Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Special Initiative Launched

A special initiative to strengthen community-based prevention work on female genital mutilation (FGM)

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.

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.

Closing Date 24 July 2009 by 5pm

Further details of the aim and objectives of the initiative and the criteria for applying for funding can be read by clicking here.

Introduction

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

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@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@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

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Special Initiative Launched

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