UNDP Call for Proposals: Strengthening National Capacities for Integrated Monitoring and Evaluation of SDG Progress

The UNDP Call for Proposals: Strengthening National Capacities for Integrated Monitoring and Evaluation of SDG Progress represents a pivotal opportunity for organizations worldwide to contribute to the 2030 Agenda. This call, with a deadline of August 1, 2026, seeks ambitious proposals that will help countries build robust M&E systems capable of tracking progress across all 17 SDGs. The funding envelope of $10 million underscores UNDP's commitment to addressing the data and capacity gaps that hinder effective SDG implementation. The call is especially timely given the United Nations' mid-term review of the SDGs, which highlighted that many countries lack the necessary data to measure progress. By strengthening national M&E capacities, this initiative aims to enhance evidence-based policymaking, improve accountability, and accelerate progress towards the goals. UNDP's approach emphasizes integration, innovation, and inclusively. Proposals should demonstrate how they will integrate M&E systems across different sectors (e.g., health, education, environment) to avoid fragmentation. Innovation is encouraged through the use of new data sources, such as big data and citizen-generated data, which can provide more timely and granular insights. Inclusivity means ensuring that marginalized groups, including women, persons with disabilities, and indigenous communities, are not left behind in data collection and use. The call also stresses the importance of national ownership, meaning that projects should be aligned with national development plans and involve local stakeholders throughout. The expected outcomes include improved SDG indicator availability, stronger institutional capacity, and sustained M&E systems beyond the project lifecycle. Applicants must therefore craft proposals that are technically sound, context-specific, and aligned with UNDP's strategic priorities. A deep understanding of the target country's M&E landscape is crucial, as is a demonstrated track record of similar work. The proposal should clearly articulate the problem, the intervention logic, the deliverables, and the sustainability plan. Budgets should be realistic and justified, with clear cost categories. To stand out, applicants should consider forming consortia that bring together diverse expertise, such as data science, governance, and community engagement. GSLI's courses, particularly in Monitoring & Evaluation and Project Management, can significantly enhance the capacity of the proposing team to design, implement, and manage such complex projects successfully.

Strategic Overview

The UNDP Call for Proposals: Strengthening National Capacities for Integrated Monitoring and Evaluation of SDG Progress represents a pivotal opportunity for organizations worldwide to contribute to the 2030 Agenda. This call, with a deadline of August 1, 2026, seeks ambitious proposals that will help countries build robust M&E systems capable of tracking progress across all 17 SDGs. The funding envelope of $10 million underscores UNDP's commitment to addressing the data and capacity gaps that hinder effective SDG implementation. The call is especially timely given the United Nations' mid-term review of the SDGs, which highlighted that many countries lack the necessary data to measure progress. By strengthening national M&E capacities, this initiative aims to enhance evidence-based policymaking, improve accountability, and accelerate progress towards the goals. UNDP's approach emphasizes integration, innovation, and inclusively. Proposals should demonstrate how they will integrate M&E systems across different sectors (e.g., health, education, environment) to avoid fragmentation. Innovation is encouraged through the use of new data sources, such as big data and citizen-generated data, which can provide more timely and granular insights. Inclusivity means ensuring that marginalized groups, including women, persons with disabilities, and indigenous communities, are not left behind in data collection and use. The call also stresses the importance of national ownership, meaning that projects should be aligned with national development plans and involve local stakeholders throughout. The expected outcomes include improved SDG indicator availability, stronger institutional capacity, and sustained M&E systems beyond the project lifecycle. Applicants must therefore craft proposals that are technically sound, context-specific, and aligned with UNDP's strategic priorities. A deep understanding of the target country's M&E landscape is crucial, as is a demonstrated track record of similar work. The proposal should clearly articulate the problem, the intervention logic, the deliverables, and the sustainability plan. Budgets should be realistic and justified, with clear cost categories. To stand out, applicants should consider forming consortia that bring together diverse expertise, such as data science, governance, and community engagement. GSLI's courses, particularly in Monitoring & Evaluation and Project Management, can significantly enhance the capacity of the proposing team to design, implement, and manage such complex projects successfully.

Who is it For?

