Request for Proposal (RFP)
To Conduct a Rapid Needs Assessment for Gender Integration in Assam SRLM
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Location:
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Assam, India
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Issued By
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Centre for Catalyzing change
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Application deadline:
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July 18th 2026, 5:00 PM IST
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Languages required:
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English & Assamese
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Starting date:
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22nd July, 2026
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Expected duration of assignment:
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2 months
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BACKGROUND
In 2016, the National Rural Livelihoods Mission began to take a systemic look at gender integration, prioritizing capacity building of staff and community institutions. While women’s collectives have emerged as a promising strategy for their empowerment, especially in the domain of livelihoods, societal, patriarchal barriers have been identified as the key barrier that cross cuts the family, community and institutional domains, limiting the agency-building processes and outcomes. Key to these institutional efforts, therefore, is system level capacities to integrate gender transformative approaches in their strategy and planning, which in turn will unlock pathways towards greater gender equity, agency and progressive norms.
The approach document of NRLM outlines the process of empowering Cluster Level Federations (CLF) to build Social Action Committees and provide facilitation support through village level Gender Focal Points. The CLF are expected to support VOs in the design and implementation of Gender Action Plans.
It is now increasingly being realized that the experience and/or threat of violence in domestic and public/work places is a key barrier towards women’s economic empowerment. In the past four years the work on gender has gathered momentum across states and Gender Resource Centres have been launched at Block/CLFs to facilitate women’s access to social entitlements and protection from gender- based violence.
Centre for Catalyzing Change (C3) and Assam State Rural Livelihoods Mission (ASRLM) have recently embarked on a strategic partnership to build institutional salience on gender and empowerment. C3 will provide technical support to ASRLM for the Development of Institutional Capacities to Enable Implementation of Gender Integrated Plans and Gender Resource Centres that are owned by women’s community institutions
As this work begins, C3 seeks the services of a research/ consultancy firm to complete a Rapid Needs Assessment to:
- Map and document ongoing gender mainstreaming initiatives, institutional mechanisms, and interventions being implemented through SHGs, VOs, CLFs, and GRCs.
- Assess the level of gender awareness, sensitization, and understanding among Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) and evaluate the effectiveness of gender institutions in addressing women's issues and promoting gender-responsive practices.
- Evaluate the role and effectiveness of Gender Resource Centres (GRCs) in promoting gender awareness, addressing Gender-Based Violence (GBV), and supporting women’s empowerment.
- Assess convergence and collaboration mechanisms established by GRCs and CBOs with government departments, service providers, and other stakeholders to address women-related issues.
- Examine the impact of the SHG movement on women's empowerment, including changes in agency, leadership, decision-making, gender norms, and collective action.
- Identify and analyse key gender issues prevalent across different regions and communities, and assess the role of SHGs, VOs, CLFs, and GRCs in addressing these challenges.
- Undertake a Training Needs Assessment (TNA) to identify capacity gaps and strengthen gender-responsive programming and institutional effectiveness.
- Identify operational, institutional, and socio-cultural challenges affecting gender mainstreaming and the functioning of GRCs and CBOs.
- Review best practices and lessons from mature SRLMs and gender institutional models in other states and identify key themes for strengthening gender integration at State, Cluster, and Village levels.
- Assess the potential, effectiveness, and sustainability of GRCs and recommend a roadmap for their strengthening and scale-up in Assam.
- Examine the feasibility of a convergent service-delivery model through GRCs for facilitating access to skilling, entitlements, counselling, legal aid, GBV response, and other women-centric services.
- Provide actionable recommendations and a strategic framework for strengthening gender mainstreaming and community-led gender interventions under ASRLM
Key tasks for Research/Consultancy Firm:
- Review relevant ASRLM policies, guidelines, reports, and programme documents related to gender integration.
- Map and assess ongoing gender mainstreaming initiatives and the functioning of SHGs, VOs, CLFs, and GRCs in promoting gender equality and addressing women's issues.
- Conduct Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), and stakeholder consultations with ASRLM officials, CBO representatives, GRC functionaries, and community members.
- Assess gender awareness, institutional capacities, convergence mechanisms, service delivery systems, and training needs of key stakeholders.
- Identify major gender issues prevalent across different regions and assess the role and effectiveness of CBOs and GRCs in addressing these issues.
- Conduct consultations with line departments, service providers, and partner organizations to understand existing convergence, referral mechanisms, and opportunities for collaboration.
- Where feasible and with informed consent, interact with selected women beneficiaries/survivors to understand support needs, service access challenges, and the role of community institutions.
- Review best practices and gender integration models from mature SRLMs and other relevant organizations and identify lessons applicable to Assam.
- Assess the effectiveness and future potential of GRCs as community-based platforms for promoting women's empowerment, access to entitlements, GBV response, counselling, legal aid, skilling, and livelihoods.
- Develop recommendations and a strategic roadmap for strengthening gender mainstreaming and institutional mechanisms under ASRLM
Interested agencies should share the technical and financial proposal and the agency's credentials with procurement@c3india.org by 5.00 pm on/before July 18th, 2026 mentioning Needs Assessment in Assam: Centre for Catalyzing Change
(“PRN/CF001.06.14/2026-27/086”) on the subject line of email.
For detailed information, please check the complete version of the RFP attached below.