Call for EOIs: Capacity building and Changing Social Behavior to improve WASH Operations and Maintenance in Schools (Moldova)

Deadline: 31-Jul-2025

The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) is launching a Call for Expression of Interests for National Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to support the implementation of a national capacity-building and social behaviour change initiative aimed at improving WASH in schools.

This initiative aligns with Moldova’s education and health strategies, as well as UNICEF’s Country Program Document for 2023–2027. The goal is to ensure that WASH services in schools are functional, inclusive, and resilient. This will be achieved through institutional strengthening, capacity development for school staff, including school managers and technical personnel, integration into national systems like EMIS, and student engagement in maintaining and promoting good hygiene practices.

UNICEF seeks to build partnerships with the national CSOs that can implement a set of activities in selected schools, in collaboration with local authorities, including the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and Research, and the National Agency for Public Health (NAPH). The overall approach promotes sustainability and ownership at all levels, integrating cross-cutting themes such as gender equality, inclusion of children with disabilities, and equitable access to WASH facilities for all students and staff.

Sectors and Areas of Specialization

A Cross Sectoral Areas
- Training, capacity building and capacity development
- Youth leadership and participation
WASH and Environment
- Basic sanitation
- Hygiene
- Water

Funding Information

Indicative Budget: 80000.00000

Geographic Focus

Moldova
- Raionul Straseni

Expected Results

Output 1: School leadership demonstrates improved ability to oversee WASH facilities by implementing structured and sustainable operation and maintenance processes, as well as improved school development plans
- Act. 1.1 The implementation partner will conduct a minimum of three training sessions with representatives from 125 schools, including one in-person training course for school managers. School directors and deputy directors will be trained in management and procedures for using, operating, and maintaining WASH facilities in schools, and guided to formulate proper and targeted goals and activities in the school development plan.
- Act. 1.2 Institutional-level workshops will be held to support the development of school-specific WASH facilities and services, including conducting Operation and Maintenance Plans.
Output 2: Increased institutional ownership and financial sustainability for WASH service continuity in schools, and improved coordination mechanisms involving relevant stakeholders, including the local public authorities
- Act. 2.1 Schools will receive support to plan and allocate resources for WASH-related maintenance, including developing budget plans, identifying funding sources, and aligning efforts with relevant local structures.
Output 3: School managers have improved capacities and clear procedures for ensuring clean, safe, and functional WASH facilities
- Act. 3.1 School management will be equipped with the necessary information, tools and support to instruct and train the technical and cleaning staff.
- Act. 3.2 Technical and cleaning staff will receive training from school managers on cleaning protocols, minor repairs, maintenance routines, and the use of tools and templates for inspections and reports.
- Act. 3.3 Cleaning and monitoring plans will be developed and implemented across targeted schools.
Output 4: Enhanced ownership and behavioural change knowledge and practices among students through student-led activities and campaigns, contributing to the long-term sustainability of WASH in schools
- Act. 4.1 Students will be trained and actively involved in WASH clubs and school-wide initiatives, promoting good hygiene behaviour and peer-to-peer learning.
- Act. 4.2 WASH social and behaviour change (SBC) components, including education materials, will be integrated into all student-led actions.
- Act. 4.3 School-based WASH SBC communication campaigns will be developed and conducted with the involvement of students, student councils, teachers, parents, and local stakeholders to promote hygiene awareness, best practices, and innovative approaches. Act.
- 4.4 Schools will be encouraged and supported to organize competitions, exhibitions, or recognition events to boost participation, motivation and creativeness among students Act.
- 4.5 The implementing partner will develop a Youth-led WASH Activity Calendar in collaboration with students and school management aimed at improving hygiene practices and community engagement.
Output 5: Disaggregated WASH indicators are regularly collected through EMIS to monitor existing WASH facilities, tracking functionality, accessibility and responsiveness for WASH conditions in schools
- Act. 5.1 WASH indicators and facility data will be incorporated into EMIS to support national-level monitoring, planning, and reporting.
- Act. 5.2 School managers will have the capacity and necessary support to assess and document WASH facilities as per EMIS indicators.
- Act. 5.3 One online orientation session regarding EMIS will be developed and delivered per region/rayon for the school managers.
Output 6: Increased government commitment and investment in sustainable WASH infrastructure and services in schools through supporting nationwide advocacy for WASH in schools
- Act. 6.1 Facilitate roundtable meetings with the Ministries of Education and Research, Health, and Finance to align WASH in schools with national development goals and sectoral strategies.
- Act. 6.2 Support the establishment of a national WASH task force or working group, including ministries, NGOs and academia.
- Act. 6.3 Engage youth ambassadors or student networks to speak at public events and in the media about WASH challenges and solutions.