Consultancy to Develop Regional Communications Strategy and Action Plan for the Food System Resilience Programme

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTERST

CONSULTING SERVICES – INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT SELECTION

BOTSWANA

Assignment Title: Consultancy to Develop Regional Communications Strategy and Action Plan for the Food System Resilience Programme.

Reference No. (as per Procurement Plan): BW-CCARDESA-2023114-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 Food Systems Resilience Project (FSRP) and intends to apply part of the proceeds to engage an individual consultant to Develop Regional Communication Strategy and Action Plan for Food System Resilience Programme for Eastern and Southern Africa.

The objectives of the consultancy involve to:

• Develop the regional FSRP communications strategy aimed at strengthening project visibility, gathering and sharing of evidence and lessons that will faciliate the delivery of the resilience agenda at national, regional, and continental levels.
• Develop a costed Action Plan for the Communications Strategy.
• Design standard publication layouts for FSRP communications materials targeting different audiences as identified in the strategy.

The consultant will be expected to, among others, to undertake the following tasks :

• Conduct a baseline assessment to inform development of the communication strategy this will include a review of documents FSRP has developed since its inception to ensure there is no duplication of materials being produced.
• Develop a communications strategy for FSRP to enhance the awareness, understanding, and knowledge of the general public, of key stakeholders in the government, private sector, civil society, etc. at the national and local levels.
• Specify appropriate communication channels, dissemination methods and media such as video, print, web/online media, traditional media, and social media, among others, to effectively communicate key messages to specific stakeholders.
• Design a standard publication layout for FSRP for use in future publications.
• Develop guide for all communications on food systems resilience issues to ensure consistent formats for publications and communication products.
• Conceptualize, design and develop Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials on food systems and resilience with appropriate and relevant messages tailored for key stakeholders using various formats as appropriate such as text, graphics, imageries, infographics, video, printed materials, etc.
• Develop a costed implementation plan for the communication strategy including the annual activities and budget.
• Review and update the FSRP webpage under the CCARDESA website to ensure it has some agreed IEC materials uploaded and visible.

The Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa now invites eligible individual consultants to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested consultants should provide information (Comprehensive CVs that show description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions) demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services.

The shortlisting criteria are:

The Consultant shall be required to have the following qualifications and experience:

• At least a Masters degree in one or more of the following disciplines: Mass Communications; Development Communication; Organisational Communications, Journalism, or other relevant fields;
• Demonstrate prior experience in developing a communication strategy, ideally in the development context.
• Have a good understanding of food systems and resilience issues in the SADC region.
• Have at least ten (10) years of progressively advanced experience in strategic communications, public advocacy, which must include developing communications and advocacy strategies at the global, regional or national level.

• Have relevant experience in working with government, regional and/or international organizations on consultancy assignments, especially in strategic communications planning.
• Have experience in producing good communication materials for use by clients.
• Have excellent proven written and spoken English and strong oral and written communication skills. Some knowledge of French is going to be an advantage.

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, detailed curriculum vitae and a brief technical proposal to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by e-mail) not later than 01st February 2024. Applications should bear the name of the assignment in the subject field.

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