UNICEF Global Call for Proposals: Strengthening WASH Procurement and Supply Chain Resilience in Humanitarian Settings

The UNICEF Global Call for Proposals 'Strengthening WASH Procurement and Supply Chain Resilience in Humanitarian Settings' represents a landmark opportunity to address a persistent challenge in humanitarian aid: the timely and cost-effective delivery of water, sanitation, and hygiene commodities to crisis-affected populations. With millions of people displaced by conflict and climate disasters, the need for robust supply chains has never been greater. This call is part of UNICEF's broader effort to revolutionize its supply chain mechanisms, moving from a predominantly reactive model to a proactive, resilience-focused system. The initiative seeks to fund projects that can demonstrate measurable improvements in reducing lead times, increasing local procurement, and ensuring product quality. It also encourages innovation, such as the use of data analytics for forecasting and the integration of renewable energy in supply chains. The total funding available is substantial, with grants ranging from $500,000 to $5 million, making it attractive for both large international NGOs and smaller local organizations. However, the competition is expected to be high. Therefore, organizations must submit technically sound, evidence-based proposals that clearly articulate the problem, the proposed intervention, and the expected impact. The deadline is July 20, 2026, giving applicants approximately 18 months to prepare. This timeline allows for thorough needs assessments, partnership building, and capacity strengthening, including enrollment in GSLI courses. The call emphasizes partnership and local ownership, so proposals that include local stakeholders and governments will be viewed favorably. Additionally, UNICEF is keen on environmental sustainability, so projects that reduce carbon footprints and promote green procurement will stand out. In summary, this overview highlights the strategic importance of the call and the high standards that applicants must meet to secure funding. Applicants should start by reviewing UNICEF's background documents on current WASH supply chain challenges. These include reports on supply chain disruptions due to COVID-19, which caused severe delays and increased costs. The key lesson is that over-reliance on a single source of supply (e.g., international markets) is risky. Therefore, the call encourages diversifying supply sources and building local capacity. Another document of importance is UNICEF's 'WASH in Humanitarian Action Technical Guidelines', which outline minimum standards for water quality, sanitation facilities, and hygiene promotion. Proposals must align with these standards. Furthermore, the call is part of UNICEF's 'Humanitarian Supply Chain Strategy 2022-2025', which targets a 30% reduction in procurement lead times and a 50% increase in local procurement. Applicants must show how their project contributes to these targets. The call also requires a strong gender analysis, as women and girls are disproportionately affected by poor WASH services. Therefore, proposals should include activities that address specific gender barriers, such as involving women in supply chain decision-making. Overall, this overview sets the stage for a detailed understanding of the call's requirements. Finally, it is crucial to understand the geopolitical and funding context. The call is launched as part of UNICEF's annual work plan, but it also leverages global attention on water security. With the UN 2023 Water Conference and the SDG 6 Global Acceleration Framework, there is enhanced focus on water issues. This call aligns with the 'Water Action Agenda' and can attract co-financing from other donors. Organizations that can demonstrate alignment with these global initiatives may have an advantage. Additionally, UNICEF often collaborates with other UN agencies (e.g., WHO, UNHCR) on WASH in emergencies, so proposals that include multi-agency cooperation are encouraged. The funding instrument is a standard program cooperation agreement (PCA) for NGOs or a procurement service agreement (PSA) for private sector. Understanding these contractual nuances is important for budgeting and compliance. In conclusion, this overview provides a comprehensive review, emphasizing the need for deep contextual knowledge and strategic alignment.

Strategic Overview

The UNICEF Global Call for Proposals 'Strengthening WASH Procurement and Supply Chain Resilience in Humanitarian Settings' represents a landmark opportunity to address a persistent challenge in humanitarian aid: the timely and cost-effective delivery of water, sanitation, and hygiene commodities to crisis-affected populations. With millions of people displaced by conflict and climate disasters, the need for robust supply chains has never been greater. This call is part of UNICEF's broader effort to revolutionize its supply chain mechanisms, moving from a predominantly reactive model to a proactive, resilience-focused system. The initiative seeks to fund projects that can demonstrate measurable improvements in reducing lead times, increasing local procurement, and ensuring product quality. It also encourages innovation, such as the use of data analytics for forecasting and the integration of renewable energy in supply chains. The total funding available is substantial, with grants ranging from $500,000 to $5 million, making it attractive for both large international NGOs and smaller local organizations. However, the competition is expected to be high. Therefore, organizations must submit technically sound, evidence-based proposals that clearly articulate the problem, the proposed intervention, and the expected impact. The deadline is July 20, 2026, giving applicants approximately 18 months to prepare. This timeline allows for thorough needs assessments, partnership building, and capacity strengthening, including enrollment in GSLI courses. The call emphasizes partnership and local ownership, so proposals that include local stakeholders and governments will be viewed favorably. Additionally, UNICEF is keen on environmental sustainability, so projects that reduce carbon footprints and promote green procurement will stand out. In summary, this overview highlights the strategic importance of the call and the high standards that applicants must meet to secure funding. Applicants should start by reviewing UNICEF's background documents on current WASH supply chain challenges. These include reports on supply chain disruptions due to COVID-19, which caused severe delays and increased costs. The key lesson is that over-reliance on a single source of supply (e.g., international markets) is risky. Therefore, the call encourages diversifying supply sources and building local capacity. Another document of importance is UNICEF's 'WASH in Humanitarian Action Technical Guidelines', which outline minimum standards for water quality, sanitation facilities, and hygiene promotion. Proposals must align with these standards. Furthermore, the call is part of UNICEF's 'Humanitarian Supply Chain Strategy 2022-2025', which targets a 30% reduction in procurement lead times and a 50% increase in local procurement. Applicants must show how their project contributes to these targets. The call also requires a strong gender analysis, as women and girls are disproportionately affected by poor WASH services. Therefore, proposals should include activities that address specific gender barriers, such as involving women in supply chain decision-making. Overall, this overview sets the stage for a detailed understanding of the call's requirements. Finally, it is crucial to understand the geopolitical and funding context. The call is launched as part of UNICEF's annual work plan, but it also leverages global attention on water security. With the UN 2023 Water Conference and the SDG 6 Global Acceleration Framework, there is enhanced focus on water issues. This call aligns with the 'Water Action Agenda' and can attract co-financing from other donors. Organizations that can demonstrate alignment with these global initiatives may have an advantage. Additionally, UNICEF often collaborates with other UN agencies (e.g., WHO, UNHCR) on WASH in emergencies, so proposals that include multi-agency cooperation are encouraged. The funding instrument is a standard program cooperation agreement (PCA) for NGOs or a procurement service agreement (PSA) for private sector. Understanding these contractual nuances is important for budgeting and compliance. In conclusion, this overview provides a comprehensive review, emphasizing the need for deep contextual knowledge and strategic alignment.

Who is it For?

This call is open to a wide range of organizations, including international non-governmental organizations (INGOs), national NGOs, community-based organizations, social enterprises, academic institutions, and private sector entities with demonstrated expertise in WASH and supply chain management. UNICEF encourages applications from both consortia and single entities. Eligible organizations must have a legal registration in the country of operation or be willing to partner with locally registered entities. They should have a proven track record in delivering WASH programs in humanitarian settings, with at least 3-5 years of relevant experience. Preference will be given to entities that have existing partnerships with local governments, UN agencies, or other humanitarian actors. Additionally, organizations must demonstrate financial stability, with audited accounts for the last two fiscal years, and have a minimum annual turnover of $1 million. For private sector applicants, corporate social responsibility (CSR) alignment with UNICEF's mission is essential. The call particularly targets entities that can innovate in procurement, such as using eco-friendly materials or digital tracking systems. Local organizations are strongly encouraged to apply, either as lead applicants or as sub-grantees, to strengthen local ownership and capacity. Youth-led organizations and women's groups are also prioritized, in line with UNICEF's gender equality strategy. Applicants must ensure they are not on any sanctions lists and have robust safeguarding policies. The geographical focus includes countries in sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and parts of Latin America where humanitarian crises are ongoing. This eligibility criteria is designed to ensure that only credible, capable, and compliant entities receive funding, thereby maximizing impact and minimizing fiduciary risk.

