AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK GROUP

Financial Sector Development Department (PIFD)

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST CONSULTING FIRM COMMUNICATION, WRITING AND CREATIVE WORK FOR CMDTF

  1. We are pleased to inform you that the Capital Markets Development Division (PIFD.2, African Development Bank Group (“AfDB” or the “Bank”)) will require the Services of a consulting firm hereafter the “firm” to support the overall Communication, writing and creative work of the Capital Markets Development Trust Fund (CMDTF).
  2. The estimated duration of services is four (4) man months spread over a period of 20 months. The estimated starting date is June 30th, 2021.
  3. Appendix 1 contains the Terms of Reference (TOR) outlining service requirements and scope of the assignment. Should a firm be interested, they are kindly requested to send your proposal − no later than Friday May 14th, 2021 at 17:00 PM (Abidjan time) to e-mails mentioned in paragraph 6. The e-mail title should clearly mention “Communication firm for CMDTF_[FIRM NAME]”.
  1. Interested firms need to provide (i) Cover letter including firm brochures and promotional materials; (ii) name, physical address, contact person, location and website; (iii) Certified copy of the original Certificate of Incorporation, Business license and copies of the latest financial Statement; (iv) list of current clients; (v) provide proof of published writing sample – with the most recent dating no older than 12 months including links to past and ongoing portfolio, visual materials, infographics, press releases, and impact stories. In addition, the shortlisted firms will pass a timed writing test of language to assess writing skills capacity and to support the Technical Evaluation Committee decision-making. Finally, interested firms have to provide the CVs of its staffs and personnel performing the work including their capabilities. Applications non-compliant with these guidelines will be rejected. Any proposal received after the closing date shall be rejected.
  2. Interested firms may obtain further information at the email addresses below during the

Bank’s working hours 09:00 and 17:00 GMT.

  1. Kindly submit your application to:

To: Mr. Ahmed ATTOUT [email protected]

Division Manager – Capital Markets Development Division (PIFD2)

Cc: Mr. Albin KAKOU  [email protected]

Mrs. Anitha JAOTODY [email protected]

  1. The eligibility criteria, the establishment of a short list and the selection procedure shall be in conformity with the Bank’s Rules and Procedure for Acquisition of Consulting Services funded by the Administrative or Capital Expenditure Budget. Please, note that interest expressed by a firm does not imply any obligation on the part of the Bank to include them in the shortlist. The proposals to be submitted by the firm shall be evaluated on the basis of the following criteria:

General qualification and suitability for the task to be performed 40 points

Experience in the specific assignment described in the TOR 30 points

Availability of skills within the personnel of the company during the period planned for the execution of the contract 15 points

Experience with international donor agencies 10 points

Knowledge of the Africa region  5 points

  1. A shortlist will be established at the end of the longlisting process. Only proposals scorin points or above shall be considered for this assignment. Firm with the highest score will be selected for the said assignment if fees are within budget limits.
  1. If necessary, the firm shall take steps to obtain the visas or certificates of residence required to perform the task team duties and fulfill contractual obligations under this assignment.
  1. The AfDB looks forward to receiving your proposals and thank you in advance for your interest.

APPENDIX  TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR)

Consulting firm– Communication, writing and creative work for the Capital Markets Development Trust Fund (CMDTF)

  1. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

THE BANK: Established in 1964, the African Development Bank is the premier pan-African development institution, promoting economic growth and social progress across the continent. There are 81 member states, including 54 in Africa (Regional Member Countries). The Bank’s development agenda is to deliver financial and technical support for transformative interventions that will significantly reduce poverty through inclusive and sustainable economic growth. In addition to providing finance, the Bank is Africa’s voice on global economic, financial and development issues − a role that has taken significant importance in light of increasing global integration and interconnected risks. In order to sharply focus the objectives of the Ten Year Strategy (2013 – 2022) and ensure greater developmental impact, five major areas − all of which will accelerate delivery for Africa − have been identified to scaling up impact, namely; energy, agro-business, industrialization, integration and improving the quality of life for the people of Africa.

THE HIRING DEPARTMENT: The Financial Sector Development Department is part of the Vice Presidency for Private Sector, Infrastructure and Industrialization (PIVP) that aims at developing the private sector, improving infrastructure and accelerating industrialization. The primary role of the Financial Sector Development Department (PIFD) is to help the Regional Member Countries (RMCs) increase the reach, depth, and breadth of their financial systems, while safeguarding financial stability. The Department has four long-term objectives: (i) development of a vibrant private sector through an inclusive access by households and enterprises to financial services; (ii) strengthening markets participants; (iii) developing efficient capital markets, and (iv) deepening regional financial integration. PIFD is responsible for implementing the Bank Group’s Financial Sector Development Policy and Strategy, towards vibrant, innovative, robust and competitive national and regional financial systems, in both RMCs’ public and private sector. The demand for financial sector interventions in the Bank’s RMCs’ are increasing, as are the expectations of tangible outcomes from the Bank’s operations in the financial sector.

THE HIRING DIVISION: The primary role of the Capital Markets Development Division (PIFD2) cuts across the Bank’s Ten Years Strategy and its High 5s priority agenda by focusing on growing liquid while setting the framework for an effective capital markets in a broadened and deepened African financial system. PIFD2 activities include lending and non-lending operations (including CMDTF) to promote access and use of local currency capital markets as an alternative sustainable source of medium to long term financing; to develop the non-bank financial systems within RMCs; and to implement capital market development initiatives, programs and trust funds.

  1. THE CAPITAL MARKETS DEVELOPMENT TRUST FUND (“CMDTF”)

In November 2019, the Board of Directors of the AfDB approved the establishment of the Capital Markets Development Trust Fund (“CMDTF”) with initial funding from the Ministry for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation of the Netherlands and Ministry of Finance of Luxembourg.

The overall objective of the CMDTF is to support the establishment of well-functioning capital markets that can efficiently mobilize and allocate savings to fund the credit needs of economic agents, households and the continent’s private sector while reducing intermediation costs. This will be achieved through two pillars: (i) strengthening financial markets enabling environments and institutions and (ii) disseminating knowledge on issues that are of strategic importance to capital markets development. The CMDTF activities will contribute to (i) update capital markets legal and regulatory frameworks while aligning them with international best practices; (ii) improve capital markets infrastructure; (iii) support the development of new products; and (iv) broaden the investor base. The CMDTF will also work on key knowledge products and events.

To achieve this objective, the CMDTF is recruiting a firm. The firm will support the CMDTF Secretariat designing and implementing a Communication strategy including writing and creative work. The firm will report on Communication strategy impact, performance and results.

  1. THE SCOPE OF WORK

The firm will work within the CMDTF Secretariat, under the supervision of the CMDTF Task Manager and general guidance of the Manager of the Capital Markets Development Division (PIFD2). The firm will execute activities to implement the CMDTF Communication Strategy including (i) writing outstanding and high-quality annual reports; and (ii) leading creative work on other key promotional materials to develop CMDTF identity/branding and to influence in areas such as (a) financial markets enabling environments and institutions; (b) knowledge production on capital markets development; (c) capital markets regulatory frameworks update and alignment with international best practices; (d) access to capital markets and financial services for economic agents (households and SMEs); and (e) development of new financial products and services. All deliverables under this contract should be produced in English and French. The firm will assist in the following areas:

Execute and implement CMDTF Communication strategy activities as per Bank’s standards and as per timeline.

  • Conceptualize, develop and produce professional and creative concepts for a range of communication products/campaigns to successfully reflect CMDTF’s mission, key messages and core strategies, while appealing to a varied audience;
  • Develop a detailed and customized communication plan for CMDTF to achieve maximum visibility to promote and share information with targeted audience;
  • Develop an up-to-date corporate graphic charter for users;
  • Design content, write copy for publications and new communication products such as corporate brochures and marketing materials, flyers, capital markets development fact sheets and infographics by country, annual reports, power point presentations and other materials as the case may be;
  • Advise and roll-out communication campaigns; provide project completion report at the end of assignment including recommendations;
  • Identify and monitor outreach opportunities and track communications impact;
  • Monitor local, international media on coverage of capital markets development.

Provide creative writing services

  • Lead creative writing process for the 2020, 2021 and 2022 CMDTF Annual Reports highlighting lessons learned, success stories and way forward;
  • Produce advanced and dynamic power points presentations on Capital markets development including CMDTF projects, activities and instruments;
  • Lead creative writing process for other communication products (corporate brochures including donors’ kit, leaflets, flyers, capital markets development fact sheets and infographics by country, impact reports)
  • Undertake an impact and/or field base case studies that demonstrate projects implementation in tangible manner;
  • Coordinate creative input, draft, proofread, copy editing and finalization of all communication products; ensure all corrections have been inserted;
  • Assist in the development of talking points and other editorial materials on capital markets development, as the case may be;

Provide graphic design services aligned with the Bank’s branding standards

  • Ideate, establish and manage CMDTF unique branding as a leading African one-stop shop facility dedicated to scaling up and advancing capital markets development key role to finance development agenda and economic agents’ needs;
  • Create charts, graphs and infographics and advise in the selection of photos to accompany communication materials;
  • Using graphic data supplied by the Bank, the firm will develop high-quality and consistent visual identities (mobile-responsive, where appropriate) for use in a broad range of communication materials (including web-based and social media) such as:
    • annual reports and corporate brochures;
  • impact reports (lessons learned and impact);
  • fact sheets and infographics by country;
  • power point presentations for marketing and fund raising purposes;
  • Events’ collateral such as roll-ups, posters, web-banners.
  • Create both electronic and print layout/templates for CMDTF publications. All deliverables under this contract should be produced in English and French.

