Deadline: 14-Apr-2026
UNICEF invites national and international NGOs to prequalify for WASH interventions in Burkina Faso, focusing on water, sanitation, hygiene, and environmental resilience. The program prioritizes integration with health, nutrition, and education, climate resilience, and system strengthening to improve equitable access to WASH services in communities, schools, and health facilities.
Overview
The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) seeks expressions of interest to prequalify NGOs for implementing Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) programs in Burkina Faso.
The program addresses urgent WASH needs, emphasizing:
- Safe drinking water and sanitation
- Hygiene promotion
- WASH in emergencies
- Environmental sustainability
UNICEF prioritizes projects that integrate WASH with health, nutrition, and education, strengthen humanitarian-development-peace nexus approaches, and enhance climate resilience and system capacity.
Key Objectives
- Expand equitable access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene across communities, schools, and health facilities.
- Improve health, nutrition, and learning outcomes through integrated WASH interventions.
- Strengthen institutional systems at national and local levels.
- Build resilience in fragile, hard-to-reach, and emergency-prone areas.
- Support coordination and technical capacity of government institutions.
Who is Eligible?
- National and international NGOs with experience in WASH implementation.
- Organizations capable of delivering both development and emergency WASH programs.
- NGOs with capacity for community engagement, system strengthening, and institutional coordination.
Alignment with National and Global Priorities
- Supports Burkina Faso’s Sectoral Policy on Environment, Water and Sanitation.
- Contributes to the 2026–2030 Recovery Plan to improve living conditions, reduce inequalities, and promote socio-economic development.
- Aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 6 to ensure universal access to water and sanitation.
Program Focus Areas
- Water Access: Provision of safe, reliable drinking water.
- Sanitation: Improved household, school, and health facility sanitation infrastructure.
- Hygiene Promotion: Behavior change initiatives to enhance hygiene practices.
- WASH in Emergencies: Rapid response interventions in disaster– or conflict-affected areas.
- Environmental Integration: Initiatives that link WASH services with climate resilience and environmental sustainability.
How the Program Works
- Prequalification: NGOs submit expressions of interest detailing experience, technical capacity, and operational readiness.
- Assessment: UNICEF evaluates organizations based on ability to implement WASH programs in both development and emergency contexts.
- Selection: Prequalified NGOs are eligible for implementation partnerships in priority regions.
- Implementation: NGOs deliver WASH interventions, strengthen local capacities, and coordinate with government institutions.
- Monitoring & Evaluation: Outcomes are tracked to ensure improved WASH access, hygiene practices, and resilience-building.
Expected Outcomes
- Strengthened community engagement and participation in WASH initiatives.
- Improved sanitation and hygiene practices at household, school, and health facility levels.
- Enhanced local institutional capacity for WASH service delivery.
- Effective and sustainable delivery of WASH services in priority regions.
Tips for a Strong Application
- Highlight experience in WASH program implementation, including emergency contexts.
- Demonstrate capacity for integrating WASH with health, nutrition, and education programs.
- Show evidence of community engagement and capacity-building initiatives.
- Detail coordination mechanisms with government and other stakeholders.
- Emphasize strategies for resilience, sustainability, and system strengthening.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Who can apply for prequalification?
National and international NGOs with demonstrated WASH implementation experience.
2. What sectors does this program cover?
Water, sanitation, hygiene, WASH in emergencies, environmental sustainability, and system strengthening.
3. How does the program align with Burkina Faso’s priorities?
It supports national policies and the 2026–2030 Recovery Plan to improve access to WASH, reduce inequalities, and promote socio-economic development.
4. Are both development and emergency WASH programs included?
Yes, prequalified NGOs must demonstrate capacity for both contexts.
5. How are outcomes measured?
Through improved access to safe water, enhanced hygiene practices, strengthened local capacities, and resilience in priority communities.
6. What partnerships are emphasized?
Collaboration with government ministries, local institutions, and other stakeholders for sustainable impact.
7. Does the program include climate and environmental considerations?
Yes, resilience and environmental sustainability are integral to all WASH interventions.
Conclusion
UNICEF’s WASH interventions in Burkina Faso provide a strategic, integrated approach to improve access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene services. By prequalifying capable NGOs, the program ensures sustainable, resilient, and equitable WASH delivery, contributing to children’s well-being, community development, and strengthened institutional systems.
For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.