GENDER EQUITY PROGRAM (GEP) Request for ... - Aurat Foundation

Who should apply?Home based women workers associations, trade associations, CBOs and NGOs based in theselected districts are encouraged to apply for this grant.2. Product development, refinement and facilitation of market integration (one sub-grantup to $100,000)Sub-grant 180: NationalPakistan’s home based workers and women artisans have a diverse skill base and produce avariety of handicrafts. Their skills, often passed down generations, form the basis of theirlivelihoods and are the resource they rely upon for earning an income. While their existing skillbase provides a unique opportunity to enhance their incomes further and boost empowermentlevels, the demand for their craft and the monetary returns it offers is fast diminishing. There islittle professional guidance available to these women to bring innovation into their design,develop market-relevant products, improve the overall quality of their work, or successfullyintegrate their wares into a high-return market.Through this sub-grant effort to work with these women to bring innovation into their traditionalcrafts/products, facilitate development of value chains and optimize marketing opportunities, isbeing envisioned. The aims of this sub-grant are to:• Identify potential market opportunities for products based on traditional skills;• Design and develop a range of innovative products appealing to the identified markets;• Test, modify and refine the products until they are ready for production;• Work with women artisans to build their capacities on the new products, while enhancingtheir understanding of contemporary designs, color palettes and marketability;• Create linkages between the women artisans/ home based workers and the identifiedmarkets, and successfully integrate the new products into the identified market nichesThis sub-grant will work in close coordination with the district-level sub-grants outlined above(under 168-179). The existing skill base and range of products being developed in these districtswill be identified under 168-179. The successful applicant for this sub-grant will coordinate withthe district partners and pursue refinement and further development of the existing products.Suggested time period: 12 monthsMinimum suggested outputs:• Mapping exercise conducted to spot existing and upcoming market opportunities forthe identified traditional arts and craft products• Sets of innovative products developed for each of the twelve districts• Facilitate skill development and product enhancement workshops organized under subgrants168-179 for the village-level home based workers groups/committees• Promote and leverage the new products in the identified markets8