UNICEF Global WASH Systems Strengthening and Capacity Building Partnership 2026-2030 (Phase 2)

The UNICEF Global WASH Systems Strengthening and Capacity Building Partnership 2026-2030 (Phase 2) is a comprehensive call to action for organizations dedicated to advancing water, sanitation, and hygiene on a global scale. Issued by UNICEF, this partnership aims to transition from fragmented, project-based interventions to systemic, sustainable, and government-led WASH services. The context is the stark reality of the global water crisis: 2.2 billion people lack access to safe drinking water, 3.5 billion lack safely managed sanitation, and 2 billion lack basic hygiene facilities. These deficits cause unnecessary disease, death, and economic loss, particularly among children in low-income countries. The partnership directly supports the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, specifically SDG 6, and builds on the momentum from the 2023 UN Water Conference, which called for a 500% acceleration in progress. The 2026-2030 timeline positions this as a critical decade for action. The purpose of this call is to select qualified partners to design and implement WASH systems strengthening interventions in up to 30 priority countries, with a total budget envelope of $500 million. Key focus areas include policy and regulatory reform, institutional capacity building, financing strategies, climate resilience, and community engagement. The partnership places a strong emphasis on local ownership, sustainability, and measurable outcomes. It seeks partners that can demonstrate a deep understanding of WASH systems thinking, as well as proven ability to scale successful pilots into national programs. The deadline is September 15, 2026, requiring thorough preparation and a well-conceptualized proposal. This overview provides a comprehensive analysis of the call, including the strategic background, donor priorities, eligibility, and a strategic roadmap to success with integrated GSLI training courses. To succeed, organizations must note that this is a highly competitive opportunity with a rigorous evaluation process. Proposals will be assessed on technical merit, organizational capacity, innovation, and alignment with UNICEF's strategic vision. The evaluation criteria include: (i) approach and methodology (30%), (ii) past performance and capacity (25%), (iii) staffing and management (20%), (iv) budget and value for money (15%), and (v) sustainability and risk management (10%). Therefore, it is crucial to develop a proposal that tells a compelling story of systems transformation backed by concrete data and examples. The integration of GSLI training courses can significantly enhance organizational capacity in key areas such as M&E, financial management, and proposal writing, thereby strengthening each evaluation criterion. Furthermore, the proposal should clearly articulate a theory of change that links activities to outcomes and impact, with measurable indicators. Alignment with UNICEF's global priorities, such as gender equality, climate action, and innovation, will be a deciding factor. Understanding the local context, including political economy, is essential. Organizations are advised to start early, form consortia if needed, and invest in capacity building through GSLI courses to stand out as a trusted partner.

Strategic Overview

The UNICEF Global WASH Systems Strengthening and Capacity Building Partnership 2026-2030 (Phase 2) is a comprehensive call to action for organizations dedicated to advancing water, sanitation, and hygiene on a global scale. Issued by UNICEF, this partnership aims to transition from fragmented, project-based interventions to systemic, sustainable, and government-led WASH services. The context is the stark reality of the global water crisis: 2.2 billion people lack access to safe drinking water, 3.5 billion lack safely managed sanitation, and 2 billion lack basic hygiene facilities. These deficits cause unnecessary disease, death, and economic loss, particularly among children in low-income countries. The partnership directly supports the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, specifically SDG 6, and builds on the momentum from the 2023 UN Water Conference, which called for a 500% acceleration in progress. The 2026-2030 timeline positions this as a critical decade for action. The purpose of this call is to select qualified partners to design and implement WASH systems strengthening interventions in up to 30 priority countries, with a total budget envelope of $500 million. Key focus areas include policy and regulatory reform, institutional capacity building, financing strategies, climate resilience, and community engagement. The partnership places a strong emphasis on local ownership, sustainability, and measurable outcomes. It seeks partners that can demonstrate a deep understanding of WASH systems thinking, as well as proven ability to scale successful pilots into national programs. The deadline is September 15, 2026, requiring thorough preparation and a well-conceptualized proposal. This overview provides a comprehensive analysis of the call, including the strategic background, donor priorities, eligibility, and a strategic roadmap to success with integrated GSLI training courses. To succeed, organizations must note that this is a highly competitive opportunity with a rigorous evaluation process. Proposals will be assessed on technical merit, organizational capacity, innovation, and alignment with UNICEF's strategic vision. The evaluation criteria include: (i) approach and methodology (30%), (ii) past performance and capacity (25%), (iii) staffing and management (20%), (iv) budget and value for money (15%), and (v) sustainability and risk management (10%). Therefore, it is crucial to develop a proposal that tells a compelling story of systems transformation backed by concrete data and examples. The integration of GSLI training courses can significantly enhance organizational capacity in key areas such as M&E, financial management, and proposal writing, thereby strengthening each evaluation criterion. Furthermore, the proposal should clearly articulate a theory of change that links activities to outcomes and impact, with measurable indicators. Alignment with UNICEF's global priorities, such as gender equality, climate action, and innovation, will be a deciding factor. Understanding the local context, including political economy, is essential. Organizations are advised to start early, form consortia if needed, and invest in capacity building through GSLI courses to stand out as a trusted partner.

Who is it For?

