Expression of interest
Leveraging Innovation for sustainable development.
Background
Our country, specially the rural areas face numerous challenges, including poverty, inequality, environmental degradation, and lack of access to essential services such as education, healthcare, and clean water. Different government programmes and approaches launched to address these issues have made significant strides; however, there is a growing recognition that innovative solutions are crucial to achieving sustainable and impactful development outcomes.
Social innovation, a term that has gained significant traction in recent years, refers to the process of developing and implementing novel solutions to address societal challenges, often with the aim of creating lasting, positive change. In the face of complex global issues such as poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation, the traditional top-down approach to problem-solving has proven insufficient, leading to the rise of social innovation as a promising alternative.
To encourage creative thinking and drive positive change, it is proposed to introduce the concept of “Social Innovation Challenges”. These Challenges will invite civil society organizations, entrepreneurs, and community members to collaboratively develop innovative solutions for prevalent social problems.
In this backdrop, “SAKSHAM” program has been conceptualized with the support of European Union (EU) and Welthungerhilfe(WHH). SAKSHAM is a capacity enhancement project designed with the aim to strengthen the institutional capacities of CSOs by enhancing their skills and knowledge with a specific focus on Financial management, Internal governance, Organizational development, strategic communication and resource mobilization.
Objectives of Social Innovation Challenge
- Enhance Program Effectiveness: Utilize innovative tools and methods to design and implement development programs that are more effective in addressing the root causes of poverty and inequality.
- Increase Efficiency: Streamline processes and optimize resource allocation through the adoption of cutting-edge technologies and data-driven decision-making.
- Promote Inclusivity: Ensure that marginalized and vulnerable populations benefit from development initiatives through inclusive innovation practices.
- Foster Sustainability: Implement solutions that promote environmental sustainability and resilience against climate change.
Key Components of Social Innovation Challenge
- Partnerships and Collaboration:
- Forge strategic partnerships with tech companies, social enterprises, and innovation-focused NGOs.
- Engage in cross-sectoral collaboration to pool resources and expertise.
- Design and implement solutions that are accessible to all, including women, youth, and persons with disabilities.
- Promote participatory approaches that involve beneficiaries in the innovation process.
Submission of tender documents/offers:
Application must be performed online through the following web tendering portal not later than the 25th April 2026 at 23:59 IST that is accessible through the following thread:
The related EU-Supply RFT ID reference Ref.: RFT 200414072.
All new applicants, to be able to use the EU supply web portal and to submit your application through the tender portal, you will have to register as a New Supplier through the following web link:
All inquiries about the concerned competition can be submitted through the EU supply platform directly latest on the 25th April 2026 before 11:00 IST.
Please note the tender opening is Non-Public.
For detailed information, please check the complete version of the RFP attached below.