This is the English version of the UNICEF Concept Note template.
Prospective partners may
also submit their Concept Note using the Arabic, French, Russian or Spanish template.
Note: A prospective partner submits a concept note to express its interest in partnership with the
UN and to provide an outline of proposed programmatic interventions.
A prospective partner may submit a concept note in response to a specific Call for Expression of
Interest (CFEI) issued by a UN agency. A prospective partner may also submit a Concept Note on
an unsolicited basis to propose programmatic interventions unrelated to any CFEI.
Each UN agency has its own agency-specific concept note template. Concept notes submitted in
the appropriate template are reviewed by the receiving UN agency to identify partners with the
mandate, capacities and comparative advantage to support the achievement of desired results.
The submission of a successful, favourably received concept note is typically the first step in the
development of a partnership agreement between a UN agency and a prospective partner.
Note: We encourage to use eCN on this link https://ecn.unicef.org to fill the concept note using
online platform for better alignment with UNICEF digital partnership system. This allow better
accessibility after selection and during programme document development phase.
Once concept note is completed and ready in https://ecn.unicef.org, use the export feature to
download and submit the PDF to UNICEF using UNPP.
See, workflow diagram for more info in electronic concept note (eCN).
Section 1. Concept note overview
Name of prospective
partner
Response to Unsolicited
☐ ☐
UNICEF-issued CFEI concept note
Type of concept note
CFEI ID CFEI ID N/A
Concept note title
Geographical coverage refers to the location(s) where the
programme intervention will be implemented with various levels of
Geographical coverage
administrative divisions in each country, e.g. country, province,
district.
Planned Programme Start: End:
duration
Contribution from
prospective partner
Programme budget (cash +
Supplies) Contribution requested
(please indicate currency) from UNICEF
Total
Section 2. Programme Strategy
2.1 Rationale/Context (400 words max)
Outline the problem statement, the context and the rationale for the programme:
Provide an overview of the existing problem, using disaggregated data from existing reports.
Describe who is affected and what the barriers/bottlenecks to outcomes for children are.
Describe how the problem is linked to national priorities and policies.
Describe the relevance of the programme in addressing problems identified.
2.2 Implementation Strategy & Technical Guidance (400 words max)
Describe how the programme will address the problem statement in Section 2.1. It may refer to
global standards and principles, national policies, and/or specific technical guidance from UNICEF
and/or the partner.
Explain how the proposed approach/methodology will lead to the anticipated change.
Describe the Population focus and Number and type(s) of direct beneficiaries and indirect
beneficiaries.
Describe any innovative approaches (if applicable) that will be utilized in the implementation of the
proposed programme. Please note that specific activities and results are to be detailed in Section
3.
2.3 Capacity Development: (400 words max)
UNICEF supports partners in strengthening their capacity for effective programmatic and financial
management and preventing fraud, sexual exploitation and abuse, and safeguarding violations.
This section outlines the partner’s key capacity development priorities and plans during the
programme intervention period.
2.4 Other Partners involved: (400 words max)
This section outlines other partners who have a role in programme implementation, including any
consortium arrangements or other organizations providing technical and financial support for the
programme. This section also specifies whether UNICEF has approved any aspect of programme
intervention to be sub-contracted to another entity.
2.5 Gender, equity, and sustainability (250 words max)
Describe the practical measures in the programme to address gender, equity and sustainability
considerations and how they are rated based on programme prioritization as “principal”,
“Significant”, “Marginal” or “None”.
Gender Rating: None ; Marginal ; Significant ; Principal
Narrative:
Equity Rating: None ; Marginal ; Significant ; Principal
Narrative:
Sustainability Rating: None ; Marginal ; Significant ; Principal
Narrative:
2.6 Risk management (250 words max)
Describe potential areas of risk that may negatively impact the implementation of the proposed
programme to address the root causes and drivers of risk and proposed mitigation actions that will
be incorporated into the programme to manage the identified risks (if any).
