Terms of Reference (ToR)
Consultant-Adolescent empowerment with focus on LNOB
Engagement Type: Consultant (Full-time)
Location: Hybrid work (combination of remote work and in-person engagement at Bhubaneswar, Odisha, as required) . The person would be based at Bhubhaneswar as location of work
Assignment Period: Until 31st December 2026 (Further extension is subject to the requirement, performance and fund availability)
1. Organisational Background
People's Rural Education Movement (PREM) [www.prem.org.in] is a secular, humanitarian, non-political, and non-governmental organisation working with Adivasi, Dalit, fisherfolk, and other marginalized communities across Odisha and other parts of India. PREM works closely with government departments and development partners to strengthen governance systems, promote inclusive development, and advance evidence-based policymaking.
As part of its partnership with UNFPA, PREM has been actively engaged in initiatives addressing Sexual and Reproductive Health & Rights, physical, emotional, social and cognitive development of Adolescent & Youth, women's empowerment, demographic challenges, and social development.
2. Context and Rationale
Adolescence is a critical stage of physical, emotional, social and cognitive development. Adolescents require access to accurate information, appropriate health services, life skills, safe spaces and supportive environments to make informed decisions and successfully transition into adulthood.
There is a need to strengthen adolescent-focused interventions through improved coordination among government departments, UN agencies, development partners, civil society organisations, educational institutions and community-based stakeholders. The Consultant will support programme planning, implementation, coordination, capacity building, convergence and monitoring of initiatives related to adolescent health, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), life skills education, gender, mental health, nutrition, prevention of violence and other relevant adolescent issues.
Under the direct supervision of the President, PREM or any designated officials and in close coordination with the Head of Office, UNFPA Odisha, the Consultant will work with the concerned government departments, programme management units, Tribal Academies, UN agencies and partners to strengthen evidence-based and coordinated interventions for adolescents.
3. Objective of the Consultancy
The overall purpose of this consultancy is to provide technical and programme support for strengthening adolescent health and well-being, life skills education and inter-agency convergence, including planning, implementation, coordination, capacity building, monitoring, documentation and knowledge management. The focus will be on reaching out to adolescent girls with focus on Leaving No One Behind(LNOB).
The Consultant will facilitate convergence between relevant government departments, UN/development partners, Tribal Academies and Communities to promote integrated and adolescent-responsive programming.
The key objectives are to:
1. Support planning and implementation of adolescent health and well-being programmes.
2. Co-ordinate with UNFPA , PREM and Department to develop strategies to reach out to the adolescents girls with empowerment programme
3. Strengthen life skills education among adolescents through age-appropriate and gender-responsive approaches.
4. Support integration of adolescent SRHR, mental health, nutrition, gender, prevention of violence, substance misuse and other emerging health concerns.
5. Facilitate convergence among relevant government departments, UN agencies, development partners, NGOs and other stakeholders.
6. Support capacity building of frontline workers, teachers, peer educators, programme staff and other relevant stakeholders.
7. Strengthen adolescent-friendly communication, counselling, referral and support mechanisms.
8. Support monitoring, documentation, reporting and evidence generation related to adolescent interventions.
9. Identify good practices, innovations, gaps and emerging issues affecting adolescents and support appropriate programme responses.
4. Scope of Work and Key Responsibilities:
The broad scope of work and responsibilities, amongst others, include the following:
A. Adolescent Health and Well-being:
• Support development and implementation of adolescent health interventions at state, district and community levels.
• Provide technical support on adolescent health and well-being, including:
o Sexual and reproductive health and rights;
o Menstrual health and hygiene;
o Mental health and psychosocial well-being;
o Prevention of substance misuse;
o Gender-based violence and violence against children;
o Healthy relationships and responsible decision-making;
o Prevention of sexually transmitted infections;
o Adolescent-friendly health services and referrals.
• Identify emerging adolescent health concerns and recommend appropriate programme responses.
• Support development/review of adolescent-friendly IEC/BCC/SBCC materials.
B. Life Skills Education:
• Development and implementation of structured life skills education programmes.
• Integration of life skills into adolescent programmes, schools, communities and other appropriate platforms.
• Capacity building on life skills i.e. Self-awareness, Communication, Critical thinking, Problem-solving, Decision-making, Empathy, Emotional regulation, Negotiation skills, Interpersonal relationships, Coping and resilience, Digital/media literacy, Leadership and teamwork.
• Development of participatory and interactive training methodologies.
• Strengthening peer-led and youth-led approaches.
• Documentation of effective life skills education models and practices.
• Bring in convergence with the SHWP programmes of the health and education department
C. Coordination of Child Marriage Interventions:
• Plan, coordinate and implement the work on child marriage prevention and awareness
• Coordinate & facilitate state and district level meetings, consultations and workshops as
• necessary with relevant stakeholders
• Facilitate sensitisation, training and capacity building of stakeholders on early, forced and child marriage, legal frameworks and rights
• Monitoring and reporting of relevant data, documentation of case stories
• Identify opportunities for joint programming, technical assistance, knowledge sharing and resource mobilisation.
