ToR - Comprehensive Study for Developing Early Childhood Development (ECD) as a Flagship Program

Terms of Reference

Comprehensive Study for Developing Early Childhood Development (ECD) as a Flagship Program

1. Background

About Karuna-Shechen

Karuna-Shechen, is a non-governmental organization that acts and advocates for a more altruistic world. The organization contributes to breaking the cycle of intense poverty, strengthening resilience, and developing the full potential of poor, vulnerable, or distressed populations through a local, community-driven, and holistic approach interconnecting health and hygiene, education, food security, economic development, and environment. Programs are implemented in India and Nepal.

Karuna-Shechen has been actively engaged in Early Childhood Development (ECD) work in both India and Nepal for over a decade. With interventions rooted in the philosophy of holistic, joyful learning for young children, our efforts have focused on play-based pedagogy, community partnerships, and integration with national frameworks such as Integrated Child Development Scheme (India) and local government programs (Nepal).

2. Rationale and Purpose of the study

As Karuna-Shechen shapes its strategic direction for the next five years, there is a critical need to identify and strengthen flagship programs that demonstrate leadership, excellence, and long-term impact. Given our substantial experience and current implementation in ECD across both countries, this domain presents the strongest opportunity to achieve excellence and establish Karuna-Shechen as a leading organization in ECD globally.

The study will provide evidence-based recommendations to transform our existing ECD efforts into a flagship program that can serve as a model for other organizations and demonstrate measurable impact on child development outcomes.

Purpose:

To conduct a comprehensive stocktaking and strategic analysis of Karuna-Shechen’s ECD programs in India and Nepal. The findings will inform a SMART roadmap to elevate ECD as a flagship program over the next 5 years, positioning Karuna-Shechen as a leader in community-driven early childhood interventions.

3. Objective

Primary Objective: To develop a SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) roadmap for positioning ECD as Karuna-Shechen's flagship program, based on comprehensive assessment of current initiatives, stakeholder perspectives, and field realities in both Nepal and India.

Secondary Objectives:

• Assess current program effectiveness and impact
• Identify gaps and opportunities for improvement
• Benchmark against excellence standards in ECD
• Develop strategic recommendations for scaling and sustainability.

Current Status of ECD Implementation

India Operations:	Nepal Operations:
Timeline: ECD project began as a pilot in January 2014 with 4 Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) and operates under the ICDS program of government.	Timeline: Active since 2018 under integrated development approach and operates with the federal government structure.
Evolution: Expanded through phases reaching 100 AWCs by September 2018, strategically focusing on 137 high-performing centers in January 2025	Evolution: Initiated in Sindhuli  district with 15 schools in 2021 and gradually expanded to 2 other districts  Dhading and Kapilvastu reaching in total 86 schools / community ECD centres  in 2023.
Integration: ECD approach works within government ICDS framework, aligning with National Education Policy 2020 and National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage  2022.	Integration: Contributes to National ECD strategic plan 2020-30 and School Education Sector Plan 2022-2032.  The ECD project focuses on preparing young children for school by strengthening early learning, while also taking a holistic approach that integrates health, nutrition, and food security. Through collaboration with local government and communities.
Approach: Integrated approach which combines both Center-based  and community-based interventions focusing on play-based learning, including materials support for play based learning and orientation of ICDS ground level workers.	Approach:   Integrated approach that combines early learning with health, nutrition, and food security, while engaging families, building local capacity, and fostering multi-sector collaboration for children’s holistic development and school readiness.
Current Scale: Operating in 150  AWCs in 2 districts Gaya and Nawada in Bihar and 1 district of East Singhbhum in Jharkhand.	Current Scale: Operating currently in 86 schools (as of 2025) in 2 districts Dhading and Kapilvastu (4 local level or rural municipality) in Nepal

4. Scope of Work

The consultant/agency will undertake the following activities across both Nepal and India operations:

4.1 Current Program Assessment

• Program Mapping: Comprehensive documentation of existing ECD activities, target populations (0-3 and 3-6  /3-8 age groups), geographic coverage, and delivery models
• Stakeholder Analysis: Map roles and relationships of key implementers including Aaganwari workers , Community Health Mobilisers, Program Coordinators, community volunteers, and government partners
• Integration Review: Assess how ECD integrates with other Karuna programs (Babua School, Non formal Education, health awareness, adult education) a

4.2 Policy and Framework Analysis

• India: Analyze alignment with ICDS framework, NEP 2020, National Curriculum Framework-Foundational Stage 2022, and state-level policies.
• Nepal: Review compliance with federal restructuring requirements and local government ECD initiatives.
• Cross-country Learning: Identify opportunities for knowledge sharing between operations.

4.3 Program Quality and Impact Assessment

• Theory of Change Evaluation: Review current program logic and assumptions
• Outcome Measurement: Assess existing M&E systems and child development outcomes
• Quality Standards: Evaluate program quality against national and international ECD standards
• Challenges Analysis: Document implementation challenges including personnel issues, sustainability concerns, and scaling difficulties

4.4 Stakeholder Engagement

• Internal Consultations: Key informant interviews with country teams, program staff, and leadership
• External Stakeholders: Engage government partners, community leaders, and beneficiary families
• Beneficiary Perspectives: Capture voices of children, parents, and caregivers

4.5 Benchmarking and Learning

• Excellence Models: Identify and study leading ECD programs regionally and globally
• Innovation Opportunities: Explore emerging practices and technologies in ECD
• Partnership Potential: Assess opportunities for strategic partnerships

5. Key Research Questions which the final document should include:

Program Effectiveness

• What evidence exists of positive child development outcomes from current ECD programs?
• How effectively do programs reach the most vulnerable children and families?
• What are the key factors contributing to program success or challenges?

