CALL FOR PROPOSALS FOR CONSULTANT TO SUPPORT COMMUNICATION AND VISIBILITY ACTIVITIES FOR THE COVID-19 RESPONSE PROGRAM

[Admin]

Country: Uganda

Organization: Aga Khan Foundation

Closing date: 18 Mar 2022

ABOUT AGA KHAN FOUNDATION

The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), is an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), established by His Highness the Aga Khan in 1967. AKF is a private, not-for-profit international development agency that seeks to provide long-term solutions to society’s problems. AKF has a special focus on investing in human potential, expanding opportunity, and improving the overall quality of life, especially for women and girls. AKF’s primary areas of focus are Education, Early Childhood Development (ECD), Health and Nutrition, Civil Society, Agriculture and Food Security and Economic Inclusion.

ABOUT THE AKDN EAST AFRICA COVID-19 RESPONSE PROJECT

The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) launched a programme across East Africa to strengthen responses to the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in three countries of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The 30-month, multi-sectoral programme will help strengthen existing health responses and increase awareness of prevention strategies and support mechanisms, while also working to minimise the mental health and socio-economic impacts of the crisis. It is anticipated that 140,000 individuals will be directly supported. In Uganda, AKF will work with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to support vulnerable groups including people living with HIV/AIDS, people with mental health challenges, children with autism, teenage mothers, survivors of gender-based violence, refuges and host communities, youth in slum areas, and persons with disabilities in Kampala and Arua. The partners will also train 3,000 youth to give them entrepreneurship and work readiness skills and support 200 innovators through a blended learning approach to develop business solutions that meet immediate, medium, and long-term needs of communities arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND TO THE ASSIGNMENT

The EC project is currently working with 16 partners in Kampala, Arua, and Terego, whose work and impact we wish to document in all appropriate formats (audio, visual, print etc) for publication across relevant channels including social media, local and mainstream media.

The EC project shall on board a consultant to refine and implement a strategic communications strategy to ensure that the activities and impact of the program are well documented with high quality communications products including articles, photos, and videos (clips and a full-length documentary), presentations, posters etc., usable across various media.

The consultant will design and deliver a social media campaign to raise awareness about AKF’s project activities among beneficiaries, increase adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures, spread messages of hope as well as messages focused on mental health for young people, and advancing the cause for all vulnerable groups e.g. victims of SGBV, persons with disability, persons living with HIV, teenage mothers among others. The project will also produce and disseminate relevant communication and visibility materials such as t-shirts, bags, banners among other products (as advised by the consultant) to target strategic partners especially local leaders, government officials and communities to increase buy-in and support of the project to enhance effectiveness. OBJECTIVE OF THE CONSULTANCY
AKF seeks to work with a strategic communications consultant (firm or team) to design and implement/deliver strategic communication and visibility activities for the EC program with the following products:

• Design of various print and digital format messages e.g. posters, presentations, brochures, project booklets, partner and beneficiary profiles, IEC materials etc.
• Creative writing and social media management, i.e. articles, posts, promotional messages, monthly reports and quarterly newsletter etc.
• Photography and videography documentation of project impact, including short clips and a documentary

SCOPE OF WORK AND EXPECTED OUTPUTS

The consultant shall be expected to:

• Develop and submit an inception report and strategy including a work plan for the communication and visibility actions, with activities, products, to be delivered and timelines (frequency etc)
• Design messages for regular (frequency to be determined by the agreed strategy) social media posts, including success stories, project impact stories, reports, profiles of partners or beneficiaries or staff, IEC materials and other necessary documents (e.g., 8 digital posters every month, 1 project report designed every month, IEC materials designed as agreed in the strategy)
• Produce high quality articles, stories, partner profiles, a quarterly newsletter, appropriate for print and digital formats (email and social media etc)
• Deliver a vibrant social media presence and engagement for the project, ensuring positive appropriate messages are shared at strategic times to highlight our work, partners and beneficiaries’ achievements. (frequency to be determined by the strategy as proposed and agreed)
• Support the EC project team to establish and maintain effective relationships with journalists, and media houses for strategic collaborations as well as maintain a media database and records with media coverage for continuous engagement, to ensure key events and activities are covered.
• Support project documentation through photography and videography for identified events and activities within the project, the company shall be required to produce a documentary of the project journey, the different activities, stories of hope and how effective the project has been in addressing the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic (with a minimum of 1 project documentary showcasing project work and impact realized, 1 video and photography for women’s day event, 1 video and photography for the 16 days of activism, short clips for online engagement)
• Develop and share monthly progress reports as activities take place
• Develop and submit an end of contract report.

EXPECTED BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE

AKF is looking for an experienced communications consultant (firm or team) with a strong understanding and knowledge in managing strategic communication activities that increase the visibility and impact of high-profile projects.

• Candidates (firms or teams of experts e.g., photographers, writers etc) should demonstrate relevant experience and skills, including:
• Experience of designing effective communication plans/strategies,
• Experience in developing documentaries for impact stories, share links to documentaries recorded,
• Experience with creative writing and social media management, (the company should share links and samples of previous work e.g., articles written, social media pages handled and any other creative writing pieces)
• Excellent communications skills and fluency in English is required
• Experience in compiling and documenting good practices on public health interventions
• Flexibility to work in Kampala and Arua,

How to apply:

All applications (zipped folder) must include the following:

• Cover letter including a brief profile of the consultant (firm or team) with particular emphasis on previous experience with similar work.
• 2 page proposed strategy/plan and 1page workplan. The strategy should set out the products, media channels, etc to be used.
• A video and portfolio of the applicant (showcasing the communication work of the company, this should also include attachments of previous work, links to publications and other relevant works)
• Financial Proposal – Please provide a budget that includes all anticipated costs/ expenses (daily rate in the currency of the designated bank account, administration, and logistics) required to undertake this assignment.
• References from similar assignments; include names of contacts of companies, summary of the content and contract sum.

Qualified applicants interested in this unique opportunity with AKF should submit the zipped folder via email to akf.uganda@akdn.org by 5pm on 18^th March 2022 with “Communications Consultant” in the subject line. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

AKF Is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is Committed to Safeguarding and Promoting the Welfare of Children and Vulnerable Adults and Expects all Staff and Partners to Share this Commitment.

The Aga Khan Foundation is an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network (www.akdn.org)

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