Request for Expression of Interest (Individual Consultant) The African Development Bank

Water Development & Sanitation Department (AHWS)

Rural Water Supply & Sanitation Initiative (RWSSI)

Communication Expert

 

1         BACKGROUND

1.1 The African Development Bank is the premier multi-lateral development finance institution fostering economic growth and social progress in Africa. The Bank’s primary goal is to reduce poverty and improve living standards by mobilizing resources in and outside Africa, and providing financial and technical assistance for development projects and programs in Africa.

 

1.2 The Water Development and Sanitation Department (AHWS) is part of the Bank’s Agriculture, Human and Social Development Complex (AHVP). AHWS is responsible for the coordination of the Bank’s water development and sanitation-related activities and to contribute to achievement of the High 5s: Light up and Power Africa; Feed Africa; Industrialize Africa; Integrate Africa; and Improve the Quality of Life for the People of Africa. Through its two Divisions: AHWS.1 for water coordination and partnerships, and AHWS.2 for water security and sanitation, and the African Water Facility (AWF), the Department supports regional hubs and country offices in the development and promotion of new knowledge, approaches and tools for green and inclusive water resources development and management, and for improved sanitation. The Department is also responsible for the origination of Non-Sovereign Operations (NSOs). In so doing, the Department leads the scaling-up of the Bank’s contribution to Africa’s efforts to attain water security and sanitation for sustainable socio-economic transformation.

1.3 AHWS hosts three key water sector initiatives managed by the Bank: (i) the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Initiative (RWSSI), (ii) the African Water Facility (AWF), and (iii) the Multi-Donor Water Partnership Program (MDWPP).

1.4 The Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Initiative (RWSSI) was launched by the Bank in 2003 as a focused regional response to the rural water supply and sanitation subsector to help African governments meet the targets of the African Water Vision and the Millennium -respective Sustainable- Development Goals. The RWSSI objective up to the year 2025 is to contribute to improved quality of life in rural Africa through universal, affordable and safe water and sanitation services as well as good hygiene practices.

1.5 At the first International Conference on Rural Water Supply and Sanitation in Africa held in Paris in April 2005, African Governments and development partners adopted RWSSI as the common framework for resource mobilization and investment for rural water and sanitation delivery in Africa. It was also agreed to establish the RWSSI Trust Fund (RWSSI-TF) to raise additional resources to be managed by the Bank for the financing of RWSSI activities.

1.6 By 31st December 2017, the Bank has approved 67 rural water supply and sanitation projects and programs in 35 countries, that in collaboration with other development partners have contributed to access to drinking water for about 135 million people and to improved sanitation for about 90 million people.

1.7 To meet the Sustainable Development Goals on Water and Sanitation, significant additional efforts and financial resources from Regional Member Countries governments and donors need to be mobilized for the rural water and sanitation sector in Africa.

1.8 Enhanced communication is expected to bring more attention and visibility to the issue of the underserved people living in rural Africa for greater and targeted resources mobilization. It will highlight the benefits of improved water supply, sanitation and hygiene practices for human, social and economic development and will further provide tools and approaches for improved generation and dissemination of knowledge products and best practices on rural water supply and sanitation, towards more effective and sustainable services delivery.

1.9 AHWS therefore wishes to hire the services of a communications expert who will support RWSSI and the hosting AHWS Department in the development and implementation of a RWSSI communication program.

 

2         OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT

2.1 The main objective of the assignment is to assist the RWSSI Secretariat and AHWS to develop and implement a highly effective communication program that will increase awareness and understanding of RWSSI and AHWS through strategic activities designed to communicate RWSSI’s and AHWS’s progress, achievements, results and impacts to its main stakeholders, partners, donors and the general public.

2.2 The assignment is intended to make RWSSI and AHWS communication effective to strengthen and expand:

  1. Dissemination of results and impacts from RWSSI and AHWS interventions;
  2. Visibility of RWSSI and AHWS within the Bank and in the international cooperation space;
  3. Coordination of water-related communication activities across the Bank’s departments and initiatives;
  4. Collaboration with Regional Member Countries, development partners, NGOs, Civil Society Organizations and the private sector; and
  5. Production and dissemination of knowledge products and best practices that will enhance the impact of RWSSI and AHWS interventions.

