Terms of Reference
Hiring of External Agency
Gender Landscape Study in Foundational Literacy for State Project Management Unit for Quality Education (SPMU), Jharkhand
1. About Room to Read
Room to Read is a global organization transforming the lives of millions of children in low-income communities by focusing on literacy and gender equality in education. Founded in 2000 on the belief that World Change Starts with Educated Children®, our innovative model focuses on deep, systemic transformation within schools during two time periods that are most critical in a child’s schooling: early primary school for literacy acquisition and secondary school for girls’ education. We work in collaboration with local communities, partner organizations, and governments to develop literacy skills and a habit of reading among primary school children and ensure girls can complete secondary school with the skills necessary to negotiate key life decisions.
2. Background of the Study
Room to Read has undertaken exhaustive work around gender mainstreaming through the Gender Development Plan of RtR India. This includes generation through landscape studies, enhancing awareness, commitment and capacity at the level of the state to undertake gender transformative classroom practices, enhancing organizational capacity to mainstream gender in all aspects of work related to foundational literacy/education and strengthening mechanisms for creating gender aware teaching-learning materials. The purpose of this assignment is to conduct a state-level Gender Landscape Study focused on foundational literacy classrooms in Jharkhand. The study will generate evidence on how gender dynamics are embedded in daily school practices and provide actionable recommendations for gender-transformative approaches within FLN implementation.
The Gender Landscape study is situated for State Project Management Unit (SPMU)-Jharkhand. Responding to the consistent achievements and needs in the primary school ecosystem of the state of Jharkhand, the State Project Management Unit for Quality Education (SPMU) has been established within the Jharkhand Education Project Council (JEPC). With a focus on strengthening academic and systemic capacity, the SPMU is postioned to anchor the state’s efforts to achieve the FLN mandate over 2025-2030. Designed as a catalytic structure, it will support planning, monitoring, research, curriculum alignment, and communications, thereby ensuring coherence and sustainability in reform efforts across the state.The State Project Management Unit (SPMU) for Quality Education has been positioned as a catalytic technical arm within the Jharkhand Education Project Council (JEPC). It functions as an embedded unit that strengthens JEPC’s capacity to design, guide, and monitor reforms for foundational learning across the state.
3.Rationale of the Assignment
Global research shows that 90% of brain growth occurs by age five, meaning that early childhood education has a crucial impact on the development and long-term schooling of a child[1]. Research also indicates that gender identities are formed by the time children are age two and a half years (Chi 2018)[2]; gender stereotypes about girls’ and boys’ intelligence are formed as early as age six (Bian, Leslie, and Cimpian 2017)[3]; and such stereotypes can have a lasting influence on girls’ and boys’ (in all their diversity) beliefs, attitudes, behaviors, and learning outcomes (Mlama et al. 2005).[4] Home and the classroom become the two spaces where language, creativity, emotions and understanding of gendered experiences are shaped. Teachers play a critical role in molding children’s identities and shaping their thoughts on gender equality and either limiting or expanding their possibilities.
The study is situated in which Jharkhand presents a unique socio-cultural landscape characterized by significant tribal populations, rural geographies, economic vulnerabilities, seasonal migration, and deeply embedded gender norms. According to the Census of India 2011, the gender literacy gap in Jharkhand stood at over 20 percentage points (Male: 76.84%, Female: 56.21%). More recent data from the Jharkhand Economic Survey 2023–24 indicates improvement, with female literacy rising to 70.6% and male literacy to 82.8%. While the gap has narrowed, it remains significant. This indicates that progress is occurring but not at a pace sufficient to eliminate disparity. School enrolment patterns further complicate the picture. Data from UDISE+ (Ministry of Education) shows near gender parity at the primary level. However, this parity weakens at secondary and higher secondary levels, where girls’ enrollment begins to decline relative to boys.
To inform its foundational literacy engagement in Jharkhand, Room to Read seeks to undertake a comprehensive Gender Landscape Study to understand how gender dynamics operate within primary classrooms and how everyday school practices shape children’s participation, and aspirations. examining gender across classroom pedagogy, curriculum design, teacher development and governance structures.
4. Description of the Study
The study is a diagnostic exercise to inform the State Project Management Unit (SPMU) and the Jharkhand Education Project Council (JEPC) in integrating gender-responsive and gender-transformative approaches across curriculum, teacher development, and system strengthening efforts. This includes the roles of state- and district-level institutions such as JEPC, JCERT, DIETs, and district program units in integrating gender perspectives into planning, monitoring, and academic support. The study insights will inform and aid the design and refinement of strategies for addressing the gender dynamics at a systemic level through SPMU.
HOW TO APPLY
Proposals are invited from the interested agency for the above assignment and the last date for receiving the proposal is 10th May 2026 at procurement.india@roomtoread.org [do not copy anyone from RtR]
Kindly submit the proposal via emails with following subject lines:
- EMAIL: TECHNICAL PROPOSAL – Gender Landscape Study- Jharkhand
- A technical proposal which will outline the way this assignment will be approached.
- Cite relevant work experience and samples of work
- Detailed CV of all the consultants involved in this project
- Technical round-agencies should have relevant proposals in alignment with the TOR
- Read the ToR thoroughly before applying.
- Only Shortlisted agencies will be contacted and might be called for a face-to-face interaction with the panel.
- Any incomplete application or process deviation, the proposals will automatically be rejected.
- Proposals received after the prescribed deadline will not be considered.
- Selected Consultant/agency will be required to sign and abide by the Child Protection policy of Room to Read.
The TDS will be applicable on the consultancy fee.
Selected agency will be required to sign and abide by the Child Protection policy of Room to Read.
For queries, please contact:
Kailash Vaishnav
For detailed information, please check the complete version of the RFP attached below.