UNICEF Global WASH and Climate Resilience Capacity Building Partnership 2026-2028

UNICEF's Global WASH and Climate Resilience Capacity Building Partnership 2026-2028 is a significant opportunity for organizations to contribute to global efforts in ensuring sustainable water and sanitation services in the face of climate change. The partnership will span three years and aims to empower national and local actors with the knowledge, tools, and systems needed to anticipate, prepare for, and respond to climate-related challenges in WASH. UNICEF seeks a partner or consortium that can deliver a comprehensive capacity building package, including training, technical assistance, and knowledge management. The initiative will target multiple countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, focusing on the most vulnerable communities. The partnership builds on UNICEF's experience in WASH and climate change, and expects to generate evidence on effective interventions to inform policy and practice. Organizations must submit proposals by July 30, 2026, with implementation starting in early 2027. The budget is expected to be in the range of $5-10 million, with co-financing encouraged. GSLI's courses can help organizations strengthen their capacity to design and manage such a large-scale partnership, from proposal development to implementation and evaluation. This overview section elaborates on the rationale, scope, and expectations of the partnership, providing a solid foundation for proposal preparation. Exhaustive details on the partnership's background reveal that it emerged from UNICEF's 2021 Strategy for WASH (2022-2030), which prioritizes climate resilience as a cross-cutting theme. The partnership directly addresses the lack of skilled personnel and weak institutional systems at sub-national levels. It aims to create a cadre of WASH professionals equipped with climate adaptation competencies. The scope includes development of standardized training curricula, establishment of learning hubs, and creation of a community of practice. Furthermore, the partnership will support the integration of climate data into WASH planning, such as using seasonal forecasts for water security. UNICEF emphasizes innovation, such as using mobile learning platforms and virtual reality simulations to reach remote areas. The partnership also requires a strong focus on gender and social inclusion, ensuring that capacity building is accessible to women, people with disabilities, and other marginalized groups. Monitoring of progress will be done through a robust results framework with specific indicators linked to UNICEF's strategic plan. The proposal must clearly articulate how the capacity building will be sustained beyond the partnership period, through institutionalization within government systems or leveraging local resources. In terms of geographic focus, UNICEF has identified 15 priority countries based on climate vulnerability and WASH indicators, including Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Yemen. Applicants can propose to work in a subset of these countries or in additional ones with justification. The partnership encourages South-South cooperation, where successful models from one region can be adapted to another. The partnership's budget must include costs for curriculum development, training materials, travel, monitoring, and overheads. UNICEF provides a detailed budget template and cost categories. GSLI’s Financial Management for NGOs course can help adequately prepare a compliant budget. Given the urgency and high profile of this partnership, organizations must allocate dedicated staff and resources to ensure timely delivery. The partnership offers a chance to influence UNICEF's global WASH programming and contribute to the achievement of SDG targets.

Strategic Overview

UNICEF's Global WASH and Climate Resilience Capacity Building Partnership 2026-2028 is a significant opportunity for organizations to contribute to global efforts in ensuring sustainable water and sanitation services in the face of climate change. The partnership will span three years and aims to empower national and local actors with the knowledge, tools, and systems needed to anticipate, prepare for, and respond to climate-related challenges in WASH. UNICEF seeks a partner or consortium that can deliver a comprehensive capacity building package, including training, technical assistance, and knowledge management. The initiative will target multiple countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, focusing on the most vulnerable communities. The partnership builds on UNICEF's experience in WASH and climate change, and expects to generate evidence on effective interventions to inform policy and practice. Organizations must submit proposals by July 30, 2026, with implementation starting in early 2027. The budget is expected to be in the range of $5-10 million, with co-financing encouraged. GSLI's courses can help organizations strengthen their capacity to design and manage such a large-scale partnership, from proposal development to implementation and evaluation. This overview section elaborates on the rationale, scope, and expectations of the partnership, providing a solid foundation for proposal preparation. Exhaustive details on the partnership's background reveal that it emerged from UNICEF's 2021 Strategy for WASH (2022-2030), which prioritizes climate resilience as a cross-cutting theme. The partnership directly addresses the lack of skilled personnel and weak institutional systems at sub-national levels. It aims to create a cadre of WASH professionals equipped with climate adaptation competencies. The scope includes development of standardized training curricula, establishment of learning hubs, and creation of a community of practice. Furthermore, the partnership will support the integration of climate data into WASH planning, such as using seasonal forecasts for water security. UNICEF emphasizes innovation, such as using mobile learning platforms and virtual reality simulations to reach remote areas. The partnership also requires a strong focus on gender and social inclusion, ensuring that capacity building is accessible to women, people with disabilities, and other marginalized groups. Monitoring of progress will be done through a robust results framework with specific indicators linked to UNICEF's strategic plan. The proposal must clearly articulate how the capacity building will be sustained beyond the partnership period, through institutionalization within government systems or leveraging local resources. In terms of geographic focus, UNICEF has identified 15 priority countries based on climate vulnerability and WASH indicators, including Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Yemen. Applicants can propose to work in a subset of these countries or in additional ones with justification. The partnership encourages South-South cooperation, where successful models from one region can be adapted to another. The partnership's budget must include costs for curriculum development, training materials, travel, monitoring, and overheads. UNICEF provides a detailed budget template and cost categories. GSLI’s Financial Management for NGOs course can help adequately prepare a compliant budget. Given the urgency and high profile of this partnership, organizations must allocate dedicated staff and resources to ensure timely delivery. The partnership offers a chance to influence UNICEF's global WASH programming and contribute to the achievement of SDG targets.

