UNICEF Thailand is seeking a qualified institutional contractor to undertake a comprehensive mixed-methods study on the situation of children with disabilities in Thailand. Background Thailand has made notable progress in promoting the rights of children with disabilities through legal reforms, national strategies, and improved data systems. The country ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), reaffirming its commitment to a rights-based approach to disability. The Persons with Disabilities Empowerment Act of 2007 guarantees equal rights, access, and digital inclusion for persons with disabilities, including children—aligning national legislation with international standards. Significant steps have also been taken to improve access to inclusive education, beginning with the Education Provision for People with Disabilities Act (2008), which mandates inclusive schooling, and is followed by a steady rise in the number of inclusive education settings across the country. In the area of social protection, Thailand provides monthly cash allowances to individuals with certified disabilities, including children, although the benefit level remains modest and may require future adjustment to better reflect actual needs. Notably, the 2017 Thailand Disability Survey introduced a child functioning module, developed in collaboration with UNICEF, marking the first time children were explicitly included in national disability data collection. All of these achievements have taken place against a backdrop of steady economic growth, significant poverty reduction, and overall improvements in the health and well-being of the population. Thailand’s remarkable transition from low- to middle-income status within two generations is a testament to its development success. Yet, despite these economic and social gains, children with disabilities continue to experience intersecting deprivations and face structural barriers that limit their full participation in society. As Thailand charts its path toward becoming a high-income country and aspiring OECD member, it must ensure that this next phase of development is not only economically inclusive, but also socially just—leaving no child behind. This is not only a matter of economic progress, but a fundamental issue of rights and justice: all children must have equal opportunities to survive, thrive, and participate fully in society. Children with disabilities are a diverse group with a wide range of needs, capacities, and lived experiences. Yet across nearly every dimension of well-being, both globally and in Thailand, they consistently face worse outcomes than their peers without disabilities. In Thailand, persistent challenges include limited access to inclusive and quality education, delayed or unavailable early intervention services, stigma and discrimination, inadequate registration and data integration, and high out-of-pocket costs for health care, assistive devices, and caregiving. Service delivery and social protection schemes—particularly for children under five—remain fragmented and difficult to navigate, making it harder for families to receive the comprehensive support they need. Now is the right moment to trigger a system-level shift in how disability is understood, measured, and addressed—so that Thailand can enter its next phase of development with a truly inclusive approach. A flagship research study on children with disabilities can play a transformative role: not only by consolidating existing data and evidence, but also by setting a new benchmark for depth, inclusivity, and policy relevance. This study is part of a broader effort to elevate the rights and needs of children with disabilities within national planning and to build momentum for long-term, cross-sectoral change. While a single report cannot achieve this vision on its own, both the study and the participatory process behind it can elevate the visibility of one of the most underrepresented groups in child development. By generating actionable evidence, the initiative can serve as a catalyst for sustained policy and systems reform. The study is expected to provide a solid evidence base for UNICEF to augment its advocacy efforts in positioning children with disabilities as a national development priority and facilitate engaging senior decision-makers and elevating the visibility of children with disabilities across national planning, policy, and budget processes. Objectives, Purposes and Expected Results UNICEF Thailand is seeking a qualified institutional contractor to undertake a comprehensive mixed-methods study on the situation of children with disabilities in Thailand. The study will address persistent gaps, introduce new analytical dimensions, and build on existing evidence to produce actionable, policy-relevant insights. It will inform inclusive planning, programming, and budgeting, while supporting Thailand’s CRPD reporting, SDG monitoring, and the formulation of the 14th National Economic and Social Development Plan. Its added value lies in connecting fragmented data, elevating the voices of children and families, and providing practical recommendations on what Thailand can do next for advancing disability inclusion - with clarity, ambition and urgency. The study will pursue the following objectives: a) Generate a comprehensive profile of children with disabilities: The study will consolidate, harmonize and analyze existing data to build a coherent, child-centered picture of the situation. It will identify what is known, what is missing, and where key data gaps or under-served subgroups exist. • Estimate the prevalence, demographic characteristics, and geographic distribution of children with disabilities using the most recent and relevant surveys and administrative data, as well as triangulation with other sources and global estimates • Identify disparities by gender, age, ethnicity, region, poverty status, and type/severity of disability; impact of disability of other family members on children (both with and without disability) and highlight key data gaps. b) Access to and quality of essential services and infrastructure: Analyze service coverage and barriers (availability, affordability, accessibility, and quality) across key domains, including but not limited to: • Early Childhood: screening, early intervention, inclusive ECD. • Education: enrolment and attendance, participation, learning outcomes, access to assistive technology, and transitions/completion. • Employment and Skills: employment of youth and vocational/skills training. • Health: rehabilitation, assistive technologies, mental health, immunization, sexual and reproductive health, nutrition, screening by health professionals, and universal health coverage. • Child Protection: protection from violence and neglect, institutional care, online harms (including online child sexual abuse and exploitation – OCSEA), legal empowerment, access to justice, and child protection services. • Social