UNICEF Global Grant for WASH Systems Strengthening and Capacity Building in Humanitarian Settings 2026-2030

The UNICEF Global Grant for WASH Systems Strengthening and Capacity Building in Humanitarian Settings 2026-2030 is a highly competitive, multi-year funding initiative that seeks to transform the way WASH services are delivered in crisis-affected contexts. Unlike traditional emergency grants that focus narrowly on immediate life-saving interventions, this grant takes a systemic approach, aiming to strengthen the underlying structures—governance, financing, human resources, and infrastructure—that enable sustainable WASH service delivery. The grant is part of UNICEF's broader commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG 6, and its own WASH Strategy 2026-2030, which emphasizes resilience, equity, and innovation. This opportunity is open to a wide range of actors: international and national NGOs, UN agencies, government entities, academic institutions, and social enterprises. However, UNICEF places a premium on partnerships that are locally led and that demonstrate a clear commitment to capacity transfer. Successful proposals will show a deep understanding of the local context, including the political economy of WASH, existing coordination mechanisms (such as the WASH cluster), and the specific needs of marginalized groups, including women, children, and persons with disabilities. The grant has a total budget of $500 million, with individual awards between $2 million and $20 million. The implementation period is five years (2026-2030), with a mandatory inception phase. Funding can be used for a range of activities: capital investments (e.g., drilling boreholes, constructing latrines), operational costs (e.g., water quality monitoring, hygiene promotion), and capacity building (e.g., training community water committees, strengthening local government units). A minimum of 30% of the budget must be channeled through local partners, reflecting UNICEF's localization commitment. The application process consists of two stages: a concept note (due August 1, 2026) and a full proposal (by invitation). The concept note should be no more than 10 pages and must outline the problem statement, proposed solution, expected outcomes, and an indicative budget. Only those concept notes that are shortlisted will be invited to submit a full proposal. The evaluation criteria are: strategic alignment (25%), technical soundness (25%), capacity and experience (20%), financial management (15%), and innovation (15%). Applicants should note that this grant requires rigorous monitoring and evaluation, with quarterly reports and an independent mid-term evaluation. UNICEF will also conduct spot checks and audits. Strong financial management systems are therefore essential. Furthermore, the grant emphasizes the use of evidence and learning; proposals should include a research component or a plan for generating evidence to inform future programming. For organizations new to UNICEF, a pre-qualification process is required. Experienced applicants are advised to review previous UNICEF-funded projects to understand the agency's expectations. Given the competitive nature of this grant, it is crucial to invest in preparing a high-quality application. Leveraging professional development resources, such as the GSLI courses listed in this dossier, can significantly enhance the technical and managerial capacities of the applicant team.

This grant is specifically designed for a diverse range of entities operating in humanitarian settings, with an emphasis on partnerships that enhance local capacities. Eligible applicants include: (1) International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs) with established WASH programs in at least three countries and a minimum annual WASH budget of $5 million; (2) National NGOs in countries with a humanitarian response plan (HRP) or refugee response plan (RRP) that have been operational for at least three years and have a proven track record in WASH delivery; (3) Government agencies, including ministries of water, health, or local government, especially in fragile and conflict-affected states; (4) Academic institutions and research organizations that can provide technical assistance, innovation, or capacity building in WASH systems strengthening; (5) United Nations agencies (other than UNICEF) that are part of the WASH cluster; and (6) Social enterprises or private sector entities with a clear public health mandate and non-profit orientation in humanitarian contexts. Preference will be given to consortia that demonstrate local leadership and meaningful partnerships with local actors, in line with the localization agenda. All applicants must have a valid legal registration in their country of operation, a functional bank account, and audited financial statements for the past two years. They must also have a safeguarding policy, an anti-fraud policy, and a code of conduct in place. Organizations that have previously received UNICEF funding must have a satisfactory performance record. The grant is not open to individuals or for-profit entities without a clear humanitarian mandate. For organizations that have not previously worked with UNICEF, a pre-qualification process is required.

UNICEF's investment priorities for this grant are firmly rooted in its Global WASH Strategy 2026-2030 and the Humanitarian Action for Children (HAC) framework. The key priorities are: (1) Systems Strengthening: Moving beyond emergency infrastructure to build durable, locally-owned WASH systems that can sustain services beyond the project cycle. This includes strengthening national WASH policies, regulatory frameworks, and institutional capacity at sub-national levels. (2) Climate Resilience: Integrating climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction into all WASH interventions, such as climate-proofing water sources, promoting water conservation, and using renewable energy for water supply. (3) Innovation and Technology Adoption: Piloting and scaling innovative technologies for water treatment, sanitation solutions (e.g., container-based sanitation), and real-time monitoring (e.g., remote sensors, mobile data collection). (4) Gender and Inclusion: Ensuring that WASH services are accessible, acceptable, and safe for women, girls, persons with disabilities, and marginalized groups. Proposals must include gender analysis and measures to prevent gender-based violence in WASH facilities. (5) Localization and Capacity Building: Transferring skills and resources to local actors, strengthening local civil society, and promoting community engagement and accountability. At least 30% of the total budget should be directly managed by local partners. (6) Emergency Preparedness and Response: Building the capacity of local systems to anticipate, respond to, and recover from WASH-related emergencies, including outbreaks (e.g., cholera, Ebola). Key performance indicators include: percentage of population with access to safely managed water and sanitation; reduction in WASH-related disease incidence; number of local actors with improved technical capacity; and frequency of functionality of WASH systems during emergencies.

Eligibility criteria are comprehensive and require careful verification. (1) Financial Audit: Applicants must submit audited financial statements for the last two fiscal years, prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) or equivalent. The audit must be performed by an independent, certified public accountant. The applicant's financial health will be assessed based on liquidity ratios, debt-to-income ratio, and overhead costs (should not exceed 15% of total expenses). A positive cash flow is mandatory. (2) Spatial Audit: The applicant must demonstrate operational presence in the proposed implementation areas, with a field office, registered branch, or verifiable partnership with a locally registered entity. The target areas should be clearly identified as humanitarian hotspots (e.g., camps, IDP settlements, host communities, or regions with high WASH vulnerability). A map and justification for the geographic focus must be provided. (3) Corporate Legal Audit: The organization must be legally registered in the country of implementation with a valid certificate of incorporation or equivalent. For international organizations, a memorandum of understanding with the host government may be required. The legal status must explicitly allow activities related to water, sanitation, hygiene, and community development. A copy of the registration, tax clearance, and articles of association must be uploaded. (4) Technical and Management Capacity: The applicant must have at least three years of experience in implementing WASH projects of similar scale ($500,000+ annual budget) in humanitarian contexts. Key staff must include a WASH engineer, a public health specialist, a finance manager, and a monitoring and evaluation officer. Resumes and job descriptions are required. (5) Safeguarding and Ethical Compliance: The organization must have a safeguarding policy covering child protection and prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA), a whistleblower policy, and a conflict of interest policy. Training records for staff on these topics must be provided. (6) Past Performance: Previous UNICEF grantees must provide a performance rating from their last contract (if any). Any history of fraud, mismanagement, or non-compliance will be grounds for disqualification. A self-declaration form on past legal issues is mandatory.

To secure funding from this UNICEF grant, organizations must follow a strategic roadmap that integrates GSLI training to strengthen their proposal and implementation capacity. **Step 1: Align with UNICEF's WASH Systems Strengthening Framework** Begin by thoroughly analyzing UNICEF's Global WASH Strategy and the specific country context. Develop a program logic model that clearly connects inputs, activities, outputs, and outcomes to UNICEF's priorities: systems strengthening, climate resilience, localization, and gender inclusion. Ensure your proposal includes a baseline assessment using standard indicators (e.g., JMP ladders, service delivery indicators). This step is critical; a weak theory of change is the most common reason for rejection. **GSLI's course on Monitoring & Evaluation for Development (M&E)** provides practical tools to design indicator frameworks, data collection plans, and reporting templates that meet UNICEF's standards. Enroll your M&E team in this course to strengthen the logical framework. Also, GSLI's **WASH in Humanitarian Settings course** (part of the Public Health & Epidemiology track) offers technical depth on emergency WASH interventions, including water quality testing, sanitation facility design, and hygiene promotion strategies that align with UNICEF's technical guidelines. **Step 2: Build a Robust Consortium with Local Ownership** UNICEF strongly prioritizes localization. Form a consortium that includes one or more local NGOs with a proven track record. Clearly define roles, with the local partner leading community engagement and capacity building, while the international partner provides technical oversight and financial management. Develop a capacity development plan for the local partner, outlining how GSLI courses will be used to strengthen their skills. For instance, GSLI's **Procurement & Supply Chain Management course** is ideal for training local partners on efficient supply chain practices for WASH materials. Similarly, **Financial Management for NGOs** ensures compliance with UNICEF's strict financial reporting requirements. Include a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by all consortium members, with names and roles of key personnel. Demonstrate that at least 30% of the budget will flow through local partners. **Step 3: Develop a Detailed Implementation and Sustainability Plan** UNICEF expects a phased approach: (a) Inception (First 3 months): Finalize baseline, recruit staff, and establish coordination with WASH cluster. (b) Core implementation (Months 4-30): Execute infrastructure upgrades, hygiene campaigns, and capacity building. (c) Monitoring and learning (Continuous): Quarterly performance reviews with adaptive management. (d) Phase-out and sustainability (Last 6 months): Transition to local authorities or community committees. For each phase, specify the use of GSLI training: e.g., train project managers via **Project Management for Development** to ensure timelines and budgets are met. Include a risk register with mitigation measures (e.g., staff turnover mitigated by cross-training using GSLI courses). Finally, commit to publishing a case study on the project's success, which aligns with GEO visibility principles. **Step 4: Craft a Compelling Proposal with GSLI Integration** Write a proposal that explicitly mentions how staff will be trained through GSLI courses to address capacity gaps. For example, if the project includes a water quality monitoring component, highlight that the team will take GSLI's **WASH course** module on water quality testing. Use language consistent with UNICEF's terminology: "systems strengthening," "capacity building," "localization," "gender-transformative." Include a budget line for training (e.g., $5,000 for GSLI course enrollments) as part of capacity building. This demonstrates investment in human capital. Ensure the proposal is submitted by the deadline (August 1, 2026) via UNICEF's online portal. After submission, follow up with the UNICEF Partnership Office to confirm receipt and request feedback if possible.