Zimbabwe Network of Early Childhood Development Actors (ZINECDA)

Deadline: 8 May 2021

Introduction

Zimbabwe Network of Early Childhood Development Actors (ZINECDA) in partnership with Lesotho National ECD Coalition of Lesotho (NECDOL), and the Malawi ECD Coalition are implementing a transnational advocacy capacity building project which seeks to develop stronger and vibrant Early Child Development and Education (ECDE) in southern Africa. The strengthened CSOs will engage in transnational advocacy to make governments in Southern Africa more transparent and accountable to their citizens on ECDE issues. Transparent and accountable governments ultimately improve the development and implementation of sustainable, equitable, inclusive and gender responsive ECDE policies, legislation, and systems as well as improved ECDE financing by governments, CSOs and donors. This three-year project to be implemented in Lesotho, Malawi, and Zimbabwe will run from 2021 through to 2023.

The TRANAC consortium is made of up of ECDE CSO national coalitions from Eswatini, Mozambique, Zambia, Lesotho (NECDOL), the Malawi ECD Coalition and the Zimbabwe Network of Early Childhood Development Actors (ZINECDA) in the implementation of the project. The design of the project is premised on the human rights-based approach (HRBA), whereby regional and global education frameworks such as SDGs, UNCRC and ACRWC guide implementation. HRBA is adopted including such issues as participation, accountability, non-discrimination and equality, empowerment and legality at national and regional level. The right to education emphasizing that children are active agents in their own learning and that education is designed to promote and respect their rights.

The implementing organisations, through the lead agency ZINECDA, are seeking the services of Policy Advocacy, Communications and Learning firms or consultants to design and develop a Policy advocacy, Communications and Learning Strategy Plans, assess policy advocacy, communication and learning capacity of consortium members and provide a capacity building plan of TRANAC partner staff in Advocacy, Learning and Communications aspects of the project.

Objectives of the project

Specific Objectives

To strengthen the capacity of ECDE national coalitions on areas of internal governance, advocacy, and research in order for them to effectively hold governments accountable and demand transparency in the formulation and implementation of ECD policies and strategies related to SDG 4.2 and GPE at transnational level by December 2023; To engage in national and transnational advocacy to influence the development of comprehensive and inclusive ECDE policies, legislation, and systems by governments in Lesotho, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and other Southern African countries by December 2023; To improve ECDE decision making process through availing of ECDE data, research, monitoring, and evaluation and for use at national and transnational level in advocacy, learning and decision making for the attainment of SDG 4.2 and GPE related targets on ECDE in Lesotho, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and other Southern African countries by 2023.

Purpose and objectives of the assignment

Develop an ECD communications, capacity building, policy advocacy and learning collaboration strategy plan for (TRANAC); Conduct a mapping exercise to better understand ECD gaps, challenges, and opportunities that the project faces in pursuing a stronger institutional role in learning collaboratives, capacity building, knowledge generation, policy advocacy, communications, and policy framework national and transnational level in Southern Africa; Consult with staff and management and external partners to better understand the needs, capacities and perceptions that are critical to incorporate ECD learning, policy advocacy and communication plan; Identify the key audiences (stakeholders, duty bearers, actors, influencers, etc) for the Learning Collaboratives, Knowledge generation, Capacity building, Policy Advocacy and Communications Strategy Plan. Who are we trying to reach and why? Conduct meetings with staff, management and national/transnational actors to collect input and perspectives from across project partners, build ownership of the plan and ensure successful implementation with the support of all teams.

Scope of Work

The consultant will be responsible for the development of the Learning Collaboration, Advocacy, Capacity building and Communications Strategy plan including key messages and performance indicators. The strategy plan should outline the role of the learning collaboration, communications, capacity building, advocacy, and policy unit in achieving the Transnational Networks Advocacy Capacity strengthened for improved ECDE legislation, policies, and measures in Southern Africa (TRANAC) in partner countries and other Southern Africa countries.

