Job Description/Requirements
Ref No: HIHEA/02-2025/PROG
Project Title: Building Inclusive and Resilient Enterprises (BIRE) Project.
Location of project: Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale, Tana River, Kisumu, Homa Bay, Nairobi, Nakuru, Machakos, Makueni, Nyandarua, Trans Nzoia, West Pokot, Bungoma, and Kakamega Counties.
Evaluation type: External FIRM CONSULTANT
Submission closes on: 10th March 2025
Duration of Assignment: 2 months
Organization Background
Hand in Hand Eastern Africa (HiH EA) is registered in Kenya as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) with a mandate to operate within the Eastern Africa region. It is a member of the Hand in Hand Global Network which comprises affiliated organizations that mutually pursue the shared goal of poverty alleviation while supporting poorer communities to create sustainable enterprises and jobs. The organization strives to work with marginalized communities in the areas of economic and social empowerment using a participatory approach aimed at helping people fight poverty and vulnerability. The Hand in Hand (HiH) enterprise and job creation approach is based on a philosophy of self-help, providing training, skills, and support to enable poor people, particularly women and youth, to create and develop enterprises. This provides for a higher level of income for them and their families, which in turn contributes to improved housing and overall improved livelihoods. HiH EA has so far mobilized, trained and is training over 350,000 members (80% women, 40% youth) who have created over 300,000 enterprises and over 450,000 jobs. To facilitate enterprise creation, HIH uses a 4-step enterprise model that entails seven training modules that starts with set-up or mobilizing self-help groups that act as savings groups, delivering enterprise skills through training, enhancing financial management as well as financial access and providing linkage to broader markets. While entrepreneurship is the strategic focus of HIH, the work is complemented by efforts in thematic areas that increase resilience to climate change, promote advocacy and human rights, and enhance gender mainstreaming, regenerative agriculture and circular economy.
About the Project
The Building Inclusive and Resilient Enterprise (BIRE) project, is a four-year project funded by the Embassy of Sweden, and Hand in Hand Sweden (HiHSwe). The overall objective of the project is: to contribute to the wellbeing of the project direct project participants through reduction of poverty and exclusion among the populations, while the Project Purpose is: to develop viable enterprises that will contribute to move direct project participants in rural, urban and peri-urban areas of 15 counties in Kenya from poverty to middle income status as envisaged in Kenya Vision 2030. This will be achieved by:
a) Enhancing the knowledge sharing and skills development of direct project participants and actors in all aspects of enterprise development and growth;
b) Improving appropriate market chains;
c) Enhancing the resilience of the enterprise to possible shocks;
d) Enhancing the organizational capacity for the implementation and monitoring and evaluation.
The project has two major components: Waste Management implemented in Mombasa, Kilifi, Tana River, Kwale, Nairobi, Homabay and Kisumu Counties, and Agriculture and Services implemented in Machakos, Makueni, Nakuru, Nyandarua, West Pokot, Trans Nzoia, Bungoma and Kakamega Counties. A total of 29,740 direct project participants are targeted to benefit from the project activities composed of 80% women, 20% men and 40% among them youth. It is also planned that a total of, 20,818 viable enterprises will be developed sustainably so as to improve beneficiary average incomes by more than 100% and create 31,227 jobs. To achieve desired outcome objectives, a combination of strategies including a communication strategy will be used during implementation.
OBJECTIVE AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT
The main objective of the assignment is to develop a comprehensive communication strategy for the BIRE Project to enable the Hand in Hand Eastern Africa to effectively engage with its various stakeholders. The communications strategy will provide a comprehensive communication framework for the entire project within the agreed-upon period of time. The strategy will serve the following purposes:
Strategic Communication Planning and Crisis anticipation: Develop a comprehensive communication strategy for the entire project aligned with project objectives, target audiences, and stakeholders’ needs. This includes identifying key messages, communication channels, and tactics to effectively disseminate project information and engage with stakeholders in all the project areas while anticipating and mitigating communication crisis areas. This will also include developing a monitoring and Evaluation framework for the communication strategy as well as the action bearers required to implement the strategy developed.
Stakeholder Engagement and Outreach: Implement proactive stakeholder engagement initiatives to foster dialogue, build trust, and manage expectations among both Internal and external stakeholders—Internal stakeholders include the direct project beneficiaries, implementing staff, and management while the External stakeholders include the national government, County governments, HiH Network partners, donors and other partner organizations
This will involve organizing consultation meetings, workshops, focus group discussions, and community events to solicit feedback, address grievances, and promote participation. Collaborate with the Hand In Hand EA and The BIRE Project donors (HiH Sweden and the Embassy of Sweden) on communication drives to maintain a point of contact for project’s Internal and external stakeholders.
Knowledge Management and Reporting: Manage the collection, analysis, and dissemination of project-related information, data, and knowledge products to internal and external stakeholders within the applicable policies and regulations.
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES OF THE COMMUNICATION STRATEGY
The main objective of this communication strategy is to provide a Deliberate and sustained communication for enhanced visibility and acceptability of the BIRE Project
i. To increase the level of awareness of the BIRE project and HiH among stakeholders
ii. To promote positive perception and behavior change among stakeholders of the BIRE project
iii. To strengthen mechanisms for crisis communication during the project implementation period
iv. To ensure provision of timely, high quality and effective communication with
Stakeholders during the project implementation period as per the set guidelines and rules.
KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITY
The key task of the communication consultant is to develop a comprehensive, practical and context specific communication strategy for the BIRE project
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
The lead consultant should have the following desired qualifications and experience:
QUALIFICATIONS/COMPETENCE OF THE CONSULTANT
HiH EA requests consultant firms to submit proposals to respond to this Terms of Reference as outlined above. We expect the firm to demonstrate the skills and experience outlined below (or equivalent):
i. The lead consultant must have a minimum of a Master’s Degree in Communication, Mass Media, development studies, Public Relations, or a related field from a recognized institution; additional higher education qualification will be an added advantage
ii. A minimum of ten (10) years of professional experience in communication work in the corporate development and/or Public Benefit Organization (PBO) and demonstrate prove of previous similar work.
iii. Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing successful public communication strategies and campaigns;
iv. Demonstrated experience in the preparation and implementation of public communications plans for development projects;
v. Outstanding communication skills both in written and spoken medium with a strong command of English and Kiswahili languages;
vi. Strong interpersonal and team skills;
vii. High level of reliability and integrity; and
viii. Membership to a relevant professional body will be an added advantage.
DELIVERABLES
The Communication Specialist will be tasked with the following deliverables throughout their assignment, ensuring they meet the expectations of the Project Management and adhere to the established guidelines:
1. An Inception Report; within 2 weeks of the signing of contract
2. Notes in an accessible format (.xlsx or .docx);
3. A power point presentation of the report to HiH EA.
4. Power-point presentation of the Strategy
5. Communications Strategy: Develop a communications strategy that outlines clear objectives, identifies target audiences, identifies Communication activities with their respective budget estimates, outlines monitoring and evaluation framework and specifies tactical approaches to effectively promote the BIRE Project.
DURATION OF ASSIGNMENT
The Communication Specialist will be contracted for an initial period of 2 months.
The proposal should include the following (Max 10 pages TOTAL, not including cover page, table of contents, or annexed CVs. ALL other pages count towards this limit – proposals in excess of page limits MAY NOT BE ACCEPTED):
The proposal content to include;
1. Motivational letter (Max 1 page)
2. Understanding of the Terms of Reference (max. 2 pages)
3. A proposed process and time frame for the Evaluation setting out the phases, the number of consultants, their roles and the number of days. Max. 2 pages.
4. The anticipated challenges and dependencies likely to affect the implementation of the Evaluation and how these should be addressed. Max. 1 page.
5. A summary of the most relevant skills and experience of the proposed lead consultant and the consultant(s) together with her/his CV showing relevant previous assignments and clients. (Annex CVs separately). Max 2 pages per CV.
6. A detailed fee quote and rationale for the consultants and an estimate for the operational costs. Max. 1 page.
Financial Proposal
The financial proposal be quoted in KES.
1. Be clearly broken down and justified including estimated days of working, costs per day, and reimbursable expenses.
2. Be comprehensive and inclusive of all applicable taxes.
3. Indicate terms and conditions of payment
Award criteria
Award will be based on best value for money, which is evaluated in the light of the price and criteria related to quality and services (the methodology and the CVs of the consultants). The award will be given to the sound proposal reflecting both technical and financial requirements. The evaluation of the quotations will be based on the best value for money, weighing up technical quality (the methodology and the CV of the consultant) and price of the quotation.
Assessment of the proposal
The assessment of the proposal paper will be based on the following criteria:
– Responding to the requests outlined in the Terms of Reference
– Demonstrable experience
Assessment of CV’s
The assessment of the technical and financial proposals will be reviewed of their appropriateness and relevance and of the proposed consultants based on their skills and experiences as stated in their C.Vs as well as additional criteria outlined above.
Assessment of the Prices
The firm will have to make provisions for covering all costs associated with the assignment including relevant taxes. Remuneration is based on submission of agreed deliverables.
Management of consultant(s)
The appointed consultant will be managed by Hand in Hand Eastern Africa as a consultant for the given period. The consultant will make themselves available for weekly coordination meetings with HiH EA throughout the duration of the contract, until the final report is delivered and signed off.
Anti-Corruption and Safeguarding
Hand in Hand Eastern Africa strives to fight corrupt practices within its operations and the same is expected of its vendors, contractors and service providers. HiH EA staff are therefore prohibited from accepting any gift/s, consideration or benefit/s of any kind which may constitute illegal or corrupt practices, either directly or indirectly, as an inducement or reward for the award of a contract.
HiH EA and all its employees undertake to create a safe environment for our members and to prevent any form of exploitation or abuse. We are committed to acting in the best interest of our member’s and any willing vendor, contractor or service provider is required to commit and comply with our position on safeguarding.
How to apply
Submission of Proposal Requirement
Electronic submission of EOIs will be made to procurement@handinhandea.org by 10th March 2025 citing the reference number as the subject of the email. EOIs must arrive before the final submission date. EOIs that arrive late will not be accepted.