Communications Media Strategy to Highlight the IPARD Model in Panama At FSC Indigenous Foundation

Indigenous Peoples Alliance for Rights and Development – IPARD

Cooperation Agreement No. 7200AA20CA00013

REQUEST FOR CONSULTING SERVICES

Communications media strategy to highlight the IPARD model in Panama

1. INFORMATION ABOUT THE IPARD PROGRAM
2. BACKGROUND

In 2019, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) established the FSC Indigenous Foundation (FSC-IF) as the operational office of the Permanent Committee of Indigenous Peoples (CPIP). The FSC-IF is a private interest foundation in accordance with Law No. 25 of June 12, 1995 of the Republic of Panama. FSC-IF’s mission is to enable an enabling environment to guarantee the rights of Indigenous Peoples and promote sustainable forest-based solutions within 300 million hectares of indigenous forests on the planet. The vision is that the global values, rights, livelihoods, ecosystem services, natural capital and communities of Indigenous Peoples are incorporated into forest governance, climate change governance and market systems.

We are Indigenous Peoples; Our strategies and our future actions are shaped by ancestral knowledge, practices, worldview, values ​​and respect for Mother Earth and our past. We, as FSC-IF, are providers of Indigenous-based solutions, and our ancestral knowledge and traditions have driven Indigenous-based solutions for centuries. We are Indigenous Peoples; We own Indigenous-led solutions to global challenges, and the FSC Indigenous Foundation is the global vehicle to design, manage, facilitate and scale Indigenous-led solutions through multi-sector partnerships. The FSC Indigenous Foundation has an indigenous perspective driven by indigenous values, vision, principles, ancestral knowledge and traditional practices connected to Mother Earth. FSC-IF is formed to respond to the key challenges and opportunities that Indigenous Peoples face to achieve their self-development, self-governance and self-sufficiency. Driven by this perspective, our way of operating differs from traditional organizational planning because our cultural and traditional way of thinking, acting and interacting does not fit into a predetermined Western tradition of thinking, organizational management or governance.

We commit to work driven by our values ​​to guide and support the values ​​of Indigenous Peoples of 1) Respect for Mother Earth Manage our lands, waters and ecosystems with great respect for nature and care, recognizing that we only borrow them from generations future and 2) Respect for ancestral knowledge Keep our promises to our ancestors to manage nature and the resources that Mother Earth provides us in a sustainable and respectful way.

Alliance of Indigenous Peoples for Rights and Development

FSC-IF is the implementing partner of the five-year Global Development Alliance (GDA) program funded by USAID and FSC: Indigenous Peoples Alliance for Rights and Development (IPARD). The IPARD Program is guided by three development objectives:

• Objective 1 : Organize and convene a training program for Indigenous Peoples’ organizations and interested parties;
• Objective 2: Foster an environment conducive to the recognition, effective participation and joint decision-making by Indigenous Peoples on matters that affect them;
• Objective 3: Promote the sustainable development of Indigenous Peoples based on sustainable economic models.

IPARD uses three interconnected approaches to help Indigenous Peoples overcome their development challenges:

1. Multi-Sector Approach (MSA): Under the strategic direction of the IPARD Steering Committee (SC), the Program convenes and leverages the expertise of multi-sector partners to ensure that the needs of indigenous communities are taken into account across a wide range of sectors.
2. Country Centered Approach (CFA): IPARD’s programmatic strategy is guided by a country-centered approach, driven by specific national contexts related to Indigenous Peoples. IPARD applies a structured process to identify, evaluate and select countries for its programs. The FSC-IF works jointly with the IPARD Steering Committee, and in accordance with the multi-sectoral approach guidelines, to select countries and identify key priorities and strategies.
3. Indigenous Project Management Approach (IPMA): Leveraging FSC-IF’s networks and relationships with Indigenous leaders and organizations around the world, IPARD seeks ongoing dialogue, consultation and feedback with Indigenous Peoples to inform the Programme. IPARD supports a forum through which the FSC-IF Indigenous Foundation serves as a bridge between Indigenous Peoples, technical partners, national governments and the private sector. IPARD invests in conservation best practices and effective approaches and methodologies to ensure strategic cohesion of partnerships at various levels.

Through these three approaches, IPARD aims to empower Indigenous Peoples’ organizations and catalyze an enabling environment in which Indigenous Peoples can pursue their development.

The work of the FSC-IF in Panama

FSC-IF is working with 4 congresses of traditional authorities (Naso Tjer Di, Tuira, Wounaan, Madugandi) of 57 Indigenous communities in Panama in the development of Organic Charters for the Indigenous territories (comarcas), agricultural assistance and technical training, restoration of the ancestral cultural practices of Indigenous women, and more. Before committing, we carried out Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) and co-creation processes with authorities and communities, and so far we have carried out 15 of these processes in Panama.

The FSC-IF has supported several public policies in favor of Indigenous Peoples in Panama that include: 1) Support for the design and approval of a law that creates a University of Indigenous Peoples in the Ngöbe Buglé Comarca, 2) Design and approval of a law that adopts measures to implement the Development Plan for Indigenous Peoples – Draft Regulation of Law 301, 3) Design of the governance of the Economic Development Plan for Indigenous Women (PEMIP 2025) that was recently approved as public policy , and 4) Draft Regulation of Law 37 on Free, Prior and Informed Consent, and 5) Organic Charter of the Naso People that may be adopted by the Government as national policy.

In these and other activities, we are working closely with the National Council for the Comprehensive Development of Indigenous Peoples (CONDIPI), government institutions such as the Ministry of the Interior and its Vice Ministry of Indigenous Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Culture, and international organizations such as the Inter-American Development Bank and the World Bank.

