EU-2026-WASH-AFRICA: Integrated WASH and Child Protection for Displaced Populations in the Sahel
The European Commission's Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) has launched a call for proposals for integrated Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) and child protection interventions for displaced populations in the Sahel region (Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger). The strategic intent is to reduce morbidity and mortality caused by WASH-related diseases while strengthening child protection systems in humanitarian settings. The program requires a sectoral synergy approach, linking WASH with child protection, health, and education, and demands robust MEAL mechanisms to demonstrate longitudinal impact validation against donor performance indicators.
Strategic Overview
The European Commission's Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) has launched a call for proposals for integrated Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) and child protection interventions for displaced populations in the Sahel region (Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger). The strategic intent is to reduce morbidity and mortality caused by WASH-related diseases while strengthening child protection systems in humanitarian settings. The program requires a sectoral synergy approach, linking WASH with child protection, health, and education, and demands robust MEAL mechanisms to demonstrate longitudinal impact validation against donor performance indicators.
Who is it For?
International organizations, NGOs, and consortia with a proven track record in integrated WASH and child protection programming in the Sahel. ECHO requires strong local partnerships and a minimum 25% co-funding from non-EU sources.
Priorities
Provision of safe water, sanitation facilities, and hygiene promotion in displacement camps and host communities; integration of child protection case management with WASH activities; prevention of gender-based violence; and community-based accountability mechanisms.
Eligibility
Applicants must be legally registered in EU member states or eligible countries, submit a detailed logframe with SMART indicators, and demonstrate financial capacity to manage grants up to 10 million EUR. A partnership agreement with local WASH and child protection actors is mandatory.
Path to Success
Phase 1 (Sectoral Integration Design): Use GSLI's 'Water, Sanitation, Hygiene Training Workshop' and 'Child Protection in Humanitarian Settings' to design a coherent WASH-CP integration framework. Phase 2 (Proposal Crafting): Enroll staff in 'Writing Winning Proposals' and 'Proposal Writing and Resource Mobilization' to develop a compelling narrative aligned with ECHO's policy priorities. Phase 3 (Financial Compliance): Train finance teams via 'Grants Management Training Workshop' and 'Financial Management for NGOs' to meet EU reporting and audit standards. Phase 4 (MEAL for Impact): Implement 'Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning' to generate evidence on reducing diarrhea incidence and child protection risks.
Recommended GSLI Courses
- Water, Sanitation, Hygiene Training Workshop
- Child protection in humanitarian setting
- Writing Winning Proposals
- Grants Management Training Workshop
Deadline: 2026-06-20
Persona: WASH
Urgency: Normal