Terms of Reference : Building Blocks for Brighter Futures: An Endline Assessment of Balwadis and Anganwadis in Pune, Maharashtra, India

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Background

Early Childhood Development (ECD) is a comprehensive approach adopted towards the overall development of children. In the Indian context, ECD refers to providing care and support for healthy development of children, up to 6 or 7 years of age. Anganwadi is an integral part of these caregiving initiatives. They take care of and ensure the healthy development of children from 1 to 2 years of age. However, as per National Education Policy ECD has been reframed as Early Childhood Care and Education i.e. (ECCE). NEP 2020 for preschool has stated fundamental literacy and numeracy as prioritized subjects while teaching. Apart from education, extracurricular activities and vocational streams will be considered a part of the curriculum rather than being separated. One of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 4 global indicators in the thematic area of Early Childhood measures student participation rate one year before primary school. Still, many children from our country do not fall under the “best readiness category” before going to primary school. Many of them do not have easy access to development opportunities which may drive them further for best background and preparedness of primary schooling. These facts may be prevailing due to many reasons. Hence, United Way of Delhi (UWD) as a committed social organization has chosen a path to work mainly to bridge this gap between children who are lacking behind the availabilities of developmental programs through institutional as well as voluntary efforts.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth, and Sports (2020-21) recommended that Anganwadis be made more efficient in the delivery of services pertaining to health, nutrition, and early childhood education. It is in this context that the United Way of Delhi developed an integrated intervention, Project NEEV and decided to implement this project in Pune, Maharashtra in the year of February 2023.

Rationale

Early childhood is a critical phase in human development, laying the foundation for lifelong learning, health, and well-being. However, in India, over 43 percent of children under the age of five are at risk of not achieving their full developmental potential due to poverty, malnutrition, and lack of access to early learning opportunities.1 The situation was further exacerbated by the prolonged closure of Anganwadi Centres during the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted access to essential health, nutrition, and early education services for millions of children.

Recognizing these challenges, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth, and Sports (2020-21) emphasized the need to strengthen Anganwadis as integrated service delivery points for health, nutrition, and early learning. In alignment with this recommendation, United Way of Delhi (UWD) has designed Project NEEV- an integrated Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) intervention to holistically address the developmental needs of children (0-6 years) enrolled in Anganwadis/ Balwadis.

 Through a multi-stakeholder approach involving the community, frontline workers, and government functionaries, Project NEEV seeks to create enabling learning environments, build capacity among caregivers and Anganwadi workers, and promote holistic child development. The program also aims to strengthen community ownership and ensure sustainable improvements in the early childhood ecosystem.

About the Project

In the backdrop of problem outlined in preceding paragraph, United Way of Delhi with support from Bajaj Finserv has implemented the Neev project titled “Building Blocks for Brighter Futures in 190 Balwadis and 50 Anganwadis in Pune, Maharashtra, India in the year 2023. The program is aligned with the Government’s New Education Policy and its provisions for the 0 to 6 years age group. It aims to improve the health and development of children (0 to 6 years) by providing them with a child-friendly environment, and improving their health and learning outcomes and enhancing the role of caregiver and facilitators in the well- being of children in poor and disadvantaged communities through Classrooms of Anganwadi and Balwadi.

Apart from the existing 240 ECCE centres, the intervention will be scaled up in 9 additional Balwadis of Pune Municipal Corporation for infrastructural upgradation from November 01, 2025 to March 31, 2026. The intervention will include fixed Assets, posters & IEC materials and classroom supplies to strengthen enabling learning environment for the children.

Goal of the Program: To improve the development of 15000 children of 0-6 years of age by providing them with child-friendly infrastructure, enhancing their foundational learning and the role of caregiver in children’s development (in 240 ECCE centres across Pune, Maharashtra).

Project objectives

• To upgrade 190 Balwadis & 50 Anganwadis into child-friendly ECCE centres.
• To provide quality learning support to 15,000 children (3-6 years) through the capacity building of Balwadi teachers, Anganwadi workers, helpers and mothers.
• To strengthen the capacity of the Balwadi staff and Anganwadi workers to deliver quality home-based care.
• To organize Awareness generation sessions/ community campaigns to encourage healthy behavior in home-based maternal, newborn and child care.
• To improve nutritional status of children of AWCs and Balwadis of the age of 3-6 years
• To facilitate interaction with government stakeholders so that appropriate encouragement and support is provided to Balwadi/ Anganwadi staff.