Social & Environment: Proposed Mitigation Measures
Financial: Proposed Mitigation Measures
Operational: Proposed Mitigation Measures
Organizational: Proposed Mitigation Measures
Political: Proposed Mitigation Measures
Strategic: Proposed Mitigation Measures
Safety & Security: Proposed Mitigation Measures
2.7 Partner non-financial contribution
UNICEF recognizes that partners often make important financial and non-financial contributions to
the programme intervention. This field captures those partner contributions that are not already
quantified and captured in the budget section. Examples can include use of materials previously
developed by the partner, technical knowledge, or sharing of premises.
2.8 Key personnel
Provide a list of key personnel who will be critical in the management as well as the operational and
financial oversight of the proposed programme.
Name and position Relevant qualifications/experiences
Name:
Position:
Name:
Position:
Name:
Position:
Name:
Position:
2.8 Other (250 words max)
Describe any other relevant information that is applicable to the proposed programme. If this
concept note is being submitted in response to a UNICEF-issued CFEI, please refer to the
guidance provided in the ‘Other information’ field of the CFEI.
Section 3. Expected results, performance indicators, activities, implementation period and budget
Complete the table below to provide an indicative outline of the results framework of the proposed programme, including programme outputs, performance
indicators, activities, implementation period and budget. Note that each programme output should refer to a service or product resulting from the programme, and
should have accompanying performance indicators. Note that each of the performance indicators should include a baseline, target and means of verification.
3.1 Result statement: Please insert the high-level result statement here.
Activity-Level Budgets
Performance Indicators Cash
Implementation Cash
Programme Outputs (including baselines, targets, Activities Contribution
Period Contribution
and means of verification) from Total
requested from
prospective
UNICEF
partner
Programme Output 1 # children receiving ready-to-use Activity 1.1. Organize training
Community-based therapeutic foods (Baseline: 500, of 500 health workers in
Month 2 $10,000 $10,000 $20,000
management of severe Target: 2,000, Means of community nutrition in 10
acute malnutrition Verification: Progress reports, districts
introduced in 200 Health Management Information Activity 1.2. Undertake
villages in 10 districts System) community outreach
Months 3-5 $10,000 $20,000 $30,000
Recovery rate (Baseline: 50%, activities and referral in 200
Target: 80%, Means of villages in 10 districts
verification: Health Management Activity 1.3. Programme
Information System) management and technical
Months 1-5 $4,000 $2,000 $6,000
supervision
Programme Output 2 Insert performance indicator, Insert activity contributing to Insert Insert partner Insert requested Insert total
Insert programme and accompanying baseline, programme output here implementation contribution to UNICEF budget of
output here target and means of verification period for the activity here contribution to activity
here designated activity here here
activity here
Insert performance indicator, Insert activity contributing to
and accompanying baseline, programme output here
target and means of verification
here
Insert activity contributing to
programme output here
Programme Output X N/A Activity X.1. In-country
Effective and efficient management and support
programme staff costs, pro-rated to their
management contribution to the
programme (representation,
planning, coordination,
logistics, admin, finance)
Activity X.2. Operational
costs, pro-rated to their
contribution to the
programme (office space,
equipment, office supplies,
maintenance)
Activity X.3. Planning,
monitoring, evaluation and
communication costs, pro-
rated to their contribution to
the programme (venue,
travels, etc.)
Total Cash budget
3.2 Supply Contribution Plan
Complete the table below to provide the supplies (in Kind) require for programme
implementation and responsibility for each partner to provide.
Item Details Provided by No. of units Price/unit Total
UNICEF/Partner Price
1.
2.
3.
Total Supply cost
GUIDELINES FOR COMPLETION OF UNICEF CONCEPT NOTE TEMPLATE
This template should be used for all concept notes submitted to UNICEF, including those responding
to a UNICEF-issued CFEI, and those submitted on an unsolicited basis.
Section 1. Concept note overview
This section provides a summary of the prospective partner’s concept note as well as identifying
information. If the submission is in response to a UNICEF-issued CFEI, please reference the CFEI ID,
which can be found in the “Project Details” field of the CFEI published on UN Partner Portal.
