RFAs: UNICEF WASH Emergency Preparedness and Response (Ecuador)

UNICEF Ecuador is seeking experienced organizations to establish contingency partnership agreements for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) emergency preparedness and response across the country. Selected organizations will join a roster of implementing partners that can be rapidly deployed during emergencies to restore WASH services, protect public health, and support affected communities.

About the UNICEF WASH Emergency Partnership

The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has launched a Call for Expressions of Interest (EOI) to identify qualified organizations capable of supporting Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) emergency preparedness and humanitarian response across Ecuador.

Rather than funding a single project immediately, UNICEF aims to establish contingency agreements with experienced organizations. These partners will be placed on a roster and activated whenever emergencies occur, depending on humanitarian needs and available resources.

The initiative aligns with UNICEF’s Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action (CCCs) and seeks to ensure rapid, coordinated, and effective WASH responses during disasters and public health emergencies.

Program Focus Areas

The partnership supports activities related to:

WASH in emergencies
Emergency preparedness and response
Rapid needs assessments
Emergency water supply
Safe drinking water
Water treatment
Water quality monitoring
Restoration of water systems
Rehabilitation of sanitation infrastructure
Temporary sanitation facilities
Excreta management
Distribution of emergency WASH supplies
Hygiene promotion
Community participation
Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP)
Gender equality and social inclusion
Disability inclusion
Child protection
Climate change adaptation
Environmental sustainability
Intercultural approaches
Humanitarian coordination

What is the UNICEF Contingency Partnership?

The contingency partnership establishes a network of organizations that can respond quickly when emergencies affect communities across Ecuador.

Instead of launching a new procurement process during each emergency, UNICEF will maintain a roster of qualified implementing partners that are prepared to:

Deploy emergency technical teams.
Conduct rapid assessments.
Restore damaged WASH infrastructure.
Provide temporary water services.
Improve sanitation during emergencies.
Deliver life-saving hygiene assistance.

This approach enables faster humanitarian action and strengthens national emergency preparedness.

Why This Initiative Matters

Ecuador is vulnerable to a range of humanitarian emergencies, including:

Floods
Earthquakes
Landslides
Droughts
Climate-related disasters
Disease outbreaks
Other public health emergencies

These events often disrupt access to:

Safe drinking water
Sanitation facilities
Hygiene services

Without timely intervention, affected communities face increased risks of:

Waterborne diseases
Poor sanitation conditions
Environmental contamination
Protection concerns for women and children
Public health emergencies

Strengthening emergency WASH systems helps reduce these risks while protecting children’s health and community resilience.

Priority Geographic Areas

UNICEF gives priority to organizations capable of operating in the following provinces:

Esmeraldas
Manabí
Sucumbíos
Guayas
Santa Elena
El Oro
Los Ríos
Loja
Chimborazo

Organizations able to respond across additional provinces or nationwide are also encouraged to apply.

Expected Interventions

Selected partners may support activities such as:

Rapid Emergency Assessments

Assess humanitarian WASH needs.
Identify priority communities.
Collect emergency data.
Support evidence-based decision-making.

Emergency Water Supply

Temporary water supply systems.
Emergency water treatment.
Safe drinking water distribution.
Water storage solutions.

Water Quality Monitoring

Regular water quality testing.
Monitoring contamination risks.
Ensuring compliance with safety standards.

Water Infrastructure Restoration

Repair damaged water systems.
Restore essential services.
Improve resilience of infrastructure.

Sanitation Services

Temporary sanitation facilities.
Toilet installation.
Wastewater management.
Safe excreta management.

Essential WASH Supplies

Distribution may include:

Hygiene kits
Water treatment products
Cleaning materials
Other emergency WASH supplies

Community Engagement

Partners will work closely with:

Local communities
Government authorities
Humanitarian agencies
Civil society organizations

Community participation is expected throughout planning, implementation, and monitoring.

