Call for Humanitarian WASH and Community Resilience in Upper Nile (South Sudan)

Deadline: 15-Jun-2026

UNICEF is seeking Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for a Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) project in Upper Nile State, South Sudan. The initiative aims to improve access to safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, hygiene services, and community resilience for approximately 30,000 vulnerable children and women through a combination of emergency response and long-term sustainability measures.

Program Overview

The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) is inviting qualified organizations to support humanitarian WASH interventions and resilience-building activities in Upper Nile State, South Sudan.

The project addresses critical challenges related to water access, sanitation infrastructure, hygiene practices, disease prevention, and community resilience in one of the country’s most vulnerable regions. The initiative combines immediate humanitarian assistance with sustainable solutions designed to strengthen local systems and community capacity.

Background and Context

South Sudan continues to experience a prolonged humanitarian crisis driven by:

• Armed conflict and insecurity.
• Economic instability.
• Climate-related disasters.
• Population displacement.
• Refugee and returnee influxes.
• Weak public infrastructure and services.

These challenges have severely affected water, sanitation, and hygiene systems, particularly in Upper Nile State. Limited access to safe water and sanitation has contributed to recurrent outbreaks of cholera and other waterborne diseases, placing children, women, and vulnerable populations at heightened risk.

Project Objectives

The project seeks to:

• Improve access to safe drinking water.
• Strengthen emergency WASH services in crisis-affected communities.
• Reduce the risk of cholera and other waterborne diseases.
• Enhance sanitation and hygiene practices.
• Build community resilience through sustainable WASH solutions.
• Strengthen local capacity for operation and maintenance of WASH infrastructure.
• Promote climate-resilient water and sanitation practices.

Key Focus Areas

Safe Water Supply and Water Infrastructure

The project will support:

• Rehabilitation of surface water treatment systems.
• Maintenance of existing water supply infrastructure.
• Rehabilitation of solar-powered water yards.
• Repair and upgrading of boreholes.
• Expansion of access to safe drinking water.
• Water quality monitoring activities.
• Water treatment and disinfection interventions.

Sanitation Services

Activities include:

• Construction of sanitation facilities.
• Rehabilitation of existing sanitation infrastructure.
• Improvement of sanitation services in health facilities.
• Improvement of sanitation services in nutrition centers.
• Promotion of sustainable sanitation technologies.
• Community-led sanitation initiatives.

Hygiene Promotion and Behavior Change

The initiative will strengthen:

• Hygiene awareness campaigns.
• Community-based hygiene education.
• Risk communication and community engagement (RCCE).
• Handwashing promotion.
• Safe water handling practices.
• Disease prevention messaging.
• Environmental sanitation awareness.

Emergency WASH Supplies

Essential WASH supplies will be distributed to vulnerable populations, including:

• Crisis-affected households.
• Malnourished children.
• Pregnant women.
• Lactating mothers.
• Displaced families.
• Host communities.

Community Resilience and Sustainability

A major component of the project focuses on long-term sustainability through:

• Community participation.
• Local ownership of infrastructure.
• Capacity-building initiatives.
• Climate adaptation measures.
• Water conservation practices.
• Sustainable operation and maintenance systems.

Expected Results

The project aims to deliver the following outcomes:

• Improved access to safe drinking water.
• Reduced incidence of waterborne diseases.
• Increased access to sanitation facilities.
• Improved hygiene practices among communities.
• Enhanced resilience of local WASH systems.
• Strengthened community management of water resources.
• Increased awareness of lifesaving hygiene behaviors.
• Greater sustainability of WASH infrastructure.

Approximately 30,000 crisis-affected and at-risk children and women are expected to benefit directly from project activities.

Community Capacity Building

The initiative places strong emphasis on strengthening local institutions and community ownership.

Training and capacity-building activities will support:

• Water Management Committees.
• Community WASH structures.
• Water quality monitors.
• Local technicians.
• Community volunteers.
• Hygiene promoters.

These efforts will help ensure the long-term functionality and sustainability of WASH infrastructure and services.

Climate-Resilient WASH Solutions

The project integrates climate resilience into WASH programming through:

• Water conservation measures.
• Climate-adaptive technologies.
• Sustainable water resource management.
• Environmentally responsible sanitation systems.
• Community-based resilience planning.

These interventions help communities better withstand future climate-related shocks and environmental challenges.

Why This Project Matters

Access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene services is essential for public health, child survival, and community wellbeing.

The project is particularly important because it:

• Addresses urgent humanitarian needs.
• Prevents disease outbreaks.
• Protects vulnerable children and women.
• Strengthens local service delivery systems.
• Builds resilience against future crises.
• Promotes sustainable development outcomes.
• Supports long-term recovery efforts in South Sudan.

Who Is Eligible?

UNICEF is seeking Expressions of Interest from qualified organizations capable of implementing large-scale WASH and humanitarian programming.

Potential applicants may include:

• Non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
• National civil society organizations.
• International NGOs.
• Humanitarian organizations.
• Community-based organizations with relevant technical expertise.
• Organizations experienced in WASH, public health, and emergency response.

Applicants should demonstrate experience in:

• WASH programming.
• Humanitarian response.
• Community engagement.
• Capacity building.
• Infrastructure rehabilitation.
• Monitoring and evaluation.
• Climate-resilient development approaches.

How to Apply

Step 1: Review the Expression of Interest Requirements

Carefully review the EOI documentation and eligibility criteria provided by UNICEF.

Step 2: Assess Organizational Capacity

Demonstrate technical and operational capacity in:

• Emergency WASH programming.
• Infrastructure rehabilitation.
• Community engagement.
• Project management.
• Financial accountability.

Step 3: Develop a Technical Approach

Outline how the organization will:

• Improve water access.
• Strengthen sanitation services.
• Promote hygiene behavior change.
• Build community resilience.
• Support sustainability of interventions.

Step 4: Prepare Supporting Documentation

Compile required organizational and technical documents, including:

• Registration certificates.
• Organizational profile.
• Previous project experience.
• Financial records.
• Staffing and technical capacity information.

Step 5: Submit the Expression of Interest

Submit all required materials before the specified deadline following UNICEF application procedures.

Tips for Applicants

• Demonstrate strong WASH technical expertise.
• Highlight experience in emergency response settings.
• Show evidence of successful community engagement.
• Include sustainability and resilience strategies.
• Emphasize local capacity-building approaches.
• Present realistic implementation plans.
• Integrate climate-resilient interventions where possible.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Providing insufficient evidence of WASH experience.
• Weak sustainability planning.
• Limited community engagement strategies.
• Unclear implementation methodology.
• Inadequate monitoring and evaluation plans.
• Failure to address climate resilience considerations.
• Incomplete supporting documentation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the primary goal of this project?

The project aims to improve access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene services while strengthening community resilience in Upper Nile State, South Sudan.

Who are the main beneficiaries?

Approximately 30,000 vulnerable children and women, including displaced populations, host communities, pregnant women, lactating mothers, and malnourished children.

What are the main WASH activities?

Activities include water system rehabilitation, sanitation facility construction, hygiene promotion, water quality monitoring, WASH supply distribution, and community capacity building.

Why is Upper Nile State a priority area?

The region faces severe humanitarian challenges, including displacement, weak infrastructure, disease outbreaks, climate shocks, and limited access to basic services.

How does the project support sustainability?

The initiative trains local WASH committees, technicians, and community structures while promoting climate-resilient technologies and community ownership of infrastructure.

Does the project address disease prevention?

Yes. A major objective is reducing cholera and other waterborne diseases through improved water quality, sanitation services, and hygiene practices.

What role does community engagement play?

Community participation is central to project implementation, sustainability, behavior change, and long-term management of WASH infrastructure.

Conclusion

UNICEF’s WASH Emergency Response and Community Resilience Project in Upper Nile State represents a critical investment in public health, humanitarian assistance, and sustainable development. By combining emergency interventions with long-term resilience-building measures, the initiative seeks to improve safe water access, strengthen sanitation and hygiene systems, reduce disease risks, and empower communities to sustainably manage essential WASH services for years to come.

For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.