TERMS OF REFERENCE (ToR): Consultancy to Revise the Early Childhood Development (ECD) Pocket Guide in Rwanda.

Background and Context

Early Childhood Development (ECD) in the earliest years of life lays the foundation for a child’s lifelong health, learning, productivity, and overall well-being. Global evidence demonstrates that investing in early childhood yields substantial social and economic returns. An estimated 250 million (43 percent) of children under five in low- and middle-income countries are at risk of not reaching their full developmental potential due to extreme poverty, malnutrition, and exposure to violence. Investments in ECD are among the most cost-effective development interventions: for every US$1 invested, the estimated return ranges between US$6 and US$17. These benefits include improved health outcomes, enhanced cognitive and educational achievement, higher future earnings and productivity, and a reduction in the intergenerational transmission of poverty and malnutrition (as referenced in the NCDA Investment Case, 2025).

In Rwanda, the Government has made significant strides in advancing ECD over the past decade, guided by the 2016 National ECD Policy and subsequent strategic frameworks. Through strengthened multisectoral coordination, expansion of ECD services, increased community engagement, and sustained investment in early learning and child protection systems, the country has positioned ECD as a national development priority.Since the adoption of the 2016 Policy, important institutional, demographic, and sectoral shifts have occurred. 

• The establishment and operationalization of NCDA as the lead coordinating institution for ECD.
• Expansion of integrated ECD service delivery models.
• Increased emphasis on quality assurance, standards harmonization, and results-based programming.
• Alignment with global frameworks such as the Nurturing Care Framework (2018).

The ECD Pocket Guide was developed to provide simplified, practical guidance to frontline workers, caregivers, ECD practitioners, policymakers, and development partners. However, it now requires revision to ensure alignment with updated national policies, institutional mandates, global evidence, and implementation realities.

2. Purpose of the Consultancy 

The purpose of this consultancy is to lead the design, drafting, validation, and finalization of a revised National Early Childhood Development (ECD) Pocket Guide that: 

1. Responds to emerging national priorities and systems reforms.
2. Aligns with the mandates of NCDA and the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion.
3. Provides a comprehensive, multi-sectoral overview of ECD facts, figures, and service delivery models in Rwanda. 
4.  Localizes integrated and inclusive ECD services and clarifies where and how services are provided.
5. Integrates digital, inclusive, and evidence-driven approaches.
6. Provides accurate, accessible, and user-friendly information for parents, caregivers, practitioners, faith-based organizations, and development partners.
7. Provides accurate, accessible, and user-friendly information for parents, caregivers, practitioners, faith-based organizations, and development partners.

3. Objectives of the Assignment

3.1 Primary Objective

To design and produce a modernized, coherent, Revised and actionable National ECD Pocket Guide aligned with Rwanda’s vision for a human-capital-driven, knowledge-based economy.

3.2 Specific Objectives

1. Conduct a situational analysis of Rwanda’s ECD landscape, including assessment of services, systems, financing, workforce, digital readiness, inclusion, and multisector coordination. 
2. Review the 2019 ECD Pocket Guide and identify gaps.
3. Lead structured stakeholder consultations.
4. Draft the revised ECD Pocket Guide incorporating updated facts and figures. Facilitate validation and integrate feedback.
5. Finalize the Pocket Guide and support endorsement by NCDA leadership.

6. Scope of Work

The consultant will undertake the following tasks:

• Review of existing national policies, strategies, assessments, and legal frameworks related to ECD, maternal and child health, nutrition, early learning, WASH, child protection, disability inclusion, positive parenting and social protection.

• Review of global and regional frameworks (Nurturing Care Framework, SDGs, CRC, CRPD, CEDAW, AU Agenda 2063, WHO & UNICEF ECD guidelines).

4.2 Situational Analysis

• Mapping of current ECD service delivery models, workforce, infrastructure, financing flows, digital systems, and coordination mechanisms.
• Identification of key achievements, challenges, gaps, and opportunities.
• Documentation of best practices and innovations (e.g., Nurturing Care Hubs, Home Based ECD, clustering model, Model ECD, Home Visitation etc)

4.3 Stakeholder Consultations

Facilitate structured consultations with:

• MIGEPROF, NCDA, MINEDUC, MINISANTE, MINALOC, MINICOFIN, RAB, RBC, WASAC, “and their affiliated institutions 
• Local government authorities (Province, District, Sector)
• Development partners and UN agencies
• Civil society and academia
• Faith-based organizations
• Private sector and ECD service providers
• Children representatives, Parents and caregivers
• Representation of frontline ECD caregivers and model ECD centers.