Priorities

UNICEF's global priorities for this call revolve around strengthening the resilience of WASH supply chains in humanitarian settings. The key investment KPIs include: (1) Reduction in lead times for WASH commodities by at least 30% within the first year of implementation; (2) Increase in local procurement to at least 50% of total supply volume; (3) Improvement in product quality assurance, with a target of 95% compliance with WHO/UNICEF specifications; (4) Enhancement of supply chain visibility through digital tools, aiming for real-time tracking of 80% of shipments; (5) Strengthening of local market systems, including training at least 100 local suppliers on procurement standards; (6) Environmental sustainability, such as reducing plastic waste by 25% through alternative packaging. Additionally, UNICEF prioritizes proposals that integrate gender-sensitive approaches, ensuring that women and girls have equitable access to WASH services. The donor also emphasizes the importance of partnerships with local governments, other UN agencies, and the private sector to avoid duplication and ensure complementarity. Another priority is the scalability of interventions; projects should have a clear plan for scaling up from pilot to national or regional levels within two years. Data-driven decision-making is crucial, so proposals must incorporate robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks that capture outputs, outcomes, and impact. Finally, UNICEF seeks innovations in procurement, such as advanced forecasting models or use of drones for last-mile delivery, to increase efficiency. These priorities reflect the donor's strategic goal of building systems that can withstand shocks and continue delivering essential WASH services during crises.

Eligibility

Comprehensive eligibility requirements include financial, spatial, and legal audits. Financially, organizations must submit audited financial statements for the last two fiscal years, demonstrating sound financial management and capacity to handle grants up to $5 million. They must have a clear accounting system and be able to track expenditures per activity. For-profit entities must submit tax compliance certificates. Spatially, the project must be implemented in one or more predetermined countries (listed in the call guidelines), and organizations must have a physical presence (e.g., country office) in the intended location, or a partner with such presence. They must provide evidence of ability to operate in insecure or remote areas, including security protocols. Legally, organizations must be registered as a legal entity in their home country and, if international, must have a memorandum of understanding with the local government. They must not be debarred or suspended by any UN entity. Additionally, they must have a valid registration in the UN Partner Portal (UNPP) and complete the required partner assessment. Environmental compliance is mandatory; organizations must demonstrate adherence to UNICEF's Environmental and Social Standards. For consortia, a lead applicant must be designated, and a consortium agreement outlining roles, responsibilities, and financial management must be submitted. All applicants must provide a clear organizational structure, including key personnel qualifications. For private sector, the eligibility requires a minimum of three years in WASH supply chain business, with references. These rigorous checks ensure that only highly capable and trustworthy partners handle UNICEF's funds and operations.

Path to Success

To secure funding under this UNICEF call, organizations should follow a strategic roadmap that integrates GSLI's capacity-building courses. Step 1: Pre-Proposal Preparation (Weeks 1-4). Conduct internal gap analysis using GSLI's 'WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene)' course to ensure technical alignment. Assemble a consortium if needed, and leverage GSLI's 'Project Management for Development' training to define roles and responsibilities. Register on the UN Partner Portal and gather required documents (audited accounts, legal registration). Engage with UNICEF country offices early to align priorities. Step 2: Technical Proposal Design (Weeks 5-10). Develop a theory of change using GSLI's 'Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)' course to design impactful indicators. Highlight innovations in procurement and supply chain resilience, such as digital tracking or local sourcing. Use GSLI's 'Procurement & Supply Chain' course to detail logistics plans, risk assessments, and quality assurance. Include a sustainability strategy that outlines how the project will continue post-funding. Step 3: Financial and Compliance Review (Weeks 11-14). Prepare a detailed budget using GSLI's 'Financial Management for NGOs' course to ensure cost-efficiency and alignment with UNICEF's cost categories (personnel, supplies, travel, etc.). Double-check eligibility criteria to avoid disqualification. Include a risk matrix that identifies potential supply chain disruptions and mitigation measures. Step 4: Submission and Follow-Up (Week 15). Submit before the deadline, ensuring all appendices are complete. After submission, use GSLI's 'Fundraising & Resource Mobilization' course to prepare for any clarification requests. If unsuccessful, the course on 'Writing Winning Proposals' helps in refining the approach for future calls. Throughout the process, maintain clear communication with UNICEF focal points. By integrating GSLI training, organizations can demonstrate enhanced technical expertise, robust financial management, and a strong M&E framework, significantly increasing their chances of success. The roadmap should be iterative, with continuous learning from GSLI courses to adapt to donor feedback.

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Deadline: 2026-07-20

Persona: General

Urgency: Normal