Deadline: 19-May-2026
UNICEF has launched a Call for Expression of Interest to design and implement school-based Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) social behaviour change interventions in Moldova. The programme focuses on improving hygiene practices, strengthening student participation, and addressing gaps in school WASH infrastructure and behaviour.
The initiative aims to reach over 110,000 direct beneficiaries, using a student-led, cascade model that expands from hub schools to cluster schools and eventually nationwide coverage.
Overview of the Initiative
UNICEF is supporting a large-scale school-based intervention in Moldova to improve Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) systems and behaviours. The programme responds to persistent challenges in school sanitation infrastructure, hygiene practices, and water use management.
The approach emphasizes behaviour change, youth leadership, and community engagement to ensure sustainable improvements in hygiene standards across schools.
Key Focus Areas
- Training and capacity building in WASH systems
- Youth leadership and student participation
- Hygiene behaviour improvement in schools
- Water conservation and sustainable water use
- Sanitation and wastewater management
- Environmental protection and pollution reduction
- Climate action awareness and engagement
- Strengthening school-based WASH governance
Background and Context
Recent national assessments in Moldova highlight key challenges in school WASH systems, including:
- Inadequate wastewater management systems
- Poor accessibility and maintenance of sanitation facilities
- Inconsistent hygiene practices among students
- Irregular water consumption behaviours
- Gaps in sustaining infrastructure investments
Despite ongoing infrastructure improvements, behavioural and operational gaps continue to limit long-term impact, making behavioural change a critical focus.
Programme Approach
The initiative is designed to place students at the centre of change by:
- Engaging students as co-designers of WASH solutions
- Involving students as co-implementers of interventions
- Promoting ownership of hygiene practices in schools
- Encouraging peer-led behavioural change
- Embedding hygiene norms into school culture
Expected Reach and Impact
The programme is expected to benefit:
- 100,000 students directly
- 10,000 teachers and school staff directly
- Total direct beneficiaries: 110,000 individuals
- Additional indirect reach: 135,000 people (parents, caregivers, community leaders)
Implementation Model
The project follows a cascade implementation structure:
- 25 Hub Schools (initial implementation phase)
- 125 Cluster Schools (expansion phase)
- Scale-up target: 1,000 schools nationwide
This model ensures gradual expansion, capacity transfer, and sustainable adoption.
Key Interventions
The selected implementing partner will support:
- Establishment of school WASH Clubs
- Student-led hygiene and sanitation campaigns
- Peer-to-peer learning activities
- Behavioural nudges and awareness tools
- Parent and community engagement programmes
- Water conservation initiatives
- Monitoring of WASH facilities by students
- Reporting systems for maintenance needs
Student-Led Responsibilities
Students will play an active role in:
- Promoting daily hygiene routines
- Monitoring cleanliness and functionality of WASH facilities
- Reporting maintenance and infrastructure issues
- Advocating for improved school WASH resources and budgets
- Co-designing inclusive and safe hygiene solutions
- Engaging with school management and local authorities
Behaviour Change Focus
The initiative aims to:
- Transform hygiene behaviours into social norms
- Improve handwashing and sanitation practices
- Promote responsible water usage
- Strengthen environmental awareness
- Foster long-term behavioural sustainability
Implementation Requirements
The selected partner is expected to:
- Design and implement behaviour change interventions
- Use culturally and linguistically appropriate approaches
- Build capacity among teachers and students
- Strengthen school-level coordination systems
- Ensure inclusive participation of all students
- Develop monitoring and evaluation frameworks
Why This Initiative Matters
This programme is important because it:
- Improves health and hygiene outcomes for children
- Strengthens long-term sustainability of school WASH systems
- Promotes youth leadership and participation
- Bridges infrastructure gaps with behavioural change
- Enhances environmental awareness and responsibility
- Supports large-scale national education and health impact
Conclusion
The UNICEF Moldova School WASH initiative focuses on transforming hygiene behaviour and strengthening water and sanitation systems through student-led engagement. By combining infrastructure awareness, behavioural change strategies, and youth participation, the programme aims to create sustainable, inclusive, and health-promoting school environments across the country.
For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.