UNICEF Sustainable WASH Innovation Hub is looking for Proven Innovative WASH Solutions with Potential for Accelerated Scale (Apply by 30 April 2025 )
Call for Innovative WASH Solutions
The UNICEF Sustainable WASH Innovation Hub is focused on sourcing, accelerating, and scaling transformative water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) solutions that drive lasting impact for children and their families. By selecting solutions based on their potential to accelerate results for children across multiple countries, regions, and globally, the hub aims to ensure that innovations are strategic, program-driven, and evidence-based for scaling up across different geographies.
Purpose of the Call for Applications:
This call seeks to expand the WASH innovation portfolio with solutions that address systemic WASH problems. We are looking for diverse and proven solutions that can include programmatic models, private sector approaches, public sector strategies, and other relevant models. The selected solutions should aim to address the two primary innovation challenges outlined below.
The WASH Innovation Hub is focused on solutions addressing the following innovation challenges:
1. Strengthening Supportive Environments for WASH SMEs
The Challenge:
The lack of supportive environments for WASH small and medium enterprises (SMEs) limits their capacity to expand and flourish. This hampers their ability to contribute effectively to WASH governance and services.
What we are looking for:
We are looking for solutions that can address multiple aspects of this challenge, including but not limited to:
- Building a stronger ecosystem for WASH SMEs by improving access to finance and investment.
- Strengthening partnerships between WASH SMEs, governments, and large service providers.
- Supporting SMEs in leveraging tools and systems to enhance efficiency and track performance.
- Influencing policies that enable SMEs to formalize, scale, and thrive.
Guiding Questions:
- How can we connect WASH SMEs with governments, investors, and large service providers to scale solutions?
- How can we help authorities streamline processes for SME formalization, operation, and expansion?
- How might we equip SMEs with tools to improve efficiency, track performance, and attract investment?
- How can we raise awareness among policymakers about the critical role of WASH SMEs and foster collaboration?
2. Enhancing Climate-Sensitive Data and Integration into WASH Programming
The Challenge:
There is insufficient climate-sensitive data and a lack of understanding on how to integrate climate change impacts into WASH programming, making it difficult to model the long-term sustainability of water resources and impacting the resilience of WASH services.
What we are looking for:
We are seeking solutions that can address multiple aspects of the challenge, such as:
- Improving the collection, analysis, and accessibility of climate-sensitive data.
- Integrating climate change considerations into WASH planning and decision-making.
- Enhancing collaboration with governments, local stakeholders, and organizations to address climate risks in WASH services.
- Strengthening WASH systems to be more resilient to climate variability and environmental changes.
Guiding Questions:
- How can we improve the collection and analysis of climate-sensitive data for WASH?
- How can we integrate climate change considerations into WASH programming to ensure long-term sustainability?
- How can we foster collaboration among local stakeholders, governments, and organizations to address climate risks in WASH services?
Why Partner with UNICEF?
If you’re ready to scale your WASH innovation with UNICEF, here’s what we offer:
- Global Reach: Access UNICEF’s networks across 190+ countries, collaborate with field teams, and engage with governments to expand your impact.
- Strategic Matchmaking: Connect with ecosystem actors and create pathways for scaling impact through strategic alliances and community engagement.
- Expert Support: Receive technical and financial guidance to align your solution with market needs, regulatory frameworks, and best practices.
- Catalytic Funding: Gain access to an initial grant of approximately 150,000 USD in flexible funds to support evidence generation, feasibility studies, and market understanding and assessments.
How to Apply
- Review the eligibility criteria and complete the application form by 30 April 2025, 11:59 pm CET. Applications must be submitted in English.
- Selected applicants will be contacted by Summer 2025.
If your solution doesn’t align with this Call for Applications but addresses another WASH Hub Problem Statement, we encourage you to apply through our Rolling Call for Applications.
For questions or more information, contact us at [email protected] or visit official website here
Don’t miss your opportunity to be part of transformative change in WASH with UNICEF! Apply today!