Protection: disability grants (coverage, accessibility, adequacy), and other social protection schemes. • Family Support: integrated care, childcare services and psychosocial support services for families of children with disabilities. • Infrastructure and Mobility: transportation, assistive technologies, and accessible urban/rural infrastructure. • Communication and Information: personal assistants, sign language interpretation, communication support, and accessible information services. • Youth Engagement: youth participation and community involvement. • Leisure and Recreation: access to play, sports, arts, and cultural activities. • Consider the possibility to map access to essential services, while identifying coverage gaps (‘heatmaps’). c) Capture lived experiences and social norms: Explore stigma, discrimination, and caregiving responsibilities through qualitative methods, including focus group discussions with children with disabilities, caregivers, and frontline workers. d) Review the policy, financing, and institutional landscape: • Examine the national policy and legislative framework, intersectoral coordination, and governance mechanisms. • Examine budget allocations • Identify promising models and scalable community-based solutions that support inclusion. e) Deliver forward-looking, actionable recommendations: Propose clear, feasible and evidence-based policy and programmatic actions (age and gender sensitive) to strengthen disability-inclusive data systems, service delivery coordination and accountability with the ultimate aim to improve the lives of children with disabilities. Description of the Assignment The study will be conducted using a rigorous mixed-methods design that combines quantitative analysis, qualitative research, participatory approaches, and policy review. It will be grounded in both secondary data analysis and primary data collection, ensuring that findings are evidence-based, contextually relevant, and actionable. The research will be structured into five core methodological components: Phase 1 - Inception Phase – Establish the study framework, methodology, and data strategy Phase 2 - Secondary Data Review and Analysis – Examine and analyze existing data to understand the situation and to develop an evidence base Phase 3 - Primary Qualitative Research – Gather stakeholder perspectives (‘lived experiences’) through targeted field engagement Phase 4 - Synthesis and Reporting – Consolidate and present findings in a coherent, policy-relevant report Phase 5 - Engagement with Key Stakeholders – Ensure ownership, cross-sectoral relevance, and uptake of results Deliverables and Timeline The objectives of the study are both distinct and linked. Hence, despite the deliverables being scheduled in a linear timeline as below, the work processes are expected to be implemented both sequentially and concomitantly as per what is considered fit for the study. Regular coordination meetings will be held between the research team, UNICEF, and key partners throughout the inception and implementation phases to review progress, provide feedback, and ensure alignment. The contractor will be responsible for maintaining timely communication with UNICEF and relevant stakeholders, adhering to agreed deadlines. The study will be conducted in close collaboration with UNICEF, with technical guidance and inputs provided by both the UNICEF Thailand and relevant Regional and Global UNICEF teams and close engagement to ensure quality, ownership, and policy relevance. Location and Duration • The assignment duration is foreseen from November 2025 to December 2026, during which time all tasks and deliverables are expected to be completed and achieved. The specific timeline will be mutually agreed between the awarded contractor and UNICEF during the inception phase. • In-country travel is expected under this assignment based on the geographic focus defined in the methodology. The cost of travels needs to be included in the proposal. • The assignment will be mostly completed at the contractor’s premises. The contractor will be responsible for acquiring resources and facilities required for its completion, including any travel arrangements. Mandatory and Desirable Qualification Requirements Qualification for Institutional Contractor • The lead contractor may be registered either in Thailand or internationally. If registered outside Thailand, the lead contractor must have a legally registered local institutional partner or subcontractor in Thailand authorized to operate and fulfil the project requirements (including possessing any required licenses). For full details, please refer to the attached Annex B - Terms of Reference. This tender will be run through the UNICEF e-submissions system (UNGM). By clicking on the blue ‘Express Interest’ button in the UNGM tender notice, the full UNICEF e-submission system instructions to bidders document (including instructions on how to access the tender documents and submit an Offer) will be automatically emailed to the ‘contact persons’ included in your UNGM registration. Alternatively, the full UNICEF e-submission system instructions to bidders document is publicly available on the UNICEF supply internet pages here: https://www.unicef.org/supply/index_procurement_policies.html . In the tender management site, if you navigate to the documents tab and opt in to confirm your intention to submit a Bid – you will then see the mandatory placeholders for documents that must be attached prior to submitting your Offer (you will also see if there are any mandatory questionnaires to complete). As such, you are recommended to `opt in` well before the submission deadline so you are clear exactly what documents are required to be uploaded prior to completing your submission. Please note that in order to access the full-set of tender documents through UNICEF’s e-submissions system, vendors must: (1) be registered with UNICEF in UNGM as a company/NGO; (2) have successfully completed all mandatory information currently required by UNGM when registering. Please ensure that any files submitted as part of your bid are not corrupt or damaged in any way. Please exercise caution when using compressed files. Any corrupt or damaged files may lead to your Bid being invalidated. All vendors are strongly recommended to regularly log-in to the UNICEF e-submissions system to check for any deadline extensions, new clarifications, new correspondence or updated tender documents relating to this tender. Should you have any questions against this solicitation, please submit your queries to Tongchanok Sonsawangphol at [email protected] with CC to: [email protected] - no later than 20 October 2025 so that all queries could be clarified and circulated to all bidders before the deadline. The closing date of e-submission on UNGM is 27 October 2025 at 10.00 AM Bangkok time. We look forward to receiving your proposals within the given timeline. Best regards, UNICEF Supply team