RFP - Livelihoods and Care Economy: A Rapid Assessment of Livelihood Opportunities for Women in the Rajeevika Network...

CENTRE FOR CATALYZING CHANGE (C3)

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

(RFP)

Livelihoods and Care Economy: A Rapid Assessment of Livelihood Opportunities for Women in the Rajeevika Network across Eight Implementation Districts of Rajasthan

     1. Invitation to Agencies

The Centre for Catalyzing Change (C3) invites proposals from qualified research organizations to conduct a qualitative, exploratory rapid assessment of livelihood opportunities available to women in the Rajeevika network across eight implementation districts of Rajasthan. This should include an examination of the care economy through the lens of unpaid care acting as a critical barrier shaping women's ability to participate in, sustain and benefit from livelihoods; an examination of structural investments in expanding equitable care systems, provisions and gender responsive infrastructure; and care services as an emerging avenue for women’s employment and income generation with. the potential of the care economy to absorb women workers.

The selected agency will examine the livelihood opportunities that women in Rajeevika-supported self-help groups (SHGs) and federations can access today, the enablers, challenges, and barriers including unpaid domestic care work that shape their access to these opportunities, and whether there is both potential and unmet need within the care economy to create decent work for them. The study will be contextualized to Rajasthan and grounded in an intersectional lens. Organizations with proven expertise in qualitative and gender research, women’s economic empowerment, and field research in rural Rajasthan are invited to submit their technical and financial proposals in accordance with this Request for Proposal (RFP).

2. Introduction & Organizational Context

Centre for Catalyzing Change (C3) is a not for profit organization that improves the lives of women and girls in India. Through local partnerships and programs, C3’s proven approach to development gives women, young girls and boys the tools they need to improve their lives, as well as that of their families and communities.

In Rajasthan, C3 partners with the Rajasthan State Rural Livelihood Mission (Rajeevika), to strengthen women’s collectives and expand members’ access to economic opportunities through strategies that are underpinned in transforming gender social norms that impact women adversely. 

Women in India have a limited share of financial opportunities, independence and decision-making powers, while shouldering a disproportionate share of unpaid childcare, eldercare, domestic work and care for persons with disabilities. This "invisible" labour constrains their participation in education, skilling, paid employment, entrepreneurship and leadership.

At the same time, the care economy, spanning childcare, eldercare, care for persons with disabilities and chronic illness, and related community health and nutrition services, is increasingly recognized as a sector that can both generate employment for women and reduce the burden of unpaid care work that limits women’s participation in paid work. C3 is commissioning this rapid assessment to generate grounded evidence on the situation of  all these dimensions and to inform its women’s economic empowerment strategy going forward.

3. Study Goal, Objectives and Key Questions

3.1 Goal

To generate contextualized, intersectional evidence on the livelihood opportunities available to women who are part of the Rajeevika network across eight implementation districts of Rajasthan, and on the potential of various livelihood streams to absorb women workers and entrepreneurs, in order to inform strategies and recommendations for C3 and its partners.

3.2 Objectives

• Map the livelihood opportunities (farm, non-farm, enterprise, wage employment, and scheme-linked) currently available to and pursued by women in the Rajeevika network across the eight districts.
• Identify the enablers, challenges, and barriers that women face in accessing, sustaining, and growing these opportunities.
• Assess the constraints posed by women's unpaid care and domestic responsibilities on their participation in livelihoods and paid work; identify policy priorities and institutional mechanisms required to strengthen availability and accessibility of care services; and assess the potential of the care economy to generate employment opportunities for women.
• Analyze how experiences of access and exclusion differ across social groups and geographies, using an intersectional lens.
• Develop actionable recommendations and strategic options for C3, Rajeevika, and other stakeholders going forward.

       3.3 Indicative Research Questions 

Agencies are expected to refine the following questions during the inception phase:

• Livelihood landscape: What livelihood opportunities are available to women in the Rajeevika network in each district, and which are women actually taking up? How do these vary across districts and agro-climatic or socio-economic contexts?
• Enablers and barriers: What individual, household, community, market, and institutional factors enable or constrain women’s access to these opportunities (e.g., skills, mobility, social norms, unpaid care responsibilities, access to credit, assets, markets, information, and government schemes)?
• Care economy demand and Institutional Framework: What is the nature and scale of unmet need for care services (childcare, eldercare, disability and illness care) in the target communities? How are these needs currently met, and by whom? What gaps exist in the existing public and community-based care infrastructure, service delivery mechanisms and institutional arrangements? What policy and institutional measures are needed to develop an accessible, affordable, quality and gender-responsive care services framework?
• Care economy supply and readiness: Are women in the network interested in, and positioned to take up, paid care work? What skills, certification, institutional models (e.g., SHG- or federation-run care enterprises, crèches), and financing would be needed for care work to offer decent and sustainable livelihoods? What opportunities exist for linking women's collectives with public care service delivery systems and emerging market demand for care services?
• Intersectionality: How do caste, religion, age, marital status, disability, landholding, education, and migration status shape women’s livelihood options and their position within the care economy?
• Way forward: Which strategies, partnerships, and policy linkages hold the most promise for expanding decent livelihood opportunities for women?

        Submission Instructions

• Submit to: procurement@c3india.org 
• Subject line: “Proposal for Livelihoods and Care Economy Rapid Assessment – [Agency Name]”
• Deadline: 22.11.2026, 8:00 PM IST. Proposals received after this deadline will not be considered.
• Queries: Written questions only, submitted by 17.11.2026 to the e-mail address above. Responses will be circulated to all agencies who have expressed interest, to keep the process fair and transparent.
• Contact for this assignment: State Head – Centre for Catalyzing Change (C3), Jaipur, Rajasthan.

 For detailed information, please check the complete version of the RFP attached below