Terms of Reference- (ToR)
Baseline Study of the project Child-Friendly Panchayat in Mahakalapada Block of Kendrapara district
1. Brief 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 operates in the rural regions of the country, gradually expanding its focus to urban areas where issues like child protection and violence against children are common. Its programs offer comprehensive support to children from conception until age 24 by integrating health, nutrition, sanitation, gender equality, education, skill training, livelihoods, child protection, and humanitarian relief efforts. Annually, ChildFund India reaches 4.5 million children, youth, and their families across nine states through its initiatives. The organization's deep-rooted community presence in India, long-term partnerships with grassroots organizations, and strong relationships with relevant stakeholders, especially the Government, ensure that its holistic interventions create an environment where children can grow and reach their full potential.
ChildFund India has a zero-tolerance policy regarding sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (SEAH) and all other forms of harm by its staff, partners, and other representatives in the delivery of its mission and services for children. ChildFund India is committed to creating a safe environment in the workplace as well as in the communities where it delivers programs and services. ChildFund India expects every staff member, partner, and representative to adhere to this commitment and to ensure all organizational policies and standards are followed. This position is subject to a range of vetting checks, including a criminal records check and/or disclosure to ensure program participants are safeguarded.
2. Brief about the assignment
Every child deserves a safe, nurturing environment that supports their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. As a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), India is committed to ensuring every child’s rights to survival, development, protection, and participation. This commitment is reinforced through the National Policy for Children (2013), which affirms the Government of India’s resolve to realise these rights for all children.
Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), especially at the Gram Panchayat level, are the closest tier of governance to children and therefore play a critical role in advancing child rights. Child-friendly local governance is both a principle and a practice through which local governments progressively realise these rights by ensuring children’s access to essential services and entitlements, health, nutrition, education, safe water, sanitation, protection from abuse and exploitation, and social protection. Achieving this requires a holistic, community-owned framework that strengthens prevention and early response systems. Such a framework actively engages children and youth clubs/Bal Panchayats, SHGs, parent groups, VLCWCs, SMCs, VHNSCs, Panchayats, and block-level stakeholders to ensure accountability and sustainability. Building community awareness and participation reduces vulnerabilities and promotes safer environments for children. Strengthening the Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) and Village Development Plan (VDP) processes is essential to institutionalise child-responsive governance. Integrating children’s needs and protection priorities into these plans improves local planning, resource allocation, and accountability. A coordinated approach across education, health, and protection systems further supports long-term child well-being. Empowered communities, supported by responsive local governance, can create resilient ecosystems where children can thrive. Recognising this, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, under the localisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), has identified Child-Friendly Panchayats as Theme 3 among its nine thematic priorities.
The overall objective of the project is to strengthen the engagement of Gram Panchayats in establishing Child-Friendly Panchayats, ensuring that all children are able to enjoy their rights to survival, development, participation, and protection, and are supported to reach their full potential.
Specific objective of the project:
- To enhance the knowledge and skills of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) on the concept and implementation of Child-Friendly Panchayats across all 31 Gram Panchayats of Mahakalpada Block of Kendrapara district of Odisha by June 2027
- To increase active community participation in campaigns and initiatives related to child protection—such as Child Marriage-Free Villages, Child Labour-Free Villages, child safety, and other child protection issues across all 31 Gram Panchayats of Mahakalpada Block.
- To strengthen collaboration among government line departments, NGOs/CBOs, and community stakeholders in promoting Child-Friendly Panchayats in all 31 Gram Panchayats by June 2027.
- To pilot a Child Friendly Model for further scale across all districts of Odisha in collaboration with Ministry of PRI, Govt. of Odisha within FY2030.
- ChildFund India Guided by its vision— “An India where children lead a dignified life and achieve their full potential” ChildFund India has been working across eight Gram Panchayats in Mahakalpada Block, Kendrapada District. Building on this experience, ChildFund India is now piloting the Child-Friendly Panchayat initiative across all 31 Gram Panchayats of the block, in close collaboration with PRIs and the block and district administrations. The learnings from this pilot will inform the scale-up of the model in other blocks and districts of Odisha, in partnership with the Department of Panchayati Raj, Government of Odisha.
3. Purpose and Objectives of the assignment
The baseline study will establish benchmark data on the current status of child rights, governance systems, and community engagement related to Child-Friendly Panchayats.
It will:
- Provide a clear understanding of existing gaps and opportunities
- Inform project design refinement and targeting
- Establish reference points for monitoring and evaluation
- Support future impact assessment
How to apply
Please submit the technical and financial proposal at centralpurchase2@childfundindia.org with the email subject marked with the title of External Consultancy: Baseline Study of Child-Friendly Gram Panchayats.
The deadline for the applications is 29th March 2026. Only the shortlisted consultants/agencies will be contacted for the final presentation before the screening committee. For further information, please contact us at the above email.