 

3         SCOPE OF WORK

3.1 The Consultant’s scope of work will include, but is not limited to, the following: event planning, branding, content writing, editing, proofreading, media monitoring, donor and stakeholder relations, multimedia, social media, knowledge management, web content management, coordination of communication activities as well as support to global and country level resource mobilization activities and advocacy.

3.2 Based at the Bank’s Headquarters in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, the Consultant will provide communications support to the RWSSI Secretariat and the hosting AHWS Department, developing talking points, impact stories, speeches and assisting with the preparation and/or review of presentations destined to internal and external audiences. The Consultant will also help secure media, communications trainings as needed. The Consultant will assist with media interviews and social media content.

3.3 The Consultant will be responsible for writing and editing content for the RWSSI and AHWS-related sections of the Bank’s website in collaboration with the AHVP Complex Front Office Communications Expert who serves as liaison to the AfDB Communication and External Relations Department (PCER). The Consultant will contribute to the RWSSI online community which is hosted by the DG-Group platform as well as compile a half-yearly electronic newsletter.

3.4 The Consultant will edit and coordinate the production of publications (reports, fact sheets, leaflets, brochures, country briefs, etc.) and will ensure their quality, printing and dissemination. Responsibilities will include writing, editing, content management and proof reading (French & English). Drafting forewords and acknowledgements for reports may occasionally be needed. In collaboration with PCER, the Consultant will manage the various steps of the process leading to their final publication, from design to print. This involves reviewing format and layout to ensure that the manuscripts are print ready, and arranging for printing and publications in various formats as needed.

3.5 Coordinating with the AHVP Complex Font Office Communications Expert who serves as liaison to the Bank’s Communication and External Relations Department (PCER), which is managing media relations, the Consultant will be asked to draft press releases and project briefs showcasing RWSSI and AHWS implementation progress and project results as well as monitor media coverage.

3.6 The Consultant will help design, manage and roll out thematic events such as seminars, roundtables, and participation to conferences and the Bank’s Annual Meetings. This also involves branding these events in coordination with PCER and communicating the RWSSI and AHWS involvement and their outcomes. This may also include the preparation, review and editing of concept notes, meeting documents, articles and reports etc., as needed by RWSSI and AHWS.

3.7 The consultant will help build and manage RWSSI and AHWS stakeholders relations, i.e. the African Minister’s Council on Water (AMCOW) Secretariat, water and sanitation sector institutions in Regional Member Countries (RMCs), donor representatives, non-governmental organisations in both RMCs and non-RMCs as well as civil society organisations. Important RWSSI stakeholders are represented in the RWSSI Forum, the RWSSI Coordination Committee and the Trust Fund Donor Steering Committee comprising of Burkina Faso, France, Italy, The Netherlands and Switzerland. The consultant will be responsible for managing public relations at stakeholder events from conception to implementation.

 

4         REPORTING LINE

4.1 The consultant will be reporting to the Focal Person of RWSSI and will coordinate with the Bank’s Water Development and Sanitation Department (AHWS and AWF), the Communication and External Relations Department of the Bank (PECR) and AHVP Front Office.

 

CONCRETE DELIVERABLES

  1. Update, implement and monitor a communication short to medium work plan covering a rolling 6-month period,
  2. Produce and disseminate a half-yearly newsletter;
  3. Update content as necessary to the RWSSI and future AHWS webpage hosted on the Bank’s website in English and French;
  4. Draft and disseminate AHWS and RWSSI impact stories, press releases as needed in English and French via PCER;
  5. Produce content for the Bank’s internal communications channels (intranet, infoscreens, etc.);
  6. Build partnerships with rural water supply and sanitation networks (e.g. RWSN and SuSanA) and share RWSSI stories via these networks;
  7. Design and manage RWSSI presence at relevant regional meetings (e.g. Bank’s Annual Meetings, Africa Water Week, AfricaSan, World Water Forum and Stockholm Water Week);
  8. Enterprise and draft character-driven feature stories about RWSSI and AHWS to media and partners;
  9. Produce materials such as posters, roll-ups, fliers, folders and RWSSI impact briefs;
  10. Collect, index and archive publications, articles, pictures and films on RWSSI and AHWS projects produced by Country Offices and Regional Hubs;
  11. Produce multimedia clips on RWSSI and AHWS beneficiaries, projects and events;
  12. Draft social media contributions in collaboration with AHWS staff, and PCER team;
  13. Edit and publish appropriately designed and branded reports and studies, in close coordination with the Bank’s graphic design team hosted in PCER; and
  14. Be responsible for modern and appropriate filing, archiving of photos, video and press contacts to databases managed by AHVP as well as PCER;
  15. Provide effective and timely support to the RWSSI Secretariat and AHWS on other communication activities as may be determined; and
  16. Contribute to AHVP Complex media monitoring by tracking press and social media mentions of AHWS and RWSSI and submitting links to AHVP Complex Front Office Communications Expert.