• Maintain a stakeholder/convergence matrix and periodically update it.
• Support coordination with relevant UN agencies and other relevant agencies, as appropriate to the programme.
• Ensure complementarity and avoid duplication among partner interventions.Identify opportunities for joint programming, technical assistance, knowledge sharing and resource mobilisation.
• Maintain a stakeholder/convergence matrix and periodically update it.
• Support coordination with relevant UN agencies and other relevant agencies, as appropriate to the programme.
• Ensure complementarity and avoid duplication among partner interventions.
D. Capacity Building and Technical Assistance:
• Conduct training needs assessments for programme personnel and frontline workers.
• Develop training plans, modules, presentations, facilitator guides and other learning materials.
• Facilitate orientation, training, workshops and review meetings.
• Provide technical assistance to programme staff and implementing partners.
• Support mentoring and handholding of frontline workers and peer educators.
• Strengthen the capacity of stakeholders to deliver adolescent-responsive and gender-transformative interventions.
E. Youth and Adolescent Participation:
• Supporting youth/adolescent consultations.
• Facilitating adolescent and youth-friendly platforms.
• Promoting peer education and youth leadership.
• Ensuring adolescent voices are incorporated into programme planning.
• Supporting mechanisms for adolescent feedback and programme improvement.
• Promoting safe, inclusive and non-discriminatory spaces for adolescents.
F. Programme Planning and Implementation:
• Support preparation of annual/monthly activity plans.
• Assist in translating programme strategies into implementable activities.
• Support preparation of concept notes, proposals, presentations and technical briefs.
• Track implementation of planned activities.
• Identify implementation bottlenecks and recommend corrective measures.
• Support field-level implementation and provide technical guidance to partners.
• Participate in review meetings and provide programme updates.
G. Monitoring, Documentation and Reporting:
• Develop/adapt monitoring tools and checklists for adolescent-focused interventions.
• Track programme indicators and milestones.
• Analyse programme data and identify trends, gaps and areas requiring attention.
• Prepare monthly/quarterly progress reports.
• Document programme achievements, challenges, lessons learned and good practices.
• Develop case studies, success stories and knowledge products.
• Maintain a repository of programme-related documents and resources.
• Support periodic programme reviews and assessments.
H. Research and Evidence Generation:
• Conduct desk reviews and rapid assessments on emerging adolescent health issues.
• Compile and analyse relevant data and evidence.
• Identify gaps in existing adolescent programmes and services.
• Support development of evidence-based recommendations.
• Prepare policy/technical briefs on priority adolescent issues.
• Support documentation and dissemination of innovative approaches.
I. Communication and Knowledge Management:
• Development of communication and advocacy materials.
• Preparation of presentations, briefing notes and talking points.
• Documentation of programme innovations and good practices.
• Knowledge-sharing events and learning forums.
• Dissemination of relevant evidence, tools and resources among stakeholders.
• Development of adolescent-friendly communication approaches.
5. Consultancy Fees:
Commensurate with the experience and previous salary history, PREM shall pay a consolidated monthly Consultancy Fee ranges from INR 60,000/- to INR 75,000/- in full consideration for the timely and satisfactory performance of the services against the Consultant invoice, time sheet & Monthly Progress report approved by the designated authority, subject to deduction of TDS as applicable.
For any official travel (if required), PREM will additionally reimburse Travel, Accommodation and DSA against submission of claims and original invoices as per the travel policy.
6. Qualifications and Experience:
Education:
Master's degree in Public Health, Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, Development Studies, Gender Studies, Population Studies, Education, Social Sciences , Communication or a related field.
Knowledge and Experience:
• Minimum 3 years of relevant professional experience in adolescent health, SRHR, life skills education, youth development, public health or related development programmes.
• Demonstrated experience in programme planning, implementation, monitoring and coordination focusing on adolescent/youth programming working on SRHR, gender, life skills, mental health, menstrual health or prevention of violence in Odisha or other Indian states.
• Experience of working with government departments, NGOs, development partners and/or UN agencies.
• Good analytical, report-writing and documentation skills.
• Experience in inter-departmental convergence and multi-stakeholder coordination.
• Experience in developing training modules, IEC/BCC/SBCC materials and knowledge products.
• Familiarity with government adolescent-focused programmes and schemes.
Languages:
Fluency in English is necessary. Working knowledge of Odia is desirable
7. Safeguarding and Ethical Considerations
The Consultant will be required to comply with all applicable organisational policies and standards relating to child/adolescent safeguarding, protection from sexual exploitation and abuse, prevention of harassment, confidentiality, data protection, gender equality and non-discrimination.
8. Application Process:
Interested candidates are requested to send the latest resume and a one-page cover letter explaining suitability for this position to: premoffice.hr@gmail.com latest by 23:59 Hrs of 02nd Oct 2026 with the subject line in the email “Application for Adolescent girls empowerment with focus on LNOB ”.