[WiLT] FGM Special Initiative Launched - apply by 24th July 2009

[WiL Admin]

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Special Initiative Launched

A Special Initiative To Strengthen Community-Based Prevention Work On
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

Introduction

City Parochial Foundation (CPF), Esmée Fairbairn Foundation (EF) and
Rosa (the UK's Women's Fund), three independent charitable
organisations, are collaborating to establish a new UK-wide Special
Initiative to fund community-based, preventive work to safeguard
children from the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in all
its forms.

Background

The three funders became interested in developing this initiative as a
result of discussions with voluntary and community organisations, as
well as specialist midwives and statutory agencies that have an
interest in tackling the practice of FGM. In addition, EF commissioned
the Women's Resource Centre to undertake a UK-wide survey of women's
organisations to assess the level of activity being undertaken to
address this practice. A policy seminar was organised which brought
together the Police, Government, Safeguarding Children Boards, the
Health Sector, voluntary and community organisations, and other
relevant agencies, to discuss the need for investment in
community-based prevention work. This Special Initiative is the result
of this process.

Defining the problem

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), otherwise known as Female
Circumcision or Female Genital Cutting, is the partial or total
removal of any part of the female genitalia or other injury to the
female genital organs whether for cultural or any other
non-therapeutic reason.

FGM is a very old and complex practice, and its origins are unknown.
It predates Christianity and Islam, and neither the Qu'ran nor the
Bible mention female circumcision.

There are four types of circumcision which girls/women undergo
depending on their country of origin or ethnic group and range from
Type 1 to Type 4 depending on the extent of the procedure.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics,
communities from 28 African countries, some countries in the Middle
East including Egypt, Yemen, and Syria and the Kurdistan community of
Northern Iraq, practise FGM. The practice has been brought to the UK
(and other countries) by migrants from these countries. WHO estimates
that between 130 and 140 million girls and women are victims of FGM.

Prevalence in the UK

Research undertaken by FORWARD in 2007, in collaboration with the
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the Department of
Midwifery at City University, estimated that nearly 66,000 women with
FGM were living in England and Wales and 21,000 girls under the age of
8 were estimated to be at risk of FGM. These figures are based on the
2001 census and are likely to have increased since then due to
migration to the UK from practising countries.

In 1985 The UK Prohibition of "Female Circumcision" Act came into
force. The Act made it an offence to carry out or to aid, abet or
procure the performance by another person, of any form of FGM, except
for specific medical purposes. Further legislation, the Female Genital
Mutilation Act 2003, came into force in March 2004. which made it an
offence for FGM to be performed anywhere on UK nationals or UK
permanent residents of all ages. This closes the loophole in the 1985
Act, which, for example, gave room for parents to get around the law
by taking their girls abroad for FGM and then returning them to the
UK. The 2003 legislation carries a maximum sentence of 17 years
imprisonment or a fine or both. To date, no prosecutions have been
made under the UK legislation although two doctors have been found
guilty of serious professional misconduct by the General Medical
Council.

Funding Guidance

All three funders agree that one of the most effective ways of
tackling FGM in the UK is by investing in community organisations
based within practising communities, in particular, women's
organisations. Applications are therefore invited from these
organisations to develop a programme of work with young people,
parents, faith leaders, and/or the wider community to raise awareness
about this harmful practice and to empower communities to say no.

Details of the aim and objectives of the initiative and the criteria
for applying for funding are as follows:

Aim

To develop and/or strengthen community-based preventive work to
protect the rights of children (as enshrined in the UN Convention on
the Rights of the Child) with a particular view to reducing the risk
to girls and young women in the UK of undergoing genital mutilation in
all its forms.

Objectives
* To develop projects within community organisations to raise
awareness among practising communities about UK law and the health and
psychological risks of FGM.
* To increase the confidence of women, men and young people within
practising communities to reject this procedure as part of their
identity.
* To increase the skills and capacity within practising communities to
influence individuals, groups, and statutory agencies.
* To strengthen the voice of women and communities speaking out
against FGM.
* To improve co-ordination of activities amongst voluntary and
community groups and statutory agencies working on this issue.

Criteria

Applicants will need to demonstrate:
* how the work will effectively address the aim and at least one of
the objectives of this initiative;
* a good understanding and a track record of activity on FGM or a
related issue;
* a good work plan;
* experience of employing staff (if you are applying for staffing
costs);
* an ability to liaise constructively with statutory, voluntary and
community sectors, as necessary;
* knowledge, skills, capacity and sensitivity to deliver the work;
* a good understanding of human rights, especially children's rights;
* if you are a children's organisation or working directly with
children, your compliance with Government Safe from Harm guidelines
and appropriate criminal records checks;
* a willingness to be part of a network of organisations tackling this
issue;
* that you are a registered charity or a voluntary organisation
engaged in charitable work;
* a willingness to learn from the work and share the learning through
an evaluation process, which will include an independent evaluation.

Collaborative projects will be considered.

What we will fund

We will consider funding for staffing, peer advocacy schemes, creative
projects, resources, volunteers expenses and relevant running costs.
This is not an exhaustive list, and we are open to new ideas of work
that will meet the aims and objectives of this initiative.

Funding will be available for one, two or three years, depending on
the nature of the proposed work.

We are aware that the Somali community is one of the largest
practising communities in the UK. However, there are also significant
numbers of people from other practising communities living in the UK,
and we would therefore be keen to ensure that funding is made
available to a range of communities, including organisations that are
able to work across communities.

We will also consider work which may include broader issues such as
personal development and sexual health, although the work would need
to include a strong focus on FGM.

Proposed Timetable
* April 2009 Initiative launched and guidance published.
* 24 July 2009 Closing date for applicants.
* July - September 2009 Shortlisting and assessment visits.
* December 2009 Grants approved.

How to apply

There is no application form for this initiative, please submit a
proposal outlining:

1. A description of your organisation
This should include your aims, when and why your organisation was
established, your legal status and governing body, your current
activities, any recent achievements, your geographical remit and the
number of staff and volunteers you have.

2. Details of your proposal
In this section please set out what you are seeking funding for
including addressing the following questions:
* How will your proposal fit within the aim, and at least one of the
objectives of this initiative?
* How will your work meet the additional criteria?
* What are you going to do?
* Who and how many will benefit?
* Will it be open and accessible?
* What links do you have with other organisations working on FGM?
Please include job descriptions if you are applying for salaries. A
work plan may be helpful; an example can be found at
http://www.esmeefairbairn.org.uk/receiving/workplans.html

3. Evaluation of the work
What difference do you want to make? How will you know you have made
this difference? How will you share your learning?

4. Financial Costs
The cost of the project (with an itemised breakdown for each year).
Indicate any income you have already secured for this work. Is anyone
else supporting this project? Please also tell us about any other
applications you have submitted to other organisations for this work,
including when you expect to hear back.

5. Contact details
The lead person working on this proposal and their position in the
organisation, a contact address, telephone number, email address,
organisation website address (if you have one) and your registered
charity number (if applicable).

6. Additional documents
Please include your:
* governing document - for example, your constitution or memorandum
and articles; * most recent annual accounts, which have been
independently examined or audited - if these are more than 15 months
old please let us have management accounts or similar to the end of
the most recent financial year. Please also send an income and
expenditure budget for the organisation as a whole for the current
year, showing which funding is secured.

Your proposal should be not more than five A4 pages long (not
including the additional documents we ask you to send).

PLEASE SEND YOUR PROPOSAL TO:

* Organisations working in London:
Sioned Churchill
City Parochial Foundation
6 Middle Street, London EC1A 7PH
020 7606 6145
schurchill at cityparochial.org.uk - for email enquiries only

* Organisations working in the UK outside London:
Annabel Durling
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
Kings Place, Fifth Floor
90 York Way
London N1 9AG
020 7812 3732
annabel.durling at esmeefairbairn.org.uk - for email enquiries only

Any queries about this initiative, please contact either Sioned or
Annabel at the telephone numbers/emails above, or Dinah Cox at Rosa on
020 7324 3045.

Closing Date 24 July 2009 by 5pm

Please note we will not accept applications by email or fax

http://www.cityparochial.org.uk/cpf/news/female_genital_mutilation_fgm_special_initiative_launched.html