Evaluating ‘Daddy Cool’ Project
Request for Proposal

About Sesame Workshop-India
Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street, reaching more than 180 million children across 150+ countries through research-based, tested, and proven educational interventions. Our work supports children to grow smarter, stronger, and kinder, with a special focus on vulnerable populations through media, formal education, and community-based social impact programs. 

Sesame Workshop – India (SWI) was established in 2006 to address the developmental needs of children aged 3-8 years. Our programs support critical developmental milestones including health and overall well-being, social-emotional learning, WASH, literacy, and numeracy, while embedding principles of equity, inclusion, child protection, and environmental sensitivity. SWI delivers integrated curricula through mass media, school-based interventions, home- based engagement and community platforms using storytelling, games, songs, and films and facilitated engagements to reach children and caregivers across India. For more information, log on to sesameworkshopindia.org 

Project Background
Sesame Workshop India is implementing the Daddy Cool Project in Hyderabad, Telangana, aimed at increasing fathers’ engagement in early childhood caregiving and promoting gender-equitable parenting practices. 

The project is grounded in a theory of change that recognizes that when fathers:

• actively participate in caregiving,
• develop a deeper understanding of child development (physical, emotional, social, and cognitive),
• and challenge traditional gender norms around caregiving,
• they contribute to stronger father–child bonds, more equitable household dynamics, and improved child well-being.

Project Details

• Target Group: Fathers of children aged 3–8 years
• Geography: Hyderabad, Telangana
• Scale: 4,500 fathers over two years
• Cohorts: Three cohorts of 1,500 fathers each
• Intervention Model: Phygital (physical + digital)
• 14 structured, facilitated in-person workshops, attended by participating fathers
• A WhatsApp-based chatbot acting as a digital facilitator

The workshop modules, session-wise topics, content outlines, and related program documents will be shared with the selected research agency. 

Research Overview
The proposed study will be conducted with the first cohort of 1500 fathers using a Quasi-Experimental research design. The purpose of the study is both evaluative and learning-oriented, with findings expected to inform program refinement, engagement strategy optimization and scale-up planning. 

Instructions and Notes for Research Firms 

Inquiries and Clarifications

• Research firm/agency should send their queries at narmada.purohit@sesame.org cc manvika.sharma@sesame.org before the due date for submission of queries/clarifications as mentioned in the Important Dates section.
• No telephonic enquires will be entertained

Evaluation Process

• All proposals shall be evaluated based on the criteria enlisted in this RFP.

Submission of Proposals:

• Technical and Financial Proposal shall be sent at narmada.purohit@sesame.org cc manvika.sharma@sesame.org in a single mail (as two separate files/attachments) with the subject line Proposal_Daddy Cool Project_Evaluation
• Proposals must be received before the deadline specified in the timeline.
• The last date to submit the proposal is 10 days from publishing the RFP

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

Download Attachment: RFP_ Evaluation _ Daddy Cool Project_25-26.doc