Terms of Reference (ToR)

Consultancy service to develop Media Engagement Strategy

CARE is a major international humanitarian agency delivering emergency relief and long-term international development projects. Founded in 1945, CARE is one of the largest and oldest humanitarian aid organizations focused on fighting global poverty. CARE tackles the underlying causes of poverty and social injustice in order to deliver lasting change in the lives of poor and vulnerable people. We believe that at its root, poverty is caused by unequal power relations that result in inequitable distribution of resources and opportunities between women and men, between power-holders and marginalized communities and between countries. Poverty cannot be overcome without addressing these underlying power imbalances. In FY18, CARE and partners worked in 95 countries to reach 56 million people directly through 965 projects and initiatives. CARE also reached 340 million people indirectly through its advocacy, replication of successful programs and scale up of innovations.” Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It’s an act of justice” -Nelson Mandela

Job Description

Term of Reference:

Organization/Agency: CARE International/Somali NGO Consortium

Consultancy Assignment: Consultancy service to develop Media Engagement Strategy for Somali NGO Consortium (SNC)

Assignment Location: Somalia/Somaliland

Reporting To: Somali NGO Consortium

Duration: 20 Days

Possible start date: October 2023

Background

The Somali NGO Consortium (SNC) is a voluntary coordination mechanism for NGOs working in Somalia and Somaliland. It provides a coordination platform and a common voice for the hundreds of International and National non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working in a highly insecure and complex operating environment in Somalia. Effective coordination has significantly facilitated the successful delivery of humanitarian and development aid in Somalia and Somaliland.

Established in 1999, the SNC has since grown to become a platform for networking, improve international aid coordination, raise the NGOs’ profile within the aid coordination structures. The Consortium has been supporting NGOs through its core activities of coordination, representation, information sharing and advocacy.

Advocacy and communications is one of the four strategic focus areas of the Consortium, and central to achieving sustainable impact in Somalia. The SNC has been at the center of various advocacy and communication initiatives over the years. However, with a growing membership and widening opportunities for advocacy and media engagement, more targeted actions are necessary.

Objectives of the assignment

In line with the above, SNC is keen on developing a comprehensive and effective media engagement strategy that will provide guidance to the Consortium’s to improve SNC’s and partners’ visibility, profile and positioning through enhanced communication with the media and to influence public perception of the INGOs, in areas that include but not limited to localization and the risky operational context. This entails determining the most effective ways of media engagement that include identifying target audience and use of different media vehicles to convey SNC and its partners’ message in reaching their goals.

The purpose of this assignment is to develop a contextualized media engagement strategy for the period of 2023 – 2026. The Consortium is thus seeking an expert consultant/firm to develop this strategy. The consultant is expected to work with SNC’s Communications team (supervisory team) chair/co-chair of Advocacy and Communication Working Group (ACWG) and SNC members.

Key deliverables

The consultant should submit the following key deliverables:

1. Inception report: Outlining details of activities with proposed methodology and timeline/ delivery dates. The inception report should also include the outline for the media engagement strategy.
2. Zero draft media engagement strategy document for feedback and comments.
3. Draft 1 of the media strategy document to be presented for validation to supervisory team.
4. Submission of draft 2 media engagement strategy document (having incorporated inputs made during the validation meeting) for final feedback and comment, response.
5. A final clean copy of the media strategy document (e-copy in PDF and hard copy) in English, including an implementation plan for 2023 – 2026.
6. All deliverables will be submitted to the supervisory team on date as agreed during the inception meeting. The reports will be reviewed by the supervisory team.

