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About the Proposal

Engagement of an agency for Capacity Building of Civil Society Organizations on Artificial Intelligence and Digital Tools

The year 2025 marks the 10th anniversary of the global adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a shared commitment by 193 countries to advance inclusive and sustainable development by 2030. With only five years remaining, progress remains uneven and insufficient. The Global SDG Report 2025 highlights that only 18 per cent of targets are on track, while nearly half show limited or no progress, and a concerning proportion have regressed below 2015 levels. These trends underscore the urgent need for more targeted, data-driven, and inclusive approaches to accelerate progress.

India has emerged as a global leader in the localization and institutionalization of the SDGs. Under the leadership of NITI Aayog, SDGs have been embedded into national and sub-national planning frameworks, supported by robust monitoring systems and publicly accessible dashboards. States and Union Territories have made significant investments in aligning policies, budgets, and programmes with SDG targets, strengthening evidence-based decision-making and accountability mechanisms.

UNDP’s engagement with national and state governments further reflects a shift in development practice—from a focus on equality of opportunity to equity in outcomes. This approach recognizes that progress must be measured not only through economic indicators, but through improvements in human well-being, including health, education, gender equality, environmental sustainability, and reduced inequalities.

Within this ecosystem, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) play a critical role in advancing inclusive development. They act as key intermediaries between communities and institutions, particularly for marginalized populations, by delivering services, raising awareness, generating grassroots evidence, and strengthening accountability. CSOs have been instrumental in localizing the SDGs, ensuring that development priorities reflect the lived realities of vulnerable groups. Notably, over 1,000 CSOs contributed to India’s Voluntary National Review process, highlighting their growing role in shaping national development discourse.

However, despite their significance, a large proportion of CSOs continue to face structural constraints that limit their effectiveness. A key challenge is the low level of digital readiness across the sector. Recent evidence indicates that over 80 per cent of nonprofits in India lack adequate digital capacity (Hindustan Times, 2025)1, with limited access to tools, infrastructure, and technical skills required for data analysis, documentation, and communication. The adoption of digital platforms for outreach and resource mobilization remains low, and access to multilingual digital content is limited—further constraining engagement with diverse communities.

These challenges are further compounded by limited exposure to emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), which are increasingly shaping development practices. While AI has the potential to significantly enhance programme design, data analysis, and evidence-based advocacy, its adoption within the social sector remains minimal. Without targeted support, CSOs risk being excluded from the benefits of digital transformation, thereby widening existing capacity gaps. At the same time, the growing use of AI raises important concerns related to equity, bias, and accountability. There is a need to ensure that the deployment of AI in development contexts does not reinforce existing inequalities but instead contributes to inclusive and rights-based outcomes. In this regard, CSOs have an important role not only as users of technology but also as stakeholders in shaping responsible and inclusive AI ecosystems.

In this context, there is a clear need for a structured initiative that strengthens the digital and AI capacities of CSOs, while also generating evidence on the implications of AI for vulnerable communities. This forms the basis of the proposed intervention, which aims to equip CSOs with the tools, skills, and knowledge required to enhance their effectiveness and contribute more meaningfully to SDG acceleration in India.

The overall objective of this assignment is to engage a qualified agency to design and implement a structured capacity-building programme aimed at strengthening the digital and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in India, particularly those working with marginalized communities.

The assignment will support CSOs in enhancing their ability to use digital and AI tools for data analysis, documentation, reporting, and evidence-based advocacy, thereby improving their organizational effectiveness and contribution to Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) implementation.

Specifically, the agency will undertake a baseline assessment to identify capacity gaps and training needs, deliver targeted technical training to build practical AI and digital competencies among CSOs, and conduct an end-line assessment to evaluate changes in capacities, adoption of tools, and overall programme impact

The scope of work is organized into the following components:

• Component 1: Baseline Assessment
• Component 2: Technical Training on AI and Digital Tools
• Component 3: End-Line Assessment

Deliverables:

• Deliverable 1: Baseline Assessment and CSO Selection  
• Deliverable 2: Training Curriculum and Materials
• Deliverable 3: Delivery of Technical Training Programme
• Deliverable 4: End-Line Assessment and Evaluation

Eligibility

• The organisation/agency should have the following work experience, qualifications, skills and  knowledge:

Experience:

• Minimum 3 years' experience as an organisation operating in knowledge management, digital capacity building, technology for development, or social sector programmes.
• Minimum of 3 previous assignments involving the development of structured knowledge products for government or development sector audiences, in any of the following areas:
• Development of training modules, implementation toolkits, or guides for capacity building
• Documentation of development programme experience into replicable frameworks

How to Apply

27-May-26 @ 08:00 AM (New York time)

For more information please check the Link