RFAs: Promoting Child Development and Survival – Gedo Region (Somalia)

UNICEF is inviting applications for the Promoting Child Development and Survival Programme in Somalia’s Gedo region, targeting child health, nutrition, and WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) services. The initiative aims to strengthen primary healthcare, immunization, malnutrition prevention, and climate-resilient WASH infrastructure, improving the well-being of children and vulnerable populations by 2030.

Overview

The Promoting Child Development and Survival Programme is a UNICEF-led initiative focused on enhancing the health, nutrition, and WASH outcomes for children, adolescents, and mothers in Somalia, particularly in the Gedo region. The programme aligns with Somalia’s 2026–2030 Country Programme vision, aiming to:

• Reduce child morbidity and mortality

• Promote equitable access to essential health services

• Strengthen nutrition and feeding practices

• Provide climate-resilient WASH infrastructure

The programme integrates equity-driven and climate-smart approaches, addressing root causes of poor child outcomes and building resilient service delivery systems.

Programme Components

1. Health

The health component focuses on maternal, adolescent, and child health, including:

• Primary healthcare services and outpatient consultations

• Maternal and newborn care, including emergency obstetric services

• Immunization programs, including polio vaccination campaigns

• Malaria diagnosis and treatment

Key 2026–2027 targets:

• 20,000 pregnant women delivering with skilled birth attendants

• 1,000,000 outpatient consultations at primary health facilities

• ~1,000,000 children vaccinated against polio

• Increased immunization coverage among children and adolescents

• Expanded access to malaria prevention and treatment

2. Nutrition

Nutrition interventions aim to prevent and treat malnutrition while promoting infant and young child feeding:

• Early stimulation and parenting support

• First Food initiative to improve infant nutrition

• Prevention of stunting and early detection of wasting

• Iron and micronutrient supplementation for adolescent girls and women

3. WASH and Environmental Health

The WASH component ensures safe, sustainable, and climate-resilient water and sanitation services:

• Access to safely managed drinking water

• Expansion of sanitation and hygiene services

• Promotion of safe hygiene practices in homes, schools, and health facilities

• Development of climate-resilient infrastructure in community and service settings

4. Local Partnerships and Food Systems

The programme works closely with:

• Local governments for coordinated service delivery

• Somalia-owned food companies to promote locally produced, nutritious foods

• Community stakeholders to align interventions with local priorities

Who Is Eligible?

Eligible applicants include:

• Non-profit and development organizations experienced in child health, nutrition, and WASH

• Organizations capable of implementing large-scale interventions in Somalia

• Entities with the capacity to collaborate with government, community, and private sector partners

Why It Matters

• Improves child survival, nutrition, and well-being in a vulnerable region

• Strengthens primary healthcare and immunization systems

• Builds resilient water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure

• Supports community-driven, locally sustainable solutions

• Contributes to long-term resilience and sustainable development in Somalia

How to Apply / How It Works

1. Review eligibility: Confirm experience and operational capacity in child-focused health, nutrition, or WASH projects in Somalia.

2. Develop a proposal: Include detailed plans for health, nutrition, and WASH interventions, targets, and impact metrics.

3. Demonstrate partnerships: Highlight collaboration with local governments, communities, and private sector actors.

4. Submit application: Provide all necessary documentation, including organizational profiles, financial management systems, and implementation plans.

5. Implementation and reporting: Selected organizations will follow UNICEF guidelines for programme delivery, monitoring, and reporting.

Common Mistakes / Tips

• Incomplete proposals: Ensure all health, nutrition, and WASH activities are clearly described with measurable targets.

• Weak local partnerships: Demonstrate strong coordination with government and community stakeholders.

• Lack of capacity evidence: Include proof of experience implementing similar large-scale projects.

• Ignoring sustainability: Integrate long-term plans for climate-resilient and community-owned services.

FAQs

1. What is the primary goal of this programme?
To improve child health, nutrition, and WASH outcomes in Somalia, particularly in the Gedo region, supporting vulnerable populations.

2. What are the key areas of intervention?
Health, nutrition, WASH, and local food systems, all designed to strengthen service delivery and resilience.

3. Who can apply for this programme?
Non-profit and development organizations with experience in child-focused health, nutrition, and WASH initiatives in Somalia.

4. What are the expected outcomes for 2026–2027?

• 20,000 skilled birth deliveries

• 1 million outpatient consultations

• Nearly 1 million polio vaccinations

• Expanded nutrition and WASH services

5. How does the programme ensure sustainability?
Through climate-resilient infrastructure, local partnerships, and community engagement, ensuring long-term service delivery.

6. Does the programme include emergency response?
Yes, WASH interventions and nutrition support consider humanitarian contexts and emergency needs.

7. How does UNICEF measure impact?
Through monitoring service delivery outputs, health outcomes, immunization coverage, and nutrition indicators, aligned with the 2026–2030 Country Programme.

Conclusion

The Promoting Child Development and Survival Programme represents a comprehensive, multi-sectoral effort to enhance child well-being in Somalia. By integrating health, nutrition, WASH, and local partnerships, UNICEF aims to build equitable, resilient, and sustainable systems that improve outcomes for children, adolescents, mothers, and communities in the Gedo region, contributing to long-term national development and child survival goals.