CFAs: Urban and Peri-Urban WASH Recovery in Kyiv, Chernihiv and Zhytomyr (Ukraine)

UNICEF Ukraine invites grant applications to enhance Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) systems in targeted regions of Ukraine. The initiative focuses on child-sensitive service delivery, community empowerment, sustainability, and cross-sectoral integration to improve health, hygiene, and resilience.

Program Overview

The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) is offering grants to strengthen WASH systems in Ukraine, focusing on Zhytomyrska Oblast, Kyiv, and Chernihivska Oblast, including Koriukivka and Novhorod-Siverskyi districts. The initiative aims to reinforce local WASH sector institutions, improve service delivery, and promote child-focused, inclusive, and sustainable hygiene practices.

Focus Areas and Priorities

• WASH and Environment: Integration of climate-responsive, disaster-resilient practices in water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions.

• Hygiene and Behaviour Change: Promote child- and community-centred hygiene practices, including Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM).

• Institutional Strengthening: Enhance capacities of local governments, utilities, and WASH institutions in planning, budgeting, program management, and monitoring.

• Service Delivery Enhancement: Improve technical and managerial capabilities for sustainable, child-sensitive WASH services in schools, healthcare facilities, and communities.

• Community Empowerment: Engage children, adolescents, and caregivers in participatory activities to foster demand for inclusive WASH services.

• Cross-Sectoral Integration: Link WASH interventions with education, health, and child protection programs.

• Sustainability and Resilience: Establish shock-resilient WASH systems and climate-adaptive infrastructure.

• Documentation and Learning: Capture lessons, share best practices, and contribute to national WASH sector knowledge and policy development.

Who is Eligible?

• Local and regional WASH institutions, non-governmental organizations, and implementing partners working in Ukraine.

• Organizations capable of implementing child-focused, inclusive, and gender-sensitive WASH interventions.

• Entities with experience in community engagement, disaster response, and cross-sectoral program integration.

Why It Matters

This initiative addresses critical WASH challenges in conflict-affected and disaster-prone regions of Ukraine. By improving sanitation, hygiene, and access to safe water, the program:

• Protects children and vulnerable populations from waterborne diseases.

• Strengthens local capacity for sustainable WASH service delivery.

• Promotes gender-sensitive and inclusive access to hygiene facilities.

• Encourages community participation and ownership, increasing resilience.

How to Apply

1. Prepare a detailed project proposal aligned with UNICEF’s WASH priorities, specifying targeted districts and beneficiaries.

2. Demonstrate organizational capacity in evidence-based planning, community engagement, and service delivery enhancement.

3. Include strategies for child-sensitive, gender-responsive, and climate-adaptive interventions.

4. Outline monitoring, evaluation, and learning mechanisms for documentation and knowledge sharing.

5. Submit the complete proposal according to UNICEF Ukraine’s official call for applications before the stated deadline.

Common Tips and Best Practices

• Emphasize child-focused and inclusive design in all interventions.

• Include partnerships with schools, healthcare facilities, and local authorities.

• Highlight climate-resilience and disaster-preparedness measures.

• Provide measurable indicators for service delivery, behavior change, and community engagement.

• Ensure clear documentation and knowledge-sharing strategies.

FAQ

1. Which regions are targeted by this grant? Zhytomyrska Oblast, Kyiv, and Chernihivska Oblast, including Koriukivka and Novhorod-Siverskyi districts.
2. What types of organizations are eligible? NGOs, local authorities, and WASH sector partners capable of child-focused, inclusive programs.
3. Are children and adolescents directly involved? Yes, they are engaged in participatory hygiene and WASH decision-making activities.
4. What kind of support is emphasized? Capacity building, technical assistance, community empowerment, and cross-sectoral integration.
5. How are sustainability and resilience addressed? Through climate-adaptive WASH practices, shock-resilient systems, and emergency preparedness.
6. Is documentation required? Yes, grantees must document lessons learned and share findings with government and sector stakeholders.
7. Are gender and inclusivity priorities? Yes, all interventions must be gender-sensitive, child-friendly, and inclusive of vulnerable groups.

Conclusion

UNICEF’s WASH grant program in Ukraine provides a comprehensive opportunity to strengthen child-sensitive sanitation, hygiene, and water services while building local institutional capacity. By integrating community engagement, cross-sectoral approaches, and sustainability measures, grantees can make a lasting impact on public health, resilience, and inclusive access to essential services.