Call for EOIs: Advancing Education, Protection, and Social Services in Nugaal (Somalia)

UNICEF Somalia is inviting grant applications to support children, adolescents, and women in the Nugaal region through integrated education, child protection, and social protection programs.

The initiative emphasizes inclusion, gender equality, disability access, and resilience, combining immediate humanitarian support with long-term development strategies to strengthen local systems and improve outcomes for vulnerable populations.

The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) is requesting grant applications to strengthen essential services for vulnerable communities in the Nugaal region of Somalia.

This initiative integrates humanitarian response with long-term development, focusing on inclusive, cross-sectoral interventions that promote equitable access, resilience, and community participation.

Purpose of the Grant

The grant aims to:

• Expand access to quality education for children and adolescents, including out-of-school populations

• Strengthen child protection services for children and women affected by violence, exploitation, or abuse

• Improve social protection systems to reduce multidimensional child poverty

• Promote disability inclusion, gender equality, and women’s empowerment

• Enhance community resilience through emergency preparedness and disaster risk reduction

Key Intervention Areas

1. Education

• Support early childhood development, primary and secondary education, and education in emergencies

• Increase access to learning for out-of-school children and adolescents

• Improve quality and relevance of education through innovative methods

• Equip adolescents, particularly girls, with marketable skills for future livelihoods

2. Child Protection

• Provide case management, mental health and psychosocial support, and family reunification services

• Prevent and respond to gender-based violence and other forms of abuse

• Ensure access to legal assistance and child-friendly justice systems

• Strengthen national and local institutions to implement rights-based laws and protective policies

3. Social Protection and Policy

• Support governments at federal, state, and district levels to plan and deliver inclusive, shock-responsive social services

• Facilitate access to social benefits, birth registration, and local governance processes

• Reduce child poverty through evidence-based and coordinated social protection interventions

4. Cross-Cutting Priorities

• Disability inclusion and accessibility

• Gender equality and women’s empowerment

• Engagement of men and boys in promoting positive social change

• Emergency preparedness and disaster risk reduction

• Inclusion of internally displaced and marginalized populations

Who Can Apply

Eligible applicants include:

• Civil society organizations and NGOs with operational presence in Nugaal, Somalia

• Entities experienced in integrated programs addressing education, child protection, and social protection

• Organizations capable of fostering inclusion, equity, and community resilience

How to Apply

1. Review UNICEF Somalia’s Call for Expression of Interest guidelines

2. Prepare a detailed proposal including:

   • Target beneficiaries and community reach

   • Planned interventions in education, child protection, and social services

   • Expected outcomes, impact indicators, and monitoring plans

   • Integration of gender, disability, and resilience priorities

3. Submit the proposal through official UNICEF channels

4. Engage with UNICEF for potential partnership and feedback

Why This Grant Matters

• Enhances access to education and social services for vulnerable children and adolescents

• Strengthens local institutions to deliver inclusive, rights-based programs

• Promotes gender equality, disability inclusion, and participation of marginalized groups

• Builds resilient communities capable of coping with recurring shocks and emergencies

Tips for a Strong Application

• Clearly define target populations and expected community impact

• Demonstrate multi-sectoral integration across education, protection, and social services

• Include measurable outcomes, monitoring, and evaluation indicators

• Highlight organizational capacity and operational presence in Nugaal

• Show alignment with cross-cutting priorities like gender, disability, and resilience

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Failing to include marginalized populations or children with disabilities

• Submitting proposals without integrated, measurable approaches

• Neglecting to demonstrate local operational capacity or institutional strength

• Overlooking alignment with humanitarian-development nexus and long-term system strengthening

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Who is eligible to apply?

Civil society organizations and NGOs with operational presence and experience in Nugaal, Somalia.

Which populations are prioritized?

Children, adolescents, women, internally displaced families, and marginalized groups.

What sectors are included?

Education, child protection, social protection, and community resilience.

Are gender and inclusion emphasized?

Yes, gender equality, disability inclusion, and community participation are core priorities.

How should proposals demonstrate impact?

Through measurable outcomes, monitoring plans, and evidence of system-strengthening activities.

How does the initiative enhance resilience?

By integrating disaster risk reduction, emergency preparedness, and shock-responsive systems into all interventions.

What is the role of local institutions?

To implement rights-based policies, deliver inclusive services, and strengthen long-term community systems.

Conclusion

This UNICEF Somalia grant offers a vital opportunity to implement integrated, inclusive, and resilient programs in Nugaal.

By supporting education, child protection, and social protection initiatives, the grant strengthens local institutions, promotes equity, and delivers sustainable improvements for some of the most vulnerable children, adolescents, and women in Somalia.