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Call for Expression of Interest: Reaching Zero-Dose Children in LGAs (Nigeria)

Deadline: 24-Feb-2026

UNICEF, in partnership with the Republic of Korea (ROK), is calling for expressions of interest to support immunization initiatives targeting zero-dose and under-vaccinated children in Nigeria. The programme aims to reach over 3 million children aged 0–59 months across 40 high-burden LGAs, using outreach, routine immunization, and community engagement strategies. It strengthens national immunization systems while addressing social and behavioral barriers to vaccine access.

Overview

The UNICEF-ROK initiative in Nigeria focuses on closing immunization gaps for children who have received no vaccines (zero-dose) or are under-immunized. Nigeria has the highest burden of zero-dose children in Africa, leading to frequent outbreaks of preventable diseases such as measles, cholera, and diphtheria. This program targets 40 high-burden LGAs across six states: Adamawa, Bauchi, FCT, Lagos, Niger, and Ogun.

The initiative bridges humanitarian and development efforts, strengthens national immunization systems, and ensures equitable access to vaccines for all children.

Key Focus Areas

  1. Vaccination Delivery

    • Strengthening routine fixed and outreach immunization sessions.

    • Defaulter tracking to identify children who missed scheduled vaccinations.

    • Periodic intensification of routine immunization (PIRI) for all RI antigens, including Malaria and HPV vaccines.

    • Integration with other essential child health services.

  2. Outbreak Response

    • Scaling up vaccination sessions in communities affected by cholera, measles, and diphtheria outbreaks.

  3. Community Engagement and Demand Generation

    • Addressing social and behavioral barriers to immunization equity.

    • Mobilizing and training community members to increase awareness and trust in vaccination.

  4. Program Planning and Monitoring

    • Coordinating with State Primary Health Care Development Agencies and relevant field offices.

    • Ensuring effective implementation, tracking progress, and monitoring coverage.

Who is Eligible to Participate

  • Organizations, agencies, or partners with operational capacity in the targeted LGAs.

  • Partners able to support routine immunization, outreach, mobile services, or health campaigns.

  • Teams capable of community engagement, data collection, defaulter tracking, and local coordination with health authorities.

Why This Initiative Matters

  • Protects children: Reduces mortality from preventable diseases.

  • Prevents outbreaks: Reaches vulnerable populations to stop the spread of disease.

  • Builds community trust: Engages local leaders and health workers to increase vaccine acceptance.

  • Strengthens health systems: Supports national immunization infrastructure and long-term service utilization.

How the Programme Works

  1. Baseline Assessment

    • Map health facilities and identify zero-dose and under-immunized children.

    • Collect baseline data to inform defaulter tracking and outreach strategies.

  2. Targeted Vaccination Services

    • Implement routine immunization sessions, mobile outreach, and child health days.

    • Conduct periodic intensification of immunization (PIRI) in high-burden LGAs.

  3. Community Mobilization

    • Equip trusted community mobilizers to track, educate, and engage caregivers.

    • Address social and behavioral barriers through awareness campaigns and local outreach.

  4. Monitoring and Evaluation

    • Track immunization coverage at state, LGA, and ward levels.

    • Adjust interventions based on real-time data to ensure high-impact delivery.

  5. Integration with Broader Health Services

    • Provide essential child health services alongside immunization to maximize impact.

    • Support sustained utilization of health services beyond vaccine delivery.

Tips for Potential Partners

  • Ensure local knowledge of the target LGAs to optimize outreach.

  • Engage community leaders and trusted influencers for higher vaccine uptake.

  • Prepare comprehensive monitoring plans for defaulter tracking and progress reporting.

  • Integrate services with existing state health infrastructure to enhance sustainability.

FAQs

1. Which states are included in this initiative?
Adamawa, Bauchi, FCT, Lagos, Niger, and Ogun.

2. Who are considered zero-dose children?
Children aged 0–59 months who have never received any routine vaccines.

3. What types of services are prioritized?
Routine fixed and outreach immunization sessions, PIRI, mobile vaccination, and child health days.

4. How will community engagement be conducted?
Through training and mobilizing local community members and leaders to improve demand for immunization.

5. What is the scale of the program?
Over 3 million children in 40 LGAs across six states will be targeted.

6. How does this initiative support the health system?
By strengthening routine immunization, defaulter tracking, data collection, and coordination with state health agencies.

7. What outcomes are expected?
Reduced child mortality, fewer disease outbreaks, increased immunization coverage, and improved community trust in health services.

Conclusion

The UNICEF-ROK partnership is a critical step toward immunization equity in Nigeria, focusing on zero-dose and under-vaccinated children. By combining targeted vaccination services, community engagement, and strengthened health systems, the initiative aims to protect millions of children, prevent disease outbreaks, and build sustainable, trusted healthcare delivery.

For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.