RFP: Communication and outreach activities for social support scheme to increase uptake among vulnerable households (including Roma)

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – CONSULTANCY FIRM)

ALBANIA

Project: National Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Modernization Program (P4R)

TF No.: B8448

Assignment Title: Communication and outreach activities for social support scheme to increase uptake among vulnerable households (including Roma)

Reference No.: AL-AKUK -329331-CS-CQS

Albania has developed a strong regulatory framework for Water Supply and Sewerage (WSS) service delivery and undergone various reforms and changes in institutional arrangements aiming to improve service delivery and local oversight. In May 2022, a Council of Ministers decision aimed to reorganize the municipal water supply into regional water utilities (RWUs), with 51% of the shares in each of the new RWUs held by the central government, through the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy (MoIE) and its National Agency of Water Supply and Sewerage, (AKUK), in an effort to improve utility operations and performance.

This Request for Expressions of Interest aims to assist AKUK in providing the Design and conducting the Implementation of Comprehensive information, education, and communication (IEC) activities and behaviour change communication (BCC) activities among Roma communities and other vulnerable groups. The IEC activities are expected to provide communications support to disseminate social support/subsidy scheme among these groups.

Provide targeted support for community outreach and behaviour change communication for a subset of utilities with high concentration of Roma minorities (at least 5 municipalities), to ensure Roma benefits from the same level of information as others especially for their rights and obligation on access to basic sanitation and clean water. Outreach activities will help to identify possible solutions to provide these communities with access to safe water. The BCC framework should aim to ensure long-term behaviour change and sustainability that leads to improved health outcomes for communities.

Additionally, training is needed to both RWUs er and municipality staff on IEC and BCC activities so they can apply it in the future.

The detailed Terms of Reference (ToR) for the assignment can be found at the following website: https://akuk.gov.al/

The activities described in these TORs are expected to be completed within a period of 5 months, following the signing of the consultancy contract.

The Consultant firm shall possess the following relevant qualification:

1. At least 7 years of expertise in designing and implementing communication campaigns and BCC activities.
2. Have designed or implemented at least 2 similar assignments (IEC and BCC activities)
3. Experience with focus on vulnerable groups and Roma communities is considered an advantage

KE1: Senior Social Communication Expert / Team Leader / Project coordinator

1. A Master’s Degree in Communication, Public Relations, Strategic Communication, or a related field is often preferred;
2. At least 10 years of working experience in marketing and advertising industry; creating, designing and implementing of information and communication public awareness campaigns;
3. At least 5 year working experience as communications specialist in coordinating campaigns of public awareness and public information at national and local level;
4. Experience in development of campaigns strategies and campaigns implementation; development of campaign strategies implementation for governments/ministries would be an advantage;
5. At least 1 experience on projects conducting Citizen engagement and outreach activities;
6. Excellent communication skills in English and Albanian.

KE2: Social Expert on Behavior Change

1. Master’s Degree in one of the following fields: Public Health, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Communication Studies, Psychology;
2. At least 5 years of relevant experience in designing, implementing, and evaluating BCC programs in health, water supply, sanitation, or similar sectors;
3. At least 2 proven experiences in working with vulnerable groups, low-income HH, and marginalized groups, minorities, and Roma communities;
4. At least 1 monitoring and evaluation experience in assessing the effectiveness of communication and BCC interventions.

Non-key experts

The Consultant must engage other non-key experts to complete the required tasks, such as Expert on Civic Management and Social Expert on Communication

The evaluation criteria to be used for selecting the successful Consultant will be the following:

•           General Qualifications, including core business and years in business, (30 points);

•           Relevant experience, including previous experience in the field of assignment, (60 points);

•           Availability of qualified staff within the consulting firm (10 points).

The service will be selected under the provisions of the World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers (Procurement Regulations), in investment project financing Goods, Works, Non-Consulting and Consulting Services November 2020, in accordance with Open National Selection of Consulting Firms (CQS), Lump-Sum Contract. The Bank requires that firms or individuals involved in Bank IPF procurement shall not have conflict of interest.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours 08:00 to 16:00, Mondays to Thursdays, and from 08:00 to 14:00 on Fridays.

Expressions of interest (CV, Cover letter and documentary evidence for fulfilling the qualifications) must be delivered in a written form to the address below in person, or by mail, or by fax, or by e-mail within November 10th, 2025.

Mr. Flauers Shoshi

Agency of Water Supply, Sewerage and Waste Infrastructure

Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy

“Sami Frashëri” Str., No. 4, Tirana, Albania

procurement_p4r@akuk.gov.al