REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL- (RFP -ETH- 2016 – 9126020)

OPEN for Local Companies Only 

UNICEF Ethiopia Office is seeking Request for Proposal from a registered firm/ company to End of project assessment for PMC-UNICEF collaboration on media capacity building and serial radio drama dissemination  

Background: The collaboration project of UNICEF and Population Media Center (PMC) focused on the implementation of media interventions with three main components; capacity building of Educational Media Centers (EMCs) on programming for and with children and young people; media capacity building targeting youth centers; and production and dissemination of a two year serial drama promoting cross-cutting sectoral messages with an outreach component of community listener groups.  The collaboration agreement was framed within the overall agreement with Ministry of Education (MoE) and Ministry of Youth Women and Children Affairs (MOWCYA) underpinned within the Annual Work plan ( for the period of EFY 2005-2006) of both ministries, who took leadership of the conception of children and youth media capacity building strategy.

The first component focused on capacitating Educational Media Centers (EMCs).  EMCs creates a widely accessible communication channel to the Education Sector, including educational radio and television program production and transmission stations. There are than 11 educational radio stations under the administration of Education Bureaus serving the primary schools, with more than 90% of coverage. In addition to the main curricular program transmission during school days, the stations disseminate programmes for the general public over the weekend. Due to their access to the school community and the general public, the collaboration focused on capacity building of media producers in educational media centres in all regions on message content and creative production. 

The second component focused on children and youth media capacity building.  UNICEF in the previous years has made initial efforts to support about fifty six selected youth centers/youth media hubs with media equipment and training on multimedia skills.  However, while useful initiatives have been undertake both inside and outside of schools with the objective of equipping children and youth to more effectively use media for participation and development, the majority of such efforts have been largely sporadic, often small scale, and in most cases limited to national level coordination. Cognizant of this, two consultation workshops were convened by the then Communication for Development Section of UNICEF, on children/youth media capacity building with relevant government and non-government organizations. The consultation sessions conceptualized a strategy for enhancing media capacity among children and youth in and out of school. The UNICEF-PMC collaboration focused on roll out of the strategy specifically through systematic development of packages and guidelines, training of youth centers in the regions who had received equipment support, mentoring of youth productions and facilitating linkages with regional media stations to disseminate contents produced by young people.

 Lastly, the third component of the collaboration agreement focused on production and dissemination of a two years radio serial drama. Based on the positive evaluation assessment of the award winning radio serial drama on Health Extension Package (HEP) previously disseminated through UNICEF-PMC collaboration, the current series was initiated focusing on more cross-sectoral issues including girls education, violence against children, hygiene and sanitation, maternal, infant and child health and nutrition. The serial drama collected regular feedback form 150 listener groups in four regions of Amhara, SNNPR, and Oromia.

Purpose: To assess the contribution of media capacity building to Educational Media Centers and youth centers in improving media programming around women and children;  and the impact in radio serial drama on community knowledge, attitude and practice on key behaviors across sectors  .

Expected background and Experience:

The assignment calls for team of consultants qualifying the following criteria:

• Previous experience in carrying out similar assignments on assessment and evaluation studies preferably related to C4D and media interventions
• Well versed in analysis of current trends of the communication and media landscape in urban and rural Ethiopia
• Proven track of primary data collection, particularly dealing with a wide range of audiences 
• Experience in undertaking collecting, organizing and analysing secondary data and generate succinct desk review 
• Team composition with mixed educational background including; advanced degree in behaviour and social change,  communication studies, and statistics

More details of the requirements for this bid can be found in the RFP.

Interested and eligible bidders from international consultancy companies or international academic institutions are invited to collect the complete bid documents by sending an email to Mr. Ayele Wolde (awolde@unicef.org) or Mr. Deresse Damte (ddamte@unicef.org) Starting on 29/06/2016. Proposals are to be submitted to UNICEF Ethiopia Office on or before 10.00 am (East African Time) 14/07/2016.  Please quote the RFP nr. 9126020 in all your correspondences. Due to the nature of the bid, there will be no bid public opening for this offer. UNICEF reserves the right to accept or reject part or all of any or all bids.

ADDRESS:  UNICEF Ethiopia, UNECA Compound, NOF Building, 2^nd  floor Supply Section,  Attn. Mr. Ayele Wolde / Mr. Deresse Damte, P.O.BOX 1169, TEL: +251-11 518 4142 / 4167, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.