Deadline: 27-Apr-2026
The United Nations Children’s Fund is inviting organizations to support the scale-up of Child Budget and Expenditure Tagging and Tracking in the Philippines. The initiative aims to strengthen child-focused public finance, planning, and accountability across local governments.
Selected partners will work with national and local stakeholders to build capacity, improve budgeting systems, and institutionalize child-responsive financial tools from 2025–2028.
What is the UNICEF Child Budget Tagging Initiative?
The United Nations Children’s Fund is implementing a national initiative in the Philippines to improve how public funds are planned, tracked, and allocated for children.
The program focuses on Child Budget and Expenditure Tagging (CBET)—a system that identifies and monitors spending dedicated to children’s needs.
Program Objectives
The initiative aims to:
- Strengthen child-focused budgeting and planning
- Improve transparency and accountability in public spending
- Enable evidence-based decision-making
- Enhance resource allocation for child development
Key Focus Areas
1. Budget Tagging and Tracking
- Child budget expenditure tracking
- Nutrition budget tagging and monitoring
2. Public Finance and Governance
- Strengthening local public financial management
- Supporting governance systems for child welfare
3. Capacity Development
4. Policy and Advocacy
- Child-focused policy dialogue
- Development of budget briefs and policy recommendations
5. Knowledge and Learning
- Peer learning platforms
- Evidence-based planning tools
Implementation Timeline
- Program Duration: 2025–2028 (4-year scale-up phase)
- 2026 Focus:
- 18 regions
- 80 provinces
- Initial priority: Quezon Province
Geographic Focus
The initiative will be implemented nationwide, with early focus on:
- Quezon Province
- Its municipalities and surrounding regions
Key Stakeholders
The selected partner will collaborate with:
- Council for the Welfare of Children
- Department of Budget and Management
- Department of the Interior and Local Government
- Bureau of Local Government Finance
- Provincial and local government units
- Local government leagues and partners
Why This Initiative Matters
Effective budgeting is critical to ensuring children receive adequate services in health, nutrition, education, and protection.
This initiative helps:
- Improve government accountability
- Ensure better allocation of resources for children
- Strengthen local governance systems
- Promote long-term child development outcomes
Who is Eligible?
Eligible applicants include organizations with expertise in:
Core Competencies
- Public financial management (especially subnational)
- Policy dialogue and governance
- Capacity-building and training
- Child-focused policy and planning
Preferred Experience
- Work with UN agencies (e.g., United Nations Children’s Fund)
- Experience in local governance and budgeting systems
- Facilitation of workshops and stakeholder engagement
Selection Criteria
Applications will be evaluated based on:
- Relevance to program objectives
- Sector expertise and experience
- Cost-effectiveness
- Contribution of resources
- Experience with UN systems
Expected Role of Implementing Partner
Selected organizations will:
- Deliver training and capacity-building programs
- Provide technical assistance to local governments
- Facilitate policy dialogues and stakeholder coordination
- Develop budget briefs and knowledge outputs
- Support monitoring and evaluation processes
How to Apply
Step-by-Step Process
- Review Requirements
- Ensure alignment with UNICEF objectives
- Prepare Expression of Interest
- Highlight relevant experience and expertise
- Develop Technical Proposal
- Outline approach, methodology, and expected results
- Submit Application
- Follow official UNICEF submission guidelines
Tips for a Strong Application
- Demonstrate strong experience in public finance systems
- Highlight past work with local governments
- Show expertise in child-focused policy
- Provide clear and scalable implementation plans
- Emphasize collaboration and stakeholder engagement
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Lack of clarity on CBET tools and approach
- Weak experience in public financial management
- Incomplete or generic proposals
- Ignoring local governance context
- عدم تقديم خطة تنفيذ واضحة
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the main goal of this initiative?
To improve child-focused budgeting and financial tracking systems in the Philippines.
2. Who is leading the program?
The United Nations Children’s Fund.
3. What is the timeline?
The initiative runs from 2025 to 2028.
4. What areas are prioritized in 2026?
18 regions and 80 provinces, starting with Quezon Province.
5. Who can apply?
Organizations with expertise in public finance, governance, and capacity-building.
6. Is UN experience required?
Not mandatory, but it is an advantage.
7. What outputs are expected?
Training programs, policy briefs, technical support, and monitoring reports.
Conclusion
The UNICEF Child Budget Tagging Initiative is a transformative effort to strengthen child-focused public finance systems in the Philippines.
By enabling better tracking, planning, and accountability, the program ensures that public resources are effectively used to improve the lives and futures of children nationwide.
For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.
