UNICEF Global Call for Proposals: Strengthening Public Health and WASH Systems in Fragile Contexts

UNICEF’s global call for proposals, “Strengthening Public Health and WASH Systems in Fragile Contexts,” is a high-urgency funding opportunity with a deadline of August 15, 2026. This call seeks innovative, evidence-based proposals that integrate public health and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) interventions in fragile settings—defined as countries or regions affected by conflict, natural disasters, or chronic political instability. The core objective is to reduce preventable child deaths and improve maternal health by ensuring equitable access to safe water, basic sanitation, and quality health services. UNICEF recognizes that poor WASH conditions are a major driver of disease burden among children, and that strengthening health systems without addressing WASH is insufficient. Therefore, proposals must articulate a holistic approach that links WASH infrastructure development (e.g., boreholes, latrines, handwashing stations) with health service delivery (e.g., immunization, nutrition, maternal care) and community engagement (e.g., hygiene promotion, disease surveillance). The call is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), and supports the global roadmap for Ending Preventable Child Deaths. The funding is intended for projects lasting 24 to 48 months, with budgets ranging from $1 million to $10 million. UNICEF encourages applications from diverse actors, including international NGOs, local civil society organizations, academic institutions, and private sector entities, provided they have demonstrable experience in fragile contexts. Priority will be given to proposals that foster local ownership, integrate gender and disability inclusion, and incorporate innovative financing mechanisms such as blended finance or social impact bonds. Proposals must include a robust monitoring and evaluation framework with clear indicators linked to health and WASH outcomes, such as reduction in diarrhea incidence, increase in exclusive breastfeeding, and improved hygiene practices. Additionally, applicants must demonstrate a strong understanding of the local context, including political economy, cultural norms, and conflict sensitivity. The review process will assess technical soundness, organizational capacity, sustainability, and value for money. Given the high urgency of the call, early submission is advised to allow time for iterative feedback. This opportunity is particularly timely as the world faces escalating humanitarian crises from the Sahel to Myanmar, and the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the fragility of health systems. UNICEF’s focus on building systemic resilience means that projects should not only deliver immediate services but also strengthen institutions for long-term impact. For example, proposals could include training local health workers, establishing community management committees for WASH infrastructure, and integrating WASH into national health sector plans. The call also emphasizes the importance of digital health technologies, such as mHealth for data collection and e-learning for capacity building. By leveraging such innovations, projects can achieve greater reach and cost-effectiveness. Furthermore, UNICEF expects applicants to comply with strict environmental and social safeguards, including a child safeguarding policy and a code of conduct for staff. Overall, this call represents a significant opportunity for organizations to contribute to global health goals while securing substantial funding for impactful work in challenging environments.

Strategic Overview

UNICEF’s global call for proposals, “Strengthening Public Health and WASH Systems in Fragile Contexts,” is a high-urgency funding opportunity with a deadline of August 15, 2026. This call seeks innovative, evidence-based proposals that integrate public health and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) interventions in fragile settings—defined as countries or regions affected by conflict, natural disasters, or chronic political instability. The core objective is to reduce preventable child deaths and improve maternal health by ensuring equitable access to safe water, basic sanitation, and quality health services. UNICEF recognizes that poor WASH conditions are a major driver of disease burden among children, and that strengthening health systems without addressing WASH is insufficient. Therefore, proposals must articulate a holistic approach that links WASH infrastructure development (e.g., boreholes, latrines, handwashing stations) with health service delivery (e.g., immunization, nutrition, maternal care) and community engagement (e.g., hygiene promotion, disease surveillance). The call is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), and supports the global roadmap for Ending Preventable Child Deaths. The funding is intended for projects lasting 24 to 48 months, with budgets ranging from $1 million to $10 million. UNICEF encourages applications from diverse actors, including international NGOs, local civil society organizations, academic institutions, and private sector entities, provided they have demonstrable experience in fragile contexts. Priority will be given to proposals that foster local ownership, integrate gender and disability inclusion, and incorporate innovative financing mechanisms such as blended finance or social impact bonds. Proposals must include a robust monitoring and evaluation framework with clear indicators linked to health and WASH outcomes, such as reduction in diarrhea incidence, increase in exclusive breastfeeding, and improved hygiene practices. Additionally, applicants must demonstrate a strong understanding of the local context, including political economy, cultural norms, and conflict sensitivity. The review process will assess technical soundness, organizational capacity, sustainability, and value for money. Given the high urgency of the call, early submission is advised to allow time for iterative feedback. This opportunity is particularly timely as the world faces escalating humanitarian crises from the Sahel to Myanmar, and the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the fragility of health systems. UNICEF’s focus on building systemic resilience means that projects should not only deliver immediate services but also strengthen institutions for long-term impact. For example, proposals could include training local health workers, establishing community management committees for WASH infrastructure, and integrating WASH into national health sector plans. The call also emphasizes the importance of digital health technologies, such as mHealth for data collection and e-learning for capacity building. By leveraging such innovations, projects can achieve greater reach and cost-effectiveness. Furthermore, UNICEF expects applicants to comply with strict environmental and social safeguards, including a child safeguarding policy and a code of conduct for staff. Overall, this call represents a significant opportunity for organizations to contribute to global health goals while securing substantial funding for impactful work in challenging environments.

Who is it For?

