UNICEF Global Partnership Opportunity: Strengthening Monitoring and Evaluation Capacity for Child Health and Nutrition Programs

The UNICEF Global Partnership Opportunity for Strengthening Monitoring and Evaluation Capacity for Child Health and Nutrition Programs is a critical funding call that addresses the need for robust data systems to improve child survival and development. In many low- and middle-income countries, the lack of reliable data hinders effective programming and resource allocation. This call aims to support organizations that can provide technical assistance, training, and system strengthening to enhance M&E capacities at community, facility, and national levels. The total funding of $15–25 million will be allocated over three years, with a focus on achieving measurable improvements in data quality, timeliness, and use. The initiative is part of UNICEF's broader commitment to evidence-based programming and accountability, as outlined in its 2025-2030 Strategic Plan. Eligible organizations are invited to submit concept notes by August 1, 2026, detailing their approach to building sustainable M&E systems that align with national health strategies and global standards. The call emphasizes innovation in data collection and analysis, including the use of mobile technologies and geospatial information systems. Additionally, cross-cutting priorities such as gender equality, equity, and disaster preparedness are integrated into the M&E framework. For organizations looking to enhance their competitiveness, GSLI offers targeted training courses in Monitoring & Evaluation, Public Health & Epidemiology, and Project Management, which equip staff with the necessary skills to design and implement high-quality M&E systems. By enrolling in these courses, organizations can demonstrate their commitment to professional development and technical excellence, thereby strengthening their proposal. The strategic context of this call is deeply intertwined with the global development agenda and the urgent need to accelerate progress towards Sustainable Development Goals 2 (Zero Hunger) and 3 (Good Health and Well-being). Child health and nutrition outcomes remain suboptimal in many regions, with stunting, wasting, and micronutrient deficiencies affecting millions of children under five. To effectively address these issues, governments and partners require reliable data to identify priority areas, track intervention coverage, and adjust strategies as needed. This is where M&E capacity building plays a transformative role. By strengthening the ability to collect, analyze, and use data, organizations can enhance program effectiveness and accountability. The call also recognizes that M&E capacity is not merely a technical matter but also involves institutional and human resource development. Therefore, proposals should include a strong component of training and mentorship for national and subnational stakeholders, ensuring that capacity is built from within and sustained beyond the project period. Furthermore, the call encourages the use of digital technologies to streamline data collection and visualization, making data more accessible and actionable for decision-makers. Combining these elements, the call presents a unique opportunity for organizations to contribute to lasting improvements in child health and nutrition. GSLI's courses, such as 'Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)' and 'Public Health & Epidemiology', provide the necessary foundational knowledge to develop a technically sound and strategically aligned proposal. The donor's vision for this initiative is to create a landscape where child health and nutrition programs are guided by timely, accurate, and disaggregated data, leading to more effective interventions and better outcomes for children. UNICEF expects that by the end of the project period, M&E systems will be largely owned by local actors, with data being used routinely for decision-making at all levels. To achieve this, the call emphasizes the need for a phased approach, starting with a comprehensive needs assessment and ending with a clear handover strategy. This vision aligns with global commitments under the Global Strategy for Women's, Children's and Adolescents' Health (2016-2030) and the Every Woman Every Child movement. For organizations seeking to align with this vision, GSLI's 'Project Management for Development' course offers a structured approach to planning and managing such complex interventions. Additionally, the 'Writing Winning Proposals' course can help articulate the vision in a compelling and logical manner. The expected outcomes include improved data completeness (by at least 15%), reduced reporting time (by 20%), and increased capacity among national staff to sustain the system. These outcomes will be tracked through specific KPIs and reported on a regular basis. The call thus represents a significant investment in gaining the evidence base needed to achieve global targets for child health and nutrition. GSLI is poised to support applicants in building the necessary skills to contribute effectively to this vision.