We are supporting the implementation of the Economic Empowerment Plan for Indigenous Women of Panama (PEMIP 2025), working with multisectoral actors. The FSC-IF is also committed to capacity development and we constantly conduct trainings and workshops.

1. CONTEXT

FSC-IF is looking for a consultant to facilitate connections with traditional and Indigenous media to showcase the IPARD model in Panama to diverse audiences.

The consultant will collaborate with the IPARD Program and Communication Manager to strengthen the IPARD team’s approach to media relations.

The proposed methodology is the following.

• Desarrollar una estrategia de medios de comunicación que incluya la identificación de eventos, reuniones y talleres en Panamá que ofrezcan oportunidades para llegar a los medios de comunicación y a diversas audiencias para destacar el modelo de IPARD en Panamá. Estas audiencias incluyen: Pueblos Indígenas, gobierno, sector privado, actores de la cooperación internacional, público panameño en general.
• La estrategia debe conducir a eventos clave, como los foros en los que el gobierno de Panamá celebrará los avances y promulgará diferentes políticas relacionadas con los Pueblos Indígenas en Panamá. IPARD ha estado apoyando estas políticas.
• Incluir en la estrategia los canales de los medios de comunicación tradicionales e Indígenas, incluyendo entrevistas en los medios de comunicación a los principales directores y jefes de programa de IPARD, así como a los OPI que trabajan con el programa.
• Aplicar la estrategia en coordinación con el Responsable de Programa y Comunicación de la IPARD y el Objetivo 2 de la IPARD, teniendo en cuenta el tiempo necesario para las aprobaciones de los financiadores.

El consultor puede proponer ajustar o ampliar esta propuesta en la sección técnica.

1. OBJETIVOS DE LOS SERVICIOS DE CONSULTORÍA
2. Objetivo general

Desarrollar e implementar una estrategia de medios de comunicación para dar a conocer el modelo de IPARD en Panamá a las distintas audiencias mencionadas anteriormente.

Objetivos específicos:

1. Aumentar la visibilidad de la Fundación Indígena FSC y del Programa IPARD en los medios de comunicación nacionales de Panamá.
2. Aumentar la visibilidad de la Fundación Indígena FSC y del Programa IPARD en los medios de comunicación Indígenas de Panamá.

Resultados esperados:

1. Estrategia mediática
2. Al menos 3 publicaciones (artículo/radio/TV) en medios de comunicación nacionales
3. Al menos 2 publicaciones (artículo/radio/TV) en medios de comunicación Indígenas

Perfil del oferente

• Periodista y profesional de la comunicación con experiencia escribiendo sobre temas relacionados con los Pueblos Indígenas en Panamá.
• Amplia y sólida red de contactos con los medios de comunicación nacionales e Indígenas.
• Experiencia en la prestación de servicios internacionales de consultoría de alto nivel.
• Buena comunicación interpersonal y capacidad de coordinación.
• Se requiere dominio del español y se prefiere el inglés hablado y escrito.
• Conciencia cultural demostrada y sensibilidad ante la diversidad de valores, puntos de vista y enfoques de las cuestiones relevantes para los pueblos Indígenas.
• Se valorará que los candidatos estén profundamente familiarizados con la cultura y las comunidades de los Pueblos Indígenas o que sean miembros nativos de un Pueblo Indígena.
  1. INSTRUCCIONES A LOS OFERTANTES

Coordinación

El consultor coordinará el trabajo previsto con el Oficial de Programa y Comunicaciones, que servirá de enlace con el Director Gerente de la FSC-IF y el Director del Programa IPARD y todas las demás partes interesadas implicadas en esta consultoría.

Payment terms for products:

Products must be authorized by the FSC-IF Program Administrator to proceed with payment. All products must be delivered in digital format.

Mission duration

Between March 2024 and June 2024.

1. Proposal submission deadline

• The submission deadline is XXX (5:00 pm Panama time)
• See Annex 1 for the format of the technical proposal and the cost proposal.

a) Shipping address

Both the Technical Proposal and the Cost Proposal must be sent by email to: procurement.fscif@fsc.org with the subject – ” MEDIA STRATEGY TO HIGHLIGHT THE IPARD MODEL IN PANAMA”.

b) Proposal requirements

All proposals must comply with the requirements established in Annex 1 – TECHNICAL AND COST PROPOSAL PRESENTATION FORMAT.

c) Validity of the offer

Offers must be valid until three months after the date of submission.

d.) Evaluation and selection criteria

Please take into account the evaluation criteria of this call:

Weight Criteria

1. Cost 40%
2. Technical focus 30%
3. Previous results 30%

Appendix 1

• PRESENTATION FORMAT OF THE TECHNICAL AND COST PROPOSAL
• TECHNICAL PROPOSAL

Interested consultants must submit the proposal in Spanish, including the information listed below and not exceeding 25 pages. The technical proposal format must consist of the following sections:

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
2. BACKGROUND OF THE OFFEROR
3. GOALS
4. PROPOSED METHODOLOGY
5. WORK PLAN – ACTIVITIES/TASKS
6. PROGRAM SCHEDULE

• Insert the Gantt chart with the activities/tasks
• Insert delivery schedule

1. PREVIOUS RESULTS

• Please include a list of completed assignments similar to this consulting activity and references of clients served.
• EXPENDITURE PROPOSAL

The cost proposal format must consist of the following sections:

1. Cost breakdown

• Provide a detailed breakdown and explanation of all expenses for executing the activity. Taxes must be included.