Methodology

The methodology will be proposed by the consultant. The consultant will prepare an inception report prior to the commencement of developing the media engagement strategy. The inception report will include the proposed methodology, a matrix and instruments that will be used for the purpose of having strategies, conducting interviews, conducting desk study, collecting data and proposed timetable for the entire process. Specifically, the consultant will be responsible for undertaking following tasks:

• Conduct a thorough desk review of existing documents in the areas of advocacy and communications, SNC strategic plan, reports, and policies.
• Analyze existing documents and identify media engagement gaps to bring about improving SNC and partners visibility, profile and positioning and to influence public perception of the INGOs, in various focus areas that include but not limited to localization and the risky operational contexts.
• Identify opportunities for media engagement and influencing relevant stakeholders.
• Conduct consultation meetings with key stakeholders and partners in Mogadishu, Garowe and Hargeisa.
• Draft a complete media engagement strategy, outlining clear objectives, target activities, right media vehicles, partner organizations, deliverables and indicators, as well as an implementation plan for 2023 and 2026.
• Demonstrate how it will contribute to the Consortium’s strategic plan and its media engagement initiatives and implementation plan with the SNC team.
• Present the media engagement strategy draft at the validation workshop and incorporate comments and feedback noted at the validation workshop.
• Finalize the draft media engagement strategy and develop a complete and comprehensive strategy outlining a clear overarching goal, clear objectives, targets, activities, key allies, deliverables, and indicators, as well as an implementation plan for 2023 – 2026.
• Provide recommendations and develop tools for the operationalization and implementation of the media engagement strategy, in alignment with the Consortium’s strategic priorities.
• Facilitate training session on the media engagement strategy for SNC staff.

Mode of Operation

The consultant will be required to conduct the above deliverables with a great level of collaboration and regular feedback (on phone and face-to-face/Zoom) with the SNC supervisory team. The consultant will work closely with the supervisory team in setting up meetings, exchanging information and providing documentation. The strategy work will be concluded with a feedback session where initial findings are presented to the supervisory team and to the Director for their final comments.

Essential Requirements/Qualifications

The consultant or the firm must have:

• Masters’ degree in media and communications or related field.
• A media, communications and public relations expert with a proven track record of developing media engagement and influencing strategies.
• A minimum of five years’ work experience in the areas of media engagement development/implementation, research and analysis.
• Proven experience in developing and implementing media engagement programs in multi-sectoral working context.
• Expert knowledge and experience with NGOs and humanitarian media and influencing engagement.
• A deep understanding of Somalia/Somaliland media environment.
• Excellent communications, reporting presentation and writing skills.

Other Requirements

• Under the agreements, consultants are NOT paid for weekends or public holidays.
• Consultants are not entitled to payment of overtime. All remuneration must be within the contract agreement.
• No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both CARE/SNC and the consultant.
• No consultant may travel without a signed contract and authorization to the duty station or to the field.
• Consultants will not have supervisory responsibilities or authority.
• All materials and other intellectual property produced while working under contract including, but not limited to, documents, presentations, white papers, photographs, and other media, will remain the property of SNC and these materials MUST be submitted to the supervisor on a regular basis.
• The successful applicant will be required to abide by the organization’s Code of Conduct to carry out their duties in a professional, transparent, participatory and culturally appropriate way.
• In the case of unsatisfactory quality of work, payments will be withheld until quality is assured.

Budget and Planning

The consultancy is expected to submit remuneration based on the submission of deliverables, providedthat the report meets the specified requirements as stated in the Term of Reference.

The proposed budget should also include all evaluation expenses and applicable taxes. The contractor will have to make provisions for covering all costs associated with the assignment. The consultancy work will take an estimated maximum of twenty (20) days excluding travelling days.

This procured procedure is organized to contract a consultant to deliver media engagement strategy to SNC.

Payment shall be made on dully completion of the project.

How to apply

The application for the consultancy should include the following:

1. A technical proposal detailing the consultant’s understanding of the task, proposed methodologies, expected activities and deliverables, proposed work plan, and the composition of the consultancy team to be engaged, if any, in PDF format.
2. A financial proposal detailing the costs that the consultant expects to complete the assignment in PDF format.
3. At least two samples of previous media engagement strategies developed.
4. Detailed and updated CV.
5. At least two professional references from previous clients with full contact details of the referees.
6. Proposal must be in English.

How to Apply

Candidates interested in the position should send their applications online to som.consultant@care.orgto be received no later than 3rd October 2023. The application should be titled “ USDA FAS Consultancy service to develop Media Engagement Strategy”

Female candidates/consultants with the required qualification is highly encouraged to apply for the consultancy service.