Integrated Emergency Education and Child Protection Response for Conflict-Affected Children in Sudan

UNICEF is inviting organizations to submit proposals to deliver integrated education and child protection services for conflict-affected children in Al-Nahda Camp, River Nile State, Sudan. The project aims to establish Safe Learning Spaces (SLSs), provide accelerated learning, psychosocial support, and community-based child protection services for vulnerable children and adolescents affected by the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

About the UNICEF Call for Proposals

UNICEF is seeking experienced partner organizations to implement an integrated emergency response that combines education in emergencies with child protection services for internally displaced children living in Al-Nahda Camp in River Nile State, Sudan.

The initiative responds to the growing humanitarian needs created by the conflict that began in April 2023, which has displaced millions of people across Sudan. River Nile State has become a major destination for internally displaced families fleeing violence in Darfur and Kordofan.

Al-Nahda Camp currently accommodates more than 14,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs), including an estimated 7,700–8,400 children who urgently require access to education, psychosocial support, and child protection services.

Programme Objectives

The programme aims to:

Expand access to safe and inclusive education for conflict-affected children.
Strengthen child protection systems in humanitarian settings.
Provide mental health and psychosocial support.
Reduce child protection risks.
Support vulnerable children through case management services.
Promote community participation in child protection.
Improve learning opportunities for displaced children.
Build safer learning environments for children and adolescents.

Key Focus Areas

The call supports projects in the following areas:

Education in Emergencies (EiE)
General education
Child protection
Protection in emergencies
Safe Learning Spaces
Accelerated learning
Mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS)
Child-friendly spaces
Community engagement
Child safeguarding
Teacher training
Life skills education
Recreation activities
Learning materials
Teaching materials
Support for unaccompanied and separated children
Case management
Community-based child protection
Prevention of female genital mutilation (FGM)
Prevention of child marriage
Gender-based violence (GBV) risk mitigation
Community awareness on child rights

Humanitarian Context

Sudan continues to experience one of the world’s most significant humanitarian crises.

Since the conflict erupted in April 2023:

Millions of people have been displaced.
Thousands of children have lost access to education.
Child protection risks have increased significantly.
Many children require urgent psychosocial support.
Communities continue to face protection and safety challenges.

The programme seeks to address these urgent needs through integrated education and protection interventions.

Programme Components

1. Safe Learning Spaces (SLSs)

The project will establish six Safe Learning Spaces (SLSs) that function as secure learning and protection hubs for children aged 5–17 years.

These spaces will provide:

Safe education environments.
Psychosocial support.
Recreational activities.
Protection services.
Community engagement activities.

Expected Beneficiaries

The programme aims to support:

Approximately 1,500 conflict-affected children through integrated education and child protection services.
Around 900 children through accelerated learning programmes.
Approximately 100 adolescents through life skills and innovation training.

Education Activities

Supported education interventions include:

Back-to-learning campaigns.
Student registration campaigns.
Mapping of out-of-school children.
Identification of in-school children requiring support.
Establishment of Safe Learning Spaces.
Accelerated learning programmes.
Recreational and play-based learning activities.
Teacher training.
Psychosocial support integrated into education.
Education in Emergencies (EiE) training.
Teacher incentives.
Life skills training.
Distribution of learning materials.
Distribution of teaching supplies.

Child Protection Activities

The programme supports a comprehensive package of child protection interventions, including:

Mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS).
Deployment of qualified social workers.
Community animators.
Identification of unaccompanied and separated children.
Case management services.
Community-based child protection networks.
Child safeguarding measures.
Capacity building for child protection personnel.
Family support services.
Violence prevention interventions.

Community Engagement

Community participation is a central component of the programme.

Activities include:

Establishing Safe Learning Space Management Committees.
Training committee members on child safeguarding.
Promoting school safety.
Supporting community ownership of education services.
Raising awareness of child rights.
Strengthening local child protection systems.

