About the Organization

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is the world’s premier research organization dedicated to reducing poverty and hunger through rice science. Our 10-year vision is to transform global rice-based agri-food systems through research innovations, market-driven solutions, and strategic partnerships.  

We aim to use our expertise to improve nutrition, promote sustainable production, and enhance farmers’ livelihoods without compromising the environment.

Our research for development is rooted in collaboration. We form alliances with advanced research institutes; we work with governments and national agricultural research and extension systems; and we partner with the development sector and harness our ability to broker novel delivery channels through the private sector. IRRI’s work is supported by a diverse network of investors aligned to our common goals.

About the Proposal

Background and Rationale The CGIAR is a global research partnership working to transform food, land, and water systems in the face of climate change. Through its Gender Equality and Inclusion Accelerator (GEI), CGIAR advances gender-responsive and socially inclusive approaches in agri-food systems to strengthen livelihoods, food security, resilience, and women’s empowerment.

Aligned with this vision, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), through the CGIAR GEI Accelerator, has been working in West Bengal for more than three years to support climate-resilient livelihoods through participatory engagement with women farmers and community stakeholders. These efforts are being implemented through the Socio-Technical Innovation Bundles (STIBs) in Learning Labs (LLs) established in the North and South 24 Parganas districts of West Bengal, India.

While women play critical roles in agriculture, livestock management, household decisionmaking, and community resilience, their participation and influence in local governance and community decision-making processes often remain constrained by unequal gender norms, limited access to information and institutions, time burdens, mobility restrictions, and limited opportunities to engage with public systems. Strengthening women’s voice, therefore, requires more than enhancing individual confidence; it also involves strengthening awareness of rights and entitlements, understanding of local governance processes, leadership capacities, and the ability to engage effectively with institutions and decision-making spaces.

To address these challenges and drawing inspiration from the “Planning for Voice: A Skills Training Manual for Women for Exercising Voice and Agency” developed by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), IRRI initiated development of participatory learning materials to suit the context of the Learning Labs in West Bengal, designed to help women reflect on their lived realities, identify and articulate priorities, understand gendered constraints, engage with institutions and services, and participate more effectively in decisions affecting their lives and livelihoods.

IRRI now seeks to engage a consultant, consulting firm, or research organization to review and build upon these existing materials and experiences and develop a structured Women's Voice, Leadership and Institutional Engagement Training Module for rural women in West Bengal. The assignment is expected to consolidate existing concepts and learning tools, strengthen their conceptual foundations, contextualize them to the realities of the women of the two Learning Labs and develop a coherent curriculum that adopts participatory learning processes. The consultant will also pilot the module with in the two project sites, incorporate feedback from facilitators and community members, and finalize a practical and user-friendly training package for future use and adaptation.

Proposed Activities

• Review of Existing Materials Review the existing material created by IFPRI and IRRI and develop an inception report outlining the proposed methodology, workplan, curriculum development approach, and adaptation strategy.
• The review should identify strengths, gaps, opportunities for improvement, and areas requiring contextual adaptation in light of the current governance, livelihood, and climate resilience landscape in the Learning Lab locations.

Stakeholder Consultation and Contextual Inquiry Conduct consultations with women farmers, Learning Lab facilitators, implementing partners, and relevant stakeholders to understand:

• Women's aspirations, priorities, and decision-making realities;
• Existing barriers to participation and institutional engagement;
• Experiences in accessing services, schemes, and support systems;
• Emerging opportunities for strengthening women's voice and influence in livelihood, climate resilience, and community development processes;
• The relevance and applicability of existing VOICES materials.

The consultations should inform refinement of both the content and methodology.

Refinement of Curriculum Architecture and Development of Training Package

• Building on the review and consultations, refine the overall curriculum architecture for the Women's Voice, Leadership and Institutional Engagement Module and draft the training package (in English and Bengali) comprising: Facilitator manual; Session plans; Participatory exercises and Facilitation tools; Participant learning materials (preferably minimal text); Context-specific case studies and examples; Guidance for adaptation and implementation. The training package should build upon existing materials wherever appropriate and be suitable for women with diverse literacy levels.

Pilot Testing and Finalization of the Module

• Pilot testing of the adapted module with selected women groups to assess its relevance, clarity, and effectiveness, followed by incorporation of feedback from participants and facilitators for refinement and finalization of the module.

Qualifications and Experience Required

• Experience in developing training curricula, facilitation manuals, or participatory learning materials related to gender, women’s empowerment, rural livelihoods, agriculture, climate resilience, or community development.
• Demonstrated experience working on issues related to women’s leadership, voice, collective action, and participation in rural development processes.
• Experience working in rural eastern India, preferably West Bengal.
• Strong understanding of local socio-cultural contexts, gender norms, and institutional processes relevant to rural women’s participation and leadership.
• Experience designing and facilitating participatory and community-based training processes for rural women.

Skills and Competencies

• Familiarity with women’s collectives and livelihood programmes relevant to West Bengal.
• Strong communication, coordination, and report writing skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams and community stakeholders.
• High proficiency in written and spoken English; proficiency in Bangla preferred.

Eligibility

• Applications will be assessed based on the following criteria:
• Relevance of the proposed approach and methodology to the objectives of the assignment.
• Demonstrated understanding of participatory, context-sensitive, and gender-responsive training processes.
• Quality, clarity, and feasibility of the proposed workplan and implementation strategy
• Demonstrated ability to develop practical and user-friendly training materials suitable for diverse literacy contexts.
• Relevance and quality of previous work samples or similar assignments undertaken.
• Suitability of the proposed team composition, and the cost-effectiveness and justification of the financial proposal.

How to Apply

Applicants are requested to ensure that all submissions are complete and include all required documents as specified in this Terms of Reference. Incomplete applications or submissions consisting only of CVs without the required supporting documents will not be considered.

Interested applicants, including individual consultants, consulting firms, and research organizations, are invited to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) containing the following documents:

• A one-page Cover Letter describing how the applicant’s background, expertise, and prior experience align with the requirements of the assignment.
• Curriculum Vitae (CV) of the individual applicant, or an Organizational Profile in the case of consulting firms and research organizations, including details of relevant past assignments and CVs of the proposed team members involved in the assignment.
• A Technical and Financial Proposal indicating the proposed methodology, workplan, timeline, and detailed budget in INR, including all applicable taxes and associated costs.

Applications should be submitted no later than 25th June 2026 to Dr. Deepali Chadha at D.chadha@cgiar.org.

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