Deadline: 12-Oct-2025
The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund has launched a new call for proposals to support the delivery of essential health services in Afghanistan under two major initiatives: the Health Emergency Response Additional Financing 2 (HER AF2) and the Strengthening Access to Essential Food Security and Health Services (SAFE) project.
These programs, funded by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), aim to ensure equitable access to and improved quality of critical health services for millions of Afghans.
The HER AF2 grant, approved by the World Bank, will allow UNICEF to continue supporting the delivery of the Basic Package of Health Services (BPHS) and the Essential Package of Hospital Services (EPHS) in 17 provinces from July 2025 through December 2026. Meanwhile, the SAFE project—pending final approval from the ADB—will expand these services, along with complementary interventions, to an additional 17 provinces over the same period. Together, the two programs will cover all 34 provinces of Afghanistan.
Implementation will continue under the contracting-out model, where qualified NGOs serve as Service Providers (SPs). These SPs will be responsible for managing and delivering services across supported provinces, working under the joint oversight of UNICEF, the World Bank, and the ADB. The projects are designed not only to deliver essential health interventions but also to build the capacity and accountability of the service providers themselves.
The initiatives place a strong emphasis on reducing maternal, newborn, infant, and child mortality, tackling the burden of communicable diseases, and improving maternal and child nutrition. By delivering the BPHS, EPHS, and targeted High-Impact, Value-Added (HIVA) interventions, the programs seek to strengthen Afghanistan’s health systems while addressing urgent health needs in both stable and emergency contexts.
Through these efforts, UNICEF and its partners aim to improve health outcomes and contribute to the resilience of Afghanistan’s health sector, particularly for women, children, and vulnerable communities across the country.
For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.
