Deadline: 12-Oct-2025
The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund is calling for expressions of interest from NGOs to partner in a vital initiative aimed at improving hygiene and sanitation in Guinea-Bissau’s Sul Province.
The program focuses on strengthening sanitation and hygiene practices in 30 schools and 150 surrounding communities, emphasizing menstrual education, gender equality, and climate resilience. Through community mobilization and awareness-raising activities, the initiative seeks to foster healthier, more sustainable environments for children and their families.
The project will implement the Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) approach to eliminate open defecation in communities while promoting water safety plans to ensure clean and safe water access. In schools, UNICEF’s 3-Star approach will be applied to progressively improve hygiene conditions, creating safe and inclusive spaces for learning. The initiative prioritizes empowering students, particularly girls, by forming and supporting hygiene and girls’ clubs, encouraging them to become active agents of change in their schools and communities.
Geographically, the project will cover three key regions: Bolama/Bijagós, Cachéu, and Oio. In Bolama/Bijagós, efforts will focus on Caravela and Bubaque sectors, working with 10 schools and 50 communities. In Cachéu, 10 schools and 75 communities will benefit, while in Oio’s Bissora sector, 11 schools and 25 communities will be reached. Specific activities include conducting baseline assessments of student knowledge, mobilizing hygiene clubs, and facilitating community-led sanitation efforts to construct resilient latrines and improve water quality.
The initiative also includes community awareness campaigns that promote gender equality and climate resilience, ensuring sanitation and hygiene improvements are sustainable over time. Participatory monitoring mechanisms will be established to track progress and maintain the positive changes fostered through this program.
Overall, this UNICEF-led effort represents a comprehensive approach to improving health and well-being in schools and communities, addressing critical challenges linked to hygiene, gender, and the environment in Guinea-Bissau.
For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.
