AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK GROUP

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

FOR AN INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT

COMMUNICATION FOR DEVELOPMENT (C4D)

GOVERNANCE AND ECONOMIC REFORMS DEPARTMENT (ECGF)

1. The African Development Bank through the Governance and Economic Reforms
Department (ECGF) hereby invites Individual Consultants to indicate their interest
in the following assignment: One (1) Individual Consultant to develop and
communicate the impact of Bank’s support to economic governance reforms
and capacity building initiatives in regional member countries.

2. Brief description of the assignment: Under the direct supervision of the

Manager, ECGF.2 or his designate, the Consultant will be required to:

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2.1 Developing Communication & Visibility Action Plan
• Draft, finalize and support implementation of communications and
visibility work for the selected project across multiple countries, in line
with the overall Bank communication guidelines. The action plan should
reflect tasks and activities defined, the strategies to be employed to
engage different stakeholders, key platforms, resources required and
expected results.
• Advice division multi-country projects selection (including criteria of
selecting project case studies, ensuring communication perspective.

2.2 Deliver & oversee quality communication products & materials:

• Conceptualize, design and develop content materials for selected
governance projects with appropriate and relevant messages tailored for
key stakeholders using various formats as appropriate such as text,
graphics, imageries, infographics, video, printed promotional materials,
etc.
• Coordinate and oversee multimedia team (photographers and video
makers) for field engagements and organization of project site visits
(press tours) and talk shows on preferred television and radio stations in
close collaboration with the Bank’s corporate communication team.
• Develop a professional media package to provide background
information about the selected projects, and work closely with corporate
communication team on media engagement
• Ensure quality assurance for high-quality communication products and
dissemination plans, as per the Bank branding and publication
guidelines.
• Explore digital tools and platforms to increase visibility for the project to
all client’s partners and including podcasts etc.
• Editorial support to craft team inputs into compelling communication
products.

2.3 Sensitize the division and project team on the communication plan and tools.
• Develop easy to use tool to integrate communication into projects,
including all aspects of project cycle: planning, implementation and
monitoring.
• Design and deliver sensitization training workshop for task managers
on communicating results/ Communication for Development (C4D).
• Design and deliver needs-based, context specific and tailored
communication related training sessions for project team, RMCs etc.
-

3. ECGF invites Individual Consultants to indicate their interest in providing the

above-described services. Interested Consultants shall provide information on their
qualifications and experience demonstrating their ability to undertake this
assignment (documents, reference to similar services, experience in similar
assignments, etc.).

4. The eligibility criteria, the establishment of a shortlist and the selection procedure
shall be in conformity with the Bank’s Rules and Procedure for Acquisition of
Consulting Services funded by the Administrative or Capital Expenditure Budget.
Please note that interest expressed by a consultant does not imply any obligation
on the part of the Bank to include him/her in the shortlist.

5. The assignment will initially be over a period of 06 months spread over seven (7)
months, starting 01 December 2024 and ends on 30 June 2025.

6. Interested Individual Consultants may obtain further information at the email

address below during the Bank’s working hours: from 09 :00 to 17 :00 hours
(Abidjan time).

Expressions of interest must be received by email at the address below no later

than 26 November 2024 at 17:00 (Abidjan time) and specifically mentioning
Individual Consultant: COMMUNICATION FOR DEVELOPMENT (C4D)

For the attention of: Ms. Kelebogile MOENG, [email protected] with copy to: Mr.
Abdiwuhab Mohamed ALI, [email protected] .

7. Interested Consultants must register on the AfDB E-Consultant site at

https://econsultant.afdb.org/sap/bc/webdynpro/sap/zdac_wd_login_page?SAP-
language=EN# and advise [email protected] on the webcode that will be issued,
or share their DACON number if they are already registered. Please use Internet
Explorer to access the E-Consultant application.

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8. Selection Criteria: The evaluation criteria below will be used to select the
consultant:

Criteria Weight %
General qualifications and adequacy for the proposed
30
assignment
Similar experience in the area of expertise of the assignment as
described in the Terms of Reference (and understanding of the 50
Terms of Reference if required)
Experience with the Bank or other international donors 10
Language proficiency 5
Knowledge of the Region (environment of the assignment) if the
5
Consultant will undertake the Assignment in a Member Country
TOTAL 100

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AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT FUND

TERMS OF REFERENCE (ToR)

INDIVITUAL CONSULTANT - COMMUNICATION FOR DEVELOPMENT (C4D)

1. INTRODUCTION, RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVE

1.1.The core objective of African Development Bank (AfDB)’s Governance and Economic
Reforms Department (ECGF) is to promote effective governance and economic reforms in
Regional Member Countries (RMCs) through providing financial and technical assistance
as guided by the Strategy for Economic Governance in Africa (SEGA) 2021-2025.

