, emphasizing digital rights protection and equitable societal development. | 10 |
| Total Points | 100 |
Feedback to applicants:
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview. As we receive a very high volume of submissions, we may not be able to give detailed feedback on each application. However, each organization will be informed about the status of its application.
Selection Process
- Step 1: Evaluation: All submitted proposals will be evaluated by the review panel based on the evaluation criteria detailed above.
- Step 2: Virtual Interview: Based on the results of the review panel, shortlisted applicants are contacted and invited for a virtual interview. This interview will further assess the applicants’ understanding of their project, capabilities, and potential for effectively implementing the proposed project.
- Step 3: Second Interview: If necessary, applicants might be contacted for a second interview, which may delve deeper into their proposals, address any outstanding questions or concerns, and assess their readiness for receiving the grant.
- Selection of the Proposal: A final list of applicants is selected by the review panel based on the initial evaluation of the proposal and on the interview/s. e
If interested, please find the link below for your reference and for any questions or clarifications, please send us an e-mail to Alissar Zaghlout alissar@smex.org
SMEX is a non-profit organization at the forefront of the digital rights movement in West Asia and North Africa. We advocate for digital spaces that foster freedom, accessibility, inclusivity, and security for all.