Impact: To improve the development of 15000 children of 3-6 years of age by providing them with child-friendly infrastructure, enhancing their foundational learning and the role of caregiver in children’s development (in 240 ECCE centres across Pune, Maharashtra)

i. % of children (3–6 years) with improvement in overall developmental outcomes across 240 ECCE centers in Pune, Maharashtra Whereas outcome statements and corresponding indicators are given below:

Outcome 1: Improvement in child friendly infrastructure contributing to improved development outcome of the children aged 3-6 years i. % of AWC and Balwadis/ Anganwadis with improved child friendly infrastructure to improve the developmental outcome

Outcome 2: Achievement of development milestones of children aged 3-6 years i. % of children (3–6 years) achieved developmental milestones, participating in ECCE programs

Outcome 3: Improvement of knowledge of Balwadi staff and Anganwadi workers to deliver quality home-based maternal, newborn and child care. i. % of Balwadi teachers and Anganwadi workers with improved knowledge on maternal, new born and child care and with improving service delivery and early learning outcomes

Outcome 4: Improvement of Awareness level amongst community members on maternal, new born and child care i. % of community members with improved awareness on maternal, new born and child care

Outcome 5: Improvement in nutritional status of children aged 3-6 years i. % of children aged 3-6 years of Balwadis and AWC with improvement in nutritional status

Outcome 6: Enhanced collaboration and support from other government stakeholders towards ECCE staffs, evidenced by documented instances of joint initiatives, resource sharing and policy alignment i. % of Balwadi teachers and AWW reporting increased support and encouragement from government stakeholders

Intervention Geography & intervention units

The geographical scope of the intervention is restricted to the territorial jurisdiction of the Pune Municipal Corporation, encompassing 190 Balwadis and 50 Anganwadis. Additionally,

The Endline Study

Need of the Study

The UWD seeks an independent evaluation agency to collect, compile and consolidate quantitative and qualitative endline data based on the proposed indicators aligned with the objectives of the study and present the findings in a series of comprehensive reporting deliverables. The endline data will be assessed to measure the impact of the intervention against the benchmark set during the baseline assessment.

Study Objectives

• To evaluate the improvement in child-friendly infrastructure across the supported Balwadis and Anganwadis and its contribution to enhancing children’s developmental outcomes.
• To assess the change in awareness levels among community members regarding maternal, newborn, and child care practices as a result of community campaigns and engagement activities.
• To assess the effectiveness of capacity-building initiatives undertaken for Anganwadi workers, Balwadi teachers and helpers in improving service delivery and early learning outcomes.
• To assess the level of collaboration and support from government stakeholders towards ECCE staff, as evidenced by joint initiatives, resource sharing and policy alignment.
• To document key lessons, best practices, and implementation challenges to inform future program design, scale-up and policy advocacy related to ECCE strengthening.

Methodology

• The baseline data of the project is not available and therefore, the survey agency is free to recommend a methodology for the study for endline impact evaluation when there’s no baseline, with a clear justification for it. The method could include case-control, comparison/matched design or a retrospective/recall & triangulated approach.

Target Audience, Sample Size and Survey Tools

The survey tools will be shared by UWD and the agency is required to customize that as per the requirement of end-line.

Scope of the Study

• Development of Sampling frame and identification of study participants: In collaboration with UWD, the agency should outline a method for developing a sampling frame for the study.
• Development of survey tools: The selected agency need to develop questionnaire based on pre identified key indicators for quantitative and qualitative survey.
• Method of Data collection: It is proposed that the data be collected through CAPI and all allied operations such as software development and handing of devices will be survey agency’s responsibility.
• Constitution of field team: The agency should propose a Team Leader/ Principal Investigator, describe the size and composition of the field teams and supervisory staff including their minimum qualifications and the method to be used for recruitment and describe in detail the roles of each staff member.
• Training of field teams: All members of the field teams will be trained jointly by UWD and survey agency. The training agenda will be developed and finalized collaboratively with the UWD team. The agency should describe the resources that will be available for the training, including the facilities and equipment. Please be sure to include plans for ethical training and procedures for protection of human rights.
• Data collection and management: The agency should outline logistic procedures, including methods of transportation, methods for supervision of the data collection teams, and discuss how the data will be organized, managed, secured and analyzed.
• Data analysis, report writing and recommendation: The agency should propose the software for data analysis and a process for joint reviews with UWD. Data analysis plan and report would be reviewed by UWD for quality assurance and should be finalized only after UWD’s inputs.

Duration of study

The time duration of the study will be 45 days from the award of the contract.

Quality Control Mechanism

The survey agency needs to elaborate the quality control mechanism to be followed during study implementation. This will include quality control mechanism for training, data collection & management, coordination and reporting at every stage of project life cycle.

