Call For Application: Feminist Rapid Response Research (FRRR) on COVID-19 2020-2021

Feminist Rapid Response Research (FRRR) on COVID-19: Realising Development Justice

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

DEADLINE [EXTENDED]: Monday, 28 September 2020

We invite APWLD’s grassroots member organisations to take part in this exciting Feminist Rapid Response Research (FRRR – read: F Triple R) on COVID-19: Our Voices, Our Stories, Our Demands for Development Justice that aims to provide direct support to grassroots women and document stories of impacts of COVID-19 as well as ways of resistances in the context of the pandemic for policy advocacy.

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed and exacerbated pre-existing structural inequalities in Asia and Pacific countries and beyond. APWLD members, partners, and the communities we work with, have been facing unprecedented challenges during this crisis. At the same time, the feminist movement has demonstrated how the power of solidarity can unleash incredible energy in times of crisis and inspire transformative changes.

We are at a historical turning point which requires global-level collective action and coordinated response to overturn the current dominant patriarchal, neoliberal capitalist, militaristic, and fundamentalist rules, and to rewrite one that is feminist, based on the principles of human rights, historical responsibility, accountability, international cooperation and solidarity. Feminist and peoples’ movements must be at the centre and lead this pathway.

We need to not only document the human rights violations happening during COVID-19, but also continue adapting ourselves to create transformative changes challenging structural barriers in this new context. Crises are devastating, but they are also windows for change. We will seize the opportunity to rebuild a world where Feminist Development Justice becomes reality.

Purpose and Objectives

The purpose of FRRR is to document women’s stories for policy advocacy and explore ways to provide much-needed rapid direct support to women and their communities. The programme will be conducted within the timeframe of six months, allowing women to document their realities during the COVID-19 crisis and collectively strategise for new ways of feminist organising.

Objectives

Overall: To advance women’s human rights and realise Development Justice in light of the COVID-19 crisis by documenting grassroots resistance and solutions for human rights and Development Justice advocacy through powerful storytelling.
Specific:
- Develop the capacity of women to analyse the impacts of COVID-19 policies on women’s lives using Development Justice perspectives, and their capacity to document evidence and stories for advocacy;
- Foster knowledge and resources on the impacts of COVID-19 response policies and projects on women at the local level, national and regional level, as well as grassroots resistance and solutions and various new ways of organising and mobilising;
- Prepare for strategic advocacy plans and opportunities to support women’s own position and solutions for policy change at national, regional and international levels;
- Strengthen feminist networks through cross-movement collaboration and organising.

JOIN US!

For FRRR on COVID-19 2020-2021, APWLD will select six grassroots member organisations that will work together with the communities to conduct research on their chosen topics on the following:

The impact of human rights violations on women at the local or country level during COVID-19, with potential focus areas including livelihood and decent work, gender-based violence, food security, digital security, freedom of assembly and association, accountability in response measures, among others.
Community-owned solutions and demand for development justice, forms of resistances, and how they have been adapting to the COVID-19 crisis to keep on organising and mobilising.

Support for selected members

APWLD will provide the six organisations with a small grant of $5,000 each to carry out the research. Research partners will need to appoint a coordinator to work throughout this FRRR programme.

Researchers will be introduced to feminist participatory documentation methods as well as storytelling for change. Through an online regional convening and continuous offline community consultations, they will:

Share the conceptual and contextual frameworks within their communities,
Learn practical feminist participatory documentation skills including journaling, and
Develop and implement a community-based research plan.

Selection Criteria of the Research Partners:

APWLD will select member organisations who will lead the COVID-19 FRRR in six countries in Asia and the Pacific. We are seeking non-governmental, non-profit, grassroots-based organisation that are:

APWLD members – past involvement in APWLD FPAR initiative is an added value;
Currently or have been working on frontline response initiatives on COVID-19 with grassroots women groups and communities;
Able to demonstrate close coordination and/or strong organising works with the communities they are planning to work with for the FRRR support on COVID-19;
Does not have existing sub-grant agreement with APWLD;
Committed to the enjoyment and realisation of the human rights of women at community level in Asia and the Pacific, particularly of the most marginalised (young, rural, indigenous, migrant, Dalit women and/or women in other minority groups);
Committed to conducting the 6-month Feminist Rapid Response Research process;
Committed to feminist participatory methodologies that increase democratic participation and leadership of marginalised women in the research;
Can provide the appointed researcher with internet and computer access for regular online communication with APWLD secretariat and online training.

APWLD will consider the following when selecting the six member organisations for this project:

Sub-regional representation;
Diverse constituency and movement representation (e.g. rural, indigenous, migrant and other marginalised women in Asia and the Pacific);
Shared belief on APWLD’s feminist principles, values, and participatory methodologies.

Application

Interested organisations shall submit: