Call for EOIs: Rural WASH and Hygiene Improvement Programme (India)

Deadline: 31-May-2026

UNICEF is inviting applications for a rural WASH systems-strengthening initiative in Uttar Pradesh. The programme focuses on improving access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene services while addressing gender inequities and supporting climate-resilient community practices.

The work is designed to improve both infrastructure and systems. It aims to strengthen service delivery across households, schools, health centres, and villages, with a strong emphasis on institutional capacity and sustainability.

Key facts

• Funder: UNICEF.

• Location: Uttar Pradesh, India.

• Districts: Amroha, Barabanki, and Bareilly.

• Project horizon: Through December 2027.

• Main focus: Safely managed WASH services and gender equity.

• Partnership model: One district per partnership, with three partnerships total.

• Core approach: Capacity building, training, and sustainable service delivery.

What the programme supports

The initiative supports improvements in:

• Safely managed water, sanitation, and hygiene services.

• Basic sanitation systems.

• Hygiene and water systems.

• Gender equity in WASH access and use.

• Menstrual hygiene management.

• Prevention of WASH-related violence against women.

• Climate change awareness and adaptation.

• Institutional systems for sustainable WASH delivery.

It aims to strengthen both physical access and the institutions responsible for long-term service delivery.

Expected results

The programme is expected to contribute to:

• Universal access to safely managed sanitation for 45,000 households.

• Improved toilet facilities in schools.

• Training for frontline workers.

• Better maintenance of water systems under the Jal Jeevan Mission.

• Greater menstrual hygiene awareness among children and adolescents.

• Stronger women’s leadership in WASH.

• Reduced gender-based violence linked to WASH access.

• More climate-resilient community practices.

These results show that the programme is focused on systems change, service quality, and social inclusion.

Geographic focus

The initiative is being implemented in:

• Amroha.

• Barabanki.

• Bareilly.

Applicants are expected to support one district per partnership, which means the overall programme will likely involve three separate district-level partnerships.

Who is eligible?

The call text indicates that eligible applicants will support one district per partnership. While detailed eligibility is not specified in the user prompt, the structure suggests that organisations with:

• WASH systems expertise.

• Community engagement capacity.

• Training and institutional strengthening experience.

• Gender and climate resilience experience.

would be most relevant.

What strong proposals should include

A competitive proposal should demonstrate:

• Clear experience in WASH systems strengthening.

• Strong capacity for district-level implementation.

• Practical training and capacity-building plans.

• Gender-responsive programming.

• Menstrual hygiene management expertise.

• Climate resilience and adaptation integration.

• A realistic plan for long-term service sustainability.

How the programme works

1. Select the district focus.
   Each partnership should cover one district only.

2. Assess system gaps.
   Identify weaknesses in sanitation, water safety, hygiene, and service delivery.

3. Build local capacity.
   Train frontline workers, community stakeholders, and institutions.

4. Strengthen community and institutional systems.
   Support households, schools, health centres, and village-level structures.

5. Integrate gender and climate priorities.
   Address women’s leadership, safety, menstrual hygiene, and climate adaptation.

6. Support sustainable delivery.
   Ensure that systems can continue beyond the project period.

Why it matters

Safe WASH services are essential for health, dignity, education, and safety. In rural settings, gaps in sanitation and water access often have the greatest impact on women, girls, and marginalized communities.

This programme matters because it combines infrastructure improvement with gender equity, climate adaptation, and institutional sustainability. That makes it more likely to produce lasting change rather than short-term fixes.

Common mistakes and tips

• Mistake: Focusing only on infrastructure.

  • Tip: Include systems strengthening, training, and sustainability.

• Mistake: Ignoring gender and safety issues.

  • Tip: Address women’s leadership, menstrual hygiene, and WASH-related violence.

• Mistake: Proposing a district strategy that is too broad.

  • Tip: Keep the design specific to one district per partnership.

• Mistake: Leaving out climate resilience.

  • Tip: Show how the project supports adaptation and long-term service reliability.

• Mistake: Weak institutional coordination.

  • Tip: Include clear roles for local stakeholders, frontline workers, and service systems.

FAQ

What is this UNICEF initiative about?

• It is a WASH programme in rural Uttar Pradesh focused on safely managed water, sanitation, and hygiene services.

• It also addresses gender inequity, menstrual hygiene, and climate resilience.

Which districts are included?

• Amroha.

• Barabanki.

• Bareilly.

What are the main goals?

• Improve sanitation and water access.

• Strengthen hygiene systems.

• Build institutional capacity.

• Reduce gender inequities and WASH-related violence.

• Support climate-resilient WASH services.

What results are expected?

• Safely managed sanitation for 45,000 households.

• Better school toilets.

• Trained frontline workers.

• Improved water system maintenance.

• Stronger menstrual hygiene awareness.

How many partnerships are expected?

• Three partnerships total.

• One district per partnership.

What is the project timeline?

• The programme aims to achieve its results by December 2027.

Is this only about toilets and water points?

• No.

• It also focuses on systems, training, gender, safety, and sustainability.

Conclusion

This UNICEF opportunity is designed to strengthen rural WASH systems in Uttar Pradesh while addressing the social and institutional barriers that affect service access. The strongest partners will combine technical WASH expertise with gender-responsive, climate-aware, and systems-focused implementation capacity.

For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.