Call for Expressions of Interest: Community Sanitation Initiative in Colquechaca, Bolivia

UNICEF is inviting grant applications to improve water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in Potosí, focusing on children, families, and communities. The initiative emphasizes decentralized sanitation, hygiene education, school and health facility improvements, and municipal capacity building to ensure sustainable, long-term impact.

Program Overview

The grant program targets basic sanitation and hygiene improvements in communities and schools, aiming to create safer, healthier environments for children and adolescents. By addressing WASH challenges, UNICEF seeks to improve health, educational outcomes, and overall wellbeing.

Key Objectives

• Increase access to safe sanitation facilities in households, schools, and health centers.

• Promote hygiene practices, including handwashing and menstrual hygiene management.

• Build local capacity among educators and community members to sustain WASH improvements.

• Strengthen municipal planning to embed decentralized sanitation solutions in local governance.

Who is Eligible?

• Local NGOs, community organizations, and institutions working in Potosí.

• Organizations capable of implementing WASH initiatives, behaviour-change programs, and capacity-building activities.

• Entities willing to collaborate with local authorities to integrate sanitation improvements into municipal planning.

Scope of Work

1. Decentralized Sanitation Initiatives: Support families to build and access safe toilets and showers, reducing unsafe practices and health risks.

2. School and Health Facility Upgrades: Expand WASH services, ensuring clean water, proper sanitation, and child-sensitive hygiene practices.

3. Hygiene Education and Behaviour Change: Conduct community-focused campaigns promoting handwashing, menstrual hygiene management, and healthy habits.

4. Capacity Building: Train teachers, school staff, and community educators to manage WASH services and sustain hygiene practices.

5. Municipal Planning Support: Assist local governments in allocating budgets and integrating sustainable sanitation solutions into annual development plans.

Expected Outcomes

• Improved access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene for children and communities.

• Increased adoption of healthy hygiene practices among children, families, and community members.

• Strengthened capacity of schools and local institutions to maintain WASH services.

• Sustainable municipal strategies supporting long-term sanitation and hygiene improvements.

How to Apply

1. Prepare a proposal detailing your organization’s experience in WASH interventions and community engagement.

2. Describe planned activities, including infrastructure improvements, hygiene education, and capacity-building initiatives.

3. Include expected outputs, outcomes, and a timeline for implementation.

4. Demonstrate collaboration plans with local authorities to ensure municipal integration.

5. Submit the completed application according to UNICEF’s submission guidelines by the stated deadline.

Tips for Success

• Highlight past WASH experience and measurable impact in communities.

• Include clear strategies for behaviour-change campaigns and community participation.

• Show plans for sustaining WASH improvements beyond project completion.

• Ensure alignment with local government priorities and municipal planning.

FAQ

1. Who can apply? Local NGOs and community-based organizations in Potosí with WASH expertise.
2. What is the main goal of the program? To improve sanitation, hygiene, and water access for children, families, and communities.
3. Which sectors are targeted? Households, schools, health centers, and municipal governance systems.
4. What types of interventions are supported? Facility upgrades, hygiene education, capacity building, and municipal planning.
5. How does the program promote sustainability? By training educators and embedding WASH priorities in local governance and budgets.
6. Are children specifically targeted? Yes, all activities are child-focused and designed to improve their safety, health, and learning environments.
7. How can organizations ensure success? Collaborate with local authorities, engage communities, and implement behaviour-change strategies alongside infrastructure improvements.

Conclusion

UNICEF’s WASH grant in Potosí offers organizations the opportunity to improve sanitation and hygiene for children and communities through infrastructure, education, and municipal planning. By supporting behaviour change, capacity building, and sustainable governance, the initiative promotes healthier, safer, and more resilient communities.