Apply Now: Advancing WASH in Schools and Menstrual Health (US and Kenya)

UNICEF is seeking an international partner to strengthen WASH in Schools (WinS) and Menstrual Health and Hygiene (MHH) programmes through evidence generation, technical guidance, learning resources, and capacity development. The partnership will support governments and implementing partners with practical tools, climate-resilient WASH solutions, sustainable financing strategies, and evidence-based resources to improve water, sanitation, hygiene, and menstrual health services in schools worldwide.

UNICEF Call for Partnership: Strengthening WASH in Schools and Menstrual Health and Hygiene Programmes

The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has launched a partnership opportunity for an international organization to strengthen WASH in Schools (WinS) and Menstrual Health and Hygiene (MHH) programming.

The partnership will focus on developing practical, evidence-based guidance, technical resources, and learning opportunities that help governments, UNICEF country offices, and implementing partners improve the quality, sustainability, and resilience of school WASH programmes.

The initiative supports better access to safe water, sanitation, hygiene facilities, and menstrual health services, helping children learn in healthier, safer, and more inclusive school environments.

Program Overview

The partnership aims to strengthen global WASH in Schools programming by transforming research, country experiences, and implementation lessons into practical tools and guidance.

The initiative will support:

Evidence-based decision-making.
Capacity development.
Technical guidance.
Knowledge management.
Learning resources.
Sustainable WASH programming.
Climate-resilient school sanitation.
Menstrual health and hygiene integration.

The developed resources will be designed for governments, UNICEF country offices, development partners, and the global WASH in Schools community.

Why WASH in Schools Matters

Access to quality Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services in schools is essential for children’s health, education, and well-being.

Effective school WASH programmes help to:

Improve student health.
Prevent infectious diseases.
Increase school attendance.
Improve learning outcomes.
Promote gender equality.
Support menstrual health and hygiene.
Create safe and inclusive learning environments.
Strengthen resilience during emergencies.

Reliable WASH services are especially important for adolescent girls, whose education can be disrupted when schools lack adequate sanitation facilities and menstrual hygiene support.

Program Objectives

The partnership aims to:

Strengthen WASH in Schools programmes globally.
Improve menstrual health and hygiene programming.
Develop evidence-based technical guidance.
Increase access to practical implementation tools.
Strengthen institutional capacity.
Promote climate-resilient sanitation.
Improve hand hygiene programming.
Support sustainable financing for WASH.
Enhance knowledge sharing across countries.

Focus Areas

The partnership covers several priority areas, including:

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)
WASH in Schools (WinS)
Basic sanitation
Hand hygiene
Menstrual health and hygiene
Climate-resilient WASH
Safely managed sanitation
School health
Sustainable financing
WASH in emergencies
Knowledge management
Capacity development
Evidence synthesis
Learning resources
System strengthening

Key Activities

The selected partner will support UNICEF through a range of technical activities.

These include:

Reviewing global evidence.
Analysing existing reports and guidance.
Conducting document reviews.
Carrying out key informant interviews.
Organizing stakeholder consultations.
Validating technical resources.
Developing practical implementation guidance.
Producing learning materials.
Supporting capacity development.
Strengthening global knowledge-sharing.

The work will build upon existing evidence while incorporating practical lessons from country implementation.

Expected Outputs

The partnership will produce several technical resources, including:

Technical guidance for WASH in Schools.
Practical implementation tools.
Learning products.
Capacity development materials.
Technical briefs.
Knowledge resources.
Webinar series.
Evidence summaries.
Best practice documentation.

These resources will support governments and partners in implementing stronger school WASH programmes.

Technical Guidance to Be Developed

The initiative will produce updated guidance on:

Safely managed sanitation.
Climate-resilient sanitation.
Hand hygiene in schools.
Sustainable WASH programming.
School sanitation management.
Menstrual health and hygiene.
Integrated school health approaches.

The partnership will also update the Three Star Approach by incorporating:

New evidence.
Country implementation experiences.
Lessons learned.
Practical institutionalization strategies.
Approaches for national scale-up.

Sustainable Financing and System Strengthening

An important component of the partnership is strengthening long-term sustainability.

Activities include:

Identifying cost-effective implementation approaches.
Developing financing recommendations.
Supporting operation and maintenance planning.
Reviewing costing tools.
Promoting financial leveraging.
Strengthening system-based programming.

These efforts aim to help countries build sustainable WASH systems rather than relying solely on short-term projects.

Menstrual Health and Hygiene Integration

The partnership will strengthen the integration of menstrual health with broader education and health programmes.

Activities include:

Reviewing global evidence and policies.
Analysing programme models.
Developing an integrated conceptual framework.
Identifying interventions across different life stages.
Producing practical implementation guidance.

The work will support improved menstrual health services for girls while strengthening links with adolescent health and maternal health programmes.

Capacity Development and Knowledge Sharing

The partnership will expand learning opportunities by developing:

Online learning resources.
Technical webinars.
Knowledge-sharing platforms.
Training materials.
Practical implementation guides.
Communities of practice.

These activities will support governments, UNICEF staff, and implementing partners in strengthening WASH programming.

Who Can Apply?

UNICEF is seeking an international organization with demonstrated expertise in:

WASH programming.
WASH in Schools.
Menstrual health and hygiene.
Public health.
Education systems.
Capacity development.
Evidence synthesis.
Technical guidance development.
Knowledge management.
Climate-resilient sanitation.
International development programmes.

Applicants should have experience supporting governments and international partners through research, technical assistance, and programme implementation.

How the Partnership Works

The partnership will generally follow these stages:

Review existing evidence and programme documentation.
Conduct consultations with experts and stakeholders.
Analyse country experiences and implementation lessons.
Develop practical guidance and technical resources.
Validate resources through partner engagement.
Deliver learning materials and capacity-building activities.
Support knowledge sharing and global dissemination.

Why This Partnership Matters

Although many countries have expanded access to school WASH services, challenges remain in ensuring that programmes are sustainable, climate-resilient, and responsive to emerging needs.

This partnership helps address these challenges by:

Improving the quality of technical guidance.
Supporting evidence-based decision-making.
Strengthening government capacity.
Promoting sustainable school sanitation.
Improving menstrual health support.
Encouraging climate adaptation.
Expanding access to practical learning resources.
Supporting healthier and more inclusive schools.

The initiative also contributes to stronger education systems and improved health outcomes for children worldwide.

Tips for a Strong Expression of Interest

Organizations preparing an application should:

Demonstrate expertise in WASH and school health.
Highlight experience in evidence synthesis and technical guidance.
Showcase previous work supporting governments.
Explain approaches to capacity development.
Include experience with climate-resilient WASH programmes.
Demonstrate knowledge of menstrual health programming.
Present strong stakeholder engagement strategies.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these common proposal weaknesses:

Providing limited evidence of WASH expertise.
Failing to demonstrate experience with international partnerships.
Overlooking knowledge management approaches.
Ignoring sustainability and financing considerations.
Presenting unclear methodologies.
Not explaining how resources will be practical and scalable.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the purpose of this UNICEF partnership?

The partnership aims to strengthen WASH in Schools and Menstrual Health and Hygiene programmes by developing evidence-based technical guidance, learning resources, and capacity-building tools for governments and partners.

Who can apply?

The opportunity is intended for international organizations with expertise in WASH, education, public health, technical assistance, knowledge management, and programme implementation.

What is WASH in Schools?

WASH in Schools refers to ensuring that schools have safe drinking water, adequate sanitation, hand hygiene facilities, and hygiene education that support children’s health, learning, and well-being.

What is the Three Star Approach?

The Three Star Approach is a practical framework that helps schools progressively improve WASH services through manageable and sustainable steps toward national standards.

What technical resources will be developed?

The partnership will produce technical briefs, implementation guidance, learning resources, webinar series, knowledge products, and updated guidance on sanitation, hand hygiene, climate resilience, and menstrual health.

Why is menstrual health included in the partnership?

Menstrual health and hygiene are essential for ensuring that girls can attend school safely, confidently, and consistently while promoting gender equality and better education outcomes.

What long-term impact is expected?

The partnership will strengthen national WASH systems, improve school sanitation services, support climate-resilient infrastructure, enhance menstrual health programming, and provide governments with practical tools to improve children’s health and learning outcomes.

Conclusion

The UNICEF Partnership for Strengthening WASH in Schools and Menstrual Health and Hygiene Programmes represents a significant opportunity for international organizations to support healthier, safer, and more inclusive learning environments worldwide. Through evidence-based guidance, technical assistance, capacity development, and knowledge sharing, the initiative will help governments strengthen sustainable WASH systems, improve menstrual health services, promote climate-resilient sanitation, and enhance education and health outcomes for children and adolescents.