Organizational Context
The African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) is a specialized technical office of the Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture (DREA) of the African Union Commission (AUC). AU-IBAR is mandated to support and coordinate the sustainable development and utilization of animal resources (livestock, fisheries and wildlife) to enhance nutrition and food security and contribute to the wellbeing and prosperity of the people in the Member States of the African Union. AU-IBAR accomplishes its mandate through supporting and empowering the African Union Member States and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs). AU-IBAR’s vision is of an Africa in which animal resources contribute significantly to the reduction of poverty and hunger. Founded in 1951 to study the epidemiological situation and fight rinderpest in Africa, AU-IBAR’s mandate covers all aspects of animal resources, including livestock, fisheries and wildlife, across the entire African continent, but fills a unique and strategic niche by working at continental and regional levels, with the RECs being key partners.
An important element of AU-IBAR’s mandate is to ensure that the information it produces is known, available and easily understandable to potential users. Knowledge Management, Information, Communication and Advocacy is an integral part of the AU-IBAR’S efforts to improve the generation, dissemination and utilization of knowledge for sustainable animal resources development. AU-IBAR’s communications function serves several stakeholders such as livestock value chain actors, the business community and private sector, Member States, RECs, donors, academia and researchers, Non-Governmental Organizations and civil society.
Objective of Consultancy
AU-IBAR is seeking copywriters with expertise in Science Communication (environment, sustainable development, animal resources, and agribusiness) and robust knowledge of cross-cutting youth and gender related issues to produce high quality, newsletters and booklets for external audiences under the following lots:
LOT1: Newsletters
The newsletters, to be published biannually, will be 20-25 pages in length, and will be for the following categories:
- Youth in Agribusiness (June and December, 2020 editions)
- African Women in Animal Resources Farming and Agribusiness (June and December, 2020 editions)
- Animal Resources Technologies (June and December, 2020 editions)
- State of Animal Health in Africa (June and December 2020 editions)
LOT 2: Booklets
The booklets will be 20-25 pages in length, presenting best practices of stakeholders, reporting key results and innovation generated through various projects.
Immediate Reports to be produced are:
- African Union Member States Fund Beneficiaries – Lessons Learned (June 2020)
- Pan-African Support to the AU-IBAR for a Sustainable Development of Livestock for Livelihoods in Africa (Live2Africa) Impact Stories (December edition)
- Lessons Learned on Fisheries and Aquaculture Practices in Africa (December edition)
- Booklet on Animal Welfare in Africa
- Booklet on Animal Health in Africa
Consultant’s Accountability
The consultant will be responsible for undertaking stakeholder interviews, carrying out brief desktop research, and analyses, and copywriting for the purpose of producing marketable high-quality content in agreed format and timeframe specified herein for each product.
The candidate should be able to identify the target audience for each section of the paper, and tailor the language accordingly.
The articles should be easy to read, yet well written in English in a concise and engaging manner for the primary target audiences, particularly international media, donors, practitioners, private sector, academia and non-government organizations.
Duty Station
Home-based
Duration of Assignments
Each assignment should last between 7-10 days in order to produce each publication.
Key Results Expected / Major Functional Activities
The main activities and results expected are:
- Reviewing available gray literature from AU-IBAR and other materials, including relevant Evaluations and Impact Assessments;
- Scheduling and conducting interviews with relevant stakeholders as part of research and fact-finding activities;
- Scheduling and conducting interviews with external persons of interest for the given topic to ensure all data is up-to-date;
- Drafting of high quality articles that capture the perspectives and views of key stakeholders, articulate the issues and highlight key messages to reach specified target audiences
- Drafting of accompanying materials including forewords, introductions, acronym pages, conclusions, annexes etc.;
- Finalization of reports or newsletters incorporating comments from peer reviewers;
- Liaising with the graphic designer to take decisions on relevant layout and picture decisions, including creation of info graphics etc.
Key Performance Indicators
The key performance indicators for the copy writer consultant include:
- Thorough research and data collection on stakeholders on assigned task;
- In-depth analysis of findings and validation by interviewing relevant people, including AU-IBAR staff;
- Construction of articles with a clear consideration of the target audience and messaging, properly referencing all sources and quotes to ensure relevance and accuracy
- Participating in the peer-review process and ensuring that feedback is reflected in the reports/ newsletters
- Liaising with the graphic designer to ensure the final newsletter is accurate and visually of the highest quality
- Delivery of a final reports/ newsletters in the print-ready format(s) and (Digital Publishing Platform format (e.g. ISSU) - for online dissemination.
Representation / Work Relationships
The copywriter will be under the overall supervision of the Senior Knowledge Management Officer, will engage with AU-IBAR Technical staff (depending on the specific topic), and also work in close collaboration with the AU-IBAR Graphic Designer.
Competencies
Technical/Functional
- Demonstrable experience as a copywriter, writing targeted articles and reports for external audiences – provide at least 5 different written reports/ newsletters or articles
- Demonstrable ability to synthesis information and prepare convincing, credible stories through concise prose in English (advocacy, web, social media) – provide at least 5 different written reports, newsletters or articles
- Demonstrable expertise in the relevant theme of the report/ newsletter, plus robust knowledge of one or more of the other mainstreaming themes of environment and gender, nutrition and food security, youth and technologies
- Experience of at least ten years in undertaking similar assignments with positive results – provide copies of written reports/ newsletters or articles
- Capacity to identify and analyse systemic issues, and case studies
- Demonstrable analytical and organizational skills
- Demonstrable ability to communicate effectively with people from other countries, culture, tailoring language, tone, style and format to match audience
- Ability to work well in a team and to engage positively with other team members
- Capacity to deliver high quality ready for publication documents in a timely manner
Given the innovative nature of the assignments, AU-IBAR is looking for consultants of varying ability above the minimum threshold stated.
Minimum Recruitment Qualifications
Education
Master’s Degree in Development Studies, Agriculture, Animal Resources Management, Science Communications, or Policy Studies.
Experience
At least 10 years progressively responsible experience in Development Communications, including work with international organizations, rural development, government services, in the relevant mainstreaming areas for the assignment.
Language requirements
Native or bilingual level proficiency (verbal and written) in English is essential. Knowledge of a second language (French, Arabic or Portuguese) is desirable.
Instructions for Potential Consultants
Applicants are required to include both a technical and financial proposal.
Consultants are not considered staff of AU-IBAR. This consultancy assignment does not carry any expectation of employment, extension or conversion to another type of contract with AU-IBAR. The various copywriting services will be commissioned on a per job basis/ knowledge product basis.
This invitation is open to freelancers as well as agencies.
Evaluation Criteria
Applications from qualified candidates will be desk reviewed by selection panel. Best three to five candidates will be further interviewed or engaged in assignments.
Criteria Weight
Educational Qualification 10
Master’s Degree in Development Studies, Agriculture, Animal Resources Management, Science Communications, or Policy Studies.
General Experience 10
At least 10 years progressively responsible experience in Development Communications, including work with international organizations, rural development, government services, in the relevant mainstreaming areas for the assignment
Specific Experience
Experience of at least ten years in undertaking similar assignments with positive results – provide copies of written reports/ newsletters or articles 15
Demonstrable experience as a copywriter, writing targeted articles and reports for external audiences – provide at least 5
Different written reports/ newsletters or articles (Demonstrable expertise in the relevant theme of the report/ newsletter, plus robust knowledge of one or more of the other mainstreaming themes of environment and gender, nutrition and food security, youth and technologies) 10
Good understanding of sustainable development, with particular reference to the animal resources sector contribution to sustainable development 10
Previous proven research experience and publications to showcase excellent writing skills 10
Methodology 30
Clarity of proposal for implementing the assignment (including key work stages and timelines; consultants can also suggest suitable case examples if any)
Language Requirement 5
Native or bilingual level proficiency (verbal and written) in English is essential. Knowledge of a second language (French, Arabic or Portuguese) is desirable.
TOTAL 100
How to apply:
How to Submit
Candidates may apply for one or more publication, but will be required to prepare separate bids for each publication.
The entire proposal, including all supporting documentation should not be no longer than 8 A4 pages in length, and should be emailed as a single document to:
procurement@au-ibar.org, with a copy to Khalid.seid@au-ibar.org, by no later than 12.00 noon East African Time on 26 June, 2020.
Specific questions not answered either in this call may be emailed to: procurement@au-ibar.org