WHO Global Grant for Climate-Resilient Health Systems and WASH Integration in Vulnerable Communities 2026

The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a global grant opportunity for integrating climate-resilient health systems with WASH interventions in vulnerable communities. This grant builds on WHO’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response (HEPR) framework, addressing the rising burden of climate-sensitive diseases such as cholera, malaria, and dengue fever, which are exacerbated by inadequate WASH infrastructure. With a total funding envelope of USD 50 million, the grant aims to support 10-15 multi-country consortia over a 36-month implementation period. Priority countries are located in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, including Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, and Yemen. The grant aligns with SDGs 3 (Good Health and Well-being), 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), and 13 (Climate Action). Applicants must demonstrate robust organizational capacity in public health, WASH engineering, community engagement, and financial management. A minimum of 15% co-financing is required, emphasizing local ownership and sustainability. Key deadlines: concept notes are due July 15, 2026, with full proposals required by October 30, 2026. Successful applicants will integrate digital health solutions for real-time monitoring and leverage multi-sectoral partnerships to achieve measurable health outcomes.

Eligible applicants include international non-governmental organizations (INGOs), national civil society organizations (CSOs), academic institutions, and public-private partnerships registered in WHO member states. Consortia must demonstrate at least five years of combined experience in health systems strengthening and WASH programming. Preference will be given to entities with proven track records in climate adaptation projects, as evidenced by previous grants from the Green Climate Fund or similar donors. The lead applicant must have an annual budget exceeding USD 5 million and audited financial statements for the past three fiscal years. Local organizations from priority countries are strongly encouraged to apply as primary partners. WHO seeks a balance between technical expertise and local knowledge, requiring that at least 40% of the project team be composed of in-country personnel. Collaborative arrangements with ministries of health and water authorities are mandatory; letters of intent from government counterparts must be submitted with the full proposal. Applicants must also demonstrate capacity in monitoring and evaluation (M&E), with dedicated M&E officers and a functional data management system. Gender and social inclusion are cross-cutting themes; the proposal must articulate how the project reduces inequalities and empowers marginalized groups, including women, children, and persons with disabilities. WHO will reject applications from entities with a history of fraud or mismanagement; thus, a clean audit record is essential.

The donor’s priorities are structured around four pillars: (1) Strengthening health system resilience to climate shocks through integrated WASH services in healthcare facilities; (2) Enhancing community-based disease surveillance and early warning systems for climate-sensitive diseases (e.g., cholera, dengue, malaria); (3) Building capacity for climate-informed health governance, including policy development and budget allocation; (4) Promoting innovation in sustainable WASH technologies, such as solar-powered water treatment and rainwater harvesting. Key performance indicators (KPIs) include a 30% reduction in waterborne disease incidence in target facilities, a 50% increase in the number of healthcare facilities with basic WASH services, and a 25% improvement in community health worker knowledge of climate-health linkages. WHO emphasizes value for money, expecting a cost-effectiveness ratio of less than USD 500 per disability-adjusted life year (DALY) averted. Additionally, the donor requires that at least 20% of the budget be allocated to local capacity building and that all interventions are aligned with national health sector plans and climate adaptation strategies. Data disaggregation by age, sex, and disability is mandatory for all reporting. The grant also prioritizes projects that leverage digital health platforms, such as DHIS2, for real-time data reporting and interoperability with national health information systems. Finally, WHO expects grantees to actively participate in cross-country learning networks and to disseminate lessons learned through peer-reviewed publications and policy briefs.

Comprehensive eligibility criteria are as follows: (1) Legal status: Applicants must be legally registered in a WHO member state as a non-profit entity, academic institution, or for-profit organization with a social mission; for-profit entities must demonstrate reinvestment of profits into program activities. (2) Financial capacity: The lead applicant must submit audited financial statements for the last three years, showing annual expenditures of at least USD 2 million; a minimum liquidity ratio of 1.5 is required. (3) Technical capacity: The organization must have at least five full-time staff with advanced degrees in public health, environmental engineering, or related fields; evidence of prior WASH or health systems grants (e.g., from USAID, DFID, or GFATM) is mandatory. (4) Partnership requirements: Consortia must include at least three organizations from different sectors (e.g., health, WASH, and climate) and a local partner from the target country; each partner must submit a signed memorandum of understanding (MOU). (5) Geographic focus: Projects must be implemented in WHO-designated priority countries, including Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, and Yemen; proposals targeting multiple countries in the same region are preferred. (6) Compliance: All applicants must adhere to WHO’s ethical standards, including no conflict of interest, no recent fraud or corruption convictions, and compliance with sanctions lists; a self-declaration form must be signed. (7) Language: Proposals must be submitted in English, French, or Spanish; multi-lingual proposals are not accepted. Failure to meet any of these criteria will result in immediate disqualification.

Strategic roadmap with GSLI integration: Step 1: Assemble a Multi-Sectoral Consortium (Months 1-2) – Identify partners with complementary expertise in public health, WASH engineering, and climate science. Engage a local NGO with community trust and a university with data analytics capacity. Use GSLI’s Project Management for Development course to establish project governance structures, including a steering committee and technical working groups. Step 2: Co-Design a Theory of Change and Results Framework (Months 2-3) – Conduct a participatory workshop to map the causal pathways from climate-resilient WASH to health outcomes. Define SMART indicators aligned with WHO’s KPIs. Enroll key staff in GSLI’s Monitoring & Evaluation for Development course to master data collection tools (e.g., DHIS2 modules) and adaptive management techniques. Step 3: Develop a Cost-Effective Budget and Risk Mitigation Plan (Months 3-4) – Use activity-based costing to allocate resources efficiently, ensuring at least 20% for capacity building. Identify risks such as supply chain disruptions (e.g., for chlorination tablets) and political instability. Mitigate through GSLI’s Procurement & Supply Chain course, which teaches contingency planning and supplier diversification. Step 4: Write a Compelling Technical Proposal (Months 4-5) – Articulate the consortium’s experience, focusing on past WASH-health integration projects. Include a detailed M&E plan with baseline, mid-term, and end-line evaluations. Leverage GSLI’s Writing Winning Proposals course to structure the narrative around WHO’s evaluation criteria: relevance (30%), technical soundness (25%), capacity (20%), budget (15%), and sustainability (10%). Step 5: Submit and Prepare for Negotiations (Month 6) – Submit the concept note by the deadline, followed by the full proposal. Once shortlisted, participate in WHO’s negotiation session, where financial management and compliance are scrutinized. GSLI’s Financial Management for NGOs and Grants Management courses will empower your team to demonstrate robust internal controls, audit readiness, and fiduciary responsibility. By integrating these GSLI courses, your consortium will build the institutional capacity required to implement the grant effectively and position itself for future funding from WHO and other donors.