UN-Habitat Technical Cooperation Program: Sustainable Urban Water and Sanitation Services in Secondary Cities of Africa
UN-Habitat launches a call for expressions of interest for technical cooperation projects to improve water and sanitation services in secondary cities in Africa. The program focuses on institutional capacity building, innovative financing, and community engagement. Partner organizations will work with city authorities to develop strategic plans, strengthen O&M capacity, and mobilize resources. Project scope includes up to 10 cities across 5 countries. Budget: up to $1.5 million per city. Duration: 2-3 years. Emphasis on gender-sensitive planning, climate adaptation, and data-driven decision-making. Applicants must demonstrate experience in urban WASH, governance, and training. Synergies with UN-Habitat's Urban Water and Sanitation Strategy and the SDG 6 Global Acceleration Framework are required.
Strategic Overview
UN-Habitat launches a call for expressions of interest for technical cooperation projects to improve water and sanitation services in secondary cities in Africa. The program focuses on institutional capacity building, innovative financing, and community engagement. Partner organizations will work with city authorities to develop strategic plans, strengthen O&M capacity, and mobilize resources. Project scope includes up to 10 cities across 5 countries. Budget: up to $1.5 million per city. Duration: 2-3 years. Emphasis on gender-sensitive planning, climate adaptation, and data-driven decision-making. Applicants must demonstrate experience in urban WASH, governance, and training. Synergies with UN-Habitat's Urban Water and Sanitation Strategy and the SDG 6 Global Acceleration Framework are required.
Who is it For?
International and regional NGOs, research institutions, and consulting firms with urban WASH expertise. Eligible partners must have a presence in Africa. Target beneficiaries: municipal water utilities, local government units, and community-based organizations in secondary cities such as Mombasa, Nakuru, and Lusaka.
Priorities
Aligns with UN-Habitat's Strategic Plan 2020-2025 on inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities. Priority actions: improving service provision, promoting resource efficiency, and strengthening local governance and finance.
Eligibility
Applicants must have at least 5 years of experience in urban WASH institutional strengthening. Proposal must include a gender strategy, conflict-sensitivity analysis, and a monitoring framework with SMART indicators. Compliance with UN-Habitat's operational procedures and environmental safeguards is mandatory.
Path to Success
Phase 1 (Months 1-6): Conduct a detailed institutional capacity assessment and co-design city-specific action plans, using GSLI's Water, Sanitation, Hygiene Training Workshop and Data Analysis for Project Management to inform baseline data collection. Phase 2 (Months 7-18): Deliver training modules on financial management, fundraising, and project planning for city officials (Fundraising & Resource Mobilization For NGOs Training Workshop, Project Planning and Management). Phase 3 (Months 19-30): Support implementation of priority interventions with community participation, integrating M&E from Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning. Phase 4 (Months 31-36): Facilitate knowledge sharing and scaling. GSLI courses provide the multi-sectoral skills (WASH, finance, M&E) that UN-Habitat values for sustainable urban services.
Recommended GSLI Courses
- Water, Sanitation, Hygiene Training Workshop
- Financial Management for NGOs
- Fundraising & Resource Mobilization For NGOs Training Workshop
- Data Analysis for Project Management
- Project Planning and Management
- Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning
Deadline: 2026-07-01
Persona: WASH
Urgency: Normal