1.2.Under the overall supervision of the Director, ECGF plans and implements an annual
lending and non-lending program, in consultation with regional directorates and country
offices as well as other relevant departments. In particular, the program comprises program-
based operations (PBOs), Institutional support and capacity building projects as well as
other related works, including knowledge work in priority areas including sustainable
public debt management; Domestic Resources Mobilization (DRM), public investment,
and expenditure management as well as anti-corruption and Illicit financial follows (IFFs).

1.3.ECGF participates in the Bank’s operational activities to assist Reginal Member Countries
(RMCs) in reforming and developing their economies and financial systems to enable them
successfully to implement their national development strategies and improve the living
conditions of their population. While progress has been made communicating Governance
and Economic reforms related results, it fell short of reaching wider audience and
consistently sustaining communication results. In addition, the Bank’s governance
initiatives have been subject to increasing levels of interest from a range of stakeholders,
internal (other bank departments, shareholders etc.) as well as external stockholders
including developing and developed country governments, project implementers, media,
civil society and the private sector. This attention is likely to increase as the Bank continues
the implementation of its decentralization agenda of going closer to RMCs.

1.4.The ‘Communicating Economic Governance Results’ is an initiative aimed to increase

ECGF’s operations effectiveness and visibility as well as to serve as a proactive
mechanism/tool to support the achievement of SEGA’s objectives. An effective
‘communicating Governance Results’ initiative should respond to clear objectives, set
specific targets and identify tools and activities that need to be executed. Gaining political,
public and civil society support will also be essential, and effective communication plans
and products will be vital to achieving this.

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1.5.This concept and ToR set out the rationale, approach, scope and implementation
arrangements for developing effective and efficient communication for development plan
and materials. It outlines the required elements of the strategy and the necessary
deliverables, to be prepared by a consultant or consultancy firm consultants.

2. APPROACH
2.1.Traditional Communication development process- of heavily relying on outside
consultant/firm to design and execute communication plans and materials often fell short
to create ownership and sustain efforts. The element of co-creation and ownership is,
therefore, essential to institutional efforts and build in house capacity.

2.2.The proposed ‘co-creation’ process brings external consultant/firm, department

management, task managers as well as RMCs together to co-create contextually appropriate
methodologies and tools, co-identify communication priorities, build consensus around
solutions and actions. ‘Secondary outcomes’ of co-creation are expected to be buy-in, trust,
rapport-building that would facilitate sustaining process, tools and products. There will be
two different but interrelated co-creation level/ stages:

Technical- Strategic-Level:
Level: Task Highly political &
managers, Project strategic. Negotiations
Implementation Units and agreement on
( PIUs) co-indentify Joint- communication
core communciation messages, products
results as well as and channels.
joint message and Approval of final
platforms. This is communciation
context specific materials and product.
techncial & tactical
level.

2.3.The following table shows key roles both for individual and collective performance and
delivery:
Responsible by
Roles
Selection of Thematic/Countries Director/Division managers
Designing initial “Results communication plan-3 years rolling-basis Consultant/firm
with Annual implementation plan, materials and products.
Sensitization and training of Task managers
Review and Input to communication plan, materials and products. Task Managers
Oversee and coordinate country-level dialogues and communication.
Request for division clearance of final materials and products,
developed by consultant/firm and agreed with the PIUs/governments.
Flag immediate issues to the division manager.
Guidance on corporate communication and branding. Ensure Corporate communication
compliance with corporate communication guidelines and team
communication quality at entry.
Review and approve of final communication plan, materials and Division Manager
products. Strategic communications.

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Overall Quality Assurance. Timely posting of communication Corporate communication
materials and products via the Bank’s channels. team

2.4.Establishment of “co-creation task team” for Communicating Economic Governance

Results is essential. This includes assigning a division focal point to coordinate this
initiative. Members could include Division Manager, division focal point, relevant task
managers, selected consultant/firm as well focal person from corporate communication
department. A dedicated Microsoft team channel will be established.

2.5.Communicating Economic Governance Results’ initiative will be piloted at Southern and

East Africa Regions division level (ECGF.2), Governance and Economic Reforms
Department. Lessons learned will be documented and, if its successfully, the pilot
initiative will be scaled up.

2.6.4-5 countries will be selected, keeping in mind the following considerations: East vs
Southern, Middle income vs low-income vs transition, francophone, lusophone and
anglophone as well as quick win projects (resulted big ticket item reforms). Detailed
selection criteria will be established. No one size fits all. Country specific context,
commitment and willingness will also be important.

2.7.The pilot initiative will focus selected projects within the following Thematic areas:
Domestic Revenue Mobilization (DRM), Debt Management and Accountability
(including our work with supreme integrity and audit institutions etc.).