Deliverables

The consultant should be able to deliver the following: An inception report; A learning collaboration, communication, capacity building, policy analysis and policy advocacy partners and other Southern Africa countries capacity assessment and capacity building report; TRANAC key messages list and communication channels; A learning collaboration, capacity building, communication and policy advocacy strategy plan; A Learning Collaboration and Adaptive Management Framework and Plan; An engagement plan with key stakeholders such as state agencies, civil society organizations, multilateral and funding partners at all levels; Present the Strategy Plan(s) in a validation workshop organized by ZINECDA

The Learning, Advocacy and Communication Strategy and Workplan will include among others the following: Identify the communication and advocacy objectives for each targeted audience (stakeholder and power mapping) at the regional and national levels; Develop key messages and compile advocacy tools for use by TRANAC; Specify appropriate communication and advocacy channels, dissemination methods and media such as video, print, web/online media, infographics, traditional media, and social media, among others, to effectively communicate key messages to specific stakeholders; Recommend TRANAC communications materials as relevant for different audiences such as presentations, newsletter, and opinion pieces; Work with the communication, advocacy, and policy teams to identify target audiences; (i.e. line ministries, CSOs, local governments, local communities, media, academia, the public, etc.); Develop a learning and adaptive management framework.

Approach and Methodology

The consultant should submit the delivery approach or methodology they intend to use in executing the task at hand and also determine the success of the submitted proposals. The bids should include how they will involve the participation of consortium members in the development and meeting of the requirements of the assignment.

Timelines

This assignment is expected to take a maximum period of 15 days. The intricate details on the specific dates should be suggested by the consultant and agreed upon in the inception report.

Outputs

Inception report setting out the approach and timelines for the delivery of the scope of work; Message list and communication; An outline of Learning, Advocacy and Communication Strategy plan; A TRANAC advocacy and communications plan in support of TRANAC, including key performance indicators to measure success and implementation progress; Final Advocacy and Communications Strategy work plan; Workshop report(s).

Management and supervision of the assignment

The assignment will be constantly monitored by TRANAC Lead through the Regional Management Unit team and the Communications and Policy Advocacy for Development officer basing on milestones derived from the stated deliverables and the objectives. The management team will be in constant communication with the consultant to track progress made on each stage, until the completion of the task. Thus, before the final deliverables, drafts will be required to be reviewed by RMU team

Payment schedule

The winning consultant will be paid 50% of the total agreed service after acceptance of the inception report while the balance will be paid on the acceptance of completed the tasks at hand

Equipment

The selected consultant is expected to come with all the requisite equipment for the development of the system as ZINECDA will not provide any.

Qualifications

The successful candidate should have: Master’s degree in relevant discipline or the equivalent experience with at least 10 years relevant professional experience in a similar function within international development context - Public Policy, Advocacy and Communications; Strong conceptual and research/analytical skills with the ability to quickly analyze data and information from different sources and produce coherent reports; Exceptional written and oral communication skills, with strong demonstrated ability to convey complex ideas in a clear, direct, and lively style; Strong background in policy analysis, advocacy and research

Application Process

We invite interested consultants or companies to submit the following application documents: An expression of interest of no more than 10 pages, briefly addressing track record relevant to the assessment and the degree to which the consultant(s) meet(s) the selection criteria. If a team of consultants is proposed, outline the anticipated roles of each team member; Technical proposal for the development of the Transnational Learning, Communication and Policy Advocacy Plan and activities schedule/work plan, with time frame. The proposal must also clearly outline how the TRANAC project partners will be involved in the process; CV(s) of applicant(s); Financial proposal (separating consultant day rates and other anticipated costs; Example(s) of previous similar works; Reference from previous employer and/or client

NB The success of any application will be determined by the ability to integrate the Learning, Policy Advocacy and Communications Strategy work plan in different countries into the regional project Advocacy Strategy Plan.

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