Call for Expressions of Interest: Social Sector Financing and Policy Engagement (Pakistan)

Deadline: 16-Feb-2026

UNICEF Pakistan invites Expressions of Interest (EOI) from specialized firms to design and implement initiatives that strengthen social sector financing and improve outcomes for children and adolescents. The program focuses on policy advocacy, public finance, and social policy, aiming to influence political leadership, government institutions, and civil society to generate tangible reforms in budgeting, policy design, and implementation.

Overview

UNICEF Pakistan is seeking specialized firms to support initiatives that enhance social sector financing and promote child-focused policies. The initiative emphasizes:

• Policy advocacy to integrate children’s needs into public discourse.

• Public finance and local governance improvements for social sector budgeting.

• Social policy and advocacy to advance evidence-informed decision-making.

The goal is to ensure sustainable financing, equitable access to services, and improved outcomes for children and adolescents across Pakistan.

Context and Rationale

Pakistan faces fiscal constraints that limit the financing of key social sectors, affecting:

• Human capital development

• Resilience to climate shocks

• Equitable access to health, nutrition, education, WASH, and social protection services

Despite progress in policy frameworks, public expenditure remains constrained due to:

• Competing budget priorities

• Limited translation of evidence into policy

• Structural inequities impacting women, children, adolescents, and marginalized communities

These challenges are most pronounced at community and village levels, where fragmented planning and under-resourced services prevent children from reaching their full potential.

Objectives of the Initiative

The initiative aims to:

1. Bring child-focused social sector financing issues into sustained public and policy discourse.

2. Strengthen understanding and institutional readiness among political leadership, government institutions, and civil society.

3. Identify and advocate for feasible policy pathways to increase and diversify financing for children and adolescents.

4. Generate outward-facing political and policy constituencies that support reforms in public financial management, budgeting, and implementation.

Role of the Specialized Firm

The selected firm will design and implement a structured Evidence-Informed Policy Engagement, Advocacy, and Knowledge Generation Programme, including:

• Translating technical evidence into compelling advocacy narratives

• Building influential coalitions across government, civil society, and policy networks

• Supporting reforms in climate- and nutrition-related financing

• Promoting child-focused public financial management reforms

The program will target:

• Political leadership

• Senior bureaucrats

• Civil society organizations
  across national, provincial, and public discourse levels.

Expected Outcomes

• Improved alignment of policy, budgeting, and implementation with children’s priorities.

• Increased institutional capacity for evidence-informed policymaking.

• Enhanced advocacy for context-appropriate reforms in public financial management.

• Strengthened financing mechanisms for social sectors benefiting children and adolescents.

Why It Matters

Effective social sector financing is crucial for:

• Advancing equitable access to essential services

• Strengthening resilience to climate and social shocks

• Enhancing human capital development

• Reducing structural inequities that limit opportunities for children and marginalized groups

Global experience shows that technical analysis alone is insufficient; sustainable reform requires advocacy, coalition-building, and public engagement to drive lasting policy change.

Eligibility and Requirements

Firms interested in submitting an EOI should demonstrate:

• Expertise in policy engagement, social sector financing, and advocacy

• Experience in evidence-informed policymaking and knowledge generation

• Capacity to engage with political leadership, government institutions, and civil society

• Ability to support institutional alignment and policy reforms

How to Apply / Next Steps

1. Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) via UNICEF Pakistan’s designated submission channels.

2. Provide evidence of previous experience in policy advocacy, social sector financing, or knowledge generation programs.

3. Include a conceptual approach outlining methodology for evidence-informed policy engagement and advocacy.

4. Detail expected outputs, outcomes, and impact on child-focused social sector financing.

5. Demonstrate organizational capacity to deliver across national and provincial contexts.

Conclusion

This UNICEF Pakistan initiative represents a strategic opportunity for specialized firms to strengthen social sector financing, promote child-focused policies, and support systemic reforms in budgeting and public financial management. By bridging evidence, advocacy, and institutional alignment, the program aims to deliver tangible improvements in the lives of children and adolescents across Pakistan.

For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.