Terms of Reference for the Consultant for development of the Communication strategy for NGO Atina 2022-2027

Published on April 13, 2022 by NGO Atina – Citizens' Association for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and All Forms of Gender Based Violence (i.e. NGO Atina)

Project title:  Enabling and Protecting Civic Spaces (EPCS) – Illuminating New Solutions and Programmatic Innovations for Resilient Spaces (INSPIRES)

INTRODUCTION

USAID’s Enabling and Protecting Civic Space (EPCS) INSPIRES project seeks to increase knowledge and capacity to respond to growing restrictions on democratic freedoms of association, assembly, and expression around the world. With civic space shifting rapidly around the globe, faster and more potent interventions are critical for bolstering local civil societies. The INSPIRES project therefore combines cutting-edge research, strategic interventions, and a robust learning agenda to strengthen civil society’s ability to prevent and respond effectively to changing civic and political space. The part of the project, Prevention, centers on the implementation of PartnersGlobal’s Resiliency+ process with 18 local civil society organizations in five target countries. NGO Atina from Serbia is one of the NGOs, which participate in this endeavor and which within this project, and in the context of its resilience, within two specific objectives, should create a communication strategy 2022-2027 of the organization as well as a plan for further development of the staff commitment and capacity factor for the wellbeing and support for the employees.

RATIONALE

Atina was founded in 2003, as a direct response to the non-existence of adequate, long-term support programmes which respect gender perspective and are based on the invaluable experience of women’s movement activists. The work of the organization is guided by the needs of women and girls survivors of trafficking in persons, exploitation and gender-based violence, and created together with them. Through its advocacy initiatives, Atina is a constant reminder to state institutions and strongly influences them to change their opinions and practices concerning the position of women and women's rights. Also, Atina is a founder of the social enterprise Bagel Bejgl, established in 2015. This initiative is Atina’s effort to provide economic future and sustainability of its programs dealing with social inclusion of victims of human trafficking and other forms of exploitation. The Resiliency+ process presents a natural continuation of the organization’s strategic planning and has been of great assistance in clearly articulating its needs and demands. This intervention is not only welcome but also necessary in helping Atina’s team to systematically change things that are affecting them and to better formulate some of the challenges and possible solutions as well. The work is centered on the creation of a broad communication strategy and a plan, that would include internal, external and crisis communication, along with specific communication pillars. This would provide for a clear chain of command in all communications efforts and keep the focus on ensuring continuous engagement and intentional messaging both within the organization and to the outside actors/partners and community.

SCOPE OF WORK

The expert with specific backgrounds in the area of media representation and communication will be responsible for two main issues:

1. Development of a communication strategy 2022-2027 for the organization
2. Development of media plan for the organization and crises communication plan

With a support of selected expert, the organization should develop a clear plan and a chain of command for communication in times of crisis which focuses on ensuring continuous engagement with beneficiaries and intentional messaging to external partners. The plan should consist of the assessment of the current internal and external communication to serve as a baseline and provide a clear idea on the gaps and needs of the organization. This assessment would be conducted by an selected expert, in collaboration with Atina’s team, and centered around the current communication efforts, with a particular focus on the needs of the organization and adaptations that are to be made in order to ensure continuous engagement and intentional messaging both within the organization and to the outside actors/partners and community. Also, broad internal and external communication plan should me created with a specific crisis communication pillar with the support of selected expert through a collaborative process, both for Atina and its social enterprise Bagel Bejgl. The assessment of Atina’s communication system would map clearly its strengths and weaknesses and constitute a baseline for the creation of a communication plan that would help the organization reach its desired impact.

Specific responsibilities are:

It is necessary for the media expert to develop a communication strategy for the needs of the organization, by auditing all media contents of the organization, conducting strategic media planning, and developing a communication strategy and action plan. The expert will also help the organization develop a media plan.

TIMEFRAME

The assignment should take place from May 1, 2022 to July 1, 2022.

BUDGET:

NGO Atina will negotiate a number of days of engagement with the selected experts on the basis of the financial offer (gross amount) that will classify the following:

*Add columns as needed depending on the number of activities required to perform the assignment

            Subtotal                                                USD__________

            Other costs (specify)                            USD__________

            TOTAL                                                 USD__________

The total cost should cover all preparatory work regarding data collection, communication costs between the Project team, experts and organizations (email, telephone, fax, mail).

BIDDING PROCEDURE

Interested experts should develop and submit the bidding proposal in English language to respond to above-mentioned specific tasks no later than April 25, 2022. The bidding proposal should include:

1. Description and contact details of the expert applying;

2. A detailed Budget Proposal (in the required form);

3. CV of the expert involved emphasizing relevant experience;

4. Written sample of similar assignments.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Project team will make a decision on the selection of the most successful bidder, subject to the available budget, on the following four criteria:

• University degree in the relevant field;
• At least 5 years of relevant experience;
• Experience of the candidate in performing similar projects or programs;
• An example of previous work as a reference is desirable;

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF THE BID

All bids must be submitted no later than 17:00 on April 25, 2022 in electronic form, to the email marija.pantelic@atina.org.rs. A selection will be made no later than April 28, 2022, and the selected experts will be contacted on the same day.

Only selected candidates will be informed.