This call is open to a diverse range of entities including international non-governmental organizations (INGOs), national NGOs, research and academic institutions, private sector consulting firms specialized in WASH, and UN agencies or multilateral development banks. Eligible organizations must have a proven track record of at least 10 years in WASH systems strengthening, with demonstrable experience in at least two of the following areas: (i) policy and regulatory reform, (ii) financing and budgeting, (iii) institutional capacity building, (iv) monitoring and evaluation, and (v) community engagement. Priority will be given to organizations that can demonstrate operational presence in multiple UNICEF programme countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Bidders must have an established legal entity, audited financial statements for the last three years, and a minimum annual turnover of $20 million USD. Consortia are encouraged to include local and women-led organizations to ensure contextual relevance and sustainability. For academic institutions, specific experience in WASH research-to-practice is required, with at least five peer-reviewed publications in the last five years on related topics. Private sector firms must demonstrate corporate social responsibility alignment and conflict of interest avoidance. All entities must comply with UNICEF's Supplier Code of Conduct and zero-tolerance policy for fraud, corruption, and sexual exploitation. Language proficiency in English is mandatory; working knowledge of French or Spanish is an asset. Eligibility also requires submission of a preliminary concept note and expression of interest through UNICEF's e-submission portal.

Priorities

UNICEF's global priorities for this partnership focus on six key investment KPIs: (1) System strengthening at national and sub-national levels, ensuring WASH services are resilient, sustainable, and managed by local institutions; (2) Capacity building of government and local actors through training, mentorship, and technical assistance; (3) Climate-resilient WASH infrastructure and services, integrating climate risk assessments into planning; (4) Innovation in WASH technologies and financing, including results-based financing and blended finance mechanisms; (5) Strengthening accountability mechanisms through community monitoring and feedback loops; (6) Gender equality and social inclusion (GESI), ensuring WASH programs address the specific needs of women, girls, and marginalized groups. Additionally, the donor emphasizes harmonization with national WASH policies, as well as alignment with UNICEF's WASH Strategy and the SDGs. Key performance indicators include: at least 80% of targeted institutions achieving a defined capacity baseline, a 30% reduction in time to repair WASH infrastructure, and 50% of program countries adopting climate-resilient plans. UNICEF expects bidders to propose KPIs that are ambitious yet measurable, with clear baseline and target values. The partnership also prioritizes knowledge management and evidence generation, with commitments to publish at least five case studies annually and contribute to global WASH learning platforms. Finally, the donor expects all activities to incorporate a do-no-harm approach and conflict sensitivity, particularly in fragile contexts.

Eligibility

Comprehensive eligibility requirements include financial, spatial, and corporate legal audits. Financially, the lead applicant must have a minimum annual revenue of $20 million USD (or equivalent) and provide audited financial statements for the past three fiscal years. Internal control systems must be robust, with documented procurement and financial policies. A fiscal sponsor may be allowed for local organizations if a contract is established. Spatially, the applicant must have active operations in at least five country offices across at least two regions (Africa, Asia, Latin America, or Eastern Europe). Existing country offices must have a minimum of three years of continuous presence and demonstrate government accreditation or registration. Corporate legal audits require the applicant to be a legally registered entity in its country of domicile, with valid registration and tax compliance certificates. The organization must have a proven record of managing at least three grants from institutional donors (e.g., UN agencies, World Bank, USAID, DFID) each over $5 million in WASH in the last five years. Consortia must have a signed memorandum of understanding and a clear lead partner. Ineligibility applies to entities on UN sanctions lists, with conflicts of interest concerning UNICEF staff, or those with a history of fraud or misconduct. Due diligence will include a review of past performance, including on-site inspections if necessary. All applicants must certify no child labor or forced labor is used and comply with international labor standards. Additionally, they must demonstrate a policy on preventing sexual exploitation and abuse, with a designated focal point.

Path to Success

To succeed in this bid, follow a strategic roadmap integrated with GSLI training courses. **Step 1: Build Technical Capacity (WASH and Public Health & Epidemiology).** Enroll key staff in GSLI's WASH course (https://gsli.org/courses/wash) to deepen understanding of water quality, sanitation systems, hygiene behavior change, and the latest innovations. Simultaneously, take the Public Health & Epidemiology course (https://gsli.org/courses/public-health) to strengthen data analysis and disease surveillance skills, essential for demonstrating impact. **Step 2: Strengthen Management Systems (Project Management for Development and Financial Management for NGOs).** The Project Management for Development course (https://gsli.org/courses/project-management) provides frameworks for results-based management, logical frameworks, and stakeholder engagement. The Financial Management for NGOs course (https://gsli.org/courses/financial-management) covers budgeting, cost recovery, and donor compliance, critical for managing a multi-million-dollar partnership. **Step 3: Enhance Proposal Development (Writing Winning Proposals and Grants Management).** The Writing Winning Proposals course (https://gsli.org/courses/proposal-writing) offers step-by-step guidance on crafting competitive narratives, defining theories of change, and aligning with donor priorities. The Grants Management course (https://gsli.org/courses/grants-management) ensures knowledge of grant lifecycle management, compliance, and reporting. **Step 4: Demonstrate Impact (Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) and Fundraising & Resource Mobilization).** The M&E course (https://gsli.org/courses/me) equips teams to design robust indicators and data collection systems. The Fundraising course (https://gsli.org/courses/fundraising) helps articulate co-financing strategies and resource mobilization plans, a key priority for UNICEF. By completing these courses, your team will present a comprehensive, credible capability statement. Additionally, consider the Procurement & Supply Chain course (https://gsli.org/courses/procurement) to strengthen logistics and supply chain components of your proposal. GSLI certificates will be included in the proposal to demonstrate institutional commitment to professional development. The combination of technical and management training ensures your organization stands out as a strategic partner ready to deliver systems strengthening at scale.

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Deadline: 2026-09-15

Persona: General

Urgency: Normal