Communications Specialist

*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(–header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”request-WEB:f38ed20c-0521-4d2a-bf71-3dc32fa597db-40″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:f38ed20c-0521-4d2a-bf71-3dc32fa597db-40″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-22″ data-turn=”assistant”> MINISTRY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT ZAMBIA DEVOLUTION SUPPORT PROGRAM (ZDSP) SELECTION OF AN INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST Assignment Title: Communications Specialist Project: Zambia Devolution Support Program (ZDSP) Grant/Loan/Credit No.: 178492 Procurement Reference No.: ZM-MLGRD-488207-CS-CQS Assignment Duration: Twelve (12) months, full-time, with possible extension subject to program needs, availability of funds and satisfactory performance 1. BACKGROUND The Government of the Republic of Zambia, through the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD), is implementing the Zambia Devolution Support Program (ZDSP) as part of its broader decentralisation agenda. The Program is designed to strengthen the capacity of Local Authorities to deliver quality public services, enhance accountability and promote citizen participation in governance. By devolving functions and resources to the local level, Government seeks to bring governance closer to the people and ensure that decisions and investments reflect community priorities and needs. Communication is a strategic pillar of the devolution agenda, supporting inclusivity, responsiveness and credibility throughout implementation. However, communication arrangements across institutions and levels of government are not always sufficiently coordinated, resulting in fragmented communication, duplication of effort, inconsistent messaging, delayed information flows and weak feedback mechanisms. Against this background, the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, through the Zambia Devolution Support Program, intends to engage an individual Communications Specialist to provide strategic communication advice and technical support to the broader devolution agenda, with particular emphasis on reforms, activities and results supported through the ZDSP. The Communications Specialist will work closely with the MLGRD Public Relations Department, which will serve as the institutional anchor for the assignment, and collaborate with the Decentralisation Secretariat, Ministry of Finance and National Planning, Local Authorities, Local Government Association of Zambia and other relevant stakeholders. 2. OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT The overall objective of the assignment is to strengthen strategic communication in support of Zambia’s broader devolution agenda, with particular emphasis on reforms, activities and results facilitated through the ZDSP. The assignment will also support the development of sustainable institutional communication capacity within MLGRD, relevant Implementing Agencies and Local Authorities. The Communications Specialist will provide strategic and technical support to ensure that communication: enhances understanding of devolution reforms; manages communication and reputational risks; strengthens trust and stakeholder participation; improves coordination and message coherence; strengthens citizen engagement and feedback mechanisms; and establishes communication systems, tools and skills that can be sustained beyond the assignment. 3. SCOPE OF THE ASSIGNMENT The Communications Specialist will provide strategic advisory and technical support to strengthen communication and stakeholder engagement for Zambia’s broader devolution agenda, with particular focus on ZDSP-supported reforms and results. The Specialist will work through and strengthen existing Government and Local Authority communication structures and platforms and will work closely with the MLGRD Public Relations Department, ZDSP management, the Decentralisation Secretariat, relevant Government institutions, Implementing Agencies and participating Local Authorities. Key responsibilities will include, but not be limited to: a) Communication and Stakeholder Engagement Diagnostic Conduct a diagnostic assessment of existing communication and stakeholder engagement practices, systems and institutional arrangements across MLGRD, Implementing Agencies and a representative sample of Local Authorities, identifying strengths, gaps, duplication, fragmentation and priority areas for improvement. b) Strategic Communication and Stakeholder Engagement Framework Develop and support implementation of an integrated strategic communication and stakeholder engagement framework for the broader devolution agenda, together with a specific ZDSP communication action plan. c) Strategic Communication Advisory Support and Communication Risk Management Provide strategic communication advice to Program leadership, the MLGRD Public Relations Department and relevant Government institutions on communication opportunities, emerging issues, misinformation, reputational risks and crisis communication. d) Communication Campaigns, Content Development and Knowledge Products Support proactive, sustained and audience-appropriate communication on priority devolution reforms, ZDSP-supported interventions and results, including development of appropriate communication and knowledge products. e) Institutional Communication Capacity Strengthening and Coordination Strengthen communication systems, coordination and staff capacity within MLGRD, relevant Implementing Agencies and other institutions involved in decentralisation through mentoring, coaching, systems improvement, tools development and knowledge transfer. f) Local Authority Communication, Citizen Engagement and Feedback Provide targeted support to participating Local Authorities to strengthen the capacity of Public Relations Officers or designated communication officers and improve regular, accessible and responsive communication with citizens and other local stakeholders. g) Cross-Institutional Communication Coordination Establish and operationalise a cross-institutional communication coordination mechanism to align messaging, avoid duplication and ensure consistent, timely and mutually reinforcing communication concerning the ZDSP and the broader devolution agenda. h) Communication Monitoring, Learning and Sustainability Establish practical arrangements for monitoring communication and stakeholder engagement performance and use evidence, stakeholder feedback, media trends and analytics to improve communication decisions, strengthen accountability and support sustainability. 4. KEY DELIVERABLES The key deliverables under the assignment will include: Communication and Stakeholder Engagement Diagnostic Report; Integrated Devolution and ZDSP Strategic Communication and Stakeholder Engagement Framework, Communication Action Plan and Risk and Issues Management Protocol; Monthly and Quarterly Communication Performance and Strategic Advisory Reports; Communication Products, Campaigns and Knowledge Materials; Institutional and Local Authority Communication Capacity-Strengthening Package; and Final Communication Performance, Institutional Capacity and Sustainability Report. _:empty]:hidden”> *]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(–header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”request-WEB:f38ed20c-0521-4d2a-bf71-3dc32fa597db-41″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:f38ed20c-0521-4d2a-bf71-3dc32fa597db-41″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-24″ data-turn=”assistant”> 5. DURATION AND LEVEL OF EFFORT The assignment will be for an initial period of twelve (12) months on a full-time basis, subject to Program needs and availability of funding. Any extension may be structured on a full-time or part-time basis, depending on the remaining scope of work, Program needs, availability of funds and satisfactory performance. The Consultant will be required to travel periodically to participating Local Authorities across Zambia to provide on-site support, facilitate capacity-building activities, assess communication practices and engage with relevant local stakeholders and communities. 6. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE Interested Individual Consultants should possess the following minimum qualifications and experience: Academic Qualifications A minimum of a Master’s Degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Development Communication, Social Sciences or another relevant field. Professional Experience At least five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in strategic communication, reform communication, stakeholder engagement, public sector change communication, behaviour-change communication or a closely related field; Demonstrated experience working with public sector institutions in Zambia, including practical engagement with Local Authorities and actors involved in governance or decentralisation reforms; Demonstrated experience designing and implementing strategic communication and stakeholder engagement strategies for complex public sector reforms, governance programmes, decentralisation initiatives or donor-funded operations; Experience in multi-stakeholder engagement, including stakeholder mapping and analysis, audience segmentation, consultation and feedback mechanisms and facilitation of dialogue; Demonstrated experience strengthening institutional communication capacity within Government, public sector agencies or large reform programmes, including skills transfer, coaching and development of communication systems, tools, templates and protocols; Demonstrated ability to use communication to shape understanding, influence stakeholder behaviour, build trust, manage reform risks, strengthen citizen engagement and support institutional change; Proven editorial and content development experience across traditional, digital and social media formats; Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with Government communication teams and provide hands-on mentoring and knowledge transfer; Strong conceptual, strategic, analytical, organisational and creative capabilities, with sound professional judgement and ability to advise senior programme leadership; and Experience in strengthening digital public information, website content governance, knowledge-sharing or webinar platforms, including the use of analytics and user feedback, will be an added advantage. Additional Competencies The Consultant should also demonstrate: Excellent written and oral communication skills in English; Strong interpersonal, facilitation, advisory and stakeholder-management skills; Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills; Ability to work effectively in diverse and multicultural teams; Ability to work independently, proactively and in a results-oriented manner; and Good working knowledge of relevant ICT and communication applications, including Microsoft Office and digital content development, publishing and media-monitoring tools. 7. REPORTING AND SUPERVISION The Communications Specialist will report administratively and contractually to the ZDSP Program Coordinator, Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development , and will work in close technical collaboration with the MLGRD Public Relations Department , which will serve as the institutional anchor for the assignment. The Specialist will collaborate with relevant departments and communication teams in Implementing Agencies and Local Authorities, and through established Government and Program coordination arrangements, liaise with the Decentralisation Secretariat, Ministry of Finance and National Planning, Implementing Agencies, the World Bank and other development partners as required. 8. EXPRESSION OF INTEREST The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development now invites eligible individual consultants (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. Expressions of Interest should include, at a minimum: A cover letter expressing interest in the assignment; An updated Curriculum Vitae (CV), demonstrating relevant qualifications and professional experience; Details of relevant assignments undertaken, including the client, duration, scope and role performed; Copies of relevant academic and professional qualifications; and

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