Social Behavior Change and Communication Consultancy at Mercy Corps

Scope of work

• The primary goal of this consultancy is to secure a highly qualified Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) consultant (S). Tasked with leading the development and execution of a robust SBCC strategy for the Girls Improving Resilience through Livelihoods and Health (GIRL-H) program across Kenya, Uganda, and Nigeria, the consultant aims to enhance the well-being of adolescent girls, boys, and young women by increasing their access to skills, knowledge, health resources, formal education, and economic opportunities.

Under the direct supervision of the program Implementation lead and in collaboration with country managers, the consultant will undertake various tasks outlined in this concise Scope of Work.

Needs Assessment and Analysis.

• The consultant will conduct a comprehensive assessment to precisely identify the specific social behavior changes the program aims to address. This will involve conducting formative research to gain insights into the beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors of the target audience. The assessment will also include a thorough review of existing data and relevant research about the specific challenges faced by adolescent girls, boys, and young women in the program's context. The findings will serve as a foundation to inform the development of an effective SBCC strategy.
• The consultant will develop a tailored SBCC strategy aligned with program goals, identifying key messages, channels, and materials for behavior change. They will ensure a comprehensive approach covering both individual and community-level interventions. The strategy should, be informed by the needs assessment and should outline clear objectives, target audiences, key messages, communication channels, feedback adaptation, monitoring, scalable approaches, and suggested activities aimed at driving social and behavioral change at different levels.
• The consultant will offer training and support to program staff and partners, focusing on enhancing their skills and understanding of Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) techniques and principles. The goal is to strengthen the capacity of local partners, ensuring the sustainability of SBCC efforts even after the consultant's tenure. This comprehensive approach aims to empower the program's stakeholders to effectively continue and expand SBCC initiatives independently.

SBCC Strategy Development

Campaign design and Implementation

• The consultant will be responsible for developing engaging and culturally sensitive communication campaigns to foster positive behavior change. This will involve identifying key messages that align with the program's objectives and are relevant to adolescent girls, boys, and young women in the three countries. The consultant will select suitable communication channels and create diverse information, education and communication materials, including posters, brochures, videos, and various digital assets.
  These materials will be designed with innovation and creativity to ensure their impact and resonance with the target audience. Age-appropriateness will be a crucial consideration, ensuring that the key messages are delivered in a language and format that effectively resonates with the target audience. The consultant will be instrumental in infusing innovation and creativity into the campaigns, leveraging their knowledge and skills to ensure their relevance and impact. They will stay updated on the latest trends and best practices in social and behavior change communication (SBCC) to ensure the campaigns are dynamic and effective. Additionally, the consultant will also conduct a comprehensive needs assessment to identify key stakeholders, influencers, and existing SBCC efforts in each country. This will facilitate collaboration and alignment with relevant partners, maximizing the impact of the campaigns by leveraging existing networks and resources.

Capacity Building.

Community Engagement

• The consultant will collaborate closely with local partners, community leaders, influencers, and stakeholders, seeking their support and active participation in Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) initiatives. The consultant will organize a range of community events, including workshops, focus group discussions, and meetings, fostering dialogue to gather valuable insights and feedback while simultaneously raising awareness about the program's objectives. This strategic approach aims to ensure robust community involvement and support for effective SBCC implementation.
• Draft a TOR to a selection of different champions such as social media influencers, male champions, and media firms.
• The consultant will work closely with the GIRL-H Program Team to create a compelling and engaging creative country-specific concept for the SBCC campaigns. This concept will serve as the foundation for all campaign materials and activities to support the rollout of the SBCC campaigns. This should include developing the campaign creative concept, writing the scripts, developing storyboards, designing materials to creatively convey the key message, pretesting messages/materials, preparing and implementing a comprehensive media plan, developing the social media calendar, and proposing monitoring and evaluation approaches for the campaign.
• The consultant will support the M&E team in identifying relevant indicators and setting measurable targets for the campaign. They will conduct regular reviews and analyze data to assess the effectiveness of the strategy and adjust as needed. Working closely with the M&E team, the consultant will ensure the campaign aligns with goals and objectives and enhances its impact. Their involvement in monitoring and evaluation will ensure the campaign remains evidence-based and continuously improves to achieve behavior change outcomes.

