Call for Proposals: Institutionalising Diversion, Rehabilitation and Child-Friendly Justice Systems (India)

Deadline: 10-Sep-2026

The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) is inviting organizations to support the institutionalization of diversion, rehabilitation, and child-friendly justice systems for children in conflict with the law in Chhattisgarh, India. The initiative seeks to strengthen child protection and juvenile justice systems across Bilaspur, Raipur, and Durg, with a focus on reducing unnecessary criminalisation, improving rehabilitation and reintegration services, and strengthening coordinated, child-centred responses. The indicative budget for this opportunity is 6,000,000.

About the UNICEF Initiative

UNICEF has been working with the Government of Chhattisgarh since 2020 to strengthen child protection and juvenile justice systems. The partnership focuses on embedding child-centred and rights-based approaches within existing government structures rather than creating parallel systems. Over the past five years, the initiative has achieved several important milestones. These include the introduction of a structured diversion model in Bilaspur, which has helped reduce unnecessary criminalisation of children and encouraged coordinated responses among police, child protection institutions, legal services, and communities. More than 2,287 government officials and stakeholders have been trained through the initiative, while more than 930 technical support visits have been conducted to improve implementation and coordination across intervention districts. Purpose of the Current Call The current opportunity aims to build on these achievements and institutionalise effective diversion and child-friendly justice practices across Chhattisgarh.

The programme will focus particularly on:

- Institutionalising diversion practices - Strengthening rehabilitation pathways - Improving reintegration services - Advancing child-friendly justice systems - Reducing unnecessary criminalisation of children - Strengthening coordination among justice and child protection institutions - Generating evidence for wider replication across Chhattisgarh - Supporting sustainable state ownership of child-friendly justice approaches The intervention will initially focus on Bilaspur, Raipur, and Durg districts. Programme Approach The programme is guided by the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and India’s Juvenile Justice Act.

It prioritises approaches that are:

- Child-centred - Rights-based - Restorative - Trauma-informed - Rehabilitation-focused - Coordinated across institutions - Sustainable within government systems The overall approach seeks to ensure that children in conflict with the law receive appropriate support while avoiding unnecessary involvement in formal criminal justice processes wherever appropriate. Key Programme Objectives The opportunity has several interconnected objectives designed to improve outcomes for children in conflict with the law. Reducing Unnecessary Criminalisation One of the central goals is to reduce unnecessary criminalisation of children by strengthening diversion mechanisms and promoting appropriate alternatives within the juvenile justice system. The programme will build on the structured diversion model introduced in Bilaspur and support its institutionalisation in the target districts. Strengthening Rehabilitation and Reintegration The programme seeks to ensure that children have access to quality rehabilitation and reintegration pathways.

This includes support related to:

- Psychosocial services - Education - Skill-building - Family reintegration - Rehabilitation - Positive development These services are intended to support children’s well-being and improve their prospects for sustainable reintegration into families and communities. Building Institutional Capacity Another major objective is to strengthen the capacity of justice and child protection institutions. The programme aims to help institutions provide services that are: - Coordinated - Trauma-informed - Child-friendly - Rights-based - Responsive to children’s needs Improved institutional capacity can help create more consistent and effective responses for children across the juvenile justice system. Target Districts The current programme will focus on three districts of Chhattisgarh: - Bilaspur - Raipur - Durg Bilaspur provides an important foundation for the initiative because of the structured diversion model already introduced there. The experience generated across the three intervention districts will also contribute to evidence and policy learning for potential statewide replication. Generating Evidence for Statewide Replication A key component of the programme is generating evidence that can inform broader implementation throughout Chhattisgarh. Lessons from Bilaspur, Raipur, and Durg can help identify effective approaches, implementation challenges, institutional requirements, and opportunities for long-term sustainability. The programme therefore goes beyond individual interventions by seeking to generate policy learning and evidence for statewide replication. Progress Achieved Since 2020 The UNICEF-Government of Chhattisgarh partnership has already established a foundation for the current programme.

Key achievements include:

- Partnership with the Government of Chhattisgarh since 2020 - Introduction of a structured diversion model in Bilaspur - More than 2,287 government officials and stakeholders trained - More than 930 technical support visits conducted - Improved coordination among police, child protection institutions, legal services, and communities - Progress toward reducing unnecessary criminalisation of children The current call aims to build on these foundations and move toward stronger institutionalisation and sustainability. Who Can Apply? Eligible applicants are organizations that can demonstrate relevant experience and capacity to deliver the proposed programme.

Applicants should have:

- Relevant technical expertise - Local presence - Ex