Communications Consultant to Execute a Gender Equality Campaign in Moyo and Obongi Districts of West Nile, Uganda At Aga Khan Foundation

Aga Khan Foundation

The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) is an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), a group of private, non-denominational development agencies that share a mission to improve the living conditions and opportunities of marginalized communities in target countries across Africa and Asia. AKF was established by His Highness the Aga Khan in Switzerland in 1967 and began working in East Africa in 1974. In Uganda, AKF operates a multi-sectoral portfolio that includes programming in Education, Economic Inclusion, Civil Society, Health, and Early Childhood Development predominantly in the Central and West Nile Regions. AKF is committed to ensuring that girls and boys, women and men, are equipped with the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values to help them interact effectively with the world and be contributing members of a pluralistic society.

Background

AKF, in partnership with World University Service of Canada (WUSC), has been delivering the Adolescent Girls’ Education in Crisis Initiative (AGENCI), a four-year project focused on enabling adolescent girls and young women in Moyo and Obongi to pursue diverse educational and learning pathways. Critical to achieving this is the need to reduce harmful attitudinal and socio-cultural barriers that inhibit or prohibit Adolescent Girls and Female Youth (AGFY) from accessing gender equitable, quality education (including, barriers, such as Sexual and Gender Based Violence and gender inequality). To combat these harmful cultural norms and beliefs, AGENCI implements both formal and non-formal education interventions to support girls in and out of school. Through this lens, AGENCI is seeking a communications Consultant to execute on campaign themes and messages developed by girls, to promote gender equality.

Gender Equality (GE) Design Process

AKF is working with Human Centered Design (HCD) Experts and 30 girls (15 Moyo, 15 Obongi), the process will also bring on board at least 15 adolescent boys to identify core areas of need to disseminate through a GE communications campaign. It is expected that the Consultant will leverage the key themes and messages developed by girls to execute the campaign in a tactical and innovative way.

Therefore, AKF is seeking a communications Consultant that has experience developing and executing communications campaigns in the West Nile through the lens of Adolescent Girls. It is expected for the Communications Consultant to work closely with the HCD Experts and Girls to execute a girl-led campaign.

Scope of Work

The Consultant will be expected to:

• Participate in design sessions with girls and design experts as an observer and a technical advisor, where appropriate (approximately 6 days)
• Simplify the GE strategy developed by girls and HCD experts into a Communications Campaign that is easy to understand, accessible, and inspires action by key stakeholders, including girls, boys, parents, and community members
• Integrate AKF’s Social Behavior Change (SBC) Strategy into the design and dissemination of the Campaign
• Lead the delivery of an impactful and innovative GE Communications Campaign that leverages unique and effective communication methods proven effective with girls, boys, parents, and community members
• Leverage existing M&E frameworks, tools, and structures to develop the evidence needed to determine the impact and outcome of the campaign
• Pre-test the communication messages and materials to ensure it resonates with local stakeholders
• Finalize a report clearly articulating what worked well, gaps, overall impact, and any required potential adaptations needed to increase impact, sustainability, and scale.
• If evidence demonstrates impact, co-design a strategy to scale the Campaign in Moyo and Obongi

Expected Qualifications and Experience

• Demonstrate evidence of successful prior communication campaigns, particularly related to gender equality
• Demonstrate experience/familiarity with participant-led campaigns
• Demonstrate experience leveraging new approaches to communication campaigns, beyond radio and print media
• Demonstrate clear M&E and research frameworks and tools to measure impact of the Campaign
• Deliver high-quality summary, recommendations, and handover reports
• Prior work experience in similar contexts as Moyo and Obongi with AGFY

How to apply

Interested Consultants will be required to:

• Develop a technical proposal (not more than three pages) outlining your proposed approach to executing on the designs developed by girls, how you’ll measure impact, and clear milestones and timelines
• CV (max. 2 pages per CV)
• Budget, inclusive of all costs
• Include three references from similar consultancies previously undertaken

Criteria for selection

All submissions will be assessed on the following criteria

• Solution and evidence 40%
• Delivery proposal 20%
• Technical experience 20%
• Value for Money 20%

Please email all required documents with ‘GE Communications Campaign Consultant’ in the subject line to akf.uganda@akdn.org. Submissions must be received by AKF no later than midday on 21st November 2022. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

AKF is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is Committed to Safeguarding and Promoting the Welfare of Children and Vulnerable Adults and Expects all Staff and Partners to Share this Commitment.

The Aga Khan Foundation is an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network (www.akdn.org).