Programme budget: Please indicate the programme budget and the currency.
Contribution from prospective partner: Please indicate a costed amount of the prospective
partner’s contribution to the proposed programme.
Contribution requested from UNICEF: Please indicate a costed amount of the funds and
supplies requested from UNICEF for the proposed programme.
Section 2. Programme Strategy
This section is composed of nine fields that provide a description of the proposed programme. Word
limits are included in each of the fields.
Population focus: Please identify the population focus of the programme.
Direct beneficiaries are population groups who are the direct recipients of programme
activities. For example, 50 teachers in rural primary schools receiving training, or 200 children
aged 6 months to 5 years receiving nutritional supplements.
Indirect beneficiaries are population groups who are not the direct recipients of programme
activities, but may indirectly benefit. For example, 1,000 students in rural primary schools
benefiting from teachers with improved classroom teaching practices, or 5,000 community
members hearing a radio broadcast on improved child-feeding practices.
Gender, equity, and sustainability
This section requires the practical measures taken in the programme to address gender, equity and
sustainability considerations and how they are rated based on following:
A result whose principal objectives are to advance gender equality, equity and sustainability
and/ or empower girls and women should be rated “principal”
Results that are expected to make significant contribution should be rated “Significant”
Results that are expected to make marginal contributions should be rated “Marginal”
Results that are not expected to make a noticeable contribution should be rated “None”
Section 3. Expected results, performance indicators, activities, implementation period and budget
This section outlines the expected results from the proposed programme, as well as the performance
indicators, activities, implementation period and activity-level budgets associated with each result.
Result statement: Please indicate the high-level result statement to which the programme will
contribute.
If the concept note is submitted in response to a UNICEF-issued CFEI , please ensure the
result statement is linked to the “Expected results” described in the “Project Details” field of
the CFEI published on UN Partner Portal.
If the concept note is submitted on an unsolicited basis, please formulate an appropriate
result statement based on what the proposed programme will achieve.
Programme outputs: Programme outputs refer to services or products resulting from the
programme. Each programme output should be accompanied by performance indicators, and be
linked to the activities and activity-level budgets required to achieve it. One or more programme
outputs may contribute to the achievement of the result statement.
Performance indicators: The metrics used by the prospective partner to measure and monitor
progress towards the programme output.
Baseline: The value of the performance indicator at the starting point, prior to the onset of
programme implementation.
Target: The intended value of the performance indicator upon the conclusion of
programme implementation.
Means of verification: The specific data source(s) used to obtain the status of each of the
performance indicators.
Activities: The actions the prospective partner will implement under the proposed programme
to achieve the desired programme output(s). Multiple activities may be required to contribute
to the achievement of a programme output.
Implementation period: The time frame in which the partner proposes to implement the
specified activities. The implementation period can be specified in months or another more
appropriate unit of time measure.
Activity-level budgets: For each activity, the prospective partner should indicate the amount
that it plans to contribute, and the amount that is being requested from UNICEF. Activity-level
budgeting would reflect, for example:
Cash for activities, such as workshops or trainings;
Cost of supplies that directly assist beneficiaries or beneficiary institutions, including
warehousing, transport and assembly;
Technical assistance and costs of technical staff to directly support beneficiaries or
beneficiary institutions (experts in health, education, protection, etc.);
Cost of surveys and other data collection activities in relation to beneficiaries or
measurement of expected results.
Programme output: Effective and efficient programme management: A fixed, standard output
included as a part of all concept notes, and encompassing those costs not specifically associated with
the implementation of the programme. There is no need to include performance indicators for effective
and efficient programme management. All effective and efficient programme management costs
should be pro-rated according to their contribution to the programme, and include:
In-country management and support staff costs (representation, planning, coordination,
logistics, admin, finance);
Operational costs (office space, equipment, office supplies, maintenance);
Planning, monitoring, evaluation and communication costs (venue, travels).