Provide institutional filmmaking/Video services

  • Collect, compile information and material from CMDTF and other sources to produce corporate videos on CMDTF impact, success stories and lesson learned (case stories, interview, desk research, etc.);
  • Prepare script and develop audio-visual content, scene coverage, voice & text input to explain the importance of CMDTF activities and contribution;
  • Capture, cut and edit High Definition (HD) videos, audios, photos to develop the corporate film;
  • Produce compelling institutional corporate film in desired format (of about 16 minutes with voice over and music in HD digital format) on 10 Flash Drive and digital version.
  1. DELIVERABLES AND REPORTING

The firm will report to the CMDTF Task Manager with the overall guidance of the Manager – Capital Markets Division. All deliverables under this contract should be produced in English and French. Specific outputs to be produced during the course of the assignment include:

  • Deliverable 1 – A detailed and customized communication plan including corporate graphic charter for users and timeline (First week of July 2021)
  • Deliverable 2 – Set of Corporate brochures and marketing materials including facts sheets, flyers, (August 2nd, 2021)
  • Deliverable 3 – CMDTF Logo (August 2nd, 2021)
  • Deliverable 4 – Advanced/interactive/dynamic Power point presentations covering (i) CMDTF and (ii) Capital markets development visuals (August 20th, 2021)
  • Deliverable 5 – CMDTF 2020 report (August 31st, 2021)
  • Deliverable 6 – Corporate promotional video of 16 min in French and in English (8 min content on CMDTF and 8 min on Capital markets development in Africa) (September 15th, 2021)
  • Deliverable 7 – CMDTF Annual Report 2020-2021 (February 15th, 2022)
  • Deliverable 8 – CMDTF Annual Report 2022 (February 15th, 2023)

At the conclusion of the assignment, the Consultant’s outputs will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

  1. Professional competence
  2. Reliability and organisation
  • Output
  1. Quality of work produced.
  1. COMPETENCIES (SKILLS, EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE)

The firm is expected to have a proven track record of similar previous experience with a clear understanding of qualitative and quantitative data gathering and most importantly storytelling process. In addition, it must have fast, accurate, creative and versatile writing skills, including the ability to research and prepare content for digital and social media. The firm should assign a team with the following individual qualifications for this assignment :

  • Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Development Studies, communication, marketing, graphic design, Journalism or related fields. A master’s degree in other fields with specialized training in communication will be considered;
  • Portfolio quality;
  • Considerable work experience in developing countries in the field of public information, communication, finance, capital markets development, regional financial integration;
  • Ability to bring stories to life;
  • Demonstrated experience in creatives writing and text for professional publications; proof of published writing samples will be required;
  • Sophisticated understanding of policy, regional financial integration and combined with graphic design, journalistic and high-level creative writing skills;
  • Proficiency in English and French;
  • Knowledge of the theory of change; knowledge of operational/policy areas, procedures and practice of the African Development Bank or other multilateral development Banks and/or other international development agencies;
  • Creativity, enthusiasm and ability to learn new concepts quickly and to take initiative;
  1. DURATION OF ASSIGNMENT AND REMUNERATION

The assignment will commence at completion of the selection process and upon contract signing. The consultancy is expected to start on June 30th, 2021. The firm will deliver the requested deliverables during a period of four (4) man months spread over a period running from June 30th

  • 2021 to February 15th, 2023 (20 months) . The consultancy fees will be paid at completion of specific deliverables.
  1. APPLICATION

The CMDTF Secretariat invites firms to indicate their interest by sending a proposal − no later than Friday May 14th, 2021 at 17:00 PM (Abidjan time) To: Mr. Ahmed ATTOUT [email protected], Division Manager – Capital Markets Development Division Cc: Mr. Albin KAKOU [email protected] and Mrs. Anitha JAOTODY [email protected]. The e-mail title should clearly mention “Communication firm for CMDTF [FIRM NAME]”.