UNICEF Global WASH Systems Strengthening and Capacity Building Partnership 2027-2031

The UNICEF Global WASH Systems Strengthening and Capacity Building Partnership 2027-2031 is a monumental five-year initiative designed to address the systemic challenges that hinder universal access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene. This partnership is not merely a funding opportunity; it is a strategic alliance aimed at transforming WASH governance, service delivery, and community health outcomes in up to 30 low- and middle-income countries. The call for proposals, published by UNICEF’s Supply Division, seeks partners with proven expertise in multi-sectoral programming, financial integrity, and a commitment to gender equality and climate resilience. The total partnership value is estimated at $500 million across multiple awards, with individual grants ranging from $5 million to $50 million depending on the scope and country coverage. The deadline for submission is October 15, 2026, allowing organizations ample time to conduct internal audits, form consortia, and develop comprehensive proposals. The donor emphasizes a systems strengthening approach, moving beyond project-based interventions to create lasting institutional capacity. This includes supporting governments in policy development, regulatory oversight, and sustainable financing models. The partnership also prioritizes innovation, requiring partners to pilot at least two new technologies or approaches, such as desalination for coastal communities or smart water meters for urban areas. COVID-19 and climate change have underscored the fragility of WASH systems, making this partnership critical for building back better. UNICEF’s experience in over 100 countries ensures that the initiative is grounded in evidence and adaptive to local contexts. Potential partners should note that the RFP is divided into lots by region, allowing bidders to apply for one or multiple lots. The evaluation criteria are weighted 70% technical (including capacity, methodology, and past performance) and 30% financial (cost-effectiveness and value for money). The overview underscores that this is a highly competitive opportunity, requiring bidders to demonstrate not only technical excellence but also alignment with UNICEF’s core values of integrity, transparency, and accountability. Organizations that invest in professional development through GSLI’s courses will be better positioned to meet these high standards, as the training enhances skills in proposal writing, financial management, and program design. The partnership’s duration (2027-2031) aligns with the final push towards SDG 6, making it a legacy opportunity for organizations that can deliver transformative results. The overview concludes by urging potential bidders to start internal preparations immediately, including a rigorous gap analysis of their current capacities against the RFP requirements.

Strategic Overview

Who is it For?

This partnership is designed for a diverse range of entities including international non-governmental organizations (INGOs), local NGOs, academic and research institutions, private sector companies, and consortia thereof. Eligible applicants must be legally constituted in a United Nations member state and have operational presence in at least two of UNICEF’s targeted regions (Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East). Ideal recipients are organizations with a minimum of eight years of experience in WASH systems strengthening, demonstrated capacity to manage multi-million dollar grants (at least $10 million aggregate in the past three fiscal years), and a track record of working with national governments on policy reform. Academic institutions must show applied research capabilities and ability to translate findings into implementable programs. Private sector entities should provide evidence of corporate social responsibility programs in WASH and technical expertise in water infrastructure or behavior change communication. All applicants must comply with UNICEF’s vendor eligibility criteria, including no active sanctions or debarments, financial solvency, and adherence to the UN Supplier Code of Conduct. Organizations with women-led leadership or those from Global South countries are strongly encouraged to apply. The partnership particularly values local organizations that can ensure community engagement and sustainability, but they must be in consortium with an international partner if they lack direct grant management experience of over $2 million.

Priorities

UNICEF’s global priorities for this partnership center on five key investment KPIs: (1) Governance: strengthening national WASH policies, regulatory frameworks, and institutional capacities in at least 20 countries; (2) Service Delivery: expanding access to safely managed water and sanitation services to at least 15 million people, with a focus on rural areas and informal settlements; (3) Behavior Change: achieving sustained adoption of key hygiene behaviors (handwashing with soap, safe water storage) in 40% of target households, measured through FGDs and structured observations; (4) Climate Resilience: integrating climate adaptation measures into 60% of all WASH infrastructure investments, ensuring functionality and safety under extreme weather events; (5) Gender and Inclusion: ensuring 50% women’s representation in decision-making bodies and addressing specific needs of people with disabilities and marginalized groups. The donor emphasizes innovation, requiring each partner to pilot at least two new technologies or financing mechanisms (e.g., results-based financing, digital monitoring). Additionally, UNICEF prioritizes partnerships that actively promote local private sector engagement, with a target of 30% of total project expenditure sourced from local suppliers. The investment KPIs will be tracked through a centralized data platform with quarterly reporting cycles, and partners must demonstrate a learning agenda that adapts programs based on real-time data. Failure to meet intermediate milestones (80% of targets by Year 3) may trigger a performance improvement plan or termination.

