Apply Now: Child Rights and Adolescent Well-being Initiative in Odisha (India)

Deadline: 15-Jun-2026

UNICEF is seeking applications from qualified civil society organizations and institutions to strengthen child rights and adolescent well-being in Odisha through legislative engagement, policy dialogue, stakeholder coordination, and youth participation. The initiative aims to build awareness among Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), promote evidence-based policymaking, and create platforms where children and adolescents can directly engage with policymakers on issues affecting their lives.

The programme focuses on strengthening child-centered governance, increasing public investment for children, supporting legislative champions, and ensuring that child rights and adolescent development remain priorities in policy discussions and decision-making processes across Odisha.

Programme Overview

The UNICEF Odisha Child Rights and Adolescent Well-Being Initiative is designed to strengthen political commitment, legislative advocacy, and policy action for children and adolescents across the state. The programme seeks to enhance collaboration among elected representatives, government institutions, civil society organizations, experts, children, and young people to ensure that child-focused priorities are integrated into governance and development planning.

While Odisha has achieved notable improvements in health, nutrition, education, child protection, WASH, climate resilience, and social protection, vulnerable and marginalized children continue to face significant challenges. This initiative aims to address these gaps through stronger legislative engagement and evidence-based policymaking.

Funding Focus Areas

The programme supports activities related to:

• Communication for Development (C4D)
• Child Rights Advocacy
• Adolescent Development
• Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment
• Youth Leadership and Participation
• Public Policy Dialogue
• Legislative Engagement
• Stakeholder Coordination
• Research and Data Analysis
• Evidence-Based Policymaking
• Capacity Building and Training
• Public Investment for Children
• Child-Focused Governance
• Accountability Mechanisms
• Child Participation and Voice

Programme Objectives

The initiative aims to:

• Strengthen awareness among MLAs on child rights and adolescent development issues.
• Promote evidence-based legislative discussions and policymaking.
• Encourage increased public investment for children and adolescents.
• Support accountability and oversight mechanisms for child-focused programmes.
• Create opportunities for direct dialogue between policymakers and young people.
• Strengthen cross-party collaboration on child development priorities.
• Develop legislative champions for child rights issues.
• Improve stakeholder coordination across sectors.

Why This Programme Matters

Legislative bodies play a critical role in shaping policies, laws, budgets, and accountability systems that directly affect children and adolescents.

Strong legislative engagement can help:

• Improve child-focused public policies.
• Increase investments in child development programmes.
• Strengthen protection mechanisms for vulnerable children.
• Improve education, health, nutrition, and social protection outcomes.
• Promote gender equality and inclusion.
• Enhance accountability in governance systems.
• Ensure that children’s voices influence decision-making processes.

The programme recognizes that sustainable improvements in child well-being require long-term political commitment and informed policy action.

Role of Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs)

MLAs have significant influence over:

• Lawmaking and legislative reforms.
• State budget allocations.
• Policy formulation and implementation.
• Public accountability mechanisms.
• Oversight of government programmes.
• Public awareness and discourse.

By strengthening MLA engagement on child rights issues, the initiative seeks to create stronger political ownership of child development priorities across Odisha.

Key Programme Activities

Legislative Roundtable Discussions

The programme will organize five issue-based roundtable discussions involving MLAs from different political parties.

These roundtables will:

• Promote bipartisan dialogue.
• Encourage evidence-based decision-making.
• Discuss emerging child rights challenges.
• Explore policy solutions and best practices.
• Strengthen collaboration among legislators.

UNICEF Spotlight Day

A dedicated UNICEF Spotlight Day session will provide opportunities for children and adolescents to directly engage with elected representatives.

The session will:

• Share lived experiences of young people.
• Highlight challenges faced by children and adolescents.
• Encourage reflection among policymakers.
• Support child-centered policymaking.
• Promote meaningful youth participation.

Multi-Stakeholder Engagement Platforms

The programme will facilitate interaction among:

• Members of the Legislative Assembly.
• Children and adolescents.
• Government departments.
• Subject matter experts.
• Civil society organizations.
• Development partners.

These platforms will support collaboration and coordinated action on child rights priorities.

Support for Legislative Champions

The initiative will identify and support legislative champions who can:

• Advocate for child rights.
• Promote child-focused legislation.
• Influence policy reforms.
• Support public investment for children.
• Strengthen accountability mechanisms.

