West Africa Coastal Areas Resilience Investment Project 2

CONSULTANCY SERVICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNICATION STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN (CSAP)

1.0 PROJECT BACKGROUND

WACA ResIP 2 Ghana is designed to address the three key challenges to unlocking the potential of its blue economy: coastal erosion, flooding, and pollution; ecosystem degradation; and institutional fragmentation. While the ultimate objective of the project as stipulated in the Project Appraisal Document (PAD) is to strengthen the resilience of coastal communities, the project’s overarching strategy to achieve this outcome is to focus on strengthening Ghana's blue economy and to restore and protect critical coastal ecosystems which provide essential services to nearby communities, including income generation and protection against natural disasters.

As part of WACA ResIP 2, Ghana is benefiting from an IDA Credit of US$ 150 million and a $5 million Grant from PROBLUE – total of $150 million.

The project comprises four components as with all other countries with WACA investments.

Component 1: Strengthening Regional Integration. The regional integration component is to strengthen the effective coordination of interventions for coastal resilience in West Africa at the regional and national levels spearheaded by WAEMU. This is achieved through the consolidation of the regional institutional set-up and harmonization of policy to seek economies of scale and the development of new strategic partnerships needed for the scale-up of response to the coastal resilience development challenge. 

Component 2: Strengthening the Policy or Institutional Frameworks. The project will support the strengthening of institutional and policy frameworks around coastal development, protection, and natural resource management (exclusive of fisheries). Focus areas will include strengthening existing national coordination mechanisms and development of mechanisms for sub-national coordination, including civil society coordination. 

Policy actions under this component will support improved land use and marine spatial planning for resilient coastal development. This includes measures for institutional support that will improve collection and analysis of data critical for risk-informed decision-making. This includes, but is not limited to, data related to beach profile and crest elevation, spatial data, and improved local demographic and economic data, especially as related to sources of livelihood and gender disaggregation. 

Component 3: Strengthening National Physical and Social Investments. The project will support a wide typology of site-specific grey, green, and hybrid physical investments, and social sub-projects at the community level to achieve measurable increases in protection from coastal erosion and flooding, pollution control, and promote climate-resilient coastal development. Physical investments supported by the project are based on coastal management strategies and climate-resilient development plans, including Multi-Sector Investment Plans (MSIPs), undertaken and ongoing in each country that identifies priority investments and actions for strengthening coastal resilience and mitigating the impacts of climate change through sustainable, integrated coastal zone management. 

The project will be financing (a) green infrastructure such as dune fixation to protect beaches from erosion using vegetation and shrubs to trap sand, wetland and mangrove restoration and beach replenishment; (b) grey infrastructure such as the construction of breakwaters, seawalls, revetments, groynes, and dikes; (c) land claim and reclamation; (d) rehabilitation of flood banks; (e) rehabilitation and management of natural flood areas, including dredging to maintain natural flow in lagoons; (f) infrastructure, e.g. culverts, for improved drainage; and (g) sustainable land management practices in transboundary sub-watersheds and areas of high ecosystem value that drain into the coastal areas, and (h) measures to improve the management of natural habitats, including reduction of invasive species encroachment.

Specifically, physical interventions under this component 3 will support adaptation measures for protection, retreat, accommodation, or a combination thereof at three locations: Korle Lagoon, Densu Delta, and Keta Lagoon Complex. Nature-based physical protection measures will include protection and restoration of mangroves and other submerged native aquatic vegetation to reduce flooding hazards, and beach nourishment and dune rehabilitation to address coastal erosion. Grey solutions may include the construction of groins, dykes, seawalls, revetments, or other infrastructure as well as implementation of plastics related interventions. This site-specific grey, green, and/or hybrid physical rehabilitation and infrastructure investments may include: 

Component 4: Project Management. A Project Implementation Unit (PIU) has been established with the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MESTI) and will be guided by a multi-stakeholder project steering committee.

Meaningful stakeholder engagement throughout the project cycle is essential to good project management. It provides opportunities for the WACA ResIP 2 to provide information and solicit feedback to guide project design, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation (M&E). Given this, the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MESTI) via the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) is applying part of its project funds to recruit a qualified and passionate Individual Consultant to develop a Communication Strategy and Action Plan (CSAP) for the WACA ResIP 2, Ghana.  Specifically, MESTI aims to increase awareness and knowledge of the WACA ResIP 2 in project areas and the wider public.

The communication strategy for WACA already exists at the regional level for the first phase and is currently undergoing updates. Therefore, the consultant must consider the WACA regional strategy axes while drafting the operational communication plan; this should include the already budgeted activities of the 2024 Annual Workplan and Budget, safeguard aspects, and project visibility.

In delivering the assignment, the consultant shall make appropriate reference to the Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) and other applicable documentation prepared under the Environment and Social Instruments for the WACA ResIP 2, Ghana.

2.0 PURPOSE & OBJECTIVE

The primary objective is to establish a strategic framework that enhances visibility, promotes stakeholder engagement, and effectively communicates the objectives, achievements, and impacts of WACA initiatives across diverse audiences. This initiative aims to foster understanding, support, and active participation from stakeholders including government entities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), local communities, media outlets, and international partners. The consultant will develop a comprehensive Communication Strategy and Action Plan (CSAP) for the WACA project, focusing on enhancing visibility, stakeholder engagement, and dissemination of project achievements and impacts. The CSAP will serve as a roadmap for coherent messaging, utilizing appropriate communication channels such as traditional media, digital platforms, workshops, and publications.

The CSAP remains critical for enhancing visibility, improving and promoting the project's image, disseminating information/messages from the project to the project communities and broader public, influencing decision-making and knowledge sharing, and strengthening consensus-building for project support. Additionally, the CSAP will contribute to mobilising more partnerships and resources from the more significant global donor nexus to further enhance the project's impact. 

 

3.0 SCOPE OF WORK

1. Conduct a situational analysis to understand current communication practices, stakeholder perceptions, and information needs related to WACA.

 

1. Identify key stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, local communities, media outlets, and international partners, and assess their communication preferences and channels. By understanding stakeholders' communication needs and engagement preferences, the consultant will ensure that the Communication Strategy and Action Plan (CSAP) effectively targets and engages each stakeholder group to maximize participation and support for WACA project initiatives. The Strategy should contain analysis (focus groups) and stakeholder mapping to determine targeted audiences including: i) community members; ii) stakeholders at the institutional level including Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) and other establishments involved in the project: iii) high-level stakeholders in positions of power, influence and decision making (MPs, office of the President, regional representatives, and local government executives): iv) NGOs and CSOs. Based on the analysis identify potential champions and influencers for collaboration to ensure buy-in and ownership of the project. The Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) for the WACA project has initially identified key stakeholders in Ghana and conducted a stakeholder analysis to identify and prioritize stakeholders, including government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), local communities, media outlets, and international partners. The consultant should undertake further analysis to assess the communication preferences, preferred channels, and levels of influence of the different stakeholders.

 

1. Develop a Communication Strategy outlining goals, target audiences, key messages, and communication channels. These channels may include traditional media such as print and broadcast, as well as digital platforms encompassing social media, websites, and online forums. Additionally, the strategy should incorporate direct engagement methods such as workshops, seminars, and community meetings, alongside periodic newsletters to ensure consistent and effective dissemination of project updates and information.

 

1. Working closely with the PIU to develop targeted messages for the above audiences to ensure that benefits (e.g. increased resilience to coastal erosion) and innovations (e.g. social sub-projects) attributable to the project are well perceived and accepted by all stakeholders. It also includes communication channels to inform communities/stakeholders about the progress of the implementation works and the role of "Radio du littoral" in Ghana's project implementation. Where applicable, the CSAP should put forward some best practice style guides for communication dissemination to allow for format consistency for publications/communication products.

 

1. The consultant should propose key roles and responsibilities for the Action Plan and Work Plan to ensure efficient execution and accountability. This should involve defining roles for each aspect of the communication strategy and ensuring that these roles are clearly assigned to specific individuals or teams. Key roles should be outlined for each major component of the strategy, such as content creation, media relations, stakeholder engagement, monitoring and evaluation, and budget management. Each role must have specific responsibilities, which should be clearly documented to avoid overlap and ensure accountability. The CSAP should also clearly outline the roles and responsibilities of the PIU in its implementation throughout the life of the project as well as the institutional resources (e.g. Ministry Website, WACA ResIP 2 Ghana Website) that can be used for the implementation. To the extent possible, the CSAP should utilize existing institutions, communication mechanisms and resources available under the project and among the involved ministries, agencies, and stakeholders. In case of the need of external services, the CSAP should estimate cost and potential providers.

 

1. Develop an Action Plan and a four-year detailed work plan that outlines detailed activities, establishes clear timelines, designates responsible parties, and defines budgetary requirements necessary for the successful implementation of the Communication Strategy. This plan should include specific tasks such as content creation for various communication channels, scheduling and organizing workshops and events, managing social media platforms, producing newsletters and press releases, conducting media outreach, and monitoring the effectiveness of communication efforts. Each activity should be carefully mapped out with achievable milestones and allocated resources to ensure timely execution and alignment with project objectives and stakeholder engagement goals.

 

1. Propose mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of communication activities to ensure that the Communication Strategy and Action Plan are achieving their intended outcomes. This should include the development of key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to track engagement levels, reach, and impact of various communication efforts. Regular feedback loops should be established with stakeholders to gather their input and assess their satisfaction with the communication activities. Additionally, propose the use of surveys, focus group discussions, and interviews to collect qualitative data on the effectiveness of the communication strategy. Periodic reviews and assessments should be conducted to identify any gaps or areas for improvement. Based on the findings, adjustments to the communication strategies and activities should be made to enhance their effectiveness and ensure they remain relevant and impactful in achieving the project's goals.

 

1. Prepare a comprehensive budget for implementing the four-year work plan. This budget should include detailed cost estimates for all aspects of the plan, ensuring that all necessary resources are accounted for. Specifically, the budget should cover personnel or labour costs. Material costs should be itemized, including expenses for office supplies, printing, promotional materials, and any other physical resources required for communication activities. Additionally, the budget should account for tools and software necessary for the execution of the communication strategy, such as content creation tools, graphic design software, social media management platforms, and other digital tools. Subscriptions to relevant services, such as media monitoring services, database access, or professional memberships, should also be included. Furthermore, the budget should detail costs associated with specific activities and considerations, such as travel expenses for field visits or stakeholder meetings, venue rentals for workshops and events, catering, and any other logistical requirements. All cost estimates should be accompanied by justifications and assumptions to provide a clear understanding of the financial requirements and ensure accurate allocation of funds throughout the four-year implementation period. This comprehensive budget will serve as a crucial component for effective financial planning and resource management, ensuring the successful execution of the Communication Strategy and Action Plan.

 

1. In close collaboration with the PIU, organize and coordinate the stakeholder validation workshop for the CSAP with the Project Technical Committee to allow for finalization of CSAP towards achieving completion of assignment – strongly considering the principles of simplicity, accountability, interactiveness, inclusivity, targeting, and cooperation.

 

1. Provide training to WACA staff and partners on communication strategies and best practices. This training should be comprehensive and tailored to the specific needs and contexts of the WACA project. The training program should include practical sessions where staff and partners can apply what they have learned through role-playing exercises, simulations, and case studies relevant to WACA’s objectives. This will help participants develop hands-on skills and build confidence in their ability to execute the communication strategy effectively. Additionally, the consultant should provide resources and materials such as manuals, guides, and toolkits that staff and partners can refer to after the training sessions. These resources should include templates for communication plans, checklists for media engagement, and guidelines for stakeholder consultations.

 

4.0 DURATION

The services as required above are to be carried out over a period of 2 months from the commencement date.

5.0 DELIVERBALES AND PAYMENTS

The consultant shall submit the following deliverables in line with the lump sum payments and subject to all applicable taxes, as provided below;

1. Inception Report                                                                                          – 30% [1 week]
2. CSAP and Work Plan (Draft 1)                                                                – 40% [2 weeks]
3. Validation Workshop + CSAP (Final Draft)                            – 30% [1 month]

 

6.0 QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE

The consultant should possess the following qualifications and experience:

Educational Qualifications: A minimum of a Master’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Media Studies, Social Sciences, Development Studies, or a related field.

Professional Experience: At least 10 years of professional experience in communications strategy development, journalism, public relations, or media management, particularly in the context of large-scale development projects. Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing communication strategies and action plans for international development projects, preferably in environmental or coastal management sectors. Proven track record of working with government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and international partners in developing countries, particularly in Africa.

Technical Skills: Expertise in a variety of communication channels, including traditional media (print, radio, TV), social media platforms, and digital tools. Strong skills in stakeholder engagement, including conducting stakeholder analysis and managing multi-stakeholder communication processes. Proficiency in using communication software and tools for content creation, media monitoring, and digital marketing. Ability to develop clear and impactful key messages and tailor them to different audiences.

Capacity Building and Training: Experience in designing and delivering capacity-building programs and training workshops on communication strategies and best practices. Ability to create comprehensive training materials and resources for ongoing learning and development.

Interpersonal and Communication Skills: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams and stakeholders. Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with attention to detail and a proactive approach to addressing challenges. Display cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.  

Knowledge of the Context: Familiarity with the environmental and social contexts of coastal areas in West Africa, including the specific challenges and opportunities related to the WACA project. Knowledge of the local languages and cultural contexts within the project area is an advantage.

Professional Affiliations: Membership in relevant professional bodies or associations in the fields of communication, public relations, or media.

 

7.0 REPORTING AND COORDINATION

The consultant shall report directly to the Project Coordinator, WACA ResIP 2, Ghana. He/she will work with other PIU team members, WACA BAR communication specialist and the World Bank team, to meet the assignment deliverables. 

 

8.0 HOW TO APPLY

Interested qualified and experienced applicants who meet the above criteria should send their application and detailed curriculum vitae to the email addresses or address below by 2nd August 2024:

 

Address:

The Project Coordinator,

West Africa Coastal Areas Resilience Investment Project (WACA ResIP) 2,

Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MESTI)

Box M32

Accra-Ghana

 

E-mail:

frank.lare@mesti.gov.gh

henry.bortey@mesti.gov.gh

 

For further clarification, kindly contact the following:

Procurement Specialist

Phone no.: 0302662626/0244-842128

E-mail: frank.lare@mesti.gov.gh