UNICEF seeks a partner to co-design a global staff-capacity initiative that improves programme teams’ ability to engage governments, influence policy and financing choices, strengthen systems and deliver measurable results for children. This is a specialist learning-design partnership rather than an ordinary grant for local project delivery. Application deadline: 25 October 2026.
Funding opportunity snapshot
- UN agency: UNICEF
- Call reference: CEF/USA/2026/016
- Geographic focus: Global staff-capacity initiative; New Jersey listed as the portal office location
- Deadline: 25 October 2026
- Indicative project term: 30 November 2026–1 December 2029
- Funding information: Not disclosed.
- Official application: UN Partner Portal
Purpose and expected programme activities
The programme seeks a co-created competency and learning architecture, a cross-sectoral core curriculum, sector-specific learning modules and practical tools. It also envisages pilot and cohort delivery, a measurement approach, communities of practice and a strategy for sustaining and scaling learning. The stated purpose is to equip staff to work across sector boundaries and deliver stronger policy, financing and institutional outcomes.
A well-qualified learning partner should connect academic strength and pedagogical design with applied programming, government engagement and Global South perspectives. Staff need tools that can be used in real programme and country-office decisions, rather than generic online courses disconnected from practice.
Responsible AI capability is explicitly relevant in the selection criteria, but it should be treated as a supported component of learning and systems practice, not an excuse to automate policy judgements. Strong applicants should be able to describe safe use, source verification, oversight and capacity transfer in multilingual and resource-constrained settings.
Who is a good fit?
Best suited to institutions with demonstrable learning design, sector-specific development expertise, policy and financing work, global programme experience and credible networks in the Global South. Confirm eligible legal entity types and any location restrictions in the complete terms of reference; the New Jersey listing is not itself proof of US-only eligibility.
Selection criteria and competitive strengths
The evaluation scores sector expertise at 25, co-creation quality and academic/technical/pedagogical strength at 25, project management at 10, local presence at 10, resource contribution at 10, cost effectiveness at 10 and sustainability at 10.
Five steps to prepare
- 1. Define the learning needs, target staff roles and skills UNICEF expects rather than proposing a generic leadership course.
- 2. Prepare a co-design plan with UNICEF programme teams, relevant external experts and Global South contributors.
- 3. Outline the learning architecture, sample applied tools, cohort facilitation and evaluation strategy.
- 4. Explain how responsible AI, sector-specific modules and four cross-sectoral elements will fit together.
- 5. Provide evidence of comparable institutional learning work, cost assumptions and long-term stewardship.
One important mistake to avoid
Do not treat the New Jersey portal label as confirmation that the learning activity occurs only in the United States. Applicants must use the detailed annex to establish the global remit and legal eligibility.
Frequently asked questions
Who will benefit?
UNICEF programme staff and the teams they work with.
Is this a conventional NGO project grant?
No. It is a technical co-design and staff-capacity partnership.
Are global partners potentially relevant?
The stated programme remit is global; formal applicant eligibility must be checked in the terms of reference.
Does responsible AI feature?
Yes, it appears in the published selection criteria.
What is the deadline?
25 October 2026.
Official application documents
Go to the UN Partner Portal and search for CEF/USA/2026/016. Review the full terms of reference, eligibility, financial conditions, required templates, exact deadline time and any modifications. These opportunities concern implementing partnerships, not automatic grants to applicants.
Africads readiness resources
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