Deadline: 31-Jul-2025
UNICEF is seeking expressions of interest to support the integration of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) programming in rural areas of Sierra Leone. The focus is on enhancing community well-being through targeted interventions across safety, environment, and health.
This initiative falls under the broader WASH and environmental sector, addressing sanitation, hygiene, water access, natural resource protection, pollution control, and climate resilience. The program includes three major interventions aimed at improving lives and promoting sustainability.
The first intervention focuses on Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) for women and girls. In many rural communities, menstruation remains a taboo subject, leading to misinformation, stigma, and lack of access to sanitary products. This program integrates menstrual health education in schools and communities, trains local seamstresses to produce reusable pads, and ensures access to girl-friendly WASH facilities. Parenting programs and peer support platforms will empower girls and create supportive home environments, enhancing dignity, confidence, and school attendance.
The second component targets the operation and maintenance of climate-resilient WASH facilities. Despite major investments in solar-powered and gravity-fed water systems, many facilities fall into disrepair due to weak maintenance. UNICEF and the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation aim to address this through a Community Level Operation and Maintenance (CLOM) strategy. Activities include training local pump technicians, forming technician associations, developing spare parts supply chains, and using real-time monitoring tools like mWater. Community ownership and participation, particularly from women and youth, will be a central aspect of sustainability.
The third intervention is a Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction (CBDRR) program aimed at 17 fishing communities in five coastal districts—Bonthe, Kambia, Port Loko, Moyamba, and Pujehun. These areas face high risks from flooding, sea level rise, and erosion. The initiative will establish Community Disaster Management Committees (CDMCs), train local leaders, and develop inclusive disaster preparedness plans. Special attention will be paid to ensuring participation from women, youth, and marginalized groups, strengthening local resilience against climate threats.
The program will roll out across southern and northwestern Sierra Leone, with specific geographic targets for each intervention package. Package 1 focuses on implementing MHM across selected communities in Pujehun, Port Loko, Moyamba, and Bonthe, including education, pad production, and health unit integration. Results will include a comprehensive MHM rollout in Iceland-funded communities and integration with community-led total sanitation (CLTS) in other targeted areas.
Package 2 will focus on maintaining and sustaining climate-resilient WASH infrastructure in Moyamba and Bonthe Districts. Activities include selecting and deploying community-based pump technicians, training WASH actors, establishing spare parts supply chains, and implementing real-time system monitoring. These efforts aim to ensure long-term functionality and ownership of water systems.
Package 3 strengthens disaster risk preparedness in the 17 fishing communities. It involves conducting baseline analyses to assess vulnerabilities, forming inclusive disaster committees, and creating tailored DRR action plans. The plan includes risk calendars, hygiene promotion, and community awareness sessions to improve readiness and resilience.
Interested organizations must demonstrate local experience, technical expertise, strong project management, and a commitment to sustainable intervention. Selection will also consider contributions of resources and long-term community presence.
For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.