Eligibility

Eligibility criteria are stringent and require comprehensive financial, spatial, and corporate legal audits. Financially, organizations must submit audited financial statements for the past three years showing consistent annual revenues exceeding $5 million for international organizations or $1 million for local organizations, with a debt-to-equity ratio not exceeding 2:1. Spatially, applicants must demonstrate operational capacity in the proposed intervention countries, including having a registered office or partnership agreement with a local entity, and must provide evidence of community engagement and government endorsement. Legally, entities must be registered as non-profit or for-profit with a clear WASH mandate, and must have no conflicts of interest with UNICEF or its partners. Corporate documents required include: certificate of incorporation, tax exemption or registration, board resolution approving the partnership, and policies on anti-fraud, anti-corruption, child safeguarding, and gender equality. Additionally, bidders must complete a pre-qualification questionnaire (UNICEF PQQ) demonstrating capacity in financial management, M&E, and risk management. Technical audits will assess previous project performance through donor references and field visits. For consortia, each member must individually meet these criteria, and a lead partner must be designated with a consolidated audit. The donor will also verify that organizations are not listed on any UN security council sanctions lists. Failure to provide any of these audited documents will result in automatic disqualification.

Path to Success

The path to a successful bid begins with a comprehensive internal audit and strategic alignment. Step 1: Conduct a Deep Readiness Assessment (Month 1-2). Form an internal task force to review UNICEF’s request for proposal (RFP) thoroughly. Assess your organization’s current capacity against the eligibility and priority criteria: financial thresholds, geographic presence, technical expertise, and governance policies. Identify gaps and develop a remediation plan. For example, if your M&E system lacks real-time data integration, consider enrolling in GSLI’s ‘Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)’ course to understand results-based management frameworks and digital data collection tools. This course will equip your team to design a robust M&E plan that meets UNICEF’s quarterly reporting requirements. Step 2: Forge Strategic Partnerships (Month 2-3). Given the partnership’s complexity, it is advisable to form a consortium that combines international reach with local roots. Approach potential partners with complementary strengths—such as an academic institution for research, a local NGO for community engagement, and a private firm for construction. Draft a memorandum of understanding (MoU) specifying roles, cost-sharing, and governance. To enhance your proposal, enroll key consortium members in GSLI’s ‘WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene)’ course to ensure a common language on systems strengthening and behavior change models. Step 3: Co-Design the Program Logic (Month 3-5). Develop a coherent theory of change and logical framework aligned with UNICEF’s priorities. Use participatory workshops with stakeholders (government, communities, and partners) to define outcomes, indicators, and milestones. Ensure your design includes gender and climate lenses. During this phase, take GSLI’s ‘Writing Winning Proposals’ course to master the art of crafting a compelling narrative that clearly links activities to outputs and outcomes. Step 4: Prepare and Submit the Technical and Financial Proposal (Month 5-8). Draft the technical proposal, detailing your methodology, management structure, risk mitigation, and sustainability plan. The financial proposal should be cost-efficient but realistic, with a detailed budget broken by activity, year, and funding source. UNICEF requires cost sharing; aim for at least 10% co-financing from other donors or own funds. Complete the pre-qualification questionnaire and gather all required documents. Before submission, conduct a mock review by experts—GSLI’s ‘Grants Management’ course can train your finance team on UNICEF’s financial reporting standards and audit readiness. Finally, submit the proposal by October 15, 2026, and prepare for potential negotiations and field verifications.

Recommended GSLI Courses

WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene)
Project Management for Development
Fundraising & Resource Mobilization
Grants Management

Deadline: 2026-10-15

Persona: General

Urgency: Normal