About

The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund Program is requesting grant proposals to improve the health, nutrition, and overall well-being of children and families in Somalia, with a strong focus on communities across the Sanaag region.

By concentrating efforts in multiple locations within Sanaag, the programme aims to address persistent inequalities and reach children and caregivers who face heightened vulnerability due to limited access to essential services.

The programme applies an integrated approach across the Health, Nutrition, and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene sectors, recognizing that child survival and development depend on the combined impact of these critical areas. Health interventions prioritize adolescent health, maternal and newborn care, child health, immunization, and reproductive health services, including emergency obstetric care. Nutrition interventions focus on infant and young child feeding, prevention and treatment of malnutrition, and nutrition responses during emergencies. WASH activities aim to expand access to safe water, basic sanitation, hygiene practices, and climate-resilient services, particularly in humanitarian and fragile settings.

Aligned with the 2026–2030 Country Programme vision for child well-being in Somalia, the initiative serves as a strategic accelerator of impact. Through a holistic, equity-driven, and climate-resilient framework, the programme seeks to address the root causes of child morbidity and mortality, strengthen health and social systems, and promote inclusive innovations that ensure the most marginalized children and families are not left behind.

By 2030, the programme is expected to contribute to significant improvements in health outcomes, ensuring that Somali mothers and children can access equitable, high-quality primary health care and immunization services supported by a resilient and responsive health system. In nutrition, pregnant and breastfeeding women, adolescents, caregivers, and children will be empowered through well-resourced, multi-sectoral systems that promote safe and nutritious diets, prevent all forms of malnutrition, and enable timely detection and effective treatment of wasting. In WASH, children and families are expected to use affordable, safe, and climate-resilient water and sanitation services while practicing safe hygiene behaviors, including in emergency situations.

During the 2026–2027 period, the programme will contribute to transformative results at scale. These include supporting 20,000 pregnant women to deliver with skilled birth attendants, enabling one million people to access outpatient consultations at primary health facilities, and vaccinating more than 900,000 children against polio. Immunization coverage among children and adolescents is expected to reach 80 percent, contributing to the eradication of wild polio, while over 600,000 children will be reached with DTP-containing vaccines and the majority of malaria-positive cases will receive first-line treatment.

The programme also places strong emphasis on early childhood development and nutrition security. By 2027, 20,000 children under five will benefit from early stimulation, nurturing care, childcare services, and parenting support, including children with disabilities. Half a million children across 15 districts will be reached through the First Food initiative, supported by strengthened local government coordination and partnerships with Somalia-owned food companies to scale the production of high-quality, affordable, and nutritious foods and supplements. Additionally, 800,000 children under five will benefit from screening and treatment for child wasting, and 200,000 adolescent girls and women will receive iron-containing nutrient supplements to prevent anemia and low birthweight.

Eligibility

Climate-resilient infrastructure and WASH services are central to the programme’s long-term impact. One million children are expected to benefit from sustainable water, sanitation, hygiene, health, and education infrastructure and services in targeted areas. This includes expanding access to safely managed drinking water for one million children and providing 500,000 people with basic sanitation and hygiene services in schools, health facilities, and nutrition centers.

Through its integrated and equity-focused design, the Promoting Child Development and Survival programme aims to deliver lasting improvements in child survival, development, and resilience in Sanaag and across Somalia, ensuring that children not only survive but are given the opportunity to thrive in safe, healthy, and supportive environments.

Post Date: December 16, 2025