 

6         QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

6.1 The assignment will be undertaken by an individual Consultant who meets the following criteria:

  1. Bachelors’ degree plus 10 years of relevant professional experience or a Master’s degree plus 5 years of relevant professional experience. Degree in communication, journalism, international relations, political science, international development or equivalent;
  2. Strong writing skills, as evidenced by work samples provided;
  3. Good understanding of, or willingness to learn about, water and sanitation issues in Africa and the approaches of international organizations;
  4. Client and results orientation with strong analytical and communication skills (verbal and written), sense of accuracy and attention to detail;
  5. Understanding of the newsgathering and media storytelling process;
  6. Experience in updating web content, feeding social media and using Microsoft standard software as well as desktop publishing suites – familiarity with Adobe Edit Suite preferred;
  7. Fluency in social media and social media management platforms (Twitter, Periscope, Hootsuite, etc.);
  8. Experience in selecting, contracting and managing external service providers for the production of communications material;
  9. Ability to work under high pressure and in time-sensitive situations;
  10. Provision of three (3) references;
  • Ability to deal with sensitive issues in a multi-cultural environment and to build effective working relations with colleagues; and
  • Fluency in French or English, fluency in both languages being a strong advantage.

 

7         TIME FRAME AND PLACE OF WORK

7.1 The Consultant will commence the assignment in September 2018. The assignment is anticipated to last for a period of twenty-four (24) months. The assignment takes place at the Bank’s headquarters in Abidjan and requires full-time presence in the Bank’s offices and may require occasional missions/travel.

 

8    REMUNERATION

8.1 The Consultant will receive a monthly all-inclusive fee to be negotiated upon contract signature, and in compliance with the Bank’s established remuneration scale, considering requisite qualifications and experience. No additional benefits or per diems will be paid while in Abidjan. The Bank will cover full costs of any required missions and provide per-diem in accordance with rules governing consultant mission travel. The Consultant is responsible for his/her own health insurance and accommodation costs.

 

9         ELIGIBILITY

9.1 The position is open to nationals of one of the Member Countries of the African Development Bank Group. Interested applicants are encouraged to send an updated Curriculum Vita and samples of communications and/or multimedia material such as past event management campaigns, noting level of involvement and event impact; samples of past communications materials, including articles, press releases, videos, social media posts, etc.

9.2 Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for a proposal. The call for proposal will require the same elements as the expression of interest. Both expression of interest and proposal may be submitted in either English or French language.

9.3 Candidates are encouraged to register in the AfDB’s Consultant Database (DACON), if they have not yet done so. Newly registered on DACON, please communicate the processing number after your DACON registration to the e-mail addresses below, so that your registration can be followed-up and confirmed. Registration on DACON requires Internet Explorer (exclusively).

9.4 The eligibility criteria, the establishment of a short list and the selection procedure shall be in conformity with the Bank’s Rules and Procedures for the Use of Consultants, available on the Bank Website. 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.

9.5 Expressions of interest must be received by e-mail at the addresses below no later than 8th August 2018 at 3 pm UCT and should mention – RWSSI Communication Consultant – in the subject line of the email. If you do not receive a confirmation email by 8th August 5 pm UCT, your EOI might have not been received and you are invited to contact us by email for follow-up.

Attn: Jochen Rudolph, RWSSI Focal Person, AHWS
E-mail: J.RUDOLPH@AFDB.ORG and J.ELLO@AFDB.ORG

 

 

Partager