Who is it For?

This partnership is designed for international non-governmental organizations (INGOs), local NGOs, academic institutions, research consortia, and private sector entities with proven experience in WASH and climate resilience capacity building. Eligible applicants must have at least five years of demonstrated expertise in designing and delivering capacity development programs in low- and middle-income countries. Organizations should have a clear track record of working with government ministries, water utilities, and community structures. Preference will be given to applicants that show strong local partnerships and understanding of gender dynamics, social inclusion, and human rights-based approaches. Additionally, entities must be legally registered with appropriate governance structures, financial management systems, and audited accounts for the past three years. UNICEF encourages consortia to bring complementary skills such as climate science, engineering, public health, and social behavior change. Start-ups or organizations without a physical presence in target countries must demonstrate robust local partnerships. GSLI’s courses in WASH, Public Health & Epidemiology, and Monitoring & Evaluation can strengthen an applicant’s technical and managerial capacity, making them more competitive. Applicants must also show commitment to child safeguarding and do no harm principles, as UNICEF prioritizes the safety and well-being of children in all interventions.

Priorities

UNICEF’s global priorities for this partnership include: (1) strengthening institutional capacity of national and sub-national governments to plan, finance, and manage climate-resilient WASH services; (2) enhancing community-level resilience through participatory approaches that integrate water safety planning and climate risk assessments; (3) promoting gender equality and social inclusion by ensuring women and marginalized groups have voice and agency in decision-making; (4) catalyzing innovation in water-efficient technologies, low-carbon sanitation solutions, and reusable/recyclable materials; (5) building evidence on effective capacity building models through rigorous M&E and knowledge sharing; and (6) advancing sustainability by fostering local ownership, cost recovery mechanisms, and behavior change. Key performance indicators (KPIs) include: number of government staff trained with improved competencies, percentage of WASH facilities with climate risk assessments, reduction in waterborne disease incidence, and increased budget allocations for WASH at national level. Donors expect applicants to propose theory-based interventions with clear causal pathways from capacity inputs to improved service delivery outcomes. Partnerships should also contribute to UNICEF’s country program outcomes and the UNICEF Strategic Plan 2022-2025. GSLI’s courses in Project Management for Development, Monitoring & Evaluation, and Fundraising & Resource Mobilization align directly with these priorities.

Eligibility

Eligibility criteria encompass legal, financial, spatial, and technical requirements. Legally, applicants must be registered as a non-profit entity (NGO, foundation, or academic institution) for at least three years, with a valid registration certificate and bylaws. For-profit entities may be considered only if they operate a non-profit arm or demonstrate that proposed activities are purely developmental. Financially, organizations must submit audited financial statements for the last three years, showing annual turnover of at least $500,000, and have no significant audit qualifications. They must also provide a financial management policy and evidence of a functioning internal control system. Spatially, applicants must have operational presence in at least one of UNICEF’s priority countries (list provided in RFP) or demonstrate capacity to establish presence rapidly. Technical eligibility requires at least five years of experience in WASH capacity building, climate adaptation, and adult education. Submission of at least three case studies of similar scale is mandatory. Additionally, organizations must not be sanctioned by the UN, World Bank, or other major donors. GSLI recommends that applicants take its Grants Management and Writing Winning Proposals courses to ensure compliance with complex eligibility documentation. Failure to meet any of these criteria automatically disqualifies the application.

Path to Success

To secure the UNICEF Global WASH and Climate Resilience Capacity Building Partnership 2026-2028, follow this strategic roadmap integrating GSLI training. Step 1: Pre-proposal Assessment and Alignment (Months 1-2). Conduct a thorough review of UNICEF's strategic priorities and the specific country needs. Use GSLI's 'Writing Winning Proposals' course to structure a compelling narrative linking your organization's experience to UNICEF's mission. Form a consortium with complementary partners (e.g., climate scientists, M&E experts) and ensure all eligibility documents are updated. Step 2: Co-design and Evidence Building (Months 3-5). Develop a theory of change that maps capacity building activities to measurable outcomes. Leverage GSLI's 'Monitoring & Evaluation for Development' course to design robust indicators and data collection methods. Pilot a small-scale intervention or use past case studies as proof of concept. Engage local stakeholders to co-create context-specific solutions. Step 3: Proposal Development and Risk Assessment (Months 6-8). Write a detailed proposal with clear budget, workplan, and risk mitigation strategies. GSLI's 'Financial Management for NGOs' course ensures your budget aligns with UNICEF's cost categories and demonstrates value for money. Use 'Project Management for Development' to outline implementation phases with milestones. Include a gender action plan and sustainability framework. Step 4: Submission and Follow-up (Month 9). Submit the proposal before the deadline, ensuring all annexes (CVs, audits, letters of support) are included. After submission, engage with UNICEF for clarifications if needed. GSLI's 'Grants Management' course provides post-submission strategies. Concurrently, enroll staff in GSLI's 'Public Health & Epidemiology' and 'WASH' courses to demonstrate ongoing commitment to professional development. By completing these steps, your organization will present a comprehensive, compliant, and competitive proposal that maximizes chances of success.

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Deadline: 2026-07-30

Persona: General

Urgency: Normal