Call for EOIs: Technical support to Early Childhood Care and Education (India)

Deadline: 05-Jun-2026

UNICEF is seeking technical support to strengthen Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) systems in Rajasthan through enhanced capacity building, improved integration between Anganwadi Centres and schools, and the development of child-centered learning environments. The initiative focuses on improving learning outcomes for young children by strengthening training systems, mentorship mechanisms, monitoring frameworks, and convergence between early childhood services and primary education.

Supported by an indicative funding envelope of 35,000, the programme aims to create scalable models for quality ECCE delivery, strengthen institutional capacity, and ensure smoother transitions from preschool to formal schooling across Rajasthan.

Programme Overview

The UNICEF-supported initiative seeks to improve the quality, consistency, and effectiveness of Early Childhood Care and Education services in Rajasthan.

The programme builds on the state’s existing progress in ECCE, including structured curricula, teaching-learning materials, and ongoing capacity-building efforts for Anganwadi Workers. The new intervention focuses on strengthening implementation quality through updated training systems, improved coordination, and stronger academic integration between Anganwadi Centres and schools.

The initiative aligns with national education priorities and ongoing ECCE reforms aimed at improving school readiness and foundational learning outcomes.

Funding Information

Key funding details include:

• Organization: UNICEF
• Location: Rajasthan, India
• Programme Focus: Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE)
• Indicative Funding Envelope: 35,000
• Implementation Approach: Technical support and systems strengthening
• Beneficiaries: Young children, Anganwadi Workers, mentor teachers, schools, and state education systems

The funding will support capacity-building activities, training materials, monitoring systems, and demonstration models.

Key Focus Areas

The programme focuses on multiple interconnected areas of early childhood development and education.

Priority themes include:

• Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE)
• Early Childhood Development (ECD)
• Learning outcomes improvement
• Capacity building
• Coordination and partnerships
• School readiness
• Anganwadi Centre strengthening
• Teacher mentoring
• Child-centered learning approaches
• Education system convergence
• Monitoring and evaluation
• Digital learning support
• Training and professional development

These areas collectively contribute to stronger early learning systems and improved educational outcomes.

Programme Objectives

The initiative aims to strengthen ECCE delivery through system-level improvements and enhanced collaboration between stakeholders.

Core objectives include:

• Strengthening ECCE systems across Rajasthan
• Improving learning outcomes for young children
• Enhancing capacity-building mechanisms
• Strengthening Anganwadi Worker competencies
• Improving integration between Anganwadi Centres and schools
• Supporting child-centered learning environments
• Standardizing training and mentoring approaches
• Strengthening monitoring and accountability systems
• Improving school readiness among young children
• Creating scalable models for ECCE implementation

Understanding ECCE

Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) refers to programmes and services that support the cognitive, social, emotional, language, and physical development of children during their early years.

Quality ECCE helps children:

• Develop foundational literacy and numeracy skills
• Improve social and emotional development
• Strengthen communication abilities
• Build confidence and curiosity
• Prepare successfully for formal schooling
• Improve long-term educational outcomes

Research consistently shows that strong early childhood education investments lead to better academic performance and lifelong development outcomes.

Building on Rajasthan’s ECCE Progress

Rajasthan has already implemented several important reforms in early childhood education.

Achievements include:

• Adoption of structured ECCE curricula
• Development of teaching-learning materials
• Continuous training of Anganwadi Workers
• Expansion of early learning services
• Strengthened early childhood education systems

The current initiative seeks to address implementation gaps and further improve programme effectiveness through evidence-based improvements.

Strengthening Capacity Building Systems

One of the programme’s primary components is improving professional development systems for frontline workers and mentors.

Activities include:

• Revising sector meeting modules
• Developing updated training content
• Creating structured learning materials
• Introducing blended learning approaches
• Producing training videos
• Designing practical handouts
• Standardizing training delivery methods

These efforts aim to improve consistency, quality, and effectiveness across implementation sites.

Integration of Anganwadi Centres and Schools

The programme recognizes that physical co-location alone is not sufficient to ensure quality educational transitions.

The initiative focuses on deeper academic integration between:

• Anganwadi Workers
• School teachers
• Mentor teachers
• School administrators
• Education officials

Improved collaboration will help create a seamless learning experience for children transitioning from preschool to primary school.

Strengthening Co-Located Anganwadi Centres

Many Anganwadi Centres now operate within school premises.

The programme seeks to maximize the benefits of this arrangement through:

• Structured learning corners
• Child-friendly classrooms
• Improved learning environments
• Shared planning processes
• Joint mentoring activities
• Coordinated teaching approaches
• Enhanced transition support

These interventions are expected to improve continuity in children’s learning journeys.

Capacity Building for Anganwadi Workers and Mentor Teachers

The initiative will develop standardized capacity-building packages designed specifically for frontline educators.

Training areas include:

• Child-centered pedagogy
• ECCE implementation practices
• Balvatika principles
• Learning assessment techniques
• Classroom facilitation skills
• School readiness strategies
• Inclusive learning approaches
• Mentorship and coaching skills

Special emphasis will be placed on supporting children around five years of age as they prepare for formal schooling.

