CFAs: Strengthening Maternal and Child Health in Guayas and Chimborazo (Ecuador)

UNICEF has launched a Call for Expression of Interest to strengthen maternal, newborn, child health, and nutrition services in Guayas and Chimborazo, Ecuador. The initiative will improve healthcare quality, support ESAMYN standards, strengthen HIV prevention services, promote breastfeeding, and improve care during the first 1,000 days of life.

The programme seeks an implementing partner to provide technical assistance, health worker training, community engagement, and support for sustainable maternal and child health networks.

Overview of the UNICEF Maternal and Child Health Initiative

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has launched a Call for Expression of Interest to identify an implementing partner that can strengthen maternal and child health and nutrition networks in Ecuador.

The initiative focuses on improving healthcare services in:

Guayas Province
Chimborazo Province

The programme aims to improve health outcomes for mothers, newborns, infants, and young children through stronger health systems, better-quality care, and community participation.

A major focus area is the first 1,000 days of life, which covers pregnancy through a child’s first two years. This period is critical for nutrition, brain development, disease prevention, and long-term health.

Key Areas of Focus

The programme will support several priority health areas, including:

Maternal and Newborn Health

Activities will focus on:

Improving prenatal care access and continuity
Strengthening institutional childbirth services
Supporting emergency obstetric care
Improving newborn healthcare practices
Enhancing counselling for mothers and caregivers

Child Nutrition and Early Development

The initiative will promote:

Prevention of child malnutrition
Exclusive breastfeeding
Improved infant and young child feeding practices
Early childhood development support
Family counselling during the first 1,000 days

HIV and Infection Prevention

The programme will strengthen prevention of mother-to-child transmission of infections, including:

HIV
Syphilis
Chagas disease
Hepatitis B

Health facilities will receive support to improve screening, prevention, treatment pathways, and counselling services.

WASH and Environmental Health

The initiative includes support for hygiene and environmental health through the WASH-FIT strategy.

Key areas include:

Safe water access
Sanitation improvement
Hygiene practices
Infection prevention measures in healthcare facilities

Why This Programme Matters

Maternal and child health remains a major priority in Ecuador due to ongoing challenges affecting vulnerable populations.

Key concerns include:

Maternal and infant mortality
Child malnutrition
Adolescent pregnancy
Gaps in prenatal care
Limited access to quality healthcare
Early childhood development challenges

The COVID-19 pandemic increased these challenges by disrupting:

Prenatal consultations
Facility-based childbirth support
Parenting counselling
Child development services

This initiative aims to rebuild stronger and more resilient healthcare systems.

Geographic Focus Areas

Guayas Province

Guayas faces challenges related to:

High population density
Urban security concerns
Barriers to healthcare access

The programme will strengthen services in Guayaquil through improved health facility capacity and community-based approaches.

Chimborazo Province

Chimborazo requires targeted approaches due to:

Geographic barriers
Rural access challenges
Intercultural healthcare needs

The programme will support health services in Riobamba and surrounding communities.

What Is ESAMYN?

ESAMYN stands for Ecuador’s standards for health facilities that support mothers and newborns.

The ESAMYN framework promotes:

Quality maternal care
Safe childbirth practices
Newborn protection
Breastfeeding promotion
Respectful healthcare services
Family involvement in care

UNICEF will support selected health facilities in preparing for ESAMYN accreditation and long-term sustainability.

Role of the Implementing Partner

The selected partner will provide technical assistance and capacity building to healthcare facilities and professionals.

Responsibilities include:

Assessing health service gaps
Developing improvement plans
Supporting ESAMYN preparation
Training healthcare workers
Strengthening community health networks
Improving quality-of-care systems

Expected Programme Activities

The implementing partner will conduct:

Health Facility Assessments

Assessments will review:

Quality indicators
Infrastructure conditions
Healthcare processes
Equipment requirements
Patient safety systems
Security considerations
Cultural relevance of services

Development of Intervention Plans

Facilities will receive customized improvement plans focused on:

Maternal health
Newborn care
Nutrition services
Infection prevention
WASH improvements
Family counselling

Training and Technical Support

Health workers will receive training on:

Maternal and neonatal healthcare
Emergency obstetric care
Continuous quality improvement
Infection prevention
HIV prevention
Patient safety
Breastfeeding counselling
Child development support

ESAMYN Implementation and Health Facility Strengthening

The programme aims to strengthen hospitals and primary healthcare facilities through technical assistance plans.

