UNICEF has launched a Request for Expression of Interest (REoI) to identify and prequalify service providers that can deliver turnkey, managed internet connectivity services at scale across Africa. Please confirm your participation by email before 6 March 2026, 23:59 CET, with the submission of the REoI response no later than the 27 March 2026, 23:59 CET.
This REoI is the first stage of a competitive procurement process that is expected to lead to Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and the establishment of Long-Term Agreements (LTAs) with qualified providers.
This REoI and the subsequent competitive RFP process will support Giga’s objective of achieving universal school connectivity by 2030.
This REoI is the first stage of a competitive procurement process that is expected to lead to Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and the establishment of Long-Term Agreements (LTAs) with qualified providers.
This REoI and the subsequent competitive RFP process will support Giga’s objective of achieving universal school connectivity by 2030.
This procurement supports national efforts to connect schools and other child-serving facilities, including health facilities and post offices. UNICEF will act as a procurement agent for participating governments, and through Giga, work with financing institutions and partners to mobilize financing and implementation support.
The business opportunity for service providers
UNICEF is moving from fragmented, country-by-country tenders toward a coordinated, continent-scale approach that pools demand and standardizes service expectations.
Participation offers:
- A route to longer-term contracting through LTAs
- Clearer demand signals across up to 54 African countries
- Standardized managed service requirements
- A structured pathway from competitive RFPs to contracts
Consult the Expression of Interest in UNGM:
When you are ready to submit, use this form to confirm your Expression of Interest:
What UNICEF aims to procure?
Turnkey, managed internet connectivity services for facilities. Solutions may be terrestrial, wireless, satellite, or hybrid, depending on local context.
Managed service expectations include:
- Internet access to the facility
- On-site network including LAN/WLAN
- Supply, installation, configuration, and commissioning of on-site equipment
- Power back-up (UPS for the connectivity solution)
- Operations, monitoring, and reporting
- Maintenance and support (remote and field support where needed)
- Cybersecurity controls suitable for environments used by children
Scope
The intended scope includes schools and health facilities, and may extend to other child-serving facilities that support essential services and UNICEF programme delivery, including:
- Schools (primary and secondary)
- Health facilities (primary and secondary)
- Post offices
- Other points of interest for children where connectivity supports public and community services
Target
Up to 500,000 schools and other facilities delivering essential services to children.
Why this matters?
Connectivity is an enabler for education, health, and essential services. Gaps remain large across the countries in scope:
- Schools: ~81% of primary schools and ~65% of secondary schools are estimated to be unconnected
- Health facilities: ~72% of primary facilities and ~38% of secondary facilities are estimated to be unconnected
- Post offices: ~17,000 locations are unconnected and ~3,000 to 4,000 lack sufficient connectivity
Key dates:
- REoI publication date: 25 February 2026
- Confirm participation by email: 6 March 2026, 23:59 CET
- Deadline for questions and clarifications: 23 March 2026, 23:59 CET
- REoI submission deadline: 27 March 2026, 23:59 CET
- Planned next stage: competitive RFP in Q2 2026
How to participate:
1. Confirm participation by email (by 6 March 2026, 23:59 CET)
- Email to: Cristina Sanchez Gonzales, crsanchez@unicef.org
- Copy: Nicolas Joel Nin, nnin@unicef.org
- Subject: REoI – UNICEF – Provision of Managed Internet Connectivity Services for Schools and Child-Serving Facilities in Africa
2. Submit questions and clarification requests by email only (by 23 March 2026, 23:59 CET)
- Please submit all questions to the above email contacts.
- Questions and answers may be shared with all participating service providers.
- Participants may be disqualified if they contact different UNICEF staff in relation to this REoI.
3. Submit the REoI questionnaire online (by 27 March 2026, 23:59 CET)
- Only questionnaire responses submitted through the online Microsoft Form will be considered.
- Do not send attachments or supplementary materials.
Consult the Expression of Interest in UNGM:
When you are ready to submit, use this form to confirm your Expression of Interest: