Terms of Reference (ToR)
Strategic Review and Forward-Looking Education Strategy Development
1. About ChildFund India
ChildFund India, a child development organization registered in India in 1984, has been working with children, youth and families from the most remote, extremely backward and hard-to-reach areas, with a vision to build “an India where children lead a dignified life and achieve their full potential”. ChildFund India works in the rural belts of the country, now slowly expanding its focus to urban locations too, where child protection issues and violence against children are prevalent. Its programs provide comprehensive support to children from their conception until they reach 24 years of age by integrating health, nutrition, sanitation, gender equality, education, skill training, livelihoods, child protection and humanitarian relief work. ChildFund India annually reaches 7.6 million children, youth, and their families across the country, through its programs. ChildFund India’s unparalleled longstanding community presence in India, long-term partnership with grassroots organizations and relations with relevant stakeholders especially the Government to ensure that its holistic interventions foster an enabling environment where children can grow to their fullest potential.
2. Background of the Assignment
- Under its Country Strategic Plan (CSP) 2022–2027, ChildFund India positioned education as a transformative lever to address intergenerational poverty, gender inequality, child marriage, school dropouts, and limited livelihood pathways. The CSP adopted a life-stage approach and program models such as PENCIL, integrating protective, effective, and context-based learning interventions for children aged 3–14 years, alongside secondary education and youth-focused initiatives.
- During this period, the education portfolio expanded in thematic depth and geographic presence, incorporating:
- Strengthening of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) and foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN).
- Integration of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) into school ecosystems.
- Promotion of STEM education through mini-science labs, smart classrooms, and teacher capacity building.
- Re-enrollment and mainstreaming of Out-of-School Children (OoSC).
- Scholarship and mentorship initiatives for adolescent girls and youth transitioning to higher education.
- Partnerships with state education departments and alignment with national education reforms.
At the same time, the external environment has undergone significant change. The development sector in India has experienced shifts in regulatory frameworks, CSR funding priorities, donor landscapes, and increasing emphasis on measurable outcomes, systems strengthening, and sustainability. International development funding patterns have evolved, with greater scrutiny on cost-efficiency, scalability, and long-term institutional resilience. Domestically, education reforms, digital transformation, and equity-focused policy priorities have created both opportunities and operational complexities.
As CSP 2022–2027 approaches its concluding phase, it is strategically important for ChildFund India to undertake a comprehensive review of its Education Program to critically examine:
- Where we were: the original strategic intent, assumptions, resource base, organizational capacities, and program design at the beginning of the CSP cycle.
- Where we are: the progress achieved in terms of outcomes, scale, partnerships, innovation, systems strengthening, financial diversification, and institutional maturity.
- Where we aspire to go: the organization’s readiness to navigate the next decade (2030 and 2035 horizons), including donor alignment, sustainability pathways, and positioning as a leading education-focused development actor.
This strategic reflection is not merely retrospective. It is forward-looking and foundational for:
- Designing the next Country Strategic Plan (2028–2032/33).
- Developing a robust, future-ready Education Strategy aligned with national priorities, global education goals (including SDG 4), and evolving funding ecosystems.
- Strengthening ChildFund India’s pathway toward greater financial and institutional self-sustainability.
Given the scale, complexity, and long-term implications of this exercise, ChildFund India seeks to engage a high-level consultant or consulting agency with expertise in education systems, strategic planning, and sustainability modeling to conduct a rigorous review and provide actionable, evidence-based recommendations for the next strategic cycle.
3. Required Qualifications and Experience
The consultant/firm should demonstrate:
- Minimum 15+ years of experience in education strategy, development programming, or organizational strategy.
- Proven experience in conducting strategic reviews for INGOs/large NGOs.
- Expertise in education systems strengthening, donor landscape analysis, and sustainability planning.
- Experience working with CSR, foundations, bilateral and multilateral donors in India.
- Strong analytical and facilitation skills.
- Demonstrated experience in developing multi-year strategic plans.
Interested evaluators/agencies are invited to submit:
- Technical proposal outlining approach and methodology
- Team composition and relevant experience
- Financial proposal with a detailed budget
- Sample of previous strategic work on education
Reference:- PRA/CFI/Del/2025-26/051
ChildFund India reserves the right to modify this ToR based on programmatic and contextual requirements.
For detailed information, please check the complete version of the RFP attached below.