Strategic Overview

The UNICEF Global Partnership Opportunity for Strengthening Monitoring and Evaluation Capacity for Child Health and Nutrition Programs is a critical funding call that addresses the need for robust data systems to improve child survival and development. In many low- and middle-income countries, the lack of reliable data hinders effective programming and resource allocation. This call aims to support organizations that can provide technical assistance, training, and system strengthening to enhance M&E capacities at community, facility, and national levels. The total funding of $15–25 million will be allocated over three years, with a focus on achieving measurable improvements in data quality, timeliness, and use. The initiative is part of UNICEF's broader commitment to evidence-based programming and accountability, as outlined in its 2025-2030 Strategic Plan. Eligible organizations are invited to submit concept notes by August 1, 2026, detailing their approach to building sustainable M&E systems that align with national health strategies and global standards. The call emphasizes innovation in data collection and analysis, including the use of mobile technologies and geospatial information systems. Additionally, cross-cutting priorities such as gender equality, equity, and disaster preparedness are integrated into the M&E framework. For organizations looking to enhance their competitiveness, GSLI offers targeted training courses in Monitoring & Evaluation, Public Health & Epidemiology, and Project Management, which equip staff with the necessary skills to design and implement high-quality M&E systems. By enrolling in these courses, organizations can demonstrate their commitment to professional development and technical excellence, thereby strengthening their proposal. The strategic context of this call is deeply intertwined with the global development agenda and the urgent need to accelerate progress towards Sustainable Development Goals 2 (Zero Hunger) and 3 (Good Health and Well-being). Child health and nutrition outcomes remain suboptimal in many regions, with stunting, wasting, and micronutrient deficiencies affecting millions of children under five. To effectively address these issues, governments and partners require reliable data to identify priority areas, track intervention coverage, and adjust strategies as needed. This is where M&E capacity building plays a transformative role. By strengthening the ability to collect, analyze, and use data, organizations can enhance program effectiveness and accountability. The call also recognizes that M&E capacity is not merely a technical matter but also involves institutional and human resource development. Therefore, proposals should include a strong component of training and mentorship for national and subnational stakeholders, ensuring that capacity is built from within and sustained beyond the project period. Furthermore, the call encourages the use of digital technologies to streamline data collection and visualization, making data more accessible and actionable for decision-makers. Combining these elements, the call presents a unique opportunity for organizations to contribute to lasting improvements in child health and nutrition. GSLI's courses, such as 'Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)' and 'Public Health & Epidemiology', provide the necessary foundational knowledge to develop a technically sound and strategically aligned proposal. The donor's vision for this initiative is to create a landscape where child health and nutrition programs are guided by timely, accurate, and disaggregated data, leading to more effective interventions and better outcomes for children. UNICEF expects that by the end of the project period, M&E systems will be largely owned by local actors, with data being used routinely for decision-making at all levels. To achieve this, the call emphasizes the need for a phased approach, starting with a comprehensive needs assessment and ending with a clear handover strategy. This vision aligns with global commitments under the Global Strategy for Women's, Children's and Adolescents' Health (2016-2030) and the Every Woman Every Child movement. For organizations seeking to align with this vision, GSLI's 'Project Management for Development' course offers a structured approach to planning and managing such complex interventions. Additionally, the 'Writing Winning Proposals' course can help articulate the vision in a compelling and logical manner. The expected outcomes include improved data completeness (by at least 15%), reduced reporting time (by 20%), and increased capacity among national staff to sustain the system. These outcomes will be tracked through specific KPIs and reported on a regular basis. The call thus represents a significant investment in gaining the evidence base needed to achieve global targets for child health and nutrition. GSLI is poised to support applicants in building the necessary skills to contribute effectively to this vision.

Who is it For?

This funding opportunity is specifically designed for a diverse array of organizations that possess the operational and technical capacity to strengthen monitoring and evaluation systems for child health and nutrition programs. Primary eligible entities include international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) with a global presence in child health, national NGOs based in UNICEF program countries, academic and research institutions with expertise in public health and M&E, and private sector firms specializing in data analytics and health information systems. Additionally, consortia comprising multiple partners are encouraged, provided a lead applicant is clearly identified. The call emphasizes that applicants must demonstrate a minimum of five years of relevant experience in child health or nutrition programming, with at least three years focused on M&E capacity building. Organizations must also have an established operational footprint in at least two UNICEF program countries in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, or the Middle East. Financial stability is a prerequisite, requiring audited financial statements for the past three fiscal years and a minimum annual budget of $2 million. Furthermore, applicants must have a valid legal registration in their country of operation and must comply with UNICEF's Partner Eligibility and Assessment criteria, which includes due diligence checks on governance, anti-fraud policies, and safeguarding measures. The call is not open to government entities or individuals. GSLI recommends that organizations considering this opportunity enroll in the 'Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)' and 'Writing Winning Proposals' short courses to strengthen their eligibility profile and proposal competitiveness.