Awareness and Prevention Activities

Community awareness programmes will focus on:

Prevention of female genital mutilation (FGM).
Prevention of child marriage.
Gender-based violence (GBV) risk mitigation.
Child protection risks.
Children’s rights.
Importance of education during emergencies.

Who Can Apply?

Eligible applicants include organizations with the capacity and experience to deliver emergency education and child protection services.

Applicants should demonstrate expertise in areas such as:

Education in emergencies.
Child protection programming.
Humanitarian response.
Community development.
Mental health and psychosocial support.
Case management.
Child safeguarding.
Protection programming.

Proposal Requirements

Interested organizations should submit proposals that include:

Target state and locality.
Description of proposed activities.
Clear beneficiary targets.
Detailed implementation strategy.
Comprehensive budget.
Work plan.
Implementation timeline.

Organizations may apply for:

Both programme outcomes.
Either education or child protection component.
Any combination of the two outcomes.

Why This Programme Matters

Conflict has disrupted education and increased protection risks for thousands of children across Sudan.

This programme will help:

Restore children’s access to education.
Improve psychosocial wellbeing.
Protect vulnerable children from violence and exploitation.
Strengthen community-based protection systems.
Promote safe learning environments.
Build resilience among displaced families.
Support children’s long-term recovery and development.

How to Apply

Follow these steps when preparing your proposal.

Step 1: Review the Call for Proposals

Carefully review UNICEF’s requirements, objectives, expected outputs, and eligibility criteria.

Step 2: Design Your Project

Develop a project that clearly explains:

Target location.
Planned interventions.
Beneficiary numbers.
Implementation methodology.
Monitoring framework.
Expected outcomes.

Step 3: Prepare the Budget

Develop a detailed budget that aligns with proposed activities and implementation requirements.

Step 4: Prepare the Work Plan

Include:

Activity schedule.
Implementation milestones.
Timelines.
Staffing arrangements.

Step 5: Submit the Proposal

Submit the complete proposal package according to UNICEF’s application requirements before the deadline.

Tips for a Strong Proposal

Applicants should:

Demonstrate humanitarian response experience.
Show expertise in Education in Emergencies.
Include strong child safeguarding measures.
Present evidence-based interventions.
Build community participation into project design.
Include realistic implementation timelines.
Demonstrate robust monitoring and evaluation systems.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid:

Unclear beneficiary targets.
Weak child protection strategies.
Missing implementation timelines.
Incomplete budgets.
Limited community engagement plans.
Lack of safeguarding procedures.
Poor monitoring and evaluation frameworks.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Who is the funding opportunity intended for?

Organizations with experience in humanitarian response, education in emergencies, child protection, psychosocial support, and community development.

2. Where will the project be implemented?

The project will be implemented in Al-Nahda Camp, River Nile State, Sudan.

3. How many Safe Learning Spaces will be established?

The programme will establish six Safe Learning Spaces (SLSs).

4. How many children are expected to benefit?

Approximately 1,500 conflict-affected children will receive integrated education and protection services.

5. What education services will be provided?

Services include accelerated learning, teacher training, recreational activities, life skills training, learning materials, and psychosocial support.

6. What child protection services are included?

The programme includes mental health and psychosocial support, case management, support for unaccompanied and separated children, community-based child protection, awareness campaigns, and safeguarding interventions.

7. Can organizations apply for only one programme component?

Yes. Organizations may apply for both outcomes or for any combination of the education and child protection components.

Conclusion

UNICEF’s Integrated Emergency Education and Child Protection Programme provides an important opportunity for experienced organizations to improve the lives of conflict-affected children in Al-Nahda Camp, Sudan. Through Safe Learning Spaces, accelerated education, psychosocial support, and community-based child protection, the initiative will help vulnerable children regain access to education, strengthen their wellbeing, and create safer, more protective environments during one of Sudan’s most severe humanitarian crises.