Communication Strategy Development Consultant

A communication strategy is essential for bridging the gap between situation analysis and the implementation of a social and behavior change communication (SBCC) program. It serves as a written plan detailing how to achieve a program’s vision. Effective strategies use a systematic process and behavioral theory to design activities that promote sustainable social and behavioral change.

UTNU is a human-centered, non-governmental, not-for-profit organization focused on improving the livelihoods of marginalized communities in Uganda. Established in 2017, the organization provides services in capacity building, research, and training across sectors including education, agriculture, entrepreneurship, financial management, health, sanitation, and environmental conservation. Its vision is a healthy, sustainable, and conflict-free society. The mission is to enhance community livelihoods through rights empowerment, sustainable agriculture, environmental conservation, health promotion, economic empowerment, skills development, and educational support, ultimately contributing to improved community livelihoods and health outcomes.

A communication strategy will guide the entire program, setting the tone and direction for all communication activities, products, and materials to work harmoniously toward the desired change. The strategy will also allow stakeholders to provide input and agree on unified actions. UTNU seeks to hire a consultant to develop this communication strategy, which will include the following elements:

• Conduct a  situation analysis
• Audience segmentation
• Program theory to inform strategy development
• Provide communication objectives
• Approaches for achieving objectives
• Positioning for the desired change
• Benefits and messages to encourage desired change
• Communication channels to disseminate messages
• Implementation plan
• Monitoring and evaluation plan
• Budgets

The consultant, identified as a communication specialist, will collaborate closely with UTNU’s program team, including program managers, as well as relevant stakeholders to develop a comprehensive communication strategy. Engaging individuals and groups directly impacted by the issue is essential, as their active involvement from the outset will significantly enhance program effectiveness and foster long-term sustainability. The number of participants in the strategy development process will be determined by the strategy’s objectives and the chosen format; for example, a participatory workshop will accommodate a larger group, while a core working group engaging in stakeholder consultations will involve fewer individuals.

The consultant will develop a detailed methodology. Key aspects to be included are conducting a situation analysis, audience segmentation, program theory to inform strategy development, providing communication objectives, approaches for achieving objectives, positioning for the desired change, benefits and messages to encourage the desired change, communication channels to disseminate messages, an implementation plan, a monitoring and evaluation plan, and budgets.

Key Deliverables

1. The consultant shall submit an inception report after signing the agreement, detailing the survey methods, tools, and work plan.
2. Ethical approval should be obtained by the consultant from an authentic institution if required. Further, it should include the following:

• Prepare a schedule for fieldwork
• Presentation of the key findings to the UTNU team
• Draft report
• Final report

The consultant shall submit a final report in both hard copy and electronic format, along with all survey data (in Excel or SPSS-compatible formats), transcripts of the FGDs, KIIs, photographs, and ethical approval documentation. The draft report is expected from the consultant prior to the final report. The report must be written in simple English and should be comprehensive. References must be cited after each important fact and figure. The final report should be edited by a professional to incorporate all comments and corrections, if any. Completed checklists, questionnaires, case stories, quotes, and photos must also be submitted to UTNU.

• Over 10 years of research experience, with extensive expertise in communication strategy.
• Master’s degree or relevant research experience in development-related studies.
• Experience in facilitating large learning events, such as workshops that bring together civil society, government, academia, and the private sector.
• Experience in developing interactive learning platforms.
• Proven ability to conduct desk reviews that condense and synthesize large amounts of information into formats accessible to various stakeholders.
• Ability to work well under pressure and respond to rapidly changing needs.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English is essential.
• Willingness to travel and work in rural areas.
• Excellent expertise in quantitative and qualitative research methodologies.
• Significant experience in conducting participatory research with communities.
• Strong report writing and communication skills.
• Ability to use local languages in Uganda for primary data collection.
• Capacity to work closely with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds at all levels.
• Understanding of the political and social context in Uganda.
• Insight into the development context from the perspective of the poorest, most vulnerable, and excluded populations.
• Team members should possess relevant experience in their respective areas, with at least 5 years of experience, including field-level data collection and qualitative research in similar studies.
• Consultant(s) should have a comprehensive understanding of tool development and the ability to extract information from data, along with strong analytical and report writing skills.

Requirements for Technical Proposal Submission

Proposals must demonstrate an understanding of the specifications and should be clear, concise, and unambiguous. Each submission must include:

Approach (10 pages maximum)
Applicants must demonstrate their understanding of the subject environment and provide a detailed description of the methods to be used in conducting the research. They must include recommendations for the size and composition of the sample, justifying their approach and highlighting any risks.

• Timings (1 page maximum)
  Applicants must provide a detailed timetable for carrying out the work based on the proposed approach and methods. This should highlight key milestones and deadlines, including suggested meetings.
• Human Resourcing (2 pages maximum)
  Applicants must provide a list of human resources that will be involved in the project at all levels, from lead researcher and supervisors to field investigators, along with a summary of their relevant experience and proposed roles in the research. A full CV for each team member should be included as an Annex.
• Budget (2 pages maximum)
  Tenderers must provide a breakdown of costs, including the rationale for such costing. The price quoted must be fixed, inclusive of all staff, travel, and subsistence costs; exclusive of all duties and taxes; and expressed in UGX.

Note: Applicants who do not comply with the size and content requirements detailed may be excluded from the evaluation.

Applicants will be evaluated using a weighted scoring approach, as specified below: