Deadline: 04-Jun-2026
The UNICEF is inviting applications to strengthen water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services in health facilities across Chimborazo, Ecuador through the implementation of the WASH FIT methodology developed by WHO and UNICEF. The initiative focuses on improving healthcare quality, infection prevention, maternal and child health outcomes, and sustainable WASH management systems in vulnerable communities.
The project will support assessments, infrastructure improvements, capacity building, and monitoring systems in 10 health centers located in the cantons of Colta and Riobamba to create safer and more dignified healthcare environments.
About the UNICEF WASH FIT Initiative
The programme is being implemented by UNICEF in Ecuador to improve WASH conditions in healthcare facilities within Chimborazo province.
The initiative aims to:
- Improve access to safe water and sanitation
- Strengthen hygiene services in health facilities
- Reduce infection risks
- Improve maternal and child healthcare conditions
- Strengthen environmental health systems
- Build sustainable WASH operation and maintenance systems
The intervention focuses particularly on rural and vulnerable communities facing gaps in essential WASH services.
Programme Focus Areas
The initiative supports activities related to:
- Water supply systems
- Sanitation services
- Hygiene improvement
- Basic sanitation
- Environmental health
- Infection prevention and control
- Maternal and child health
- Health facility strengthening
- WASH system improvement
- Infrastructure upgrades
- Waste management
- Risk assessment
- Capacity building
- Monitoring and evaluation
- Operation and maintenance systems
The programme integrates infrastructure, health systems, and community resilience approaches.
WASH Challenges in Chimborazo
The project responds to ongoing challenges in Chimborazo where many communities still face:
- Limited access to safe drinking water
- Inadequate sanitation systems
- Poor hygiene infrastructure
- Weak infection prevention measures
- Environmental health risks
These challenges contribute to:
- Infectious diseases
- Poor healthcare conditions
- Increased maternal and child health risks
- Child malnutrition
- Reduced healthcare quality
The initiative recognizes that inadequate WASH conditions directly affect patient safety and healthcare outcomes.
What Is the WASH FIT Methodology?
The programme uses the WASH FIT methodology developed by:
- World Health Organization
- UNICEF
WASH FIT stands for:
- Water and Sanitation for Health Facility Improvement Tool
The methodology is designed to:
- Assess WASH conditions in health facilities
- Identify service gaps and risks
- Develop improvement plans
- Strengthen infection prevention systems
- Monitor progress over time
- Improve long-term sustainability
WASH FIT promotes continuous quality improvement in healthcare environments.
Geographic Focus
The project focuses on:
- 10 health centers
Located in the cantons of:
- Colta
- Riobamba
The initiative prioritizes vulnerable populations and healthcare facilities requiring WASH system improvements.
Programme Objectives
The project aims to:
- Improve healthcare facility WASH services
- Strengthen infection prevention and control
- Improve maternal and child healthcare quality
- Build sustainable maintenance systems
- Strengthen health personnel capacity
- Improve monitoring and evaluation of WASH systems
The initiative also supports safer and more dignified healthcare environments for patients and healthcare workers.
Expected Results
The project is expected to deliver:
- WASH FIT assessments in selected health facilities
- Identification of service and infrastructure gaps
- Development of WASH improvement plans
- Validation of facility-level action plans
- Strengthened water and sanitation services
- Improved hygiene infrastructure
- Better infection prevention systems
- Enhanced healthcare worker capacity
- Sustainable operation and maintenance mechanisms
- Monitoring and evaluation systems for WASH services
The programme seeks long-term improvements in healthcare facility quality and resilience.
Capacity Building and Training
A major component of the initiative is training and institutional strengthening.
Activities may include:
- WASH FIT training for health personnel
- Infection prevention and control education
- Environmental health management training
- Monitoring and reporting capacity development
- Maintenance and operations training
The programme aims to improve both technical and institutional WASH management capacity.
Infrastructure and System Improvements
The initiative may support:
- Water system upgrades
- Sanitation facility improvements
- Hygiene infrastructure enhancement
- Waste management systems
- Risk reduction measures
- Preventive maintenance systems
These improvements are intended to strengthen healthcare quality and environmental safety.
Alignment with National and Global Priorities
The project aligns with:
- Ecuador’s national development plans
- Public health improvement priorities
- International WASH commitments
- Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6)
SDG 6 focuses on:
- Safe water and sanitation for all
The programme also contributes to broader goals related to:
- Health system resilience
- Maternal and child health
- Environmental sustainability
Why This Initiative Matters
Safe water, sanitation, and hygiene services are essential for:
- Infection prevention
- Patient safety
- Maternal healthcare
- Child health outcomes
- Healthcare quality
Poor WASH conditions in health facilities increase the risk of:
- Healthcare-associated infections
- Unsafe childbirth conditions
- Disease transmission
- Environmental contamination
The programme aims to strengthen healthcare systems while improving dignity, safety, and public health outcomes in vulnerable communities.
Who May Benefit from the Programme?
Potential beneficiaries include:
- Pregnant women
- Mothers and children
- Rural communities
- Vulnerable populations
- Healthcare workers
- Health facility administrators
- Patients using local healthcare services
The programme also supports long-term institutional strengthening within Ecuador’s healthcare system.
How the Programme Works
The initiative combines:
- Facility assessments
- Infrastructure improvement
- Capacity building
- Monitoring systems
- Risk management
- Sustainable maintenance planning
Implementation activities may include:
- Conducting WASH FIT assessments
- Identifying service gaps
- Developing improvement plans
- Training healthcare personnel
- Upgrading WASH infrastructure
- Establishing monitoring systems
- Supporting long-term maintenance practices
The programme uses evidence-based approaches to improve healthcare environments.
Tips for Organizations Preparing Applications
Organizations preparing proposals should:
- Demonstrate expertise in WASH programming
- Show experience in public health or healthcare systems
- Include infection prevention strategies
- Present sustainable operation and maintenance plans
- Demonstrate monitoring and evaluation capacity
- Include gender-sensitive and child-focused approaches
- Highlight experience working in vulnerable or rural communities
Strong proposals often combine:
- Technical WASH expertise
- Health systems strengthening
- Capacity building
- Sustainable implementation strategies
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid:
- Weak maintenance and sustainability plans
- Limited monitoring frameworks
- Incomplete risk assessment approaches
- Poor integration of infection prevention measures
- Unrealistic infrastructure plans
- Lack of community or institutional engagement
Applications with clear operational strategies and measurable healthcare impact are generally more competitive.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the UNICEF WASH FIT initiative in Chimborazo?
It is a programme designed to strengthen water, sanitation, and hygiene services in health facilities using the WASH FIT methodology.
Which organizations developed the WASH FIT methodology?
The methodology was developed by:
- World Health Organization
- UNICEF
Which areas are targeted by the project?
The project focuses on health centers in:
- Colta
- Riobamba
What are the main focus areas?
The initiative focuses on:
- Water supply
- Sanitation
- Hygiene
- Infection prevention
- Maternal and child health
- Waste management
- WASH system strengthening
What results are expected?
Expected outcomes include:
- WASH assessments
- Infrastructure improvements
- Training for healthcare personnel
- Improved infection prevention systems
- Sustainable maintenance systems
Why is WASH important in healthcare facilities?
Good WASH conditions help prevent infections, improve patient safety, support maternal and child health, and strengthen healthcare quality.
How many health centers are included?
The programme focuses on:
- 10 health centers
Conclusion
The UNICEF WASH FIT initiative in Chimborazo represents an important effort to improve healthcare quality, infection prevention, and public health outcomes through stronger water, sanitation, and hygiene systems in health facilities. By combining infrastructure improvements, capacity building, risk assessment, and sustainable management systems, the programme seeks to create safer healthcare environments for vulnerable communities.
Organizations with expertise in WASH systems, healthcare infrastructure, environmental health, and public health capacity building can play a significant role in strengthening health facility resilience and improving maternal and child health outcomes in Ecuador.
For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.