4.4 Drafting of the New ECD Pocket Guide

The ECD Pocket Guide should include:

1. Introduction to ECD in Rwanda
2. Status of Young Children in Rwanda (Facts & Figures)
3. Rwanda’s Vision for Young Children
4. Policy and Institutional Framework

5. Key Components of ECD (aligned to Nurturing Care Framework):

• Health
• Nutrition
• Responsive Caregiving
• Early Learning
• Safety and Security

6. Cross-Cutting Issues:

• Inclusion and Disability
• Gender and Social Protection
• Digital Transformation

7.  Parenting and Community Engagement

8. Service Delivery Models in Rwanda

9. Roles and Responsibilities of Stakeholders

10. Coordination and Accountability Framework

Maximum Length: The revised ECD Pocket Guide shall not exceed 60–80 pages (excluding annexes, references, and design elements), unless otherwise agreed upon by NCDA.

Language Requirements: The final ECD Pocket Guide shall be produced in both English and Kinyarwanda. The consultant will ensure technical accuracy and consistency across both language 

4.5 Validation and Finalization

• Present the draft to the technical working group (TWG) and senior leadership for review.
• Facilitate validation workshops at national levels.
• Incorporate feedback and produce a final version.

5. Expected Deliverables

1. Inception Report with methodology, workplan, and consultation framework.
2. Comprehensive Situational Analysis Report (including evidence synthesis).
3. Draft the ECD Pocket Guide (Version 1).
4. Revised Draft (Version 2) incorporating stakeholder inputs.
5. PowerPoint presentation of key findings for senior leadership.
6. Power point presentation summarizing the ECD pocket guide in an info graphic format 
7. Final National ECD Pocket Guide, professionally formatted
8. Printed booklet samples for Kinyarwanda and English versions of the ECD pocket guide.

6.Duration of the Assignment.

The consultancy is expected to take up to 90 days, subject to consultation scheduling and institutional timelines. A proposed timeline with specific milestones and the detailed work plan will be presented in the inception report for review and approval by NCDA and Plan International Rwanda.

9. Required Qualifications of the Consultancy company (National company)

• Team members with advanced degree (Master’s or PhD) in Early Childhood Development, Social Sciences, Development studies, Public Health, Education, or a related field.
• Company with minimum 10 years of experience in national policy/research/strategy/manual development, preferably in Early Childhood Development or related sectors. Demonstrated expertise in ECD, child development, multisector coordination, or human capital development content development
• Company proven experience working with government institutions, UN agencies, and
  development partners on related assignments.
• Strong analytical, facilitation, writing, and communication skills.
• Demonstrated experience in participatory consultation facilitation.
• Experience producing policy-oriented, user-friendly publications.
• Rwanda-based stakeholders and Kinyarwanda language capacity are an added advantage.

8. Reporting and Coordination

 The consultant Company will report to the HoD of Child Development, Promotion and Protection at NCDA and Child Protection, ECD & Safeguarding Manager at Plan International.

9. Payment Schedule

A standard deliverables-based payment schedule may be applied:

• 30% upon approval of inception report & situation analysis report. 
• 40% upon submission of draft revised ECD Pocket Guide.
• 30% upon acceptance of final Pocket Guide by NCDA

Payments shall be made upon formal approval of deliverables by NCDA.

10. Responsibility of Plana International and NCDA

• Plan International will assume responsibility for covering all expenses related to the revision process, including the recruitment and payment of the consultant.
• NCDA will provide the consultant with available information about Institution’s interventions relevant to this research, support in data collection from stakeholders and keep all survey data and transcripts.

9.Submission of proposal

Interested applicants should provide a proposal covering the following aspects:

10. Administrative documents:

Consulting firm must submit the following administrative documents:

1. Copy of Registration certificate/RDB certificate
2. VAT certificate
3. RRA and RSSB valid tax clearance

11. Technical proposal to include:

Requirements for the format of the bid; The structure of the offer must correspond to the structure of the TOR. It must be legible (font size 11 or larger) and clearly formulated. The offer is drawn up in English. With the following:

1. A Cover letter expressing interest in this assignment;
2. A Two-page Consultant’s understanding of the TOR;
3. Proposed methodology, activities and expected outcomes;
4. Ethics and child safeguarding approach, including any identified risks and associated mitigation strategies
5. A financial proposal with a detailed budget breakdown in Rwandan Francs (RWF)and all taxes inclusive.
6. A detailed activities schedule/work plan with a time frame (including a Gantt chart);
7. Copy of CVs of all the key experts who will undertake the assignment;
8. Three previous examples of similar work from well-recognized organizations/INGOs proven by the submission of 3 good completion certificates.

12. Financial proposal detailing:

1. Itemized consultant’s fees;
2. Itemized field data collection expenses;
3. Itemized administration expenses;
4. The validity period of quotation;

1. Expected payment plan and method;

HOW TO APPLY

Interested bidders should submit their offers technical and Financial Proposals referencing for Consultancy to Revise the Early Childhood Development (ECD) Pocket Guide in Rwanda)" in the subject line by the following email: Supplychain.Info@plan-international.org not later than 4:00pm of 16th March, 2026. 

N.B: Name your folder with “Consultancy to Revise the Early Childhood Development (ECD) Pocket Guide in Rwanda.” covering two sub –folders both Technical & Financial Proposals