Deadline: 03-Jul-2026
UNICEF has launched a call for expression of interest to support an integrated programme in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, focused on improving quality learning, nutrition and wellbeing opportunities for children aged approximately 4–12 years. The programme will work through early childhood development centres and primary schools to strengthen education services, nutrition support, responsive caregiving, safe learning conditions and local government capacity.
The initiative combines early learning, foundational literacy and numeracy, school readiness, nutritious meals, malnutrition prevention, hygiene, parenting support and sustainable planning. It also supports Kupang district government authorities through training, technical assistance, public investment analysis, budget advocacy and cross-sector coordination.
What is this UNICEF Call for Expression of Interest?
This UNICEF call for expression of interest supports an integrated child development programme in East Nusa Tenggara, also known as NTT, Indonesia.
The programme focuses on children in early childhood development centres and primary schools.
It aims to improve education, nutrition, health-related practices, safe learning environments and child wellbeing through coordinated school, family, community and government action.
Main Purpose of the Programme
The main purpose of the programme is to improve quality learning, nutrition and wellbeing opportunities for young children.
The initiative supports children aged approximately 4–12 years by strengthening early learning environments, improving school readiness, supporting foundational learning, and promoting healthy nutrition and hygiene practices.
It also aims to build sustainable education and nutrition systems at the district level.
Geographic Focus
The programme will be implemented in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia.
It includes a focus on strengthening systems and capacity in Kupang district.
Activities will support children in early childhood development centres and primary schools, while also engaging parents, caregivers, communities, school committees and local government authorities.
Focus Areas and Priorities
The programme focuses on integrated education, nutrition and wellbeing support for children.
Key focus areas include:
- Education
- Early Childhood Development
- General education
- Learning outcomes
- School readiness
- Foundational literacy
- Foundational numeracy
- Nutrition
- Malnutrition prevention and treatment
- Micronutrients
- Safe and nutritious meals
- Hygiene and sanitation
- Responsive caregiving
- Parenting support
- Safe learning environments
- Local government capacity building
- Sustainable planning and budgeting
Key Concepts Explained
Early Childhood Development
Early Childhood Development refers to the physical, cognitive, emotional, social and language development of young children.
In this programme, ECD centres will be supported to improve school readiness through play-based learning, teacher training, learning kits and parenting support.
Foundational Learning
Foundational learning refers to essential literacy and numeracy skills that children need for future education.
The programme will support primary schools by strengthening teachers’ ability to help children improve reading, writing, counting and basic mathematics skills.
Nutrition and Wellbeing
Nutrition and wellbeing include access to safe and nutritious meals, healthy eating habits, hygiene practices, physical activity, and support for children’s growth and development.
The programme connects nutrition with learning because children who are well-nourished and healthy are better able to participate in school.
Responsive Caregiving
Responsive caregiving means that parents, caregivers and educators respond to children’s needs with care, attention and support.
The programme includes parenting sessions to strengthen nurturing care, nutrition knowledge and support for children’s learning and development.
Integrated Nutrition Services
Integrated nutrition services combine several interventions to support child health and nutrition.
These may include growth assessments, nutritional screening, deworming, vitamin A supplementation, counselling, healthy school canteens, hygiene promotion and safe meal practices.
Target Children and Institutions
The programme targets children aged approximately 4–12 years.
It will work through:
- Early childhood development centres
- Primary schools
- School committees
- Parents and caregivers
- Local communities
- Local government authorities
The programme is designed to support children at key stages of learning, growth and development.
Education Component
The education component will strengthen early learning and foundational learning.
In ECD centres, the programme will support school readiness through improved quality education services.
Activities may include teacher and principal training on play-based learning, provision of ECD learning kits, and parenting sessions focused on nutrition, nurturing care and financial literacy.
In primary schools, the programme will improve foundational literacy and numeracy skills.
Activities may include teacher and principal training, provision of learning materials, nutrition awareness resources and parenting sessions that help families support children’s learning and development.
Nutrition Component
The nutrition component will help ensure that children receive safe and quality nutritious meals.
It will support improved kitchen facilities, standardised equipment, food safety systems, hygiene and sanitation certification, stronger food supply chains, and capacity building for kitchen staff, teachers and school management.
The programme will also strengthen school-based nutrition interventions, including growth monitoring, nutritional assessments, deworming, vitamin A supplementation, healthy canteen practices, counselling, physical activity, handwashing, sanitation and personal hygiene.
Nutrition Awareness and Behaviour Change
The programme will promote nutrition awareness among children, parents, caregivers and communities.
Interactive education activities may include:
- Storytelling
- Role-playing
- Games
- Practical demonstrations
- School-based campaigns
- Community engagement sessions
- Parent and caregiver learning activities
These activities should be adapted to local contexts so that nutrition messages are understandable, practical and culturally relevant.
Support for Parents and Caregivers
Parents and caregivers will play an important role in the programme.
Parenting sessions will focus on supporting children’s nutrition, learning and development.
Topics may include nurturing care, healthy meals, hygiene practices, child development, school readiness, financial literacy and support for children’s foundational learning.
Support for Schools and School Committees
Schools will be supported to create healthier, safer and more engaging learning environments.
School committees will help engage parents, students and communities.
This approach is intended to strengthen local ownership and ensure that education and nutrition improvements continue beyond the programme period.
Support for Kupang District Government
The programme will strengthen the capacity of Kupang district government authorities to manage sustainable education and nutrition services.
Support may include:
- Training
- Technical assistance
- Public investment analysis
- Budget advocacy
- Cross-sectoral coordination
- Planning support
- Monitoring support
- Implementation support
This government capacity-building component is important for sustainability and long-term systems strengthening.
Expected Outcomes
The programme is expected to improve learning, nutrition and wellbeing outcomes for children.
Expected outcomes include:
- Improved quality of early childhood education services
- Stronger school readiness among young children
- Improved foundational literacy and numeracy in primary schools
- Better access to safe and nutritious meals
- Stronger kitchen, hygiene and food safety systems
- Improved nutrition awareness among children and families
- Increased parenting knowledge on nutrition and nurturing care
- Better integration of nutrition services in schools
- Stronger local government capacity for planning and budgeting
- Improved coordination between education, nutrition and health-related actors
Eligible Activities
The programme may support integrated activities across education, nutrition, health, parenting and governance.
Eligible activities may include:
- Teacher training in play-based learning
- Principal training for quality education services
- Provision of ECD learning kits
- Provision of primary school learning materials
- Literacy and numeracy support
- Nutrition awareness activities
- Parenting sessions
- Kitchen facility improvement
- Provision of standardised kitchen equipment
- Food safety and hygiene support
- Hygiene and sanitation certification support
- Capacity building for kitchen staff
- Capacity building for teachers and school management
- Growth and nutritional assessments
- Deworming and vitamin A supplementation support
- Healthy school canteen practices
- Handwashing and sanitation activities
- Public investment analysis
- Budget advocacy
- Technical assistance to district authorities
How the Programme Works
The programme uses an integrated approach that connects education, nutrition, parenting and local government systems.
At the school and ECD level, it improves learning materials, teacher skills, meal quality, hygiene systems and child development support.
At the family and community level, it promotes parenting, nutrition awareness, hygiene and healthy lifestyles.
At the government level, it strengthens planning, budgeting, monitoring, coordination and implementation systems.
Who Should Respond to the Call?
Organisations responding to the call should have the capacity to implement integrated education and nutrition programming.
Relevant organisations may include those with experience in:
- Early childhood development
- Primary education
- Foundational learning
- Nutrition programming
- School feeding or meal quality improvement
- Hygiene and sanitation
- Parenting and caregiver engagement
- Community mobilisation
- Local government capacity building
- Public investment analysis
- Budget advocacy
- Monitoring and implementation support
Applicants should be able to work with schools, communities and government authorities in East Nusa Tenggara.
How to Apply
Interested organisations should prepare an expression of interest that clearly explains their technical capacity, relevant experience and proposed approach.
The submission should show how the organisation will support integrated learning, nutrition and wellbeing outcomes for children aged approximately 4–12 years.
Applicants should also describe how they will coordinate with schools, parents, communities, school committees and Kupang district government authorities.
Suggested Application Steps
- Review the programme focus on East Nusa Tenggara and Kupang district.
- Confirm organisational experience in education, nutrition, ECD, school systems or child wellbeing.
- Define how the proposed approach will support children aged approximately 4–12 years.
- Explain how ECD centres will be supported through play-based learning, learning kits and parenting sessions.
- Explain how primary schools will be supported through literacy and numeracy activities.
- Describe how meal quality, food safety, hygiene and school nutrition systems will be improved.
- Include nutrition awareness activities for children, parents, caregivers and communities.
- Explain how schools and school committees will be engaged.
- Describe support for Kupang district government planning, budgeting and coordination.
- Include a monitoring and reporting approach.
- Demonstrate capacity to coordinate across education, nutrition, health and local government actors.
- Submit the expression of interest through the official UNICEF process.
Why It Matters
Children’s learning, nutrition and wellbeing are deeply connected.
Poor nutrition, unsafe school environments and weak early learning support can affect children’s ability to grow, learn and participate in school.
This UNICEF programme matters because it addresses these challenges together rather than separately.
By improving ECD centres, primary schools, meal systems, hygiene practices, parenting support and district-level planning, the programme can create stronger foundations for child development in East Nusa Tenggara.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid proposing education-only activities without linking them to nutrition and wellbeing.
Nutrition proposals should not focus only on meals without addressing food safety, hygiene, school systems and behaviour change.
Applicants should avoid weak parent and community engagement plans.
Proposals should not ignore local government capacity building, especially planning, budgeting and cross-sector coordination.
Applications should also avoid generic activities that are not adapted to the local context of East Nusa Tenggara.
Tips for Strong Expressions of Interest
A strong expression of interest should clearly show experience in integrated child-focused programming.
Applicants should explain how education, nutrition, parenting and government capacity-building activities will reinforce each other.
The proposal should demonstrate practical knowledge of ECD centres, primary schools and local education systems.
Strong applications should include clear strategies for engaging teachers, principals, kitchen staff, parents, caregivers, school committees and district authorities.
Applicants should also show how they will track improvements in learning, nutrition, hygiene, wellbeing and system capacity.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the purpose of this UNICEF call?
The call supports an integrated programme in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, to improve quality learning, nutrition and wellbeing opportunities for children through ECD centres and primary schools.
2. Who are the target children?
The programme focuses on children aged approximately 4–12 years in ECD centres and primary schools.
3. What are the main focus areas?
The focus areas include education, early childhood development, learning outcomes, nutrition, malnutrition prevention and treatment, micronutrients, school readiness, hygiene and child wellbeing.
4. What will the education component support?
The education component will support play-based learning in ECD centres, ECD learning kits, teacher and principal training, foundational literacy and numeracy, learning materials and parenting sessions.
5. What will the nutrition component support?
The nutrition component will support safe and nutritious meals, kitchen facilities, standardised equipment, food safety, hygiene and sanitation certification, food supply chains, staff training and integrated nutrition services.
6. How will communities be involved?
The programme will engage parents, caregivers, students, communities and school committees through nutrition awareness, parenting sessions, healthy lifestyle promotion and sustainability activities.
7. How will local government be supported?
Kupang district government authorities will receive support through training, technical assistance, public investment analysis, budget advocacy, cross-sector coordination, planning, monitoring and implementation support.
Conclusion
UNICEF’s call for expression of interest in East Nusa Tenggara supports an integrated approach to improving children’s learning, nutrition and wellbeing.
The programme works through ECD centres, primary schools, families, communities and Kupang district authorities to strengthen education services, nutritious meals, hygiene, parenting, foundational learning and sustainable local systems.
Applicants should present practical, child-centred and locally adapted proposals that combine education, nutrition, health practices, caregiver support and government capacity building for long-term impact.
For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.