Consultancy for Finalization of the RCol Communication Strategy

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTERST

CONSULTING SERVICES

INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT SELECTION (IC)

BOTSWANA

Assignment Title: Consultancy for fine-tuning Horticulture Regional Centre of Leadership Communication Strategy and adapting it to Cassava Regional Center of Leadership- CCARDESA.

Reference No. (as per Procurement Plan): BW-CCARDESA-251935-CS-INDV

The Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA) has received financing from the World Bank toward cost of the facilitation of the implementation of the Agricultural Productivity Programme for Southern Africa (APPSA) and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services towards the recruitment of the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Consultant to support the Implementation of the Project.

Implementation of APPSA is based on partnerships and collaborations among SADC countries. Two or more countries are encouraged to partner and collaborate, Angola and Lesotho are collaborating to implement the current arrangement of APPSA while more countries are expected to join. Angola is focusing on cassava-based farming systems and will establish a Cassava Regional Centre of Leadership, while Lesotho is focusing on horticulture-based farming systems and will establish a Horticulture Regional Centre of Leadership. In the first phase, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia established Regional Centres of Leadership in maize, rice and food-legumes based farming systems respectively which other countries in the region are expected to tap into. Angola and Lesotho are also expected to work with the commodities that were adopted by the first three APPSA countries.

The first edition of the APPSA Communication Strategy was developed in 2018 but its scope was tight to Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia. Today, Angola and Lesotho have joined APPSA, and more countries are expected to join. The Regional Communication Strategy has been reviewed internally to fit any possible country which would form part of APPSA in the future. However, given that at local level, RCoLs are implementing R&D projects, there is also a need for them to have specific Communication Strategies but attached to the principles emanated at the regional Communication Strategy.

The overall objective of the consultancy is to fine tune Horticulture RCoL Communication Strategy and adapt it for Cassava RCoL. In undertaking the assignment, the main tasks will include but not limited to the following:

• Study both APPSA and RCoLs’ critical documents

• Hold meetings with relevant stakeholders to feed the RCoL communication strategies;

• Fine tune and complete RCoLs’ communications strategies;

• Facilitate validation meetings of the RCoLs’ communication strategies;

• Draft and submit implementation plan for RCoLs’ communication strategies.

The Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA) now invites eligible individual consultants to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required expertise with required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services.

The shortlisting criteria are:

• A minimum of advanced degree in one or more of the following disciplines: Mass Communications; Development Communication; Organisational Communications, Journalism, or other relevant fields;

• At least ten (10) years of relevant experience in developing, designing, production and publishing/dissemination/airing of communication products using various media,

• At least 5 years experience / Demonstrable experience in organising, and producing major events of regional or international nature;

• Relevant experience in working with regional and/or international organisations in strategic communications planning;

• Demonstrable experience in working with virtual collaboration tools;

• Proven ability to work independently.

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraph 1.9 of the World Bank’s Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits & Grants by World Bank Borrowers (“Consultant Guidelines”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

Further information (terms of reference) can be obtained at the address below during office hours 0900 to 1630 hours.

Interested Individual Consultants should submit their expressions of interest with comprehensive CVs showing their experience and similar assignments conducted, to the address below on or before 28th October 2021.

The Procurement Officer

Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research in Southern Africa (CCARDESA)

Ground Floor, Red Brick Building

Plot 4701 Station Exit Road

Private Bag 00357

Gaborone, Botswana

E-mail: [email protected]

Tel: +267 3914997