Key Deliverables

The key deliverables would include the following:

• Inception Report (Covering objectives of the study, detailed methodology including estimation of sample, operational plan for primary data collection, types of survey tools, plan for data analysis and outline of the final endline report)
• Work plan/chronogram (a draft should be included in the proposal, but should be refined and finalized in collaboration with UWD)
• Report on pre-testing of tools, and final version of tools (English and Hindi)
• Final refined survey tools (English and Hindi)
• Final training report
• Training manual and training agenda
• Audio recording of FGDs/ IDIs with proper labeling
• Transcripts of FGD/ IDI with proper labeling
• Draft tabulation & data analysis plan and outline of the endline report for UWD’s feedback for finalization
• Submission of draft endline report for UWD’s feedback
• Raw data and processed data in excel and SPSS/ STATA with proper labeling and coding of variables
• Final report & slide deck incorporating suggestions from UWD
• Evidence synthesis (1-2 pages)
• Consolidation of indicators
• Data Factsheet

Agency profile

The applicants may be individuals, groups of individuals with a designated team lead, or consultants and research agency. Applicants must have at a minimum the following qualifications:

• Experience in conducting evaluations preferably in the thematic areas of education and ECCE.
• Ability to write good quality report in English (should be able to provide two sample reports on request of United Way of Delhi).
• Strong facilitation skills and proven ability to lead participatory processes
• Sound Knowledge of child rights, protection issues particularly child rights scenario in India, esp. on the themes of child protection
• Proven expertise and adequate experience in social research (both quantitative and qualitative) and project evaluation
• Proven ability to work within multi-disciplinary team
• No conflict of interest with United Way of Delhi
• Local experience and exposure (study states) will be preferred
• All claims cited by the Agency should be adequately substantiated in the proposal.
• Agency must abide by UWD’s child safeguarding policies.

Ethics, Child Safeguarding and Code of Conduct

The selected agency will be required to adhere to the Child Safeguarding Policy and ethical guidelines. The agency and the study team engaged in the review will be required to sign United Way’s Child Safeguarding Policy.

The agency will make clear to all participating stakeholders especially children of all ages that they are under no obligation to participate in the process. All study participants will be assured that there will be no negative consequences if they choose not to participate. The agency must obtain informed consent from all adult participants. For children, informed assent will be sought, as well as consent from their caregivers if a child is to be interviewed.

The agency will ensure the anonymity and confidentiality of participants’ data and will ensure that the visual data is protected and used for agreed purposes only. As the shortlisted agency needs to interact with children, s/he needs to sign and abide by United Way of Delhi’s Child Safeguarding Policy.

Data protection protocols must be developed for the storage and analysis of data. All transcripts must be anonymised.

Support to be provided by United Way team

The UWD team will extend the required support during the survey in terms of information/approval required.

Budget & terms of payment

The total estimated cost for conducting the endline assessment of the ECCE intervention program across 190 Balwadis and 50 Anganwadi Centres is capped at INR 7,00,000 (inclusive of all applicable taxes). The financial proposal submitted by the agency should not exceed this amount. The payment shall be made in instalments linked to key deliverables, as mentioned below.

• 20% on signing of Contract
• 20% on the submission of Inception Report
• 30% on the submission of Draft Report
• 30% on the submission of Final Report

Timeline

It is anticipated that the consultancy period would be a period of 45 days starting from the date of contract signing and it is expected that agency will complete all aspect of project within this period. It is recommended that the agency should provide a Gantt chart/timeline showing clearly the steps of the study and the time assigned to each step.

Ownership of Materials

The agency may note that all outputs including the study data, reports, sets of tools, training manuals, any other allied materials etc. produced as part of this study will fully remain the exclusive property of UWD. The raw data and transcripts of FGD/ IDI would be submitted to UWD.

Proposal Development Protocol

United Way of Delhi is seeking proposals from interested agency as per outlined structured below:

Technical Proposal

A narrative proposal including the following sections:

• Evaluation Methodology: Describe your overall approach and evaluation methodology including, and not limited to, evaluation design and methodology, which includes technical specifications like an estimate of the sample size, methods to be used for collecting data from different categories of stakeholders, data analysis, validation and ethical considerations.
• Relevant Experience: Provide details of projects of similar scope, complexity and nature you have worked on previously.
• Specific Expertise: Describe your level of knowledge and expertise conducting quantitative and qualitative evaluations, particularly in India.
• Key Personnel and Staffing: Describe the key personnel. Include CVs (no more than 2 pages each and attach as an annexure) of key personnel who would be part of then proposed plan.
• Timeline: Include a detailed timeline of key activities.

Financial proposal

The financial proposal should include a line-item budget and a budget narrative (specimen template is in Annexure 1). The consultant needs to prepare a financial proposal taking into consideration the following heads of expenses as a broad reference. The consultant is free to add or reduce the heads depending on the nature of the evaluation design. However, it is preferable for the budget to be prepared with more details taking into account realistic cost estimation.

Proposal Submission Protocol

The proposal should be sent through email and the financial proposal should be on organization/ agency’s letterhead (signed and scanned pdf version). The Application comprising of technical and financial proposal should be addressed to Mr. Anup Ranjan at (procurement@unitedwaydelhi.org and anup@unitedwaydelhi.org) by November 17, 2025. The subject line of the e-mail should read: “Building Blocks for Brighter Futures: An Endline assessment of Balwadis and Anganwadis in Pune, Maharashtra, India”. Only short-listed agency will receive an acknowledgment and will be requested for personal interactions.

Tags Children and Childcare Healthcare and Healthtech Others