Priorities

UNICEF's global investment priorities for this call are centered on enhancing the quality and use of data to drive better outcomes for children. Specifically, the donor seeks to support projects that improve the collection, analysis, and utilization of health and nutrition data at community and facility levels. Key performance indicators (KPIs) include a 20% increase in the timeliness of reporting from health facilities, a 15% improvement in data completeness for child growth monitoring, and a measurable reduction in the time lag between data collection and decision-making. Additionally, UNICEF prioritizes investments that strengthen national M&E systems, promote interoperability of health information systems, and build the capacity of local government staff and community health workers. Gender-sensitive and equity-focused M&E approaches are critical, with a target that at least 50% of all capacity-building beneficiaries are women and that data is disaggregated by sex, age, and disability. The donor also emphasizes innovation in data collection technologies, such as mobile health (mHealth) platforms and geospatial information systems. Sustainability is a cross-cutting priority: proposals must outline a clear handover strategy to local institutions within three years. Financial efficiency is another KPIs, with a maximum administrative overhead of 10%. Organizations interested in aligning with these priorities can benefit from GSLI's 'Public Health & Epidemiology' and 'Project Management for Development' courses, which provide foundational knowledge in data-driven health programming and efficient project execution.

Eligibility

Eligibility for this UNICEF funding opportunity is governed by a comprehensive set of financial, spatial, and legal requirements that applicants must meticulously document. Financially, organizations must demonstrate sound financial management by submitting audited financial statements for the last three consecutive fiscal years, showing no major qualified opinions. They must have an average annual expenditure of at least $2 million over the past three years, with a minimum of 30% of expenditures dedicated to child health or nutrition programs. A financial ratio analysis will be performed, requiring a current ratio above 1.5 and a debt-to-equity ratio below 0.5. Spatially, applicants must have a documented operational presence in at least two UNICEF program countries, evidenced by registered offices, signed agreements with local governments, or active project implementations within the past two years. The projects must be implemented in contexts with high under-five mortality rates (above 50 per 1,000 live births) and stunting prevalence above 20%. Legally, the applicant must be a legally registered entity in its home country with a clear governance structure, including a board of directors and written policies on conflict of interest, anti-fraud, and whistleblower protection. Additionally, the organization must not be on any UN sanctions list or have any history of corruption or human rights violations. Proof of registration and valid tax identification numbers must be provided. For consortia, a memorandum of understanding outlining roles and responsibilities is required, and each member must individually meet eligibility criteria. GSLI's 'Financial Management for NGOs' and 'Grants Management' courses are highly recommended to ensure compliance with these rigorous financial and legal standards.

Path to Success

To secure this UNICEF funding opportunity, organizations must follow a strategic roadmap that integrates GSLI training at critical junctures to enhance proposal competitiveness and implementation capacity. Step 1: Pre-Proposal Preparation (Months 1-3). Begin by enrolling key staff in GSLI's 'Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)' and 'Public Health & Epidemiology' courses to build core competencies in M&E frameworks and child health indicators. Simultaneously, conduct a thorough eligibility self-assessment using the criteria provided, gathering necessary financial statements, legal documents, and evidence of field presence. Identify target countries and establish relationships with local UNICEF country offices to align with their priorities. Step 2: Partnership Development and Needs Assessment (Months 4-6). Form a consortium if needed, ensuring each partner meets eligibility criteria. Conduct a participatory needs assessment in the selected program countries to identify specific gaps in M&E capacity for child health and nutrition. Document this assessment using methodologies taught in the GSLI 'Project Management for Development' course. Use the findings to co-design a theory of change and logframe that clearly links capacity-building activities to improved health outcomes. GSLI's 'Writing Winning Proposals' course can be invaluable during this phase to structure the concept note effectively. Step 3: Proposal Development and Peer Review (Months 7-9). Develop a full proposal with detailed work plans, budgets, and M&E plans. Apply the knowledge from GSLI's 'Financial Management for NGOs' to create a realistic, compliant budget with no more than 10% overhead. Incorporate innovative data collection methodologies, such as mobile surveys, which align with UNICEF's priorities. Include a clear sustainability plan with a phased handover to local institutions within three years. Submit the concept note by the deadline. Step 4: Post-Submission Engagement and Capacity Strengthening (Ongoing). Even after submission, continue to use GSLI courses to prepare for technical clarifications and potential site visits. Enroll in 'Fundraising & Resource Mobilization' to diversify funding sources, demonstrating institutional stability. Throughout the process, maintain open communication with UNICEF focal points and leverage the GSLI alumni network for peer support and knowledge sharing. By following this roadmap, organizations will not only submit a compelling proposal but also build lasting capacity that aligns with UNICEF's strategic vision.

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Deadline: 2026-08-01

Persona: General

Urgency: Normal