Selection of an individual consultant ( Communication Officer) to advocate materials for the ratification of the African Charter for Statistics and Monitor its implementation at National and Regional level

Request for Expression of Interest

(Consulting Services – Individual Consultant)

Name of Project: Eastern Africa Regional Statistics Program for Results

Grant No: P176371

Assignment Title: Consulting Service for Creation and Development of Advocacy Materials for the Ratification of the African Charter on Statistics and Monitor Its Implementation at National and Regional Levels

Reference No. TN-STATAFRIC - AUC-339245-CS-INDV

The African Union Commission (AUC) has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of Eastern Africa Regional Statistics Program for Results Project, and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

The consulting services (“the Services”) include Consulting Service for Creation and Development of Advocacy Materials for the Ratification of the African Charter on Statistics and Monitor Its Implementation at National and Regional Levels.

The Communication Consultant is expected to undertake the following activities:

• Facilitate STATAFRIC’s communication activities, s/he will work with technical team, RECs and AU Member States to document, disseminate successes and lessons learnt and develop materials and products to distribute information effectively.
• Advice AUC-STATAFRIC and senior leadership on aspects of key communication opportunities
• Work with key technical staff to identify, compile, write, and disseminate technical briefs, stories, social media posts, blogs, as needed;
• Design, develop and produce communication and advocacy instruments and materials, including briefing materials, talking points, press releases, articles, outline for videos and visibility materials;
• Track all relevant international, regional, and national conferences and support program staff to develop abstracts; manage and coordinate program conferences and other high-profile events;
• Manage and maintain media relations in all AU Member States and monitor AUC-STATAFRIC media coverage;
• Periodically update STATAFRIC’s website and social media channels
• Create compelling advocacy materials, including brochures, fact sheets, infographics, presentations, and audio-visual content, to promote the Charter's ratification and implementation
• Ensure that the advocacy materials are tailored to different target audiences, such as policymakers, statisticians, civil society organizations, and the general public
• Collaborate with relevant stakeholders, such as government agencies, regional organizations, and statistical bodies, to foster partnerships and support for the Charter's ratification and implementation
• Ongoing support for STATAFRIC’s communication needs

Under the supervision of AUC-STATAFRIC, He/she will work in close collaboration with other African organizations, RECs, National Statistical Offices, Training Centers, other African Institutions, International Organizations and any other stakeholders. During his/her assignment, he/she will participate in workshops and meetings on the activities of the consultancy work.

The African Union now invites eligible individuals (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. The shortlisting criteria for selecting the Consultant are:

The Communication Consultant must have:

• Sound and proven experience in communication, journalism, social media, content creation for digital platforms, report writing, management and dissemination.
• A bachelor’s degree in media, communication, journalism, public relations or any related field
• At least 5 years of professional experience in a communication role.
• The candidate must be able to work in multicultural setting, in good team spirit.
• He/she must also have excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
• Excellent command of one of the official AU working languages (English, French, Arabic, Spanish and Portuguese) and good working knowledge of at least another one.

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraph 3.14 – 3.17 of the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers - Procurement in Investment Project Financing, Goods, Works, Non-Consulting and Consulting Services, dated July 2016 and revised Nov. 2020. (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Individual Consultant selection method set out in the Procurement Regulations.

The detailed Terms of Reference for the Individual Consultants are attached to this Request for Expressions of Interest.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours i.e. 0900 to 1700 hours.

Expression of interest must be delivered in a written form at the address below (in person, or by e-mail by 15:00 Hours Local Time no later than 18 September 2023.

African Union Commission,

Attn: Head of Supply Chain Management Division

Building C, 3rd Floor,

P.O Box 3243, Roosevelt Street

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Tel: +251 (0) 11 551 7700 – Ext 4305

Fax: +251 (0) 11 551 0442; +251 11-551-0430

E-mails: [email protected]

TERMS OF REFERENCE

CREATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF ADVOCACY MATERIALS FOR THE RATIFICATION OF THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON STATISTICS AND MONITOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION AT NATIONAL AND REGIONAL LEVELS

• Introduction The African Union Institute for Statistics (AUIS) is seeking to hire a qualified and experienced Communication Officer as a consultant to support the "Creation and Development of Advocacy Materials for the Ratification of the African Charter on Statistics and Monitor its Implementation at National and Regional Levels." The African Charter on Statistics is a vital and legally binding instrument aimed at enhancing statistical development and harmonization across African nations. The consultant will play a crucial role in raising awareness, promoting advocacy efforts of the Charter.

• Objectives of the assignment The primary objective of this project is to facilitate the ratification of the African Charter on Statistics by African countries at both national and regional levels. The project aims to increase awareness about the Charter's importance, benefits, and potential impact on the development and harmonization of statistical practices within the African Union member states.

• Scope of Work The Communication Consultant is expected to undertake the following activities:

• Facilitate STATAFRIC’s communication activities, s/he will work with technical team, RECs and AU Member States to document, disseminate successes and lessons learnt and develop materials and products to distribute information effectively.
• Advice AUC-STATAFRIC and senior leadership on aspects of key communication opportunities
• Work with key technical staff to identify, compile, write, and disseminate technical briefs, stories, social media posts, blogs, as needed;
• Design, develop and produce communication and advocacy instruments and materials, including briefing materials, talking points, press releases, articles, outline for videos and visibility materials;
• Track all relevant international, regional, and national conferences and support program staff to develop abstracts; manage and coordinate program conferences and other high-profile events;
• Manage and maintain media relations in all AU Member States and monitor AUC-STATAFRIC media coverage;
• Periodically update STATAFRIC’s website and social media channels
• Create compelling advocacy materials, including brochures, fact sheets, infographics, presentations, and audio-visual content, to promote the Charter's ratification and implementation
• Ensure that the advocacy materials are tailored to different target audiences, such as policymakers, statisticians, civil society organizations, and the general public
• Collaborate with relevant stakeholders, such as government agencies, regional organizations, and statistical bodies, to foster partnerships and support for the Charter's ratification and implementation
• Ongoing support for STATAFRIC’s communication needs

Under the supervision of AUC-STATAFRIC, He/she will work in close collaboration with other African organizations, RECs, National Statistical Offices, Training Centers, other African Institutions, International Organizations and any other stakeholders. During his/her assignment, he/she will participate in workshops and meetings on the activities of the consultancy work.

• Tasks to be completed The Communication Consultant is required to:

• Prepare a communication and advocacy strategy to effectively disseminate advocacy materials across various channels
• Develop a set of key messages
• Prepare all the needed communication materials to be shared with the different media outlets nationally, regionally and internationally
• Prepare a set of press releases to be shared with medias and the African Statistical System (AfSS)
• Conduct communication needs and risks assessments for the project The Consultant will also carry out ad hoc tasks that may be entrusted to him/her by AUC-STATAFRIC.

• Deliverables and Schedule The Communication Officer Consultant will submit the following deliverables according to the schedule below: