Consultancy: Gender Awareness Graphics & Printing

Call for application: Short Term Consultancy Service for Short Term Technical Assistance (STTA) services for Illustrations and Graphic designing of Gender-Related Awareness Creation Messages into Locally tailored Languages and Contexts and Printing.

About RTI

Research Triangle Institute (RTI) has over 30 years’ experience assisting governments, communities, and the private sector. As a not-for-profit, independent research institute based in North Carolina, USA, RTI has roughly 6,000 employees with global experience implementing international development projects. RTI’s Sustainable Growth & Resilience (SG&R) technical unit within the International Development Group brings together RTI experts and capabilities across food security, agriculture, energy, environment, water, governance, and economic opportunity. SG&R will leverage RTI’s experience designing and delivering multisectoral programming and technical solutions to respond to climate change, build resilience, and promote economic growth around the world.

SG&R’s Water portfolio has delivered innovative, breakthrough solutions in key development sectors globally, including water sector governance, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services, water resources management, community engagement, urban resilience, and institutional capacity building. 

Introduction

Background to the Project

The USAID Climate Resilient Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (CR-WASH) Activity is a five-year activity aimed at accelerating the expansion and sustainability of climate-resilient water services and the adoption of key hygiene and sanitation practices for underserved and vulnerable lowland areas in Afar, Oromia, Somali, and South Ethiopia regions. The Activity will achieve this through four complementary intermediate results (IRs):

1. Professionalize and expand climate-resilient water services.

2. Increase sustainable access to and use of sanitation and hygiene products and services, including menstrual health and hygiene.

3. Improve gender power dynamics.

4. Strengthen the enabling environment for climate-resilient water and sanitation services.

To improve the gender power dynamics in the WASH sector, especially in lowland areas, the CR WASH Activity recognizes the importance of creating awareness about gender equity and inclusion, particularly in the WASH sector. To achieve these different awareness creation messages has been developed to reach out the community through different channels and using the known national and international events related to gender and WASH. To reach the underserved communities effectively, these gender-related messages need to be tailored to local contexts through translation and culturally appropriate illustrations. To this end the CR WASH activity is looking for a potential Firm to carry out the translation and illustration activity. 

Objective of the Translation and Illustration work:

The objective of this assignment is to develop culturally sensitive and contextually appropriate illustrations to reach out the target population and enhance the gender-related awareness messages comprehension and engagement.

Scope of Work

The consultancy firm will be responsible for the following tasks:

1. Conduct a preliminary review of existing gender-related awareness messages.

2. Consult with CR WASH regional managers and gender focal persons to understand the target audience and cultural sensitivities.

3. Develop a work plan and timeline for translation and illustration activities.

4. Perform translations and create illustrations, ensuring alignment with CR WASH guidelines.

5. Organize and lead validation workshops.

6. Submit final, high-quality materials in digital and printed formats for dissemination.

Duration: The consultancy is expected to last for 20 days, starting from January 17, 2025, and concluding by February 17, 2025. 

Deliverables and timeframe for submission

Anticipated outcomes

The successful completion of the consultancy work for translating and illustrating gender-related awareness creation messages into local languages is expected to achieve the following outcomes:

1. Enhanced accessibility and understanding of the content of the Gender-related awareness messages by different community groups 

2. Increased cultural relevance by ensuring the alignment of the messages with local norms, traditions, and values.

3. Improved engagement and attract attention of the local audience with low literacy level 

7. The dissemination of translated and illustrated materials contributes to measurable improvements in gender awareness, particularly regarding equitable participation in WASH activities and decision-making processes.

8. Finalized, high-quality materials are available for reuse and adaptation in similar projects, ensuring cost-effectiveness and scalability for future initiatives.

These outcomes will contribute significantly to CR WASH’s broader goals of promoting gender equality and inclusion in the WASH sector while ensuring that underserved communities are reached effectively.

Supervision and Reporting Arrangement 

The consultancy firm will closely work with CR WASH Gender Advisor on the day-today activities of the assignment and reports. