Deadline: 01-May-2026
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is inviting applications to support integrated health and nutrition services in Gaza, focusing on improving maternal and child health outcomes.
The initiative emphasizes preventive care, treatment of malnutrition, community engagement, and strengthening health systems to ensure accessible, inclusive, and high-quality services for vulnerable populations.
Overview of the Programme
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has launched a funding and implementation opportunity aimed at improving maternal, child, and adolescent health and nutrition outcomes in Gaza Strip.
This initiative focuses on delivering integrated, community-based, and facility-based health and nutrition services, especially for vulnerable and underserved populations.
The programme combines preventive, promotive, and curative interventions to address both immediate and long-term health challenges.
Key Focus Areas
Child Health and Nutrition
- Essential health services for infants, children, and adolescents
- Prevention and treatment of malnutrition
- Growth monitoring and nutrition support
Maternal Health Services
- Care for pregnant and breastfeeding women
- Antenatal and postnatal nutrition support
- Gender-sensitive healthcare services
Integrated Health and Nutrition Interventions
- Combined delivery of health and nutrition services
- Focus on lifecycle approach (infants to mothers)
- Strengthening service quality and accessibility
Core Programme Components
One-Stop Infant and Young Child Feeding Approach
This approach integrates multiple services at a single point of care to improve efficiency and outcomes.
- Nutrition counselling
- Growth monitoring
- Preventive healthcare services
- Early detection of malnutrition
Treatment and Curative Services
- Lifesaving treatment for acute malnutrition
- Clinical care for children, adolescents, and women
- Referral systems for specialized care
Health System Strengthening
- Support to Ministry of Health policies and capacity
- Institutional strengthening for nutrition services
- Improved service delivery standards
Nutrition Information Systems
- Data collection and monitoring systems
- Regular reporting for accountability
- Evidence-based decision-making
Community Engagement and Behaviour Change
The programme strongly emphasizes social and behaviour change communication (SBCC) to improve health practices.
Key Activities
- Household counselling visits
- Community awareness sessions
- Support groups for mothers and caregivers
- Engagement with local leaders and influencers
Objectives
- Improve infant and young child feeding practices
- Increase awareness of nurturing care
- Strengthen community-level health knowledge
Expanding Access to Services
To reach underserved populations, the initiative includes:
- Mobile health clinics
- Strengthened primary healthcare facilities
- Outreach services for remote or vulnerable communities
Inclusion and Protection Measures
Disability Inclusion
- Priority access for persons with disabilities
- Strengthened referral pathways between services
Protection Standards
- Mandatory compliance with Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA)
- Safe, accountable, and ethical service delivery
Who is Eligible?
Eligible applicants typically include:
- Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
- Civil society organizations (CSOs)
- Health-focused implementing partners
- Organizations with experience in humanitarian health and nutrition
Key Requirements
- Capacity to deliver integrated health and nutrition services
- Experience in community engagement and health programming
- Ability to operate in humanitarian or emergency settings
- Compliance with safeguarding and accountability standards
Why This Programme Matters
This initiative is critical because it:
- Addresses malnutrition and preventable diseases
- Improves maternal and child survival rates
- Strengthens health systems in crisis settings
- Promotes equitable access to healthcare
- Enhances community awareness and resilience
It is particularly important in Gaza, where healthcare access is limited and vulnerable populations face significant risks.
How the Programme Works
Implementation Process
- Submission of applications by eligible organizations
- Evaluation based on technical capacity and relevance
- Selection of implementing partners
- Programme design and agreement finalization
- Service delivery through health facilities and outreach
- Monitoring, reporting, and accountability mechanisms
What Makes a Strong Application
- Clear integration of health and nutrition services
- Strong focus on vulnerable populations
- Evidence-based and data-driven approach
- Inclusion of community engagement strategies
- Demonstrated operational capacity in similar settings
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Proposing fragmented (non-integrated) services
- Ignoring gender and inclusion considerations
- Weak monitoring and reporting frameworks
- Lack of community engagement plans
- عدم alignment with UNICEF priorities
FAQs
1. What is the UNICEF Gaza health and nutrition programme?
It is an initiative to deliver integrated health and nutrition services to improve maternal and child health outcomes.
2. Who are the target beneficiaries?
Infants, children, adolescents, pregnant women, and breastfeeding women.
3. What services are included?
Preventive care, nutrition support, treatment of malnutrition, and community-based interventions.
4. What is the One-Stop IYCF approach?
It is a model that provides multiple health and nutrition services in one location for better access and efficiency.
5. Are community activities included?
Yes, including counselling, awareness sessions, and support groups.
6. How does the programme ensure accountability?
Through monitoring systems, reporting, and adherence to protection standards like PSEA.
7. Does the programme include vulnerable groups?
Yes, with a strong focus on disadvantaged populations and persons with disabilities.
Conclusion
The UNICEF Gaza health and nutrition programme represents a comprehensive, integrated approach to addressing critical health challenges in a humanitarian context.
By combining service delivery, system strengthening, and community engagement, the initiative aims to improve long-term health outcomes for mothers, children, and vulnerable populations while ensuring inclusive, accountable, and high-quality care.
For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.