UNICEF Call for Proposals: Strengthening WASH and Child Protection Systems Capacity in Fragile Contexts – Technical Assistance for Institutional Capacity Building

This call for proposals represents a critical opportunity for organizations to contribute to UNICEF's mission of ensuring the rights of children in the most challenging environments. The focus on 'Strengthening WASH and Child Protection Systems Capacity' underscores a holistic approach to development, recognizing that safe water and sanitation are foundational to child well-being. Fragile contexts – characterized by conflict, natural disasters, or extreme poverty – often see a breakdown of these systems, leaving children at risk of disease and abuse. UNICEF's intervention aims to build local institutional capacity to sustainably deliver WASH services and protect children from violence and exploitation. The technical assistance component is key: rather than direct implementation, UNICEF seeks partners who can empower local governments, NGOs, and communities to take ownership. This includes training on water quality monitoring, hygiene promotion, child protection case management, and data analysis. The call is structured to attract both established international organizations and local entities, promoting localization as per the Grand Bargain commitments. Funding will be channeled through grants with a focus on outcomes and sustainability. Applicants must demonstrate a deep understanding of the nexus between WASH and child protection. For instance, in many contexts, lack of separate toilets for girls leads to school dropout, while unsafe water collection routes expose women and children to violence. Proposals should articulate how improvements in WASH can directly reduce child protection risks. The deadline of October 15, 2026, provides ample time for thorough preparation, but early engagement with UNICEF country offices is recommended to align with country-specific priorities. In terms of scale, the call is expected to fund 5-10 projects with budgets ranging from USD 500,000 to USD 2 million each. Implementation periods of 24 to 36 months allow for deep capacity building. Monitoring and evaluation are paramount, with donors requiring regular reporting on both qualitative and quantitative indicators. This overview sets the stage for a detailed examination of eligibility, priorities, and a roadmap to success.

Strategic Overview

This call for proposals represents a critical opportunity for organizations to contribute to UNICEF's mission of ensuring the rights of children in the most challenging environments. The focus on 'Strengthening WASH and Child Protection Systems Capacity' underscores a holistic approach to development, recognizing that safe water and sanitation are foundational to child well-being. Fragile contexts – characterized by conflict, natural disasters, or extreme poverty – often see a breakdown of these systems, leaving children at risk of disease and abuse. UNICEF's intervention aims to build local institutional capacity to sustainably deliver WASH services and protect children from violence and exploitation. The technical assistance component is key: rather than direct implementation, UNICEF seeks partners who can empower local governments, NGOs, and communities to take ownership. This includes training on water quality monitoring, hygiene promotion, child protection case management, and data analysis. The call is structured to attract both established international organizations and local entities, promoting localization as per the Grand Bargain commitments. Funding will be channeled through grants with a focus on outcomes and sustainability. Applicants must demonstrate a deep understanding of the nexus between WASH and child protection. For instance, in many contexts, lack of separate toilets for girls leads to school dropout, while unsafe water collection routes expose women and children to violence. Proposals should articulate how improvements in WASH can directly reduce child protection risks. The deadline of October 15, 2026, provides ample time for thorough preparation, but early engagement with UNICEF country offices is recommended to align with country-specific priorities. In terms of scale, the call is expected to fund 5-10 projects with budgets ranging from USD 500,000 to USD 2 million each. Implementation periods of 24 to 36 months allow for deep capacity building. Monitoring and evaluation are paramount, with donors requiring regular reporting on both qualitative and quantitative indicators. This overview sets the stage for a detailed examination of eligibility, priorities, and a roadmap to success.

Who is it For?

This call for proposals is directed at a diverse range of organizations including international and national non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society organizations (CSOs), research institutions, private sector entities with a social mandate, and United Nations agencies. Eligible recipients must demonstrate proven experience in fragile and conflict-affected contexts, with a strong track record in delivering technical assistance for WASH and child protection systems. Ideal applicants include consortia that combine expertise in water infrastructure, hygiene promotion, sanitation, child safeguarding, and institutional capacity building. Priority will be given to organizations that can operate in insecure environments, manage complex partnerships, and engage with local authorities. Additionally, UNICEF encourages applications from local and national organizations in target countries to promote localization and sustainability. Applicants must be legally registered entities with transparent governance structures, financial systems, and accountability mechanisms. They should have a minimum of five years of field experience in at least three fragile states. The call also welcomes organizations with innovative approaches to integrating WASH and child protection, such as using mobile technology for monitoring or community-led total sanitation. Overall, the target audience comprises entities that can deliver high-impact, scalable, and sustainable capacity-building programs in challenging contexts.

Priorities

UNICEF's global priorities for this funding opportunity revolve around three core pillars: enhancing system resilience, promoting integrated service delivery, and strengthening local governance. Key investment KPIs include measurable improvements in WASH infrastructure functionality (target: 80% of facilities operational after 2 years), reduction in child protection violations (target: 30% decrease in reported cases), and increased local capacity through training (target: at least 500 government and NGO staff trained). Donor priorities emphasize gender-responsive programming, disability inclusion, and conflict sensitivity. Projects must align with UNICEF's Strategic Plan and the Humanitarian Action for Children framework. Specific technical priorities include: (1) developing institutional capacities for WASH service delivery in fragile settings, focusing on water quality monitoring and hygiene behavior change; (2) strengthening child protection case management and referral systems; (3) promoting cross-sectoral coordination between WASH and child protection actors; and (4) building monitoring and evaluation systems to track outcomes. Donors also prioritize sustainability through local ownership, with a requirement that 70% of project activities be implemented by local partners. Innovation in using digital tools for data collection and remote capacity building is highly valued. Finally, projects must address gender-based violence prevention and response, ensuring safe WASH facilities and child-friendly spaces.

Eligibility

Financial eligibility requires that organizations submit audited financial statements for the past three years, with an annual budget of at least USD 500,000. A minimum of 20% co-financing is expected from partners, either in cash or in-kind. Spatial eligibility specifies that projects can be implemented in any fragile or conflict-affected country where UNICEF has a presence; priority will be given to countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. Legal corporate audits must confirm that the organization is registered in its country of origin and in the country of implementation, with valid tax clearance. No sanctions or debarments from UN or other donors should exist. The organization must have a valid legal status as a non-profit or for-profit entity with a social mission. Additionally, a legally responsible representative must be designated. For consortia, a lead partner must be identified, with a memorandum of understanding outlining roles and responsibilities. Gender parity in staffing and governance is expected. Organizations must also have safeguarding policies in place for children and vulnerable groups. Proof of liability insurance is required. Finally, the organization must not have any conflicts of interest with UNICEF staff or other partners.

Path to Success

To secure funding from UNICEF under this call, organizations should follow a strategic roadmap integrating GSLI training courses to enhance proposal competitiveness. Step 1: Strengthen Technical and Financial Capacity. Enroll in GSLI's 'WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene)' and 'Project Management for Development' courses to deepen expertise in integrated WASH-child protection interventions and project lifecycle management. These courses provide practical tools for designing context-sensitive interventions and managing budgets effectively, directly addressing UNICEF's emphasis on technical rigour and sustainability. Step 2: Build a Comprehensive Consortium. Identify partners with complementary strengths, such as local NGOs for community engagement and research institutions for M&E. Use GSLI's 'Procurement & Supply Chain' training to develop robust supply chain plans for WASH materials and child protection supplies. Step 3: Develop a Theory of Change Aligned with Donor KPIs. Clearly articulate how WASH improvements contribute to child protection outcomes (e.g., reducing gender-based violence by providing safe water points). Utilize GSLI's 'Monitoring & Evaluation for Development' course to design indicator frameworks that track both outputs (e.g., number of trainings) and outcomes (e.g., reduction in open defecation). Step 4: Submit a Detailed Proposal. Include a risk matrix, sustainability plan, and cross-cutting themes like gender and inclusion. GSLI's 'Writing Winning Proposals' and 'Grants Management' courses offer templates and strategies for crafting compelling narratives. Post-submission, engage with UNICEF for feedback and be prepared for a negotiation phase. By leveraging GSLI's training, organizations can demonstrate the capacity to manage complex projects, ensure financial accountability, and deliver measurable impact.

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Deadline: 2026-10-15

Persona: General

Urgency: Normal