Child and Adolescent Participation

A central feature of the programme is meaningful participation by children and adolescents.

Activities will enable young people to:

• Share their experiences.
• Present recommendations to policymakers.
• Participate safely in public dialogue.
• Influence policy discussions.
• Engage in governance processes affecting their lives.

The programme follows child participation principles that emphasize safety, inclusion, respect, and meaningful engagement.

Evidence-Based Policymaking Approach

The initiative promotes the use of research, data, and evidence to inform policy decisions.

Key components include:

• Research and analysis.
• Policy brief development.
• Data-driven advocacy.
• Evidence-sharing sessions.
• Knowledge dissemination.
• Monitoring and accountability support.

This approach helps ensure that legislative decisions are informed by reliable information and real-world experiences.

Who Is Eligible?

UNICEF seeks partnerships with organizations that demonstrate expertise in:

• Legislative engagement.
• Public policy dialogue.
• Stakeholder coordination.
• Child rights advocacy.
• Facilitation and convening.
• Youth participation.
• Capacity building and training.
• Research and policy analysis.

Potential applicants may include:

• Civil society organizations.
• Non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
• Research institutions.
• Policy think tanks.
• Academic institutions.
• Organizations working in governance and child rights.

Applicants should have proven experience in managing multi-stakeholder processes and engaging with government institutions.

How the Programme Works

Step 1: Partner Selection

UNICEF will identify a qualified organization with relevant expertise and implementation capacity.

Step 2: Planning and Coordination

The selected partner will coordinate with UNICEF, government stakeholders, MLAs, experts, and youth representatives to develop engagement plans.

Step 3: Legislative Engagement Activities

Roundtables, policy dialogues, and stakeholder meetings will be organized to strengthen awareness and policy discussions.

Step 4: Youth Participation Sessions

Children and adolescents will participate in structured engagement opportunities, including UNICEF Spotlight Day.

Step 5: Knowledge Sharing and Advocacy

Evidence, research findings, and policy recommendations will be shared with legislators and decision-makers.

Step 6: Monitoring and Evaluation

Programme outcomes, participation levels, and policy impacts will be monitored and assessed to strengthen future interventions.

Tips for a Strong Application

• Demonstrate experience in legislative engagement and public policy.
• Highlight expertise in child rights and adolescent development.
• Show evidence of successful stakeholder coordination.
• Include examples of youth participation initiatives.
• Present a strong monitoring and evaluation framework.
• Demonstrate relationships with government institutions and policymakers.
• Show capacity to manage multi-stakeholder processes effectively.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Providing limited evidence of legislative engagement experience.
• Failing to demonstrate expertise in child rights issues.
• Presenting weak stakeholder engagement strategies.
• Overlooking youth participation mechanisms.
• Submitting incomplete implementation plans.
• Lacking clear monitoring and evaluation approaches.
• Failing to demonstrate institutional capacity for statewide coordination.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the main goal of this initiative?

The programme aims to strengthen child rights and adolescent well-being through legislative engagement, policy advocacy, stakeholder collaboration, and youth participation.

Who will implement the programme?

UNICEF Odisha intends to partner with a qualified civil society organization or institution experienced in legislative engagement and policy dialogue.

Why are MLAs important to the initiative?

MLAs influence laws, budgets, policies, oversight mechanisms, and public discourse that directly impact children and adolescents.

What is UNICEF Spotlight Day?

It is a dedicated platform where children and young people can directly share their experiences, concerns, and recommendations with elected representatives.

How many legislative roundtables will be conducted?

The programme plans to organize five issue-based roundtable discussions involving MLAs from different political parties.

Will children and adolescents participate directly?

Yes. Meaningful and safe participation of children and adolescents is a core component of the initiative.

What sectors are connected to the programme?

The initiative supports issues related to health, nutrition, education, child protection, WASH, social protection, climate resilience, governance, and youth development.

Conclusion

The UNICEF Odisha Child Rights and Adolescent Well-Being Initiative represents a strategic effort to strengthen child-centered governance through legislative engagement, evidence-based policymaking, and meaningful youth participation. By bringing together MLAs, government institutions, civil society organizations, experts, and young people, the programme seeks to create stronger policies, greater accountability, and improved development outcomes for children and adolescents across Odisha.

For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.