UNICEF RFP: Strengthening Monitoring and Evaluation Systems for Child Health and Nutrition Programs in Humanitarian Contexts

The UNICEF RFP for Strengthening Monitoring and Evaluation Systems for Child Health and Nutrition Programs in Humanitarian Contexts is a strategic funding opportunity aimed at improving the quality and accountability of health interventions in crisis-affected areas. The RFP, with a deadline of September 10, 2026, calls for proposals from organizations capable of designing and implementing comprehensive M&E systems that operate effectively in unstable environments. These systems must generate reliable data on program coverage, quality, and outcomes to inform evidence-based decision-making. The emphasis is on real-time data, community feedback, and integration with national health information systems. The RFP is part of UNICEF’s broader commitment to achieving the SDGs, particularly targets related to ending preventable child deaths and malnutrition. The funding is expected to support interventions in multiple countries, with a focus on regions experiencing conflict, natural disasters, or disease outbreaks. Successful applicants will demonstrate technical expertise in M&E, health informatics, and capacity building, as well as a strong operational presence in target areas. The opportunity is open to a variety of organizations, including NGOs, academic institutions, and private companies. The total budget is not disclosed but is likely substantial given the multi-country scope. This call represents a chance to contribute to life-saving work while strengthening organizational visibility in the humanitarian sector. The RFP also emphasizes innovation, encouraging the use of digital tools, remote sensing, and participatory methods. This overview sets the stage for deeper analysis of the requirements and strategies to succeed. In practical terms, the RFP requires submission of a technical proposal detailing the M&E approach, a management plan, and a budget. The technical proposal must include a theoretical framework, such as a theory of change, and a detailed indicator matrix covering health outcomes (e.g., prevalence of acute malnutrition), coverage (e.g., percentage of children vaccinated), and quality (e.g., adherence to clinical guidelines). The management plan should outline team structure, staffing, and coordination with UNICEF country offices. The budget must show cost allocation for personnel, training, technology, and operations. UNICEF uses a weighted scoring system, with technical merit typically accounting for 70% and price for 30%. Key evaluation criteria include understanding of the context, feasibility of the approach, organizational experience, and capacity for rapid deployment. The selection process may include interviews or presentations. Successful bidders will enter into a multi-year contract with reporting requirements every quarter. The RFP also mandates adherence to UNICEF’s policies on child protection, gender equality, and environmental sustainability. This overview provides a high-level understanding of the call’s scope and expectations, which will guide subsequent sections. Moreover, the RFP is designed to address critical gaps in M&E capacity in humanitarian settings. Many current systems are inadequate due to lack of standardization, limited local capacity, and weak coordination. This call seeks to address these gaps by funding system strengthening at national and sub-national levels. The expected outcomes include improved data for decision-making, enhanced accountability to affected populations, and stronger national M&E systems. The donor also expects the project to contribute to global knowledge on effective M&E in emergencies. Therefore, proposals should include a learning component, such as documentation of best practices and dissemination through publications or conferences. The long-term goal is to build lasting capacity that outlasts the project. This overview emphasizes the transformative potential of this RFP and the importance of a well-structured response that aligns with UNICEF’s strategic vision. Finally, the RFP is timely as the world faces multiple humanitarian crises compounded by climate change, pandemics, and conflicts. The need for robust M&E has never been greater, as donors demand evidence of impact and accountability. This opportunity allows organizations to play a pivotal role in ensuring that resources reach those in need and that interventions are effective. By responding to this RFP, organizations can strengthen their partnership with UNICEF and position themselves for future funding. The following sections will explore strategic value, implementation roadmap, and risk mitigation, providing a complete guide to crafting a winning proposal.

