1.   Introduction and Background

The AIDS Foundation of South Africa (AFSA) is a Durban-based NGO that acts as an interface between Donors and Community Based Organisations (CBO’s) working in the HIV/AIDS sector, by placing donor funds with strategically selected CBOs in South Africa, and providing them with ongoing, technical support & capacity building.

The South Africa Global Fund Country Coordinating Mechanism (GF CCM) is responsible for leading the implementation of HIV and TB programmes funded by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (GF) in the country. The GF CCM has selected the AIDS Foundation of South Africa (AFSA) to be appointed by the GF as one of the four Principal Recipients (PRs) that will implement programmes funded by the grant, during Apr 2022 – Mar 2025.

Serving as a grant manager, the PR coordinates grants’ execution through sub-recipients (SRs), service providers and consultants as the main implementers of the GF programmes. AFSA’s programmes under the current Global Fund grant are implemented in 20 districts, across all nine South Africa’s provinces. Four core programmes are assigned to AFSA:

1. Adolescents and Young People (AYP) programme
2. Sex Workers programme  
3. Human Rights & Advocacy programme
4. Community Systems Strengthening programme

It is upon this background that AFSA seeks to appoint one or more consultants to provide communications services to the organisation. The main goal of this consultancy is to provide AFSA’s Global Fund funded programmes with professional communications services to promote health and wellbeing of communities served by the AFSA Global Fund programme.

2.   The objectives of communication consultancy

The communications consultant will:

• Provide communications support to all AFSA programmes and stakeholders to articulate key messages and disseminate standardised information in AFSA’s core areas of work.
• Be responsible for maximising AFSA’s ability to communicate its messages and work impactfully. 
• Work will all programme teams and AFSA structures to develop and formalise internal communication strategies and train employees on best practices.

3.   Scope of the work

Strategic Communication and Content Writing

• Develop a communication, branding and marketing strategy
• Writing web content for campaigns and events, including maintenance of    AFSA website
• Consolidating reports and best practice stories, highlighting impact under AFSA supported interventions
• Develop and train AFSA employees on internal communication and public presentations
• Writing media release, blogposts for campaigns and social media messages as needed
• Monitoring media coverage during health calendar events, public advocacy campaigns and strategic stakeholder engagements 

Content Editing

• Create and edit content to drive a compelling and effective narratives which not only builds our public profile, but advances the appropriate uses of technology in improving health and health systems
• Support teams in engagements with the media; writing and editing clear and compelling media advisories and press releases that avoid jargon and cliché
• Manage and maintain the organization’s various external facing digital platforms such as the website, LinkedIn, Twitter, Medium etc.

Strengthen Internal Communications

• Develop an appropriate tone for internal communications which motivates, inspires, and informs AFSA teams

Deliverables

Under the technical guidance by AFSA Global Fund teams, the consultant will package communication material as follows:

1. Develop communication and branding strategy for AFSA Global Fund Programs
2. Develop and induct AFSA stakeholders and employees on writing web- content, presentations, and communications outreach material
3. Content editing and presentations for external communication and events
4. Develop communication products for advocacy campaigns and public events

Contracting Period

The consultant will be contracted to work on specific assignments, and not on a fulltime basis. The term of the contract will be from mid – February 2023 to March 2025.cope of the

work

4.   Requirements: Educational & Experience

Qualifications, experience, skills, and knowledge assessed

• Tertiary Qualification required –minimum of a university degree or 3-year diploma.
• Over 5yrs experience as communications specialist for similar /related programmes (HIV, TB, GBV, SRHR, KVPs).
• Tertiary Qualification required –minimum of a university degree or 3-year diploma.

Other important criteria to be assessed

• Sound communication, content creation and editing skills
• Experience, with evidence of doing similar work, in designing outreach material for public campaigns and events
• Ability to analyse campaign response from diverse media platforms, including radio talk shows and events and synthesise this information into program communication documents and policy briefs

5.   Required documents to be submitted

IMPORTANT: Documents listed in the table below must be submitted as one pdf file and, in the order shown. Insert a blank page, with appropriate label & mark it “NOT SUBMITTED” to indicate documents not submitted. AFSA will not be held responsible for documents delayed or misplaced during file transmission.

DOCUMENT NUMBER	DESCRIPTION REFERENCE:
DOC-01	Motivation /cover letter, with full contact details: indicate reference number. Attach this page onto the motivation letter.
*DOC-02	A declaration confirming the absence of any conflict of interest; or alternatively a declaration stating any existing relationship with AFSA employees or Directors. Document provided on page 12.
DOC-03	Two – three-page proposal.
DOC-04	CV, including 2-3 contactable references.
*DOC-05	Sole Proprietor: Certified copy of identity document (If non-South African: attach work permit). Company: Company or trading entity registration certificate.
DOC-06	Qualification documents (Degree certificates etc.).
*DOC-07	A valid tax clearance certificate issued by the South African Revenue Service (SARS).
*DOC-08	VAT vendor registration
DOC-09	Table listing relevant current and completed assignments /projects, in the last 5 years.
DOC-10	Two examples of relevant recent written work (last 5 years): report/ proposal /article /etc.
*DOC-11	B-BBEE status level verification certificate. Attach affidavit if trading below the prescribed threshold.
DOC-12	Costing: Proposed rate (per hour). At contracting and payment stage, payments will be linked to Milestones and not time worked.

*Documents marked with asterisk* are mandatory. Applications missing these documents will be disqualified. Documents are valid only if certified within 6 months of the closing date. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Please click here to download the Full TOR: RFP Communications – SP – Ref: GLOCOMM2023