At least 17 health facilities will be supported to prepare for external evaluation and ESAMYN certification.

The initiative will help facilities improve:

Clinical quality standards
Staff capacity
Service delivery
Family-centred care approaches

Community Participation and Health Networks

Community involvement is a key part of the programme.

The initiative will support:

Maternal and Neonatal Networks

These networks will improve:

Communication between communities and health facilities
Referral systems
Continuity of maternal care

Breastfeeding Support Groups

These groups will encourage:

Exclusive breastfeeding
Parent education
Infant nutrition support

Community Surveillance Systems

Local monitoring systems will help identify:

Maternal health risks
Child nutrition concerns
Healthcare access barriers

Who Is Eligible to Participate?

The Call for Expression of Interest is intended for organizations with experience in health system strengthening and community-based programmes.

Potential partners may include:

Non-governmental organizations
Public health institutions
Technical assistance organizations
Civil society organizations with health expertise

Eligible organizations should have experience in:

Maternal and child health
Nutrition programmes
Healthcare capacity building
Community engagement
Monitoring and evaluation

How the Programme Will Work

Step 1: Selection of Implementing Partner

UNICEF will assess organizations based on:

Technical expertise
Operational capacity
Experience in health programmes
Ability to work with communities and healthcare providers

Step 2: Facility Assessment

The selected partner will identify:

Existing service gaps
Training needs
Infrastructure challenges
Quality improvement priorities

Step 3: Implementation of Support Plans

The programme will provide:

Technical assistance
Healthcare worker training
Facility improvement support
Community engagement activities

Step 4: Long-Term Sustainability

The initiative will strengthen local systems through:

Health worker capacity development
Community ownership
Sustainable management models
Continued quality improvement

Common Challenges and Implementation Tips

Common Challenges

The programme may need to address:

Difficult access to remote communities
Cultural differences in healthcare practices
Limited healthcare resources
Urban security risks
Staffing capacity gaps

Best Practices

Successful implementation requires:

Community participation
Culturally appropriate approaches
Strong coordination with health authorities
Regular training and supervision
Data-based decision-making

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the UNICEF Call for Expression of Interest about?

It is an opportunity for qualified organizations to partner with UNICEF to strengthen maternal, newborn, child health, and nutrition services in Ecuador.

Which provinces are included in the programme?

The programme focuses on Guayas and Chimborazo provinces, including Guayaquil and Riobamba.

What are the first 1,000 days of life?

The first 1,000 days refer to pregnancy through a child’s first two years, a critical period for nutrition, development, and health.

What does ESAMYN mean?

ESAMYN refers to Ecuador’s standards for health facilities that promote safe maternal care, newborn protection, breastfeeding, and quality healthcare.

How many health facilities will be supported?

The initiative aims to prepare at least 17 health facilities for ESAMYN evaluation and certification.

What health topics are covered?

The programme covers:

Maternal health
Newborn care
Nutrition
HIV prevention
Infection control
WASH and hygiene
Child development support

Can programme activities change during emergencies?

Yes. The cooperation agreement includes a contingency clause allowing UNICEF and its partner to adapt activities and activate resources during emergency situations.

Conclusion

UNICEF’s maternal and child health initiative in Ecuador aims to improve healthcare quality and reduce inequalities affecting mothers, newborns, and children.

By strengthening ESAMYN standards, improving health services, supporting nutrition, expanding community participation, and building healthcare capacity, the programme will create stronger and more sustainable maternal and child health systems in Guayas and Chimborazo.