UNICEF Seeks Partners for Emergency Health and Nutrition Response in Ecuador

Partnership Objectives and Operational Scope

UNICEF has launched a formal call for expressions of interest to build a registry of partners equipped to handle humanitarian crises in Ecuador. The initiative is designed to establish contingency programme agreements that can be activated immediately when emergencies strike. The core mission is to bolster the country’s existing emergency preparedness and ensure the rapid delivery of essential services to children, adolescents, mothers, and other vulnerable groups.

The program seeks to address critical gaps in healthcare access and combat malnutrition. By creating this network of potential partners, UNICEF aims to streamline the deployment of aid, ensuring that resources reach those in need during crises. The partnership aims to strengthen emergency preparedness and response capacity, ensure the rapid delivery of health and nutrition services, improve access to essential healthcare for vulnerable populations, prevent and treat malnutrition during emergencies, and support child survival and wellbeing.

Targeted Geographic Regions and Priority Areas

While the partnership opportunity spans several provinces across Ecuador, the agency has designated Esmeraldas as the primary location of focus. Other vulnerable provinces include:

• Manabí
• Sucumbíos
• Guayas
• Santa Elena
• El Oro
• Los Ríos
• Loja
• Chimborazo
• Napo
• Zamora Chinchipe
• Morona Santiago

Required Organizational Capabilities

To qualify for these contingency agreements, applicants must demonstrate significant technical and operational expertise. UNICEF requires prospective partners to provide evidence of their capacity to operate effectively in vulnerable environments according to UNICEF humanitarian standards. Applicants should demonstrate the following:

• Emergency Response Experience: Demonstrated success in humanitarian health programmes, nutrition emergency interventions, disaster response, and crisis management.
• Operational Capacity: A local presence in target areas, qualified technical staff, logistics capacity, access to necessary supplies and equipment, and the ability to mobilize quickly during emergencies.
• Technical Expertise: Specialized knowledge in child health, maternal and newborn health, nutrition programming, immunization systems, and emergency response coordination.

Core Health and Nutrition Interventions

The scope of work for selected partners is broad, covering both preventative and reactive care. Key focus areas include:

• Child and Adolescent Health: Including adolescent health services, child healthcare support, community health promotion, and emergency health interventions.
• Maternal and Newborn Health: Including maternal healthcare services, newborn care, emergency obstetric care, and referral mechanisms for critical cases.
• Immunization: Including emergency vaccination campaigns, immunization outreach, support for vaccine delivery systems, and community awareness activities.
• Nutrition in Emergencies: Including malnutrition prevention, acute malnutrition treatment, infant and young child feeding, breastfeeding support, and micronutrient supplementation and nutrition assessments.

The Role of Strategic Giving in Emergency Response

Beyond the institutional call for partners, the broader context of emergency nutrition remains a critical concern for humanitarian funding. Initiatives focused on emergency nutrition support for infants provide opportunities for individuals, organisations, and philanthropists to create change. Charitable interventions help bridge gaps left by limited public funding and create pathways toward long-term resilience, generating social benefits and improved wellbeing for beneficiaries.

The ability to provide immediate relief while simultaneously investing in long-term resilience is a recurring theme in humanitarian efforts. Whether through large-scale agency partnerships or individual philanthropic contributions, the objective remains the same: creating measurable, sustainable improvements in child wellbeing and survival during times of crisis. Interested organizations have until the July 30, 2026, deadline to submit their expressions of interest to UNICEF.

Sources: Fundsforngos, donate-ng.com.