Excellence Roadmap

• What constitutes "excellence" in ECD programming within Karuna's operational contexts?
• Which program components show greatest potential for scaling and replication?
• How can programs achieve greater integration across Karuna's thematic areas?

Strategic Positioning

• What would distinguish Karuna-Shechen as a leader in ECD globally?
• How can programs demonstrate measurable impact on child development outcomes?
• What innovations could position Karuna at the forefront of ECD practice?

6. Methodology

The consultant/agency shall employ a mixed-methods approach including:

6.1 Desk Review

• Analysis of program documents, reports, and M&E data.
• Review of national ECD policies and frameworks
• Literature review of ECD best practices and innovations

6.2 Field Research

• India: Site visits to selected AWCs from all districts
• Nepal: Field visits to ECD program locations (to be determined with Nepal team)
• Observation of program activities and interactions

6.3 Stakeholder Consultations

• Key informant interviews with program staff at all levels
• Focus group discussions with beneficiaries and community members
• Consultations with government partners and other stakeholders

6.4 Participatory Methods

• Community mapping exercises
• Participatory evaluation sessions with staff and beneficiaries
• Stakeholder workshops for validation and input

7. Expected Deliverables

Particulars	Timeline	Details
7.1 Inception Report	Week 2	Detailed methodology and work plan Stakeholder mapping and engagement strategy Data collection tools and protocols Timeline with key milestones
7.2 Country Assessment Reports	Week 6	Separate detailed reports for India and Nepal programs Current state analysis and gap identification Stakeholder perspectives and recommendations.
7.3 Benchmarking Report	Week 8	Analysis of excellence models in ECD Comparative assessment of Karuna's programs Innovation opportunities and partnership potential
7.4 Final Strategic Report	(Week 10)	Executive Summary: Key findings and strategic recommendations SMART Flagship Pathway: Detailed roadmap with specific, measurable objectives and timelines Implementation Framework: Organizational requirements, resource needs, and risk mitigation M&E Framework: Indicators, data collection systems, and impact measurement tools Sustainability Strategy: Long-term viability and scaling considerations
7.5 Presentation and Validation	Week 11	Presentation of findings to Karuna-Shechen leadership Stakeholder validation workshops Finalized recommendations incorporating feedback

8. Timeline

Total Duration: 12 weeks

Phase	Activities	Timeline
Inception	Literature review, tool development, stakeholder mapping	Weeks 1-2
Data Collection	Field visits, interviews, FGDs in both countries	Weeks 3-7
Analysis	Data analysis, benchmarking, report writing	Weeks 8-9
Reporting	Draft reports, stakeholder feedback	Weeks 10-11
Finalization	Final report, presentation, validation	Week 12

9. Team Coordination and Reporting

Reporting Structure:

• Primary contact: International Programs Director
• Country coordination: Nepal and India team representatives
• Regular check-ins: Bi-weekly progress meetings including all representatives
• Advisory support: Access to program staff and documentation

Communication:

• Weekly progress updates
• Immediate flagging of any challenges or changes
• Collaborative approach with country teams throughout

10. Consultant/agency Qualifications

Essential Requirements:

• Experience in ECD program design, implementation, and evaluation
• Proven track record in developing strategic frameworks and flagship programs
• Strong understanding of community-based development approaches
• Experience working in South Asian contexts (Nepal/India preferred)
• Familiarity with government ECD policies and frameworks in the region

Preferred Experience:

• Experience with integrated development programming
• Knowledge of Montessori, play-based learning, or alternative pedagogical approaches
• Previous work with INGOs or similar organizations
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate participatory processes
• Multilingual capabilities (Hindi, Nepali, or local languages advantageous)

11. Budget and Resources

Consultant/agency Fees: To be provided by Consultant/Agency

Included Expenses in proposal:

• Travel costs for field visits in both countries
• Accommodation and daily allowances during field work
• Translation services if required
• Communication and technology costs
• Stakeholder workshop expenses

Karuna-Shechen Support:

• Access to all program documentation and data
• Coordination support from country teams
• Facilitation of stakeholder meetings
• Logistics support for field visits

12. Success Criteria

The study will be considered successful if it delivers:

1. Comprehensive Assessment: Clear understanding of current ECD program strengths, challenges, and opportunities
2. SMART Pathway: Actionable roadmap with specific milestones, timelines, and resource requirements
3. Evidence-Based Recommendations: Proposals grounded in field realities and stakeholder input
4. Excellence Framework: Clear definition of what constitutes excellence in ECD for Karuna-Shechen
5. Implementation Readiness: Practical guidance for immediate next steps and long-term strategic direction

13. Application process:  Interested agencies /consultants are invited to apply with their Technical and Financial Proposal to the following emails: hr.india@karuna-shechen.org  with Copy to nepal@karuna-shechen.org

Last date of application: 31^st Oct 2025.

All applicants (agencies and consultants) must be compliant with FCRA rules if they are registered/applying from India and the similar laws applicable for agencies /consultants applying from Nepal.

14. Selection Criteria:

Sl. No	Evaluation Criteria	Weightage
1	Technical Proposal	40%
2	Financial Proposal	40%
3	Prior Experience	20%

Karuna-Shechen reserves the right to select suitable agency/consultant for this assignment.

Tags Children and Childcare Education and Education Technology (edtech) Advocacy Public Policy/ Policy Social Change