CFAs: Strengthening Climate Resilience and Inclusive Schools for Children in Papua and NTT Province (Indonesia)

Deadline: 22-Dec-2025

UNICEF is inviting grant applications to improve water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services in Sulawesi, with a focus on Nusa Tenggara Timur and Papua. The program emphasizes climate resilience, environmental sustainability, and inclusive, gender-responsive WASH interventions in schools and communities.

Program Overview

The UNICEF WASH and Climate Resilience Programme aims to strengthen WASH services and environmental sustainability in Sulawesi by:

• Enhancing local government capacity for climate-resilient, inclusive, and gender-responsive WASH planning

• Integrating WASH into local development planning

• Promoting behavioral change for sustainable hygiene practices

• Upgrading school WASH facilities to be climate-smart and inclusive

The initiative targets both provincial and district governments, school officials, educators, and community stakeholders, aiming to improve WASH services for children and communities while fostering climate awareness and environmental responsibility.

Key Objectives

1. Strengthen Institutional Capacity

   • Build skills of government officials, school staff, and community stakeholders

   • Conduct workshops on climate assessment, inclusive planning, and hygiene promotion

   • Enhance coordination and integration of WASH services into local development plans

2. Promote Climate-Smart and Inclusive WASH in Schools

   • Train officials and educators to embed climate and inclusion considerations in WASH planning

   • Conduct participatory assessments involving school management, parents, students, and communities

   • Implement WASH infrastructure improvements based on assessment outcomes

3. Awareness and Community Engagement

   • Reach approximately 50,000 children and 200 community representatives

   • Conduct awareness campaigns to foster sustainable hygiene practices and environmental responsibility

   • Support schools and communities in joint planning for long-term maintenance

4. Upgrade School WASH Facilities

   • Construct or refurbish climate-resilient and inclusive WASH infrastructure

   • Develop operation and maintenance plans with school budgets

   • Conduct post-implementation assessments to monitor progress and outcomes

Who is Eligible?

• NGOs, civil society organisations, and other entities with experience in WASH, climate adaptation, and inclusive development

• Organisations with capacity to implement school-based interventions and engage local communities

• Entities able to coordinate with provincial and district governments in Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara Timur, and Papua

Why It Matters

• Ensures safe, resilient, and inclusive WASH services for children and communities

• Promotes gender equality, disability inclusion, and climate resilience

• Strengthens local ownership and sustainability of WASH initiatives

• Supports long-term behavioral change for environmental and hygiene practices

How to Apply / Implementation Approach

1. Conduct baseline assessments of school and community WASH facilities

2. Collaborate with government officials, educators, and community members for participatory planning

3. Deliver capacity-building workshops on climate-smart WASH, inclusive planning, and hygiene promotion

4. Implement infrastructure upgrades or new constructions based on assessments

5. Develop operation and maintenance plans with schools and communities

6. Conduct post-implementation assessments to measure impact and outcomes

7. Provide technical support and guidance for ongoing school and community WASH management

Key Considerations for Successful Implementation

• Ensure gender-responsive and disability-inclusive approaches in all activities

• Align interventions with local development plans and climate policies

• Prioritize community participation in planning and implementation

• Monitor sustainability through maintenance planning and budget allocation

• Engage schools as hubs for awareness-raising among children and local communities

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Ignoring local context and needs assessments

• Failing to include community members and children in participatory planning

• Overlooking climate resilience and inclusivity in infrastructure upgrades

• Not aligning activities with government plans or policies

• Neglecting long-term maintenance and sustainability

FAQ

1. Which provinces are covered by the programme? Nusa Tenggara Timur, Papua, and broader Sulawesi regions.
2. What types of organisations can apply? NGOs, civil society organisations, and other entities experienced in WASH and climate resilience.
3. How many children will be reached? Approximately 50,000 children and 200 community representatives.
4. What is included in the capacity-building component? Training on climate-smart WASH, inclusive planning, hygiene promotion, and coordination with local authorities.
5. Are infrastructure upgrades part of the programme? Yes, schools will receive climate-resilient and inclusive WASH facilities.
6. How is sustainability ensured? Schools and communities develop operation and maintenance plans with allocated budgets.
7. Is gender and disability inclusion mandatory? Yes, all activities must be gender-responsive and disability-inclusive.

Conclusion

The UNICEF WASH and Climate Resilience Programme in Sulawesi strengthens local capacity, improves school-based WASH infrastructure, and fosters community engagement. By integrating climate-smart, inclusive, and sustainable practices, the programme supports healthier learning environments, builds resilience, and promotes long-term behavioral change in children and communities.

For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.