Call for EOIs: Building Systems for Child and Adolescent MHPSS (India)

Deadline: 01-Jun-2026

UNICEF is inviting grant applications to strengthen mental health and psychosocial support systems for children and adolescents in selected states of India. The initiative focuses on trauma-informed care, adolescent health, suicide prevention, caregiver support, youth advocacy, and system-level capacity building across Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh.

This UNICEF grant opportunity supports efforts to improve mental health and psychosocial support systems for children and adolescents in India. The programme responds to growing mental health risks linked to poverty, migration, conflict, climate-related displacement, abuse, and exploitation.

The project aims to strengthen child protection systems, improve community-based support, and build the capacity of institutions and frontline actors to identify and respond to mental health needs early.

Key facts

• Funder: United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund.

• Country: India.

• Focus states: Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh.

• Main theme: Mental health and psychosocial support for children and adolescents.

• Indicative budget: 60,000.00000.

• Core approach: System strengthening, trauma-informed care, youth and caregiver support, and prevention frameworks.

What the programme supports

The initiative focuses on:

• Strengthening mental health and psychosocial support systems.

• Promoting trauma-informed care.

• Improving adolescent health, including sexual and reproductive health.

• Enhancing learning outcomes.

• Building prevention and promotion frameworks for mental health.

• Supporting suicide prevention and management.

• Developing youth advocacy and caregiver support systems.

It is designed to address both service delivery gaps and institutional capacity constraints.

Why it matters

Children and adolescents in India face increasing psychosocial stress from multiple social and environmental pressures. These include displacement, violence, exploitation, and instability in family or community settings.

This programme matters because it aims to embed mental health support within child protection and community systems, rather than treating it as a separate or isolated service.

Geographic focus

The initiative is implemented in selected locations across:

• Maharashtra.

• Chhattisgarh.

• Gujarat.

• Uttar Pradesh.

Each state appears to have a different functional emphasis, with a strong focus on frontline capacity, adolescent support, and institutionalisation of mental health programming.

Expected results

The programme is expected to deliver outcomes such as:

• Strengthened capacity of child protection functionaries in Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh to deliver trauma-informed MHPSS.

• Supportive supervision protocols based on the UNICEF-WHO EQUIP framework.

• Adapted prevention and promotion packages for adolescents and caregivers.

• A cadre of youth champions for mental health advocacy.

• Institutionalisation of mental health programmes in higher educational institutions in Gujarat.

• Stronger advocacy for mental health promotion and suicide prevention among children and adolescents.

These results show that the grant is focused on systems change, not only direct service delivery.

Who is likely to apply?

While the call text does not list eligibility in detail here, this kind of opportunity is generally suited to:

• Non-governmental organisations.

• Child protection and mental health organisations.

• Academic and research institutions.

• Public health and youth-focused organisations.

• Implementing partners with experience in adolescent wellbeing and systems strengthening.

Applicants should be able to work across government, community, and institutional settings.

What strong proposals should include

A competitive proposal should clearly demonstrate:

• Experience in child and adolescent mental health.

• Capacity to deliver trauma-informed programming.

• Familiarity with child protection systems.

• Ability to work in at least one of the focus states.

• Strong monitoring and evaluation capacity.

• A realistic plan for youth engagement and caregiver support.

• Alignment with suicide prevention and mental health promotion.

How the programme works

1. Identify the target state and system gap.
   Focus on the most relevant issue, such as trauma-informed care, youth advocacy, or caregiver support.

2. Build system-level partnerships.
   Work with child protection actors, educational institutions, health services, and community structures.

3. Adapt the support package.
   Tailor prevention and promotion tools to local adolescent and caregiver needs.

4. Train frontline actors.
   Strengthen capacity for early identification, risk assessment, referral, and response.

5. Engage young people and families.
   Create youth champions and caregiver support mechanisms.

6. Track results.
   Measure changes in capacity, adoption, institutionalisation, and service delivery.

Common mistakes and tips

• Mistake: Focusing only on clinical mental health treatment.

  • Tip: This programme is about psychosocial support systems, prevention, and community-based response.

• Mistake: Ignoring the child protection link.

  • Tip: Embed MHPSS within child protection and frontline systems.

• Mistake: Proposing generic adolescent health work without mental health integration.

  • Tip: Connect adolescent health to trauma-informed care and psychosocial support.

• Mistake: Weak state-specific design.

  • Tip: Show how the project fits the needs of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, or Uttar Pradesh.

• Mistake: Limited youth or caregiver engagement.

  • Tip: Include advocacy, peer support, and caregiver programming.

FAQ

What is this UNICEF grant about?

• It supports mental health and psychosocial support systems for children and adolescents in selected states of India.

• It emphasizes trauma-informed care, prevention, youth advocacy, and caregiver support.

Which states are included?

• Maharashtra.

• Chhattisgarh.

• Gujarat.

• Uttar Pradesh.

What are the main focus areas?

• Mental health and psychosocial support.

• Trauma-informed care.

• Adolescent health.

• Suicide prevention.

• Youth advocacy.

• Caregiver support.

• Learning outcomes and prevention frameworks.

What is the indicative budget?

• 60,000.00000.

What kinds of results are expected?

• Capacity building for child protection staff.

• Supportive supervision based on the EQUIP framework.

• Youth champion networks.

• Institutionalisation of mental health programming.

• Stronger advocacy for mental health and suicide prevention.

Who should apply?

• Organisations with experience in child protection, mental health, adolescent wellbeing, or community-based support systems.

Is this programme only about treatment?

• No.

• It also focuses on prevention, promotion, systems strengthening, and community-based psychosocial support.

Conclusion

This UNICEF opportunity is aimed at building stronger mental health and psychosocial support systems for children and adolescents in India. The strongest proposals will combine trauma-informed care, youth engagement, caregiver support, and institutional capacity building in the selected states.

For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.