LRPS-2026-9205369 Support for the implementation of Strategic Goal 4 of the National School Nutrition Reform through community engagement, behaviour change and capacity-building interventions as fully detailed in the Terms of Reference

UNICEF has now issued a Request for Proposals in order to select a supplier for the Support for the implementation of Strategic Goal 4 of the National School Nutrition Reform through community engagement, behaviour change and capacity-building interventions as fully detailed in the Terms of Reference/Statement of Work attached at Annex B. This RFP is open to Ukrainian bidders (Private Entrepreneurs (FOP/Non VAT tax payers). Balanced nutrition is fundamental to children's healthy development, influencing physical growth, cognitive development, emotional well-being, learning outcomes, and long-term health. Healthy eating behaviours established during childhood contribute to improved educational outcomes and reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases later in life. The ongoing war in Ukraine continues to affect children's well-being, family coping mechanisms, and access to healthy diets. Recent behavioural evidence indicates that unhealthy eating behaviours are increasingly used by children and adolescents as a coping mechanism for stress and anxiety. A UNICEF-supported behavioural study on mental health found that 25% of girls and 20% of boys aged 10–17 consume sweets in response to stressful situations, highlighting the need for interventions that address both knowledge and behavioural drivers of nutrition-related practices. In response to these challenges, the Government of Ukraine approved the National Strategy on School Nutrition Reform 2023–2027. UNICEF has supported the reform since its inception in 2020, recognizing that improving school meals alone is insufficient to achieve sustainable nutrition outcomes. Children, adolescents, caregivers, and educators need the knowledge, motivation, skills, and enabling environment to adopt and maintain healthy eating behaviours. Establishing a culture of healthy eating is one of the 4 strategic goals of the National Strategy. Social and behaviour change approaches are central to achieving this goal by promoting positive