UNICEF Call for Proposals: Strengthening National Health Information Systems and M&E Capacity for Child Health Outcomes

UNICEF's Call for Proposals: Strengthening National Health Information Systems and M&E Capacity for Child Health Outcomes represents a critical funding opportunity for organizations dedicated to leveraging data for child survival. The call, with a deadline of August 1, 2026, is part of UNICEF's global strategy to reduce preventable child deaths by ensuring that health systems generate and use high-quality data. The initiative targets low- and middle-income countries where child mortality remains high despite proven interventions. The funding envelope is expected to be substantial, with project durations of 3-5 years. Successful proposals will address the entire data value chain: collection, analysis, interpretation, and use. At its core, this call seeks to bridge the gap between data production and decision-making. Many countries have robust data collection mechanisms but lack the analytic capacity or political will to translate insights into action. UNICEF therefore prioritizes projects that build local M&E capacity, foster data literacy among health managers, and establish feedback loops to community and facility levels. The call also underscores interoperability: systems must communicate across vertical programs (immunization, nutrition, maternal health) to provide a holistic view of child health. Applicants must be prepared to work with existing platforms such as DHIS2, OpenMRS, or National Health Data Warehouses, and propose innovations that address current limitations. This proposal requires a multidisciplinary team combining expertise in public health, data science, software engineering, and community engagement. The optimal approach is a consortium led by an organization with strong technical credentials in health informatics, partnered with local entities that have deep contextual knowledge and trust within communities. The GSLI courses in Public Health & Epidemiology and Monitoring & Evaluation are invaluable for building the technical foundation required to design and manage such projects. Furthermore, given the urgency of the deadline, organizations should begin preparing immediately, forming partnerships and conducting preliminary needs assessments in their target countries. This call is fiercely competitive, but with thorough preparation and a strategic alignment with donor priorities, organizations can position themselves as strong candidates for funding.

Strategic Overview

UNICEF's Call for Proposals: Strengthening National Health Information Systems and M&E Capacity for Child Health Outcomes represents a critical funding opportunity for organizations dedicated to leveraging data for child survival. The call, with a deadline of August 1, 2026, is part of UNICEF's global strategy to reduce preventable child deaths by ensuring that health systems generate and use high-quality data. The initiative targets low- and middle-income countries where child mortality remains high despite proven interventions. The funding envelope is expected to be substantial, with project durations of 3-5 years. Successful proposals will address the entire data value chain: collection, analysis, interpretation, and use. At its core, this call seeks to bridge the gap between data production and decision-making. Many countries have robust data collection mechanisms but lack the analytic capacity or political will to translate insights into action. UNICEF therefore prioritizes projects that build local M&E capacity, foster data literacy among health managers, and establish feedback loops to community and facility levels. The call also underscores interoperability: systems must communicate across vertical programs (immunization, nutrition, maternal health) to provide a holistic view of child health. Applicants must be prepared to work with existing platforms such as DHIS2, OpenMRS, or National Health Data Warehouses, and propose innovations that address current limitations. This proposal requires a multidisciplinary team combining expertise in public health, data science, software engineering, and community engagement. The optimal approach is a consortium led by an organization with strong technical credentials in health informatics, partnered with local entities that have deep contextual knowledge and trust within communities. The GSLI courses in Public Health & Epidemiology and Monitoring & Evaluation are invaluable for building the technical foundation required to design and manage such projects. Furthermore, given the urgency of the deadline, organizations should begin preparing immediately, forming partnerships and conducting preliminary needs assessments in their target countries. This call is fiercely competitive, but with thorough preparation and a strategic alignment with donor priorities, organizations can position themselves as strong candidates for funding.

Who is it For?

This opportunity is tailored for a diverse range of actors operating at the intersection of public health, data science, and international development. Primary recipients include national governments (ministries of health, national statistics offices) seeking to upgrade their health information systems. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with proven field presence in child health and M&E are highly eligible, especially those experienced in community-based data collection and digital health interventions. Academic and research institutions specializing in health informatics, epidemiology, or implementation science can apply, particularly if they have partnerships with local health authorities. United Nations agencies and international organizations with a mandate in health systems strengthening are also eligible. For-profit entities, such as health tech companies, may qualify if they demonstrate a non-profit orientation or social impact focus. UNICEF particularly encourages consortia that bring together technical expertise (e.g., software development, data analytics) with on-the-ground operational capacity. Smaller, locally rooted organizations are welcome but must show financial stability and a track record of managing donor funds. The ideal applicant has experience in designing interoperable health information systems, training health workers in data use, and conducting rigorous evaluations of child health interventions. GSLI's courses in Project Management for Development and Procurement & Supply Chain can help organizations demonstrate the operational capacity required for managing large-scale grants.