This call is open to a wide range of entities, including national and local government agencies, research and academic institutions, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society organizations, and private sector firms specializing in M&E and data management. Priority will be given to organizations based in or working directly with countries that have low statistical capacity as defined by the World Bank's Statistical Capacity Index. Eligible applicants must demonstrate a proven track record in implementing similar capacity-building initiatives, with at least five years of relevant experience. Sub-national entities are encouraged to apply, especially those working in conflict-affected or fragile states. Cross-sectoral consortia are highly recommended to leverage diverse expertise in data science, governance, and public policy. Additionally, applicants must comply with UNDP's financial management standards and have a valid legal registration. Organizations with prior experience in SDG localization, citizen-generated data, or mobile data collection tools will have a competitive advantage. The call explicitly encourages the participation of women-led and youth-focused organizations to promote inclusive development. All proposals must be submitted in English, French, or Spanish, and must include a detailed budget and work plan.

Priorities

UNDP's strategic priorities for this call include: (1) Strengthening institutional capacity for integrated M&E across SDG targets, focusing on data disaggregation and interoperability of national statistical systems. (2) Promoting the use of innovative data sources such as satellite imagery, big data, and citizen-generated data to complement traditional surveys. (3) Enhancing accountability through transparent reporting mechanisms and stakeholder participation, including marginalized groups. (4) Building sustainable M&E systems that can be maintained beyond the project lifecycle, emphasizing national ownership and domestic financing. (5) Aligning with UNDP's Strategic Plan 2022-2025 and the UN Development System reforms, particularly the Common Country Analysis (CCA) and UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) processes. Investment KPIs include: at least a 30% increase in the availability of SDG indicators at the national level, 50% of target countries adopting integrated M&E frameworks, and a measurable reduction in data gaps for vulnerable populations. Proposals should also demonstrate how they will address gender-responsive M&E and leave-no-one-behind principles. The donor prioritizes high-risk, high-impact countries, particularly Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

Eligibility

Eligibility requirements are stringent and include: (1) Legal status: Applicants must be legally registered as a non-profit organization, government entity, or academic institution. For-profit entities may apply only if they demonstrate a non-commercial purpose and establish a dedicated project account. (2) Financial capacity: Audited financial statements for the last three years must show at least $500,000 in annual revenue and no major audit findings. Indirect cost rates are capped at 10% of direct costs. (3) Spatial coverage: Projects can be national, regional, or multi-country, but must focus on one or more eligible countries listed in the call (typically those with low statistical capacity). Multi-country proposals must include at least three countries. (4) Technical capacity: Key personnel must have advanced degrees in statistics, public policy, or related fields, with at least 10 years of experience in M&E. The proposal must include CVs of the project manager, M&E specialist, and data scientist. (5) Compliance: Applicants must submit a signed declaration of conformity with UNDP's anti-fraud and anti-corruption policies. Organizations sanctioned by the World Bank or other donors are ineligible. Joint proposals from consortia require a lead applicant and memorandum of understanding among partners. The deadline for submission is August 1, 2026, at 17:00 EST. Late submissions will not be considered.

Path to Success

To maximize chances of success, follow this strategic roadmap integrating GSLI training: Step 1 – Rapid Assessment and Consortium Building (Week 1-2): Conduct a rapid capacity assessment of your organization's M&E expertise and identify gaps. Form a consortium with technical partners, such as a university's statistics department and a local NGO experienced in community data collection. Register for GSLI's Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) course to strengthen your team's skills in results-based management and indicator selection. Step 2 – Proposal Design and Technical Narrative (Week 3-6): Develop a robust theory of change that links capacity-building activities to intermediate outcomes and long-term SDG impact. Use GSLI's Writing Winning Proposals course to structure your narrative, emphasizing your understanding of UNDP's priorities. Include a detailed work plan with milestones: M&E system audit (Month 1-3), multi-stakeholder workshops (Month 4-6), pilot data collection (Month 7-12), and policy integration (Month 13-36). Step 3 – Budget and Compliance (Week 7-8): Prepare a realistic budget that aligns with UNDP's cost categories (personnel, equipment, training, travel). GSLI's Financial Management for NGOs course will help you allocate indirect costs correctly and ensure audit-ready financials. Submit all required documents, including the signed declaration and partner MoUs. Step 4 – Post-Submission Engagement and Capacity Building: After submission, enroll in GSLI's Project Management for Development course to prepare for implementation. This will equip you with risk management frameworks and adaptive management techniques. Also, take the Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) advanced module to design a comprehensive results framework with baseline data and milestones. By following these steps, you will demonstrate institutional readiness and alignment with UNDP's expectations, increasing your proposal's competitiveness. GSLI training not only fills knowledge gaps but also provides certificates that add credibility to your team's capacity.

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Deadline: 2026-08-01

Persona: General

Urgency: Normal