Consultancy to Prepare Communication and Knowledge Management Strategy for TROSA Phase-2

Date:  18-Jan-2023

CONSULTANCY TO PREPARE COMMUNICATION AND KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY FOR TROSA PHASE-2

Oxfam is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. Oxfam expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.

Oxfam is an international confederation of 19 organizations networked together in 97 countries. As part of a global movement for change, we are working together to end world poverty and injustice. We work with thousands of partners in countries around the world and employ staff in a wide variety of posts. We work directly with communities, and we work with the powerful to enable the most marginalized to improve their lives and livelihoods and have a say in decisions that affect them.

Program Background

Oxfam in collaboration with four regional and 15 national and local partners implemented the Transboundary Rivers of South Asia (TROSA) programme in four regionally significant river basins shared between Bangladesh, India, Myanmar and Nepal from 2017 to 2022, with funding from the Swedish Government. The overall goal of TROSA was to reduce poverty and marginalisation of vulnerable river basin communities through increased access to, and control over the riverine water resources on which their livelihoods depend.

Over the last six years, TROSA has created positive momentum for transboundary cooperation on shared water resources in South Asia. In this challenging regional context, where governance of transboundary water resources is highly politicised, and there is a notable lack of multilateral cooperation mechanisms or structures for this purpose, Oxfam and our partners made significant progress in laying the foundations for inclusive and accountable regional cooperation in the future.

Oxfam along with its TROSA phase-1 partners prepared a proposal for TROSA phase-2 and submitted to Sida in last quarter of 2022. As per the proposal, TROSA phase 2: Rivers, Rights and Resilience (T2:3R) will continue and build on the work of TROSA, with a more explicit focus on further improving cooperation in governing transboundary water resources to strengthen resilience of riparian communities to the impacts of climate change. The programme will work to support climate-resilient livelihoods for vulnerable natural resource dependent communities in the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna (GBM) basins, improve management of transboundary river ecosystems, and scale up efforts to empower and increase participation of women, youth and Indigenous People in water governance across the basins, as well as strengthen institutions for cooperation on governance of shared water resources.

The program works in strategically selected transboundary sub-basins within the GBM river basin system, across Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal.

The overall goal and outcomes of TROSA phase -2 (T2:3R) are as follows:

Overall Goal: Improved cooperation in governing shared water resources, strengthening resilience to climate change of riparian communities in the transboundary Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna River basins

• Outcome 1: Strengthened climate-resilient livelihoods of communities living in the transboundary GBM river basins
• Outcome 2: Improved and inclusive management of transboundary river ecosystems and protection of biodiversity across the GBM river basins
• Outcome 3: Strengthened leadership of civil society, especially women, Indigenous People, and youth to influence government and private sector on water governance across and between the transboundary GBM basins
• Outcome 4: Strengthened cooperation, collaboration and accountability across and between the transboundary GBM river basins

Consultancy Objective

The overall objective of this consultancy is to develop a strategy document and a manual that covers key communication and knowledge management strategies, activities that address the communication and knowledge management needs of the program and contribute to the realization of TROSA Phase-2 overall objective and support to increase the outreach and influence of the program.

Strategy document will cover the external and internal communication objectives tailored to match and serve TROSA’s four specific outcomes (and by doing so, ultimately contribute to TROSA’s overall goal). Internal communication refers communication at Program Management Unit (PMU) level, communication with the Hague/Oxfam Novib, Steering Committee, Oxfam International, Oxfam Affiliates & County offices. Sign off process at Oxfam level especially external publications like Learning brief, policy brief and other documents. External communication refers to the communication with local government, state, central, regional level, university, private sectors and UN organizations etc.

Use of social media and other means like independent website, online medium/platforms etc. to increase T2:3R’s outreach efforts, communication with donors and influencing efforts.

Communication and knowledge management strategy Consultant will also assess the gaps which had impacted the performance of TROSA phase-1 communication and knowledge management initiatives and include the possible mitigation plan/ recommendations for TROSA phase-2.

The expected users of this strategy document are all TROSA Phase-2 partners, Program Management Unit (PMU), and Oxfam offices. Exploration of potential audience for external communications.

