Request for Proposal (RFP)
Request for Proposal (RFP) Baseline Study for “Women, Water & Wellbeing: Advancing Livelihoods, Health and Dignity of Tribal Women”
Implementing Organization: Rajarhat PRASARI
Supported by: Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT)
Project Locations: Selected Gram Panchayats and villages of Masalia, Jama, and Jarmundi Blocks of Dumka District, Jharkhand and Rajnagar and Dubrajpur Blocks of Birbhum District, West Bengal.
1.Background: The hilltop and forest fringe villages of Santhal Parganas in Jharkhand and adjoining plateau regions of Birbhum, West Bengal, are among the most vulnerable geographies in eastern India. These regions are predominantly inhabited by tribal and PVTG communities, including Santhal and Paharia populations, who face chronic poverty, acute water scarcity, fragile livelihoods, poor nutrition outcomes, weak institutional access, and recurring distress migration.
The villages are largely located in remote upland and forest fringe areas with limited infrastructure and poor connectivity. Agriculture is predominantly rainfed, with erratic rainfall and declining groundwater levels severely affecting productivity and livelihood security. Women bear a disproportionate burden in managing water, fuelwood collection, household care, livestock, and agriculture while also coping with seasonal male migration.
In response to these interconnected vulnerabilities, PRASARI, with the support from Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT), is implementing a long-term integrated programme titled “Women, Water & Wellbeing: Advancing Livelihoods, Health and Dignity of Tribal Women” The programme aims to strengthen water security, climate-resilient livelihoods, nutrition systems, women-led institutions, and dignity-centred work through an Integrated Natural Resource Management (INRM) approach.
The programme focuses on:
Strengthening and reviving SHGs and community institutions
Participatory hydrogeological planning and source-sustainable and access to water
Climate-resilient agriculture and livestock based livelihoods
Self-reliant nutrition systems
Women’s dignity, sanitation, and early childhood care initiatives
Community cadre and CRP development
Convergence with government programmes
The programme will initially cover five blocks and engage with nearly 500 SHGs and approximately 5000 households over the project period.
Please see Annexure 1 to understand the indicative project results framework and major intervention areas. More details will be finalized during the inception stage of the study.
2.Purpose of the Baseline Study: The baseline study aims to establish benchmark information related to socio-economic conditions, water security, livelihoods, nutrition status, women’s participation, institutional functioning, and access to services among the target households and communities.
The study findings will:
- Guide implementation planning and prioritization
- Support refinement of intervention strategies
- Establish measurable baseline indicators
- Provide reference points for midline and endline assessments
- Support evidence-based programme monitoring and learning
3.Objectives of the Baseline Study The baseline study will aim to:
- Assess the socio-economic profile of target households
- Understand current water availability, access, usage patterns, and seasonal water stress
- Assess status of drinking water, irrigation access, and water source sustainability
- Understand existing agriculture, livestock, and forest-based livelihood systems
- Estimate household income and contribution from different livelihood sources
- Assess current farming systems, cropping patterns, productivity, and climate vulnerabilities
- Assess goat and backyard poultry rearing practices and associated constraints
- Understand migration trends and distress coping mechanisms
- Assess nutritional practices, dietary diversity, and food sufficiency status
- Capture nutrition status and access to nutrition-related services, especially for women and children
- Assess women’s participation and decision-making roles in livelihoods, water governance, and SHG institutions
- Assess functionality and institutional strength of SHGs and federations
- Understand sanitation access, women’s dignity and privacy related challenges
- Assess to early childhood care, Anganwadi services, and education
- Identify key vulnerabilities, risks, and opportunities in the intervention geography
- Establish measurable baseline indicators aligned with project outcomes and outputs
Submission Details:
Interested agencies/consultants are requested to submit their proposal by 21st June-2026 to:
Email: 1) saikat2009@gmail.com 2) subhajitprasariofficial@gmail.com
For detailed information, please check the complete version of the RFP attached below