Priorities

UNICEF's global priorities under this call are deeply aligned with its 'Every Child Alive' campaign and the UNICEF Strategic Plan 2022-2025. The overarching goal is to reduce preventable child deaths by ensuring that health systems generate and use high-quality data to target interventions. Key investment KPIs include: (1) reduction in under-five mortality rate by at least 15% in target districts; (2) increase in coverage of essential maternal and child health interventions (e.g., immunization, exclusive breastfeeding) as measured by routine data; (3) improvement in data completeness and timeliness by 30% within 18 months; (4) establishment of functional electronic health record systems in at least 80% of health facilities; (5) evidence of data use for policy decisions, such as budget allocations or program adjustments. The donor expects proposals to explicitly link to SDG indicators, especially those under SDG 3 (maternal and child health) and SDG 17 (data partnerships). Additionally, UNICEF prioritizes innovations that leverage artificial intelligence (AI) for disease surveillance, community health worker mobile tools, and predictive analytics for outbreak detection. Cross-cutting priorities include gender equity (disaggregating data by sex), climate-resilient health systems, and capacity building for local institutions. Proposals should demonstrate how they will address data privacy and security, especially for vulnerable populations. GSLI's Monitoring & Evaluation course can help applicants design indicators that meet UNICEF's rigorous impact reporting standards.

Eligibility

Eligibility is broad but with strict compliance requirements. Legally registered entities (non-profit, government, academic, or private sector) with at least five years of operation in relevant fields are eligible. Financially, organizations must submit audited financial statements for the past two years, demonstrating annual revenue of at least $500,000 and a debt-to-equity ratio below 1.5. They must have a functional financial management system compliant with international accounting standards (e.g., IPSAS or IFRS). Spatially, the project must be implemented in a country with a current UNICEF country program; preference is given to least developed countries (LDCs) and sub-Saharan Africa. Corporate legal audits require proof of anti-terrorism compliance, no history of fraud or sanctions, and a clean record with UN investigation bodies. Organizations must also have a valid UN Supplier Code of Conduct acknowledgment. Technical eligibility includes prior experience in health information systems or M&E, with at least two similar projects completed in the last five years. The proposal must be submitted in English or French, and the lead organization must have a minimum of three full-time staff with advanced degrees in public health, data science, or related fields. GSLI recommends the Financial Management for NGOs and Writing Winning Proposals courses to strengthen financial documentation and proposal narrative, ensuring compliance with UNICEF's stringent eligibility criteria.

Path to Success

Achieving success with this UNICEF call requires a strategic approach that integrates technical excellence, institutional capacity, and alignment with GSLI's training offerings. Follow this four-step roadmap: Step 1: Partner Selection and Consortium Building (Months 1-2). Identify and formalize partnerships with local ministries of health, data science firms, and community-based organizations. Ensure each partner has a clear role that maps to the call's technical requirements: data system design, field implementation, and M&E. GSLI's course in Project Management for Development can equip your team with tools for partner coordination and work plan development. Step 2: Technical Proposal Development (Months 2-4). Draft a detailed technical narrative that demonstrates a robust understanding of health information system architecture, including interoperability standards (e.g., HL7 FHIR), data quality assurance protocols, and capacity building approaches. Use the call's KPIs to define a logical framework with baseline, targets, and milestones. Incorporate GSLI's Monitoring & Evaluation course to design a results chain that links inputs to child health outcomes. Step 3: Financial and Compliance Preparation (Concurrent with Step 2). Prepare a budget that is cost-effective yet realistic, using GSLI's Financial Management for NGOs training to align with UNICEF's cost categories (personnel, travel, equipment, etc.). Ensure all financial and legal documents are ready, including audited statements and anti-terrorism certifications. Step 4: Submission and Follow-up (Month 5). Submit the proposal via UNICEF's e-procurement portal before the August 1 deadline. After submission, engage in proactive communication with UNICEF's focal point, providing supplementary information as requested. GSLI's Writing Winning Proposals course can refine your submission for clarity and impact. Throughout, prioritize showing how your consortium's capacity building approach will ensure sustainability beyond the grant period.

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Deadline: 2026-08-01

Persona: General

Urgency: Normal