ACCESS Coalition Southern Africa Regional Node

Deadline: 21 May 2021

About

The ACCESS Coalition consists of a range of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), both national and international. The Coalition aims to strengthen the efforts of CSOs working to deliver universal energy access. Access coalition advocates at national and regional levels for transparent and inclusive multi-stakeholder participation at all stages of energy processes. The Coalition works with donors and investors to build their understanding of the energy needs of poor groups. Access supports the capacity building of civil society actors and relevant stakeholders, while also sharing best practice across our networks.

Background

Access Coalition is expanding its operations across all the regions of Africa. Recently, the coalition established the Southern Africa Regional Node which Action 24 Zimbabwe is the regional coordinating organisation. As part of setting up the Southern Africa Regional Node, the coalition seeks to develop the advocacy and communication strategy for the node to disseminate the coalition’s work, activities and engagements with other like minded stakeholders and coalitions within the region.

The Purpose and Scope

The purpose of the assignment is to develop an advocacy and communications strategy for Access Coalition Southern Africa Node focusing mainly with Zimbabwe. The Consultant will be expected to craft the Advocacy and Communication Strategy in line with Access Coalition work-streams as highlighted below:

SDG 7 Implementation: Integrated Energy planning & implementation of SDG7 - Ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.

https://access-coalition.org/workstreams/sdg7-implementation/

AfDB Engagement: Influencing AfDB investments and ensuring effective Civil Society participation in decision making.

https://access-coalition.org/workstreams/afdb-engagement/

Capacity Building: Sharing knowledge and expertise across the membership base of practitioner experience in different regions.

https://access-coalition.org/workstreams/knowledge-and-capacity-building/

Further, the Consultant shall be expected to carry out consultations with Access Coalition Southern Africa Regional Node members and link the advocacy and communications strategy to the overall work and programs being undertaken by the members.

Objectives

The objective of this consultancy is to: To produce an advocacy and communication strategy for Access Coalition Southern Africa Regional Node (Zimbabwe); Create a clear roadmap and work-plan for establishing relations with local and regional media pools and potential partners; Create an advocacy and communications plan that synchronizes the regional alliance members’ programmes and projects; Orient the regional coordinating organisation members on the developed advocacy and communication strategy.

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant will work in close coordination with the Access Coalition Regional Coordinating Organisation secretariat team and will be expected to undertake the following tasks: Produce an inception report on the development of the advocacy and communications strategy; Produce a detailed work plan including outputs and timelines; Identify the target audiences (i.e.: line Ministries; funding agencies (eg. World Bank & AFDB), Regional research Institutions, CSOs, CBOs; media; academia circles; Youth and the general public, etc.); Identify the communication objectives for each Access Coalition workstream; Assess the communication capacities of all stakeholders including regional node members; Identify the communication products and activities tailored to each audience, using Access Coalition workstream, for each target audience; Identify and outline models of communication that can help to amplify Access Coalition workstreams; Specify appropriate communication channels, dissemination methods and media such as video, print, web/online media, traditional media, and social media, among others, to effectively communicate key messages to specific stakeholders on Access Coalition workstreams; Create work plan with clear deliverable outcomes, indicators and tools for the implementation of the advocacy and communication strategy; Develop indicators to monitor and evaluate communications tools and activities to measure the impact on achieving Access Coalition Southern Africa Regional Node overall objectives as highlighted in Access Coalition workstreams; Develop an advocacy and communication strategy to promote the work of Access Coalition in general and the coalition’s Southern Africa Regional activities as guided by the workstreams; Produce a final report on completion of the work.

Expected Outputs/Deliverables

An inception report on the task to be delivered (3 days after signing of contract); A consultation report based on information provided by the Access Coalition Regional Node coordinating organization and other important stakeholders. (9 Days after signing of Contract); An advocacy and communication strategy that will be helpful in communicating the work of Access Coalition in general and the coalition’s Southern Africa Regional Node. (12 days after signing of contract)

Reporting

The Consultant will work under the overall supervision of the coalition’s Southern Africa Regional Node coordinating organisation; The consultant will be engaged for a maximum of 12 consecutive days from the day of contract signing.

Competencies

Corporate: Demonstrates integrity by modelling the coalition’s values and ethical standards; Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of Access Coalition; Displays a good understanding of the coalition’s three working streams.

Functional: Strong analytical, negotiation and communication skills, including ability to produce high quality practical advisory reports and knowledge products; Professional and/or academic experience in all the three areas of Access Coalition working streams.

Project and Resource Management: Ability to produce high quality outputs in a timely manner while understanding and anticipating the evolving client needs; Strong organisational skills; Ability to work independently, produce high quality outputs.

Communications and Advocacy: Strong ability to write clearly and convincingly, adapting style and content to different audiences and speak clearly and convincingly; Strong analytical, research and writing skills with demonstrated ability to think strategically; Strong interpersonal, negotiation and liaison skills.

Partnership building and team work: Excellent negotiating and networking skills; Demonstrated flexibility to work in a multicultural environment.

Qualifications

The Consultant should prove to have done some work related to the assignment: At least one established advocacy and communications strategy of a similar scale and scope; Similar assignments traceable through verification of an existing national strategy; Experience in working with a team or coalition.

Education and experience

The prospective consultant should have a Masters in Communications Studies, Media Studies or equivalent. Candidates with post graduate qualifications in Renewable Energy, Climate Change and Environment, Public Policy/ Equivalent will be given first preference in the selection process. A PhD in these fields will be an added advantage; The consultant should have proven a minimum 5 years’ experience developing organizational communication strategies of a similar set-up, size and scope; Competence in use of digital and social media tools; Consultant should have proven experience and expertise working in or involved in work related to the coalition’s working streams; An appreciation of the advocacy and communication strategy linked to SDG7, SDG 13 and World Bank/AFDB country partnership programs and frameworks will be an added advantage.

Language

Fluency in English language is required, and an understanding of a local language is desirable.