This opportunity is explicitly designed for a diverse range of actors operating in fragile contexts, including international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) with a global presence, national and local NGOs deeply rooted in affected communities, public-private partnerships, academic and research institutions with applied fieldwork capacity, and consortia that combine operational expertise with technical innovation. UNICEF particularly encourages applications from organizations that have demonstrated experience in integrated public health and WASH programming, with a track record of delivering in insecure environments. Eligible entities must be legally registered in their country of operation, possess sound financial management systems compliant with international standards, and have a minimum of three years of field experience in at least two of the following areas: community-based health systems strengthening, WASH infrastructure development, disease surveillance and outbreak response, and social behavior change communication. Furthermore, applicants must be able to demonstrate local partnerships and community engagement strategies that ensure cultural competence and sustainability. UNICEF will prioritize proposals that foster local ownership and capacity building, so organizations that collaborate with or are led by local stakeholders are highly encouraged. Funding is not available to individuals, for-profit entities acting solely as contractors, or government agencies unless as part of a consortium with non-state actors. Proposals should clearly specify target geographic areas, population reach, and baseline health and WASH indicators. Organizations with prior UNICEF funding must provide a performance report showing compliance and impact.

Priorities

UNICEF’s global priorities for this call are centered on four interlinked pillars: (1) strengthening public health systems to deliver primary health care services, including immunization, maternal and child health, and nutrition, with a special focus on hard-to-reach populations; (2) improving equitable access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene services in community and institutional settings (schools, health facilities); (3) enhancing emergency preparedness and response capacities to mitigate the impact of disease outbreaks and natural disasters; and (4) promoting sustained behavioral change through community engagement and accountability mechanisms. Key performance indicators include a 30% reduction in waterborne disease incidence in target areas, a 25% increase in health facility delivery rates, and 80% of target communities adopting critical hygiene practices within the project period. Proposals must demonstrate alignment with national health sector plans and WASH policies, and should incorporate climate-resilient infrastructure designs given the increasing frequency of extreme weather events. UNICEF emphasizes the use of innovative technologies, such as solar-powered water pumps, mobile health platforms for data collection, and low-cost sanitation solutions that can be replicated across contexts. Cross-cutting priorities include gender equality (with at least 50% of project beneficiaries being women and girls), disability inclusion, and conflict sensitivity. Donor logic expects proposals to articulate a clear value for money approach, showing how each dollar invested yields measurable health and WASH outcomes, with a particular emphasis on cost-effectiveness in fragile settings.

Eligibility

Eligibility is governed by strict financial, spatial, and legal criteria. Financially, organizations must submit audited financial statements for the past three years, demonstrate a minimum annual turnover of at least $500,000 USD for the past two years, and provide evidence of a functional internal control system, including separation of duties for procurement and finance. Letters of commitment from co-funders are required for any co-financing arrangements. Spatially, proposals must target one or more specific countries classified as fragile according to the OECD Fragile States Index or UNICEF’s own humanitarian appeal list. Approved countries include but are not limited to Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Yemen, and the Sahel region. Projects must be implemented within clearly defined administrative boundaries and should not duplicate existing UNICEF-supported activities. Legally, applicants must submit a certificate of incorporation or equivalent, tax registration, and a valid registration with the relevant national authority in the country of operation. For international organizations, a memorandum of understanding with the local government may be required. Organizations with any record of fraud, corruption, or human rights violations are disqualified. Additionally, all personnel involved in the project must sign a code of conduct and child safeguarding policy, and organizations must have a safeguarding policy in place. Proposals must include a detailed budget in USD, with indirect costs capped at 7% of direct costs. Finally, a pre-proposal registration on UNICEF’s procurement portal (UNGM) is mandatory.

Path to Success

Strategic roadmap with GSLI integration – 3-4 clear steps, at least 400 words: Step 1: Deepen Technical Expertise via GSLI Courses. Before drafting the proposal, key personnel should enroll in GSLI’s 'WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene)' and 'Public Health & Epidemiology' short courses. These courses provide foundational knowledge on integrated WASH-health interventions, epidemiology of waterborne diseases, and best practices in fragile settings. The WASH course covers essential topics such as water quality monitoring, sanitation marketing, and hygiene behavior change, while the Public Health & Epidemiology course offers insights into disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, and health systems strengthening. This training ensures that your proposal demonstrates technical credibility and aligns with UNICEF’s emphasis on evidence-based interventions. Step 2: Strengthen Project Management and M&E Frameworks. Simultaneously, enroll in GSLI’s 'Project Management for Development' and 'Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)' courses. These courses will equip your team with the tools to design a logical framework with clear indicators, develop an M&E plan that includes baseline, midline, and endline surveys, and manage project timelines and budgets effectively. The M&E course specifically covers outcome mapping, participatory evaluation methods, and data quality assurance—critical for UNICEF’s reporting requirements. By integrating these skills, your proposal will present a robust implementation plan that meets donor expectations for accountability and learning. Step 3: Enhance Proposal Writing and Financial Management. Leverage GSLI’s 'Writing Winning Proposals' and 'Financial Management for NGOs' courses. The proposals course offers strategies for structuring compelling narratives, aligning with donor priorities, and avoiding common pitfalls. The financial management course covers budgeting, financial reporting, and internal controls, ensuring your budget is realistic, compliant, and demonstrates value for money. These courses can be taken online, allowing your team to upskill quickly. Step 4: Formulate a Capacity Building Plan. Include in your proposal a plan to train local staff and partners using GSLI’s 'Procurement & Supply Chain' and 'Fundraising & Resource Mobilization' courses. This demonstrates a commitment to sustainability and local ownership, which UNICEF highly values. By showing that you are investing in local capacity through GSLI-certified training, your proposal gains an edge in demonstrating experience, expertise, and trustworthiness—key E-E-A-T signals for the evaluation committee.

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Deadline: 2026-08-15

Persona: General

Urgency: Normal