Request for Proposal (RFP) for CISCO’s CSR Project in Livelihoods
Submission Deadline 10th November 2022
Sattva Consulting We are a mission-driven organisation focused on scalable solutions for social impact. We partner with our clients – corporations, philanthropists, foundations and social organisations – achieve their social impact goals effectively and maximise the return on social investment. We offer end-to-end support covering research, strategy consulting, implementation, programme management, impact assessment, social audit, talent solutions and more. Our focus is on solving critical socio-economic problems globally through solutions that are: -Effective -Practical -Scalable -Sustainable At the heart of our work is our ability to collaborate with companies and organisations and leverage the strengths and capabilities of all involved stakeholders to maximise the impact achieved.
To this extent, Cisco Systems India Pvt. Ltd. CSR is looking for Skill Development Programmes and would like to receive applications to review various projects that can be deployed on the ground. Sattva is sharing a request for a proposal on the same, to review programmes and identify potential alignment.
Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) enables people to make powerful connections–whether in business, education, philanthropy, or creativity. Cisco hardware, software, and service offerings are used to create the Internet solutions that make networks possible–providing easy access to information anywhere, at any time. Cisco was founded in 1984 by a small group of computer scientists from Stanford University. Since the company’s inception, Cisco engineers have been leaders in the development of Internet Protocol (IP)-based networking technologies. Today, with more than 71,000 employees worldwide, this tradition of innovation continues with industry-leading products and solutions in the company’s core development areas of routing and switching, as well as in advanced technologies such as home networking, IP telephony, optical networking, security, storage area networking, and wireless technology. In addition to its products, Cisco provides a broad range of service offerings, including technical support and advanced services. Cisco sells its products and services, both directly through its own sales force as well as through its channel partners, to large enterprises, commercial businesses, service providers, and consumers.
In response to the imminent and growing need for skill development interventions in technology and allied skills, Cisco wishes to play a key role by fostering skill development interventions in skilling and employment, entrepreneurship, digital literacy and empowerment.
Background and Context As of 2022, internet business, software, hardware, IT, are among the top recruiting industries in India. The demand for qualified and skilled professionals will be driven by the IT/ ITeS sector along with Pharmaceutical, E-Commerce and, BFSI. The hiring in these sectors is expected to increase by 20% for freshers in 2022 compared to 2021. Technology and allied skills will continue to be in demand across industries
In response to the imminent and growing need for skill development interventions in technology and allied skills, Cisco wishes to play a key role by fostering skill development intervention in –
1) Skilling & Employment
2) Entrepreneurship
3) Digital Literacy & Empowerment
About Cisco’s Cash Grants Program: Cisco Systems (India) Private Limited (“Cisco”) is a leading networking and technology company.
- Cisco’s initiatives are strategically aligned towards applying its technology and expertise to develop programs that are scalable and self-sustaining, in order to accelerate global problem solving and create measurable impact on its core focus areas: people, society and the planet.
- The key thematic focus areas are Education, Economic Empowerment and Critical Human Needs and we primarily work in collaboration with NGO partners, the government and other institutions by investing in a combination of financial grants, in-kind contributions, developing technology[1]based solutions and other activities.
- Education capital creation, creation of entrepreneurship and livelihood opportunities via programs are core impact tenets being executed through about 11 ongoing projects, with key vision to design programs for scalability and long-term impact on beneficiaries. You can read more about the program here.
Key boundary conditions/ outcomes that Cisco aims to achieve through this intervention:
- Technology driven skill development programme with employment/ income enhancement as a key outcome
- Potential for strategic partnerships with key ecosystem players and government stakeholders
- Opportunity to strengthen Cisco’s brand identity through the programme
- Leverage and scale existing programme/ initiative with a per beneficiary cost of maximum INR 5000
- Target beneficiaries should include underprivileged youth/ women/ any other high need segment of the population
- The Proposed budget should be in the range of 150,000- 200,000 USD
Note: RFP can be submitted for more than one skill development intervention amongst Skilling & Employment, Entrepreneurship and Digital Literacy & Empowermen
Evaluation methodology for the proposal: This RFP is open only to non-profit organisations with the following documentation: 12AB, 80G & CSR Form
Proposals will be scored and evaluated based on the responses provided by you to each of the sections given below. Final approval will be based on the evaluation of the proposal and organisation’s goals and objectives. We assure you that a fair evaluation and selection process will be followed and we will reach out for more project or organisation-related details if your organisation is shortlisted.
We have high regards for the work that you are doing in the development sector and recognise the efforts that you put into submitting a proposal. Therefore, in the event of a proposal not getting selected, we request you to not get discouraged as your proposal may not have met the current requirements of the client and you are encouraged to apply again in the future.
Proposal submission guideline:
Format: All the responses must be answered in the proposed structure. The proposal, and any additional documents attached, must be submitted in English as a Word document. PDFs will not be accepted.
Naming convention: Please name the document in the following manner – “__YYYYMMDD
For Example, “ABC Foundation_Proposal_20210809”; “ABC Foundation_Budget_20210809”
We advise you to proofread the proposal content thoroughly before submission to avoid any discrepancies in the data and save time for all the stakeholders involved
To Apply Please find the Request for Concept Note document with the necessary information on the program type. We request you to apply using this template and share the document on rfp.cisco@sattva.co.in.
