Deadline: 09-Apr-2026
UNICEF Nigeria seeks expressions of interest for a strategic partnership to transform public health communication using digital media, storytelling, and community engagement. The initiative aims to counter misinformation, improve health literacy, and increase trust in primary healthcare and maternal-child services across Nigeria. The program emphasizes culturally adapted content, multilingual communication, and real-time community engagement to strengthen health outcomes.
Overview of the Initiative
The UNICEF Nigeria Strategic Partnership focuses on improving public health awareness and trust through trusted digital media, authentic storytelling, and community outreach. The program addresses critical gaps in health literacy, counteracts misinformation, and promotes positive health behaviors among Nigerian communities.
Key objectives include:
- Strengthening public understanding of priority health issues
- Countering misinformation with timely and culturally relevant content
- Increasing trust in primary healthcare and maternal, newborn, and child health services
- Enhancing community readiness during outbreaks
- Expanding access to multilingual, easy-to-understand health information
Context and Importance
Nigeria faces persistent public health challenges, disproportionately affecting women and children. Contributing factors include:
- Widespread misinformation and low health literacy
- Weak trust in health systems and primary care services
- Limited access to culturally relevant, accurate information
Evidence shows that misinformation spreads rapidly through social media and informal networks, influencing health-seeking behavior. For example, a 2025 assessment in Niger State revealed vaccine knowledge levels as low as 31–40% before interventions.
Routine immunization is a critical challenge:
- Over 2.2 million zero-dose children have never received a vaccine
- Only 36% of children aged 12–23 months are fully immunized
This initiative targets these gaps by combining digital media, storytelling, and community outreach to promote informed decision-making and behavioral change.
Who is Eligible?
UNICEF seeks partners that can:
- Develop and disseminate digital health communication products
- Conduct community engagement campaigns
- Translate content into local languages (Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Pidgin)
- Apply social listening to monitor misinformation and public sentiment
- Support advocacy, policy discussions, and monitoring of health campaigns
Eligible organizations include:
- Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) with health communication expertise
- Media and digital content agencies with experience in health storytelling
- Research and advocacy groups supporting health literacy and community engagement
Key Activities and Outputs
Funded interventions will include:
- Digital Communication Products
- Animations, graphics, and explainer videos on vaccination, disease prevention, and primary healthcare
- Documentary-style storytelling on polio, measles, cholera, meningitis, Lassa fever, and maternal-child health
- Community Engagement
- Health fairs, film screenings, and public education sessions
- Networks of trained local ambassadors to amplify messaging
- Monitoring and Adaptive Strategies
- Real-time social listening to track misinformation and public sentiment
- Adaptive communication strategies based on community feedback
- Advocacy and Reporting
- Policy advocacy materials
- Monitoring and evaluation reports
- Toll-free access for reliable health information
How to Apply / How it Works
- Express Interest – Submit an expression of interest demonstrating capacity in digital media, health communication, and community engagement.
- Proposal Development – Outline key activities, target populations, communication channels, multilingual outputs, and expected outcomes.
- Submission – Follow UNICEF Nigeria’s guidelines for deadlines and required documentation.
- Evaluation – Applications reviewed for feasibility, impact, scalability, and alignment with public health priorities.
- Implementation – Selected partners deliver content, community programs, and reporting in collaboration with UNICEF.
Tips for a strong application:
- Emphasize prior experience in digital storytelling and health communication
- Show capacity for multilingual content development
- Include plans for community engagement and behavior change evaluation
- Demonstrate mechanisms for real-time feedback and adaptive strategies
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting proposals without experience in public health or digital communication
- Overlooking the need for cultural adaptation and multilingual translation
- Ignoring community engagement or monitoring requirements
- Failing to address misinformation and behavioral outcomes
FAQ
1. Who can apply for this partnership?
CSOs, media agencies, and research or advocacy organizations with expertise in health communication and community engagement.
2. What health issues are covered?
Polio, measles, cholera, meningitis, Lassa fever, and maternal, newborn, and child health.
3. Is multilingual content required?
Yes. Content should be culturally adapted and available in Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Pidgin, and other relevant local languages.
4. Are community engagement activities mandatory?
Yes. Health fairs, screenings, and ambassador networks are core components.
5. How is misinformation addressed?
Through digital campaigns, social listening, and real-time adaptive communication strategies.
6. Is there a monitoring and reporting requirement?
Yes. Partners must track campaign performance and impact.
7. What is the main goal of this initiative?
To strengthen health literacy, counter misinformation, increase trust in health services, and promote behavior change to improve Nigeria’s health system resilience.
Conclusion
This UNICEF strategic partnership offers an opportunity to transform public health communication in Nigeria through digital media, storytelling, and community engagement. By addressing misinformation, improving health literacy, and fostering community trust, the initiative aims to increase immunization coverage, promote positive behaviors, and strengthen Nigeria’s health system for sustainable impact.
For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.