The suggested methodology includes:

1. Desk review of relevant literature, strategy documents and manuals 
2. Synthesis of literature findings and assessment of communication and knowledge management needs of TROSA Phase-2 aligned with Oxfam’s communication and knowledge guidelines
3. Analysis of the key successes and challenges of the TROSA 1 communication and knowledge management strategy
4. Engaging Oxfam County offices, Oxfam Affiliates and platforms, regional partners, other regional programs in the process.
5. Key Informant Interviews as necessary

Scope of work:

Oxfam in Cambodia is seeking to recruit a consultant or consultancy team to develop the communication and knowledge management strategy of TROSA Phase-2. The consultant or consultancy team will be required to conduct the key activities described below and report directly to the TROSA PMU in Cambodia:

• Conduct comprehensive desk review of relevant strategy documents and manuals 
• Conduct analysis and assessment of communication and knowledge management needs aligned with Oxfam’s communication and knowledge guidelines and Sida’s accountability requirements
• Develop communication and knowledge management strategy with a manual on tools recommended in the strategy.

Suggested Timeframe: The following is a suggested timeframe which can be adjusted in the technical proposal. However, the submission of the final documents by 28th February 2023 is non-negotiable.

Key deliverable and indicative working days:

This assignment is estimated to require a total of 25 working days.

• Inception report (02 working days)
• Draft strategy document and manuals (18 working days)
• Presentation of draft strategy (1 working day)
• Final strategy document with manual (4 working days)

Technical and Financial Proposal and Payment Schedule

The consultant or consultancy team is required to prepare a detailed technical proposal with a clear timeframe and milestones for deliverable and a detailed financial proposal for the whole consultancy covering consultancy fees, document review/analysis fees, presentation cost, and any other related/needed logistics and applicable taxes and other associated expenses.

The financial proposal should clearly indicate description of items, unit, unit price and quantity for each key phases of the process (Inception phase, Literature review, Key informant Interviews (if any), and final report phase).

Financial proposals will be evaluated based on their cost-effectiveness, competitiveness, and clarity of execution. Lumpsum or aggregate financial proposal will NOT be accepted.

Job Requirements (Key Qualifications, Skills and Capabilities)

1. Demonstrable experience of producing high-quality, credible communication and knowledge management related assignments (samples of work should be included in the Technical Proposal);
2. Demonstrable experience of working with internation level / national level communication and knowledge management work; Strong analytical skills in water governance, gender, and inclusive development in South Asia.
3. Proven experience working or undertaking similar assignments especially in the natural resource management sector in South Asia;
4. Demonstrable ability to connect, engage and receive valuable inputs from relevant stakeholders;
5. Have good knowledge in any of the four themes (transboundary water, gender equality, civil society and human rights) from regional perspectives.
6. Excellent writing and verbal communication skills in English and ability to write concise, readable and analytical strategic documents.

Key Attributes:

• Ability to demonstrate sensitivity to cultural differences and gender issues, as well as the commitment to equal opportunities.
• Ability to demonstrate an openness and willingness to learn about the application of gender/gender mainstreaming, women’s rights, and diversity for all aspects of development work.
• Commitment to Oxfam’s safeguarding policies to ensure all people who come into contact with Oxfam are as safe as possible.

Organisational Values:

• Accountability – Our purpose-driven, results-focused approach means we take responsibility for our actions and hold ourselves accountable. We believe that others should also be held accountable for their actions.
• Empowerment – Our approach means that everyone involved with Oxfam, from our staff and supporters to people living in poverty, should feel they can make change happen.
• Inclusiveness – We are open to everyone and embrace diversity. We believe everyone has a contribution to make, regardless of visible and invisible differences.

How to apply

The applicant is expected to submit:

• Detailed proposal describing the previous work done in this area and afore-mentioned expertise
• A portfolio of previous work
• CVs of the relevant individuals and com pany profile
• Estimated budget for this assignment accompanied with a cost breakdown (the consultancy fee should be mentioned in net fee in US Dollars. Oxfam will be responsible to pay 15% withholding tax for resident taxpayer or 14% withholding tax for non-resident taxpayer). (If it is a Cambodia-based consulting firm with VAT certificate, then net fee + VAT but not withholding tax.)

Applying through the recruitment website:  https://career2.successfactors.eu/career?company=OxfamNovibP  by January 25th, 2023 at 23:59 ICT.

ONLY SHORTLISTED CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED