UNICEF Seeks Partners for Water and Sanitation Strengthening (Netherlands)

Deadline: 17-Mar-2026

The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) is seeking applications from qualified organizations and experts to support efforts in expanding access to safe water and sanitation globally. This initiative recognizes water and sanitation as a fundamental human right and a critical foundation for public health, gender equality, climate resilience, and sustainable development.

Project Overview

The initiative aims to accelerate universal access to safe water and sanitation by addressing systemic challenges, strengthening political commitment, improving financing mechanisms, and promoting coordinated advocacy and knowledge exchange.

Key Focus Areas

1. Political Engagement and Leadership

   • Strengthen high-level political commitment to water and sanitation reforms

   • Ensure sustained translation of commitments into actionable policies and investments

2. Systems Performance and Financing

   • Improve national financing systems for water and sanitation

   • Mobilize investments to expand services equitably and sustainably

   • Support country-level reforms to integrate water and sanitation in development planning

3. Mutual Accountability and Coordination

   • Promote transparent reporting and shared responsibility among governments, civil society, development partners, and private sector actors

   • Strengthen coordination across stakeholders to enhance strategic alignment

4. Evidence-Based Advocacy

   • Support data-driven advocacy to raise water and sanitation as a priority in global and national agendas

   • Facilitate participation in major platforms, including the 2026 UN Water Conference

5. Knowledge Exchange and Technical Assistance

   • Provide targeted support to improve policy, governance, and investment frameworks

   • Share lessons and best practices across countries to enhance system performance

Context and Need

• Despite the availability of technical solutions, progress is hindered by weak political commitment, limited financing, fragmented advocacy, and insufficient prioritization in national development plans

• Water and sanitation often lack strategic positioning in global financing frameworks, limiting the scale and equity of investments

• Coordinated efforts are needed to integrate water and sanitation into broader agendas of health, climate action, and economic growth

Strategic Approach

This initiative is implemented under Sanitation and Water for All (SWA), a global multi-stakeholder partnership guided by the 2020–2030 SWA Strategy, which:

• Strengthens political leadership and accountability

• Improves governance, financing, and service delivery systems

• Mobilizes sustainable investments for equitable access to water and sanitation

By leveraging SWA’s Heads of State Initiatives (HoSI), the project enables countries to undertake integrated reforms across governance, financing, and service delivery, aligning national priorities with global commitments.

Expected Outcomes

• Increased political prioritization and commitment to universal water and sanitation access

• Strengthened national systems for financing and delivering water and sanitation services

• Improved coordination and accountability among governments, civil society, and development partners

• Enhanced knowledge sharing and adoption of evidence-based practices

• Accelerated progress toward equitable, sustainable, and inclusive water and sanitation services

Who Should Apply?

Qualified organizations and experts with:

• Experience in water and sanitation policy, governance, and financing

• Capacity to support multi-stakeholder coordination and advocacy

• Ability to provide technical assistance and knowledge exchange at country and regional levels

Application and Participation

Interested organizations and experts should prepare proposals aligned with UNICEF and SWA objectives, demonstrating expertise in:

• Political engagement and advocacy

• System strengthening and financing

• Technical assistance and capacity building

• Multi-stakeholder coordination and knowledge management

Participation may include contributions to global platforms such as the 2026 UN Water Conference, regional initiatives, and country-level reform processes.

Conclusion

UNICEF’s initiative, in partnership with SWA, is a strategic effort to advance universal access to safe water and sanitation by addressing governance, financing, and coordination challenges. Through political engagement, technical support, and multi-stakeholder collaboration, the project seeks to create sustainable, equitable, and inclusive water and sanitation systems worldwide.

For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.