Balvatika Alignment

Balvatika is an important preparatory stage designed to strengthen school readiness before entry into primary education.

The programme ensures alignment with Balvatika principles by focusing on:

• Foundational learning
• Play-based education
• Experiential learning
• Developmentally appropriate practices
• Holistic child development
• Smooth transition into Grade 1

This alignment helps create continuity between early childhood education and primary schooling.

Demonstration Model for Convergence

The programme will establish demonstration models across selected co-located centres.

These pilot sites will:

• Showcase best practices
• Test integrated approaches
• Demonstrate effective convergence models
• Generate implementation evidence
• Support future scaling efforts

Successful approaches can then be replicated across additional districts and implementation sites.

Monitoring and Digital Tracking Systems

Strong monitoring systems are critical for ensuring programme quality and continuous improvement.

The initiative includes:

• Monitoring frameworks
• Digital dashboards
• Field observation systems
• Performance tracking mechanisms
• Structured feedback systems
• Data-driven decision-making tools

These systems will help identify challenges, document progress, and improve implementation effectiveness.

Expected Outcomes

The programme aims to achieve measurable improvements across Rajasthan’s ECCE ecosystem.

Expected results include:

• Improved ECCE service quality
• Better learning outcomes for young children
• Enhanced school readiness
• Stronger Anganwadi Worker capacity
• Improved mentor teacher support systems
• Better integration between ECCE and primary education
• Increased consistency in programme delivery
• Stronger monitoring and accountability mechanisms
• Improved documentation of best practices
• Scalable models for statewide adoption

Why This Initiative Matters

Early childhood education forms the foundation for lifelong learning and development.

This initiative is important because it:

• Strengthens foundational learning
• Improves school readiness
• Supports equitable access to quality education
• Enhances teacher and worker capacity
• Promotes child-centered learning
• Strengthens education system convergence
• Supports long-term educational success
• Creates sustainable improvements in service delivery

Investments in early childhood education generate significant long-term benefits for children, families, and society.

Who Can Participate?

The initiative primarily targets stakeholders involved in early childhood education and foundational learning systems.

Beneficiaries include:

• Anganwadi Workers
• Mentor teachers
• School teachers
• Education administrators
• State education departments
• Early childhood development professionals
• Young children aged 3–6 years
• Communities and families

Technical partners with expertise in ECCE, capacity building, monitoring, and education systems strengthening may also play important implementation roles.

How the Programme Works

Step 1: Review Existing ECCE Systems

Assess current implementation practices, training systems, and convergence mechanisms.

Step 2: Revise Training Modules

Develop updated evidence-based training materials and sector meeting content.

Step 3: Implement Blended Learning Approaches

Introduce videos, handouts, mentoring resources, and structured learning tools.

Step 4: Strengthen School-Anganwadi Integration

Promote academic collaboration, joint planning, and child transition support.

Step 5: Establish Demonstration Centres

Pilot improved convergence models and document successful practices.

Step 6: Monitor and Improve

Utilize dashboards, field visits, and feedback systems to support continuous improvement.

Tips for Successful Implementation

• Prioritize child-centered approaches
• Strengthen mentorship systems
• Promote collaboration between teachers and Anganwadi Workers
• Use data for decision-making
• Ensure training materials are practical and user-friendly
• Focus on school readiness outcomes
• Encourage continuous learning and improvement
• Document successful practices for scaling

Common Challenges to Avoid

• Treating co-location as sufficient integration
• Inconsistent training delivery
• Limited mentoring support
• Weak monitoring systems
• Insufficient stakeholder coordination
• Lack of evidence-based planning
• Poor feedback mechanisms
• Inadequate documentation of best practices

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the primary goal of this initiative?

The programme aims to strengthen Early Childhood Care and Education systems in Rajasthan by improving training quality, enhancing school integration, and supporting better learning outcomes for young children.

What is ECCE?

ECCE stands for Early Childhood Care and Education. It focuses on supporting children’s cognitive, social, emotional, language, and physical development during their early years.

Who are the primary beneficiaries?

Young children, Anganwadi Workers, mentor teachers, schools, education administrators, and state education systems are the primary beneficiaries.

What role do Anganwadi Centres play?

Anganwadi Centres provide early childhood education, nutrition, health support, and school readiness services for young children.

Why is co-location important?

Co-location improves access to education services and creates opportunities for stronger collaboration between preschool and primary school educators.

What are demonstration centres?

Demonstration centres are pilot sites that showcase effective models of ECCE implementation and integration between Anganwadi Centres and schools.

How will progress be monitored?

The programme will use monitoring frameworks, digital dashboards, field visits, feedback systems, and performance tracking tools to assess implementation and outcomes.

Conclusion

UNICEF’s ECCE strengthening initiative in Rajasthan represents a strategic investment in early childhood development and foundational learning. By enhancing capacity-building systems, improving integration between Anganwadi Centres and schools, developing standardized training packages, and strengthening monitoring mechanisms, the programme aims to create a more effective, child-centered, and scalable ECCE system. Through these reforms, Rajasthan can further improve school readiness, learning outcomes, and educational opportunities for young children across the state.

For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.