REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP)
For AI SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND DIGITAL LITERACY DEVELOPMENT FOR WOMEN ENTREPRENEUR COHORTS IN NORTH EAST INDIA
Opening date of RFP: 21/07/2026 Closing Date of RFP: 29/07 /2026
Lords Education and Health Society (LEHS), registered under Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860 is a charitable organisation with its head office in New Delhi, India working in the health, Agriculture and education Domain for the poor. LEHS in furtherance of charitable objectives through its flagship unit i.e. Wadhwani AI aims to build equitable and sustainable systems to the underserved population and to bring the benefits of modern AI technology to underserved populations by building and deploying AI solutions for social impact across domains such as healthcare, agriculture, governance and education in India.
LEHS aims to promote the integration of technologies, particularly in emerging domains like artificial intelligence and innovations into the Indian mainstream primary healthcare, education, and agriculture systems through a partnership with the State and National Government, apex institutions, international agencies, and private sector partners e.g. innovators, social enterprises and other ecosystem contributors in line with its stated objectives for the betterment of society particularly focusing on projects of national and social significance. In line with its mission to support projects of national and social significance, LEHS also undertakes rigorous monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) activities to assess the impact, usability, and scalability of different programmatic interventions.
With AI projected to contribute 957 billion dollars to India’s economy by 2035, the ability to understand, adopt, and integrate AI tools is no longer optional for entrepreneurs. It has become a basic requirement for competitive participation in the modern economy, especially for small businesses that face rapid technological change. In India, most small scale entrepreneurs, particularly in remote and under-served regions, have limited AI literacy and low exposure to digital tools. They also have minimal access to structured upskilling. This lack of capability restricts their ability to improve productivity, modernize business processes, expand into new markets, and compete with digitally enabled peers.
In the North East Region, particularly states like Meghalaya, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh, entrepreneurship has expanded rapidly, supported by better connectivity and the emergence of 674 DPIIT (Department for Promotion of Industry and Industry Trade)-recognized start-ups in 2022, according to the Ministry of Development of the North-East Region. Yet most entrepreneurs and micro-enterprises still operate informally with low digital readiness, limited AI literacy, and minimal exposure to tools that can improve productivity, marketing, and customer engagement. Although the region hosts only about 1.5 percent of India’s MSMEs, these enterprises contribute over 60 percent of local industrial output, which makes digital capability a critical driver of inclusive growth.
Despite strong potential in traditional sectors such as handloom, handicrafts, bamboo, and tourism, technology adoption remains limited. The 2025 NCAER MSME survey for Assam highlights an urgent need for Digital Literacy Programs for MSMEs. It finds that most entrepreneurs do not have the foundational digital readiness needed to adopt even basic AI tools. Research from Nagaland shows that improved access to digital tools and credit can significantly strengthen competitiveness, but entrepreneurs require structured support and handholding to use these tools effectively.
The challenge is urgent, entrepreneurs in the North East need practical, accessible, and business-focused AI training that can help them modernize their businesses, expand market reach, and build sustainable livelihoods. Without this support, the region risks widening its digital divide at a time when digital capability is becoming central to economic opportunity.
This initiative supports the region’s priorities of sustainable employment, entrepreneurship, and reducing the digital divide, enabling entrepreneurs to harness emerging opportunities in both local and broader markets.
The Program aims to enable small and micro entrepreneurs in North East India to participate meaningfully in the AI-driven digital economy by equipping them with:
- Foundational AI literacy tailored to micro entrepreneurs
- Practical mobile-based AI skills for immediate application
Proposals are welcome from entities with:
- Demonstrated experience in working with women entrepreneur cohorts in any of the following States: Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Meghalaya and Nagaland.
- Prior experience of delivering large-scale digital literacy and financial literacy training programs
Interested applicants must submit:
- Organization profile and relevant experience including sample work/past projects.
- Detailed training approach, curriculum outline, and delivery plan.
- Geographic coverage and scale-up strategy.
- Monitoring & evaluation framework (including approach to participant assessments, feedback collection, follow-up tracking, outcome documentation, and support for learning activities.
- Budget estimate.
Submission Details
All responses to this RFP must be received no later than July 29, 2026. The technical and financial proposal should be submitted separately only through e-mail in PDF in the below-given e-mail id: rfp.lehs@wadhwaniai.org.
The email's subject line must contain the reference number and title of the RFP:
Technical Proposal for AI Skill Development and Digital Literacy of Women Micro-Entrepreneur Cohorts In North East India.
and Financial Proposal for AI Skill Development and Digital Literacy of Women Micro-Entrepreneur Cohorts In North East India.
Bidders who submit complete technical with password protected financial proposals and all mandatory enclosures (Section VII) will be considered only.
Any proposals received by Wadhwani-AI after the deadline for submission of proposals prescribed in the timeline of this document are liable to be rejected.
For detailed information, please check the complete version of the RFP attached below.