Terms of Reference: Development of the Communication Strategy and Practical Plan for the MICGBV

  • Consultancy
  • Malawi

Concern Worldwide

CONSULTANCY OPPORTUNITY

 Terms of Reference: Development of the Communication Strategy and Practical Plan for the Malawi Irish Consortium on Gender-Based Violence (MICGBV)  

  1. Background

The Malawi Irish Consortium on Gender-Based Violence (MICGBV), set up in 2014 has diverse membership, representing humanitarian, development, human rights, advocacy, and gender-focused organisations. Currently, MICGBV comprises six (6) member organisations: ActionAid Malawi, Concern Worldwide, Irish Rule of Law, and Oxfam in Malawi, Self-Help Africa and Trócaire with support from the Irish Embassy in Malawi. Concern Worldwide serves as the Chair, whilst Irish Rule of Law is the Vice-Chair organisation. A formal Secretariat for the Consortium was set up in 2022 and is led by a Secretariat Coordinator.

MICGBV is committed to promoting evidence-based programming on gender equality and gender-based violence (GBV). It supports the Government of Malawi, particularly the Ministry of Gender, Community Development, and Social Welfare (MoGCDSW), as well as other key stakeholders, in addressing GBV through shared learning, joint programming, advocacy, and research.

The MICGBV Secretariat intends to develop its Communications Strategy. The strategy will be an essential guidance document that outlines key communications milestones and moments for the project. MICGBV communications materials and content will be published across various channels, including social media, newsletters, and radio, to reach a diverse audience and maximise the project’s impact. Ultimately, MICGBV envisages a Communication Strategy and action plan that will provide clear guidance and key messages to support consortium members in promoting the work of the MICGBV and furthering advocacy efforts.

  1. Rationale

The development of a Communications Strategy will provide MICGBV with a structured framework for enhancing internal and external communications. The Strategy will align with MICGBV’s advocacy strategy, branding guidelines, and five-year strategic plan to ensure a coherent and effective approach to communications. A well-developed Communications Strategy will:

  • Strengthen MICGBV’s visibility and branding across social and traditional media platforms.
  • Ensure consistency in messaging among consortium members.
  • Support advocacy efforts through the creation of targeted and impactful communications materials.
  • Ensure value for money as the communication strategy will ensure effective use of the consortiums budget
  • Establish a practical action plan with clear timelines, responsibilities, and communication tools to ensure efficient implementation.
  • Facilitate meaningful engagement with stakeholders, including the government, donors, media, and the public.

It is against this background that MICGBV seeks the services of a consultant to develop its five-year communications strategy and practical plan.

  1. Objectives of the Consultancy

The overall objective of the consultancy is to develop a five-year Communications Strategy for MICGBV that will:

  • Define key communications objectives and priorities for MICGBV.
  • Strengthen internal and external communications and mechanisms.
  • Enhance MICGBV’s engagement with key stakeholders and audiences through targeted communications approaches.
  1. Scope of Work

 The consultant will undertake the following tasks:

  • Conduct a situational analysis to assess MICGBV’s current communications practices, strengths, and gaps.
  • Align the Communications Strategy with MICGBV’s advocacy strategy, branding guidelines and strategic plan.
  • Facilitate stakeholder consultations, including with MICGBV members, government representatives, donors, and media practitioners.
  • Develop key messaging and communication guidelines for MICGBV.
  • Develop a Practical Plan: Outline a detailed implementation plan with timelines, responsible parties, and required resources.
  • Propose strategies for media engagement, digital communications, and branding enhancement.
  • Develop a crisis communication framework to guide MICGBV in handling sensitive issues.I’m not an expert, but I believe the crisis communication framework is primarily focused on protecting an organisation’s reputation.
  • Develop a communication risk assessment that protects the MICGBV and those we work with
  • Present the draft Communications Strategy to MICGBV members for validation and incorporate feedback.
  • Finalise and submit a comprehensive five-year Communications Strategy and Practical Plan
  1. Deliverables

 The consultant is expected to produce the following:

  • An inception report detailing the methodology, work plan and timeline.
  • A stakeholder consultation report.
  • A draft communications strategy and practical plan for review and feedback.
  • Final five-year Communications Strategy and Practical Plan, incorporating feedback from MICGBV members and stakeholders.
  • A PowerPoint presentation summarising key elements of the Communications Strategy.
  1. Duration and Timeline

The consultancy is expected to be completed within a period of 20 working days from the signing of the contract. A detailed timeline will be agreed upon during the inception phase.

  1. Reporting Lines

The consultant(s) will report to the MICGBV Secretariat Coordinator. Deliverables will be reviewed by a committee of consortium members specifically chosen for this assignment. The MICGBV Chair will be responsible for signing off and approving the final products.

  1. Qualifications of the Consultant

The ideal consultant(s) should have:

  • A master’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, gender studies, international development, or a related field.
  • Extensive experience in developing communications strategies for gender-focused organisations or consortiums.
  • Strong knowledge of gender, gender-based violence, advocacy and policy frameworks in Malawi and internationally.
  • Demonstrated experience in stakeholder engagement and participatory consultation methodologies.
  • Strong expertise in digital communications, media relations and branding.
  • Proven experience in developing crisis communication strategies.
  • Strong understanding of inter-organisational networking and coordination mechanisms.
  1. Technical Evaluation Criteria

The following will be the technical evaluation criteria applied for the consultancy: 

  • Team Composition and Complementarity (Relevant qualifications, experience and skillset of the Core Team): 20%
  • Experience of the firm/individual(s) in conducting similar or relatable assignments: 10%
  • Study Methodology and Approach (Clear and robust methodology including sampling, analytical and impact assessment technique): 50%
  • Professional references for previous work completed: 10%
  • Quality and precision of 3 submitted reports of recent similar work: 10%                     
  1. Application Requirements and Procedure

Interested bidders are invited to express their interest in undertaking this assignment by submitting the following requirements:

  1. A Cover Letter outlining relevant qualifications and experience of similar work.
  2. A Technical Proposal responding to the terms of reference and outlining methodology to meet the required deliverables and a draft schedule/work plan
  3. A Financial Proposal in Malawi Kwacha valid for at least 60 days outlining all costs inclusive of tax
  4. A portfolio with at least three reports of recent similar work
  5. Three professional references including email and telephone contact information
  6. Detailed and up to date CVs of the Core Team: Specify the role of each core team member in this assignment, their qualifications, skills and abilities & most recent & relevant experience.
  7. Compliance requirements:
    • A copy of Company Registration Certificate (if bidding as a company/organisation)
    • A copy of National ID/Passport for individual bidders
    • A copy of Tax Compliance Certificate for all bidders

 Interested bidders should submit the requirements outlined above to malawi.logs@concern.net with the subject of the email as MICGBV/IG820/R-002077 on or before 25th April 2025. Bids submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.  

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