Cross-Cutting Principles

All interventions should incorporate:

Rights-based programming
Gender equality
Age-sensitive approaches
Disability inclusion
Interculturality
Environmental sustainability
Climate change adaptation
Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP)
Community participation
Protection principles

Who is Eligible?

UNICEF is seeking organizations with demonstrated experience in humanitarian WASH programming.

Strong applicants should have expertise in:

Emergency WASH response
Humanitarian operations
Water system rehabilitation
Sanitation services
Emergency logistics
Technical team deployment
Community engagement
Rapid assessments
Disaster preparedness
Humanitarian coordination

Organizations should also demonstrate operational capacity to work with:

National authorities
Local governments
Communities
Humanitarian partners

How the Contingency Agreement Works

Organizations selected through the Expression of Interest process will:

Join UNICEF Ecuador’s roster of emergency implementing partners.
Be eligible for activation during emergencies.
Work with UNICEF and government authorities when humanitarian needs arise.
Implement agreed emergency WASH interventions.
Report results according to UNICEF humanitarian standards.

Selection onto the roster does not guarantee immediate funding but establishes eligibility for future emergency deployments.

How to Apply

Interested organizations should follow these steps:

Review the complete Expression of Interest requirements.
Confirm organizational eligibility and operational capacity.
Prepare documentation demonstrating humanitarian WASH experience.
Highlight previous emergency response projects.
Demonstrate geographical coverage and rapid deployment capacity.
Explain experience working with governments and humanitarian partners.
Submit the Expression of Interest before the official deadline.

Tips for a Strong Application

To strengthen your proposal:

Demonstrate proven emergency WASH experience.
Highlight rapid response capabilities.
Showcase technical expertise in water and sanitation.
Include examples of successful humanitarian interventions.
Demonstrate strong coordination with government agencies.
Explain community engagement strategies.
Present robust monitoring and accountability systems.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these common issues:

Providing limited evidence of emergency response experience.
Failing to explain rapid deployment capacity.
Ignoring protection, inclusion, or AAP principles.
Omitting climate resilience considerations.
Submitting incomplete organizational capacity information.
Not demonstrating coordination with humanitarian actors.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the purpose of this UNICEF Call for Expression of Interest?

The initiative aims to establish contingency agreements with experienced organizations that can rapidly support emergency WASH interventions across Ecuador.

Will selected organizations receive immediate funding?

No. Selected organizations will join a roster of implementing partners that may be activated during future emergencies based on needs and available funding.

Which areas are prioritized?

Priority provinces include Esmeraldas, Manabí, Sucumbíos, Guayas, Santa Elena, El Oro, Los Ríos, Loja, and Chimborazo, although nationwide organizations are also encouraged to apply.

What activities are expected under the partnership?

Activities include rapid assessments, water system restoration, temporary water supply, sanitation services, water quality monitoring, excreta management, hygiene promotion, and distribution of emergency WASH supplies.

Who can apply?

Experienced organizations with technical and operational expertise in humanitarian WASH programming, emergency response, and disaster preparedness are encouraged to submit Expressions of Interest.

What principles should guide project implementation?

All interventions should follow rights-based approaches, gender equality, disability inclusion, interculturality, environmental sustainability, climate adaptation, Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP), and active community participation.

Why is emergency WASH important?

Emergency WASH interventions help restore access to safe water and sanitation after disasters, reduce disease outbreaks, protect vulnerable populations, and strengthen community resilience during humanitarian crises.

Conclusion

The UNICEF Call for Expression of Interest for WASH Emergency Preparedness and Response in Ecuador provides an important opportunity for experienced humanitarian organizations to become part of a national emergency response roster. By strengthening emergency preparedness, restoring water and sanitation services, promoting inclusive and climate-resilient WASH interventions, and working closely with governments and affected communities, selected partners will play a critical role in protecting public health and improving humanitarian outcomes across Ecuador.