Strategic Overview

The UNICEF RFP for Strengthening Monitoring and Evaluation Systems for Child Health and Nutrition Programs in Humanitarian Contexts is a strategic funding opportunity aimed at improving the quality and accountability of health interventions in crisis-affected areas. The RFP, with a deadline of September 10, 2026, calls for proposals from organizations capable of designing and implementing comprehensive M&E systems that operate effectively in unstable environments. These systems must generate reliable data on program coverage, quality, and outcomes to inform evidence-based decision-making. The emphasis is on real-time data, community feedback, and integration with national health information systems. The RFP is part of UNICEF’s broader commitment to achieving the SDGs, particularly targets related to ending preventable child deaths and malnutrition. The funding is expected to support interventions in multiple countries, with a focus on regions experiencing conflict, natural disasters, or disease outbreaks. Successful applicants will demonstrate technical expertise in M&E, health informatics, and capacity building, as well as a strong operational presence in target areas. The opportunity is open to a variety of organizations, including NGOs, academic institutions, and private companies. The total budget is not disclosed but is likely substantial given the multi-country scope. This call represents a chance to contribute to life-saving work while strengthening organizational visibility in the humanitarian sector. The RFP also emphasizes innovation, encouraging the use of digital tools, remote sensing, and participatory methods. This overview sets the stage for deeper analysis of the requirements and strategies to succeed. In practical terms, the RFP requires submission of a technical proposal detailing the M&E approach, a management plan, and a budget. The technical proposal must include a theoretical framework, such as a theory of change, and a detailed indicator matrix covering health outcomes (e.g., prevalence of acute malnutrition), coverage (e.g., percentage of children vaccinated), and quality (e.g., adherence to clinical guidelines). The management plan should outline team structure, staffing, and coordination with UNICEF country offices. The budget must show cost allocation for personnel, training, technology, and operations. UNICEF uses a weighted scoring system, with technical merit typically accounting for 70% and price for 30%. Key evaluation criteria include understanding of the context, feasibility of the approach, organizational experience, and capacity for rapid deployment. The selection process may include interviews or presentations. Successful bidders will enter into a multi-year contract with reporting requirements every quarter. The RFP also mandates adherence to UNICEF’s policies on child protection, gender equality, and environmental sustainability. This overview provides a high-level understanding of the call’s scope and expectations, which will guide subsequent sections. Moreover, the RFP is designed to address critical gaps in M&E capacity in humanitarian settings. Many current systems are inadequate due to lack of standardization, limited local capacity, and weak coordination. This call seeks to address these gaps by funding system strengthening at national and sub-national levels. The expected outcomes include improved data for decision-making, enhanced accountability to affected populations, and stronger national M&E systems. The donor also expects the project to contribute to global knowledge on effective M&E in emergencies. Therefore, proposals should include a learning component, such as documentation of best practices and dissemination through publications or conferences. The long-term goal is to build lasting capacity that outlasts the project. This overview emphasizes the transformative potential of this RFP and the importance of a well-structured response that aligns with UNICEF’s strategic vision. Finally, the RFP is timely as the world faces multiple humanitarian crises compounded by climate change, pandemics, and conflicts. The need for robust M&E has never been greater, as donors demand evidence of impact and accountability. This opportunity allows organizations to play a pivotal role in ensuring that resources reach those in need and that interventions are effective. By responding to this RFP, organizations can strengthen their partnership with UNICEF and position themselves for future funding. The following sections will explore strategic value, implementation roadmap, and risk mitigation, providing a complete guide to crafting a winning proposal.

Who is it For?

This RFP is open to a broad range of entities, including international non-governmental organizations (INGOs), national NGOs, academic and research institutions, private sector firms, and consortia with demonstrated capacity in monitoring and evaluation within humanitarian contexts. Priority will be given to organizations with a physical presence in regions where UNICEF operates child health and nutrition programs, such as Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, the Middle East, and parts of Latin America. Eligible applicants must have at least five years of experience in designing and implementing M&E systems for health and nutrition programs in emergency settings. They must also have a proven track record of working with UN agencies, particularly UNICEF, and be able to demonstrate technical expertise in areas such as data management, statistical analysis, qualitative research, and accountability to affected populations. The RFP encourages partnerships with local organizations to foster sustainability and local ownership. Additionally, applicants must have the financial capacity to manage multi-year grants, with annual budgets potentially exceeding $1 million. They should possess robust internal controls, audit mechanisms, and anti-fraud policies. Academic institutions must have relevant research ethics approvals and Institutional Review Board (IRB) clearances. For-profit entities must not have conflicts of interest with UNICEF’s procurement policies. The ideal candidate will have a global reach but with deep local roots, ensuring cultural competency and language proficiency in the target regions.

Priorities

UNICEF’s global priorities for this RFP revolve around enhancing the quality of M&E to drive improvements in child health and nutrition outcomes. Key investment KPIs include: (1) Coverage and reach of health and nutrition services for children under five, pregnant women, and lactating mothers; (2) Quality of care measured through clinical audits and adherence to protocols; (3) Timeliness of interventions in acute emergencies; (4) Cost-efficiency and value for money; (5) Strengthening of national M&E systems and local capacities. The donor emphasizes the use of real-time data for adaptive management, with a target of 80% of programmatic decisions informed by M&E data within six months of project start. Another priority is the integration of feedback mechanisms from beneficiaries, aiming for at least 75% of affected communities reporting satisfaction with service delivery. Gender equality and disability inclusion are cross-cutting; indicators must be disaggregated by sex, age, and disability. UNICEF also seeks innovative solutions, such as using geographic information systems (GIS) for tracking service points and mobile health (mHealth) for data collection. Partnerships with local governments are critical to ensure alignment with national health strategies. Success will be measured by the ability to generate actionable insights, contribute to global evidence, and ensure accountability to donors and communities alike.

Eligibility

Eligibility criteria are stringent and require comprehensive compliance across financial, spatial, and legal dimensions. Financially, organizations must submit audited financial statements for the last three fiscal years, demonstrating stable funding and no significant deficits. They must have a minimum annual turnover of $500,000 and adequate insurance coverage (general liability, professional indemnity). The budget proposal should reflect cost realism, with indirect costs not exceeding 15% of direct costs unless justified. Spatially, applicants must have operational presence in at least two of UNICEF’s priority countries for health and nutrition emergencies (e.g., Somalia, South Sudan, Yemen, Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo). They must provide proof of registration and legal status in those countries, including tax exemptions or waivers. Legally, organizations must not be on any UN sanctions lists, and they must comply with UNICEF’s core values, including child protection policies and anti-terrorism clauses. They must have a written code of conduct, whistleblower policy, and gender policy. Additionally, organizations with previous UNICEF contracts must have performance ratings of 'satisfactory' or above. Consortiums must designate a lead partner responsible for overall coordination and reporting, with clear MOUs or agreements among partners. The donor also requires evidence of past performance in similar M&E projects, with at least two references from UN agencies or major donors. Failure to meet any of these criteria may result in disqualification, so applicants are advised to conduct a thorough self-assessment before applying.

Path to Success

A strategic roadmap to win this UNICEF RFP involves a phased approach that integrates GSLI’s training offerings to build institutional capacity and credibility. Step 1: Establish a cross-functional bid team that includes M&E specialists, health and nutrition experts, finance officers, and proposal writers. Ensure the team undergoes GSLI’s 'Writing Winning Proposals' and 'Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)' courses to align with UNICEF’s expectations. These courses will sharpen the team’s ability to articulate technical approaches, logical frameworks, and budget justifications. Step 2: Conduct a thorough stakeholder analysis and align the proposal with UNICEF’s country office priorities. Use GSLI’s 'Project Management for Development' course to design a robust implementation plan with clear milestones, risk registers, and capacity-building components. Engage local partners early and consider joint training through GSLI’s 'Procurement & Supply Chain' course to ensure supply chain integration for nutrition commodities. Step 3: Develop a comprehensive M&E framework that includes baseline assessments, midline and endline evaluations, and real-time reporting mechanisms. Incorporate innovative tools such as mobile data collection platforms and GIS mapping. Leverage GSLI’s 'Public Health & Epidemiology' course to strengthen the technical sections on health outcomes and epidemiological methods. Ensure the framework includes capacity strengthening for national staff and partners, which can be supported by GSLI’s 'Financial Management for NGOs' and 'Grants Management' courses to enhance financial accountability and reporting. Step 4: Prepare a compelling narrative that highlights organizational experience, past performance, and value-add of GSLI training. Include case studies from previous UNICEF projects and emphasize incremental benefits from GSLI’s short courses, such as improved proposal writing leading to higher success rates. Step 5: Conduct a rigorous peer review and quality assurance check using GSLI’s 'Grants Management' course guidelines for compliance and logical consistency. Submit the proposal well before the deadline, ensuring all annexes (e.g., CVs, financial statements, partnership agreements) are complete. Post-submission, engage with UNICEF for clarifications and be prepared to present the proposal virtually. GSLI’s 'Fundraising & Resource Mobilization' course can also provide insights into donor communication and relationship management. By embedding GSLI training throughout the preparation process, organizations not only enhance their proposal quality but also demonstrate a commitment to professional development, which is highly valued by UNICEF.

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Deadline: 2026-09-10

Persona: General

Urgency: Normal