Reporting:

The consultant will work closely with the GIRL-H Program Management Unit, and the communications team and report to the Program Director.

Deliverables

• A comprehensive needs assessment report
• Engaging SBCC campaigns and materials.
• Design the campaign plan.
• Develop the pretesting materials including the moderator guide and questions and lead the pretesting of the campaign materials.
• Review and comment on all relevant plans including media plan, program Website, social media calendar, communication plan, etc.

Training materials and capacity-building documentation

• Support the M&E team in identifying relevant indicators to this campaign and assist in setting the targets.
• Regular Progress report
• TORS and scope of works used to engage the different stakeholders and partners (Male champions, s, social media influencers, media agencies)
• Develop a robust monitoring and evaluation framework with clear metrics and indicators.
• Develop a robust monitoring and evaluation framework with clear metrics and indicators.

Technical expertise, skills, and knowledge

• Master’s degree in social and behavioral science, Public Relations, Communication, Journalism, or a related field.
• 10- 15 years of work experience in designing, implementing, and evaluating social and behavior change campaigns and interventions in Kenya and Uganda or Nigeria
• Experience in developing behavioral change communication tools and materials.
• A strong grasp of the cultural and societal dynamics of the target population and a sensitivity to gender-specific issues, particularly those affecting youth, especially women.
• Solid skills in data analysis, synthesis, reporting, and presentation
• Excellent command of English.

Proposal requirements

The consultant will submit both a technical and a financial proposal (of not more than 10 pages) that includes the following:

Technical proposal:

• Demonstration of the consultants’ understanding of the terms of reference. This will be included as an interpretation of the consultant’s understanding of the requirements of this assignment rather than a summary or re-statement of the terms of reference.
• A clear and detailed work plan with dates and deliverables specified.

Financial proposal:

• An itemized and detailed budget, indicating the unit costs for consultancy fees as well as, separately, administrative and support costs such as travel, accommodation, and office support such as stationary. Please note that Mercy Corps will not provide transport, meals, and accommodation to the consultant or research assistants during the consultancy period.
• All costs must be expressed in USD.

References:

• Names, addresses, and telephone numbers of representatives of two organizations that will act as professional referees; these must be persons of managerial responsibility at the level where such reviews as these can be authorized.

Vendor Information to be submitted.

• Evidence of similar work conducted.
• Concept note of not more than five pages.
• Budget summary of total cost

Duration:

• The consultant's engagement will 4 months ( January -April 2024 )with the possibility of extension based on performance and program needs.

TECHNICAL AREAS

Relevant Experience: (Score 30 Marks)

• Demonstrated expertise in conducting comprehensive social behavior change assessments, particularly in the context of youth livelihood programs.
• Understanding of the cultural, social, and economic dynamics that influence behavior change in the program's target regions.
• Previous experience in identifying and selecting sectors for scaling and expansion.
• Strong research capabilities, including desk research for target countries, qualitative research methodologies, and data analysis.

Strong Organizational capacity and technical know-how (Score 30 Marks)

• Demonstrated expertise in needs assessment to identify the most effective approaches for social behavior change activities relevant to the program’s target demographics.
• Skilled in fostering collaborative approaches with diverse stakeholders in the intervention design process.
• Ability to utilize a range of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies to inform the SBCC strategy

Innovation and Strong Technical details (Score 20 Marks)

• Demonstrated innovation and creativity in identifying gaps and opportunities within chosen approaches, proposing practical interventions for sustainable employment opportunities.
• Strategic mindset to develop a comprehensive strategy outlining proposed interventions, including a clear implementation roadmap.
• Exhibit innovation in identifying key areas for behavior change communication.
• Ability to adapt and align the strategy to local contexts and changing program needs.