Call for policy paper proposals

Claiming power and reshaping governance:
Towards intersectional, feminist, inclusive and transformative approaches

Deadline: 11 August 2025, 11:59 PM (Manila time)

The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Gender Justice Competence Center Asia-Pacific, in partnership with the FES Philippines Office, is accepting proposals for a new policy paper that reimagines what gender just governance can look like in the Philippines.

This call aims to go beyond conventional conversations on women’s representation in politics. Instead, it invites deeper reflection on how power is held, reshaped, and transformed. The paper will contribute to broader regional and national conversations on inclusive, intersectional, and feminist governance systems.

Why This Matters

In the Philippines, recent elections have shown both persistent gaps and emerging opportunities for gender inclusion. While women comprise more than half of the voting population, their visibility in governance remains limited. At the same time, the rise of women in political discourse—especially in the lead-up to the 2028 national elections—presents a critical opening to push for transformative models of governance rooted in justice, inclusion, and shared power.

What We’re Looking For

We are commissioning a forward-looking paper that critically interrogates current governance structures and proposes pathways toward transformative change. The final output should:

• Analyze governance through feminist, intersectional, and decolonial lenses

• Offer grounded case studies and insights from the Philippine context

• Explore strategies that challenge dominant power structures

• Recommend actionable policy directions for progressive actors and institutions

The writing should be analytical yet accessible, avoiding excessive jargon while maintaining intellectual rigor. We encourage drawing from both academic research and lived experiences to paint a richer picture of the issues at stake.

Paper Requirements and Timeline

The commissioned author(s) will be responsible for the following deliverables:

• A detailed outline (2–3 pages) for initial review

• A full draft (maximum 8,000 words, excluding references)

• A final version after three rounds of feedback

• A 1–2 page summary highlighting key insights and policy directions

The timeline is as follows:

• Proposal submission deadline: 11 August 2025

• Contracting and selection: 25 August 2025

• First draft due: 30 September 2025

• Second draft due: 15 October 2025

• Finalization of the paper: 31 October 2025

• Layout and design: 1–14 November 2025

• Launch: End of November 2025

Authors will receive 30% of the contract amount upon submission of the outline, and the remaining 70% upon approval of the final paper.

Who Should Apply

We are looking for individuals who:

• Are Filipino nationals

• Have at least three years of experience working at the intersection of gender and governance

• Possess a strong background in feminist theory, political science, or development studies

• Can demonstrate previous experience writing policy-oriented or analytical papers

• Are committed to principles of intersectionality and social justice

• Have excellent command of the English language

• Prior experience working with FES is an asset, but not required

Interested in submitting a proposal?

Download the full Terms of Reference for complete details on eligibility, requirements, deliverables, evaluation criteria, and payment terms.