3. SCOPE OF WORK

The Consultant, under the direct supervision of the Division Manager, Governance and
Economic Reforms Department for the Southern and East Africa Regions (ECGF.2), will
support Task Managers in the design and development of a comprehensive, results-
oriented communication activities that can promote projects and visibilities of Bank’s
Economic Governance work.

3.1.Developing Communication & Visibility Action Plan

• Draft, finalize and support implementation of communications and visibility work for the
selected project across multiple countries, in line with the overall Bank communication
guidelines. The action plan should reflect tasks and activities defined, the strategies to be
employed to engage different stakeholders, key platforms, resources required and
expected results.
• Advice division multi-country projects selection (including criteria of selecting project
case studies, ensuring communication perspective.

3.2.Deliver & oversee quality communication products & materials:

• Conceptualize, design and develop content materials for selected governance projects
with appropriate and relevant messages tailored for key stakeholders using various
formats as appropriate such as text, graphics, imageries, infographics, video, printed
promotional materials, etc.

6
• Coordinate and oversee multimedia team (photographers and video makers) for field
engagements and organization of project site visits (press tours) and talk shows on
preferred television and radio stations in close collaboration with the Bank’s corporate
communication team.
• Develop a professional media package to provide background information about the
selected projects, and work closely with corporate communication team on media
engagement
• Ensure quality assurance for high-quality communication products and dissemination
plans, as per the Bank branding and publication guidelines.
• Explore digital tools and platforms to increase visibility for the project to all client’s
partners and including podcasts etc.
• Editorial support to craft team inputs into compelling communication products.

3.3.Sensitize the division and project team on the communication plan and tools.
• Develop easy to use tool to integrate communication into projects, including all aspects of
project cycle: planning, implementation and monitoring.
• Design and deliver sensitization training workshop for task managers on communicating
results/ Communication for Development (C4D).
• Design and deliver needs-based, context specific and tailored communication related
training sessions for project team, RMCs etc.

4. ORGANIZATION OF THE ASSIGNMENT

4.1. The consultant will take charge of the deliverables as outlined in this TOR. This is home-
based assignment, with travel to project sites, where necessary. The consultant will be
required to undertake missions in conformity with the Bank’s travel policy and applicable
standard procedures. In addition to the missions, the consultant may be required to
participate in the review processes of the documents produced.

5. DURATION OF ASSIGNMENT

5.1. The total

duration of the assignment shall be an initial (6) months spread over seven (7)
months. The contract commencement date shall be 1st December 2024 and ends on 30th
June 2025.

6. REPORTING AND DELIVERABLES

6.1 The Consultant shall report to the Division Manager, ECGF.2. Documents are expected to
be produced in English. French is added advantage.
6.2 The Consultant shall deliver the following outputs:
• “Results communication plan-3 years rolling-basis with Annual action plan and costing in
line with the overall Bank communication guidelines, to be validated and approved by the
division.
• Criteria of selecting project case studies, ensuring communication perspective.
• Sensitization workshop on the communication plan to ECGF staff
• Training/ work sessions (at least 2) with Task Managers to co-create and prepare results
stories.
• Design and develop content materials for selected governance projects with appropriate
and relevant messages tailored for key stakeholders using various formats as appropriate
such as text, graphics, imageries, infographics, vide, working closely with multimedia team
(photographers and video makers).
• Editorial support to craft team inputs into compelling communication products.

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6.3 At the end of the assignment, the consultant’s output will be evaluated based on the
following criteria: (i) professional competence; (ii) analytical reasoning and
communication skills; (iii) reliability of information and data; and (iv) quality of work
produced.

7. PROFILE AND QUALIFICATIONS OF THE CONSULTANT1

- Master’s degree in communication, public relations or related social science field.
- Minimum 10 years of relevant experience in communication for development, public
relations, and advocacy for projects across multiple countries.
- Experience in developing communication strategies, plan, content creation and digital
community engagement will be essential.
- Demonstrated experience using digital and social media to stimulate conversations with
stakeholders, develop strategies to position across websites, blogs and other channels.
- Demonstrated in-depth proficiency communicating complex governance and policy
reform related communications products into clear and persuasive presentation of
content.
- Good knowledge and experience in handling of web-based management systems; and
handling video documentation.
- Knowledge of basic communication design software is mandatory.
- Knowledge and versatility in using digital media technologies for communicating
targeted public information and outreach messages (including social networks).
- Experience working in Africa region and with diverse development contexts (Advanced,
low, middle income as well as fragile/ countries in transition.
- Previous experience with a multilateral or international organization
- Fluency in English. French is an added advantage.

• 1 It is expected that the consultant will work with multimedia team (photographers and
video makers) based on budget availability.