Call for EOIs: Enhancing Education and Protection for Children in Awdal, Somalia

UNICEF is inviting applications for integrated, multi-sectoral interventions in Gobolka Awdal to support children, adolescents, women, and families affected by humanitarian crises, poverty, and climate shocks. The initiative focuses on inclusive education, child protection, gender equality, disability inclusion, and social policy reform, with implementation planned for 2026–2027.

The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) is now accepting applications to support children, adolescents, women, and families through integrated, rights-based, and multi-sectoral interventions.

The initiative will be implemented in Gobolka Awdal and targets communities facing intersecting challenges such as humanitarian crises, displacement, poverty, and climate-related shocks. Civil society organisations are invited to contribute by designing locally responsive programmes that advance child rights, gender equality, and inclusive development.

Programme Context and Geographic Focus

The initiative is specifically focused on Gobolka Awdal, where overlapping vulnerabilities have placed children and women at heightened risk.

Key contextual challenges include:

• Humanitarian emergencies and displacement

• Climate change impacts and environmental shocks

• Limited access to quality education and protection services

• Gender inequality and exclusion of persons with disabilities

UNICEF’s approach recognises that these challenges are interconnected and require coordinated, cross-sectoral solutions.

Overall Objectives of the Initiative

The initiative aims to deliver transformative and sustainable results by strengthening systems and services that protect and empower vulnerable populations.

Core objectives include:

• Improving access to inclusive and equitable education

• Strengthening child protection and gender-based violence prevention

• Promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment

• Enhancing disability inclusion across all sectors

• Supporting emergency preparedness and system resilience

• Strengthening social policy, planning, and accountability

Who Can Apply?

This opportunity is open to civil society organisations capable of implementing community-based, rights-oriented interventions in Gobolka Awdal.

Eligible applicants typically include:

• National and local non-governmental organisations

• Community-based organisations

• Civil society groups with experience in child rights, education, protection, or gender equality

• Organisations with capacity to deliver multi-sectoral programmes

Applicants should demonstrate strong community engagement, operational capacity, and alignment with UNICEF’s child rights mandate.

Key Thematic Areas of Support

Education (Core Pillar)

Education is a central focus of this initiative, with an emphasis on inclusive, equitable, and resilient learning systems.

Supported education interventions may include:

• Early childhood education and school readiness

• Inclusive primary and secondary education for girls and boys

• Vocational education and skills training for adolescents

• Support for out-of-school children and youth

• Strengthening education systems to withstand conflict, disasters, and climate change

The goal is to ensure continuity of learning and improved future livelihoods for children and adolescents.

Child Protection

Child protection is a critical component of the initiative, particularly for children and women affected by violence and exploitation.

Key child protection areas include:

• Case management for children at risk

• Mental health and psychosocial support services

• Prevention and response to gender-based violence

• Family tracing and reunification

• Access to child-friendly justice systems

• Protection from abuse, neglect, and exploitation

All interventions must be inclusive, survivor-centred, and rights-based.

Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment

The initiative places strong emphasis on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.

Priority actions include:

• Empowering women and girls to demand gender-responsive services

• Preventing harmful practices through family and community engagement

• Supporting leadership and participation of women in decision-making

• Integrating gender considerations across education, protection, and social services

Disability Inclusion

Disability inclusion is a cross-cutting priority across all programme components.

Interventions should:

• Ensure accessibility of services for children and women with disabilities

• Address stigma and discrimination

• Integrate disability-inclusive design into education, protection, and social services

Social Policy and Advocacy

Social policy and advocacy form a foundational pillar supporting long-term systemic change.

This component focuses on:

• Supporting federal, state, and district governments in inclusive planning

• Using child poverty data to guide policy and budgeting decisions

• Developing costed sectoral plans

• Expanding shock-responsive social protection systems

• Strengthening grievance, accountability, and feedback mechanisms

How the Programme Works

1. Civil society organisations design regionally responsive, multi-sectoral interventions

2. Proposals align with UNICEF priorities and community needs in Gobolka Awdal

3. Selected partners implement activities in collaboration with local institutions

4. Programmes strengthen systems, services, and community resilience

5. Progress contributes to national child rights and development goals

Expected Results (2026–2027)

Between 2026 and 2027, the initiative aims to achieve measurable, transformative outcomes, including:

• Improved access to education for tens of thousands of children

• Expanded early childhood learning opportunities

• Skills development and vocational training for adolescents

• Strengthened child protection and gender-based violence services

• Improved social protection and accountability systems

• Greater empowerment of women, girls, and children with disabilities

Why This Opportunity Matters

This UNICEF initiative is critical because it:

• Addresses interconnected humanitarian and development challenges

• Prioritises the most vulnerable children and women

• Strengthens local systems for long-term resilience

• Promotes inclusive, rights-based service delivery

• Aligns humanitarian response with sustainable development

By integrating education, protection, gender equality, and social policy, the programme ensures no child or woman is left behind.

Tips for Strong Applications

Applicants are encouraged to:

• Clearly demonstrate understanding of local needs in Gobolka Awdal

• Design integrated, multi-sectoral interventions rather than isolated activities

• Embed gender equality and disability inclusion throughout the project

• Align outcomes with child rights and protection principles

• Propose realistic, evidence-informed, and community-driven solutions

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Proposing single-sector projects without integration

• Weak links between activities and child or gender outcomes

• Limited community engagement or ownership

• Lack of attention to inclusion, accessibility, or sustainability

• Vague monitoring and results frameworks

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Where will the initiative be implemented?

The programme will be implemented in Gobolka Awdal.

Who is the target population?

Children, adolescents, women, and families affected by humanitarian crises, poverty, displacement, and climate shocks.

What types of organisations can apply?

Civil society organisations with relevant experience in education, child protection, gender equality, or social policy.

Is education a required component?

Education is a core pillar, but proposals should integrate multiple sectors where possible.

Are disability and gender inclusion mandatory?

Yes. Disability inclusion and gender equality are cross-cutting priorities across all interventions.

What is the implementation timeframe?

The initiative aims to deliver results during 2026–2027.

How should proposals align with government systems?

Proposals should support and strengthen Somali institutions, policies, and rights-based frameworks.

Conclusion

This UNICEF call for integrated multi-sectoral interventions in Gobolka Awdal offers civil society organisations a vital opportunity to contribute to transformative change for children and women. By combining education, child protection, gender equality, disability inclusion, and social policy, the initiative seeks to build resilient systems, protect rights, and improve life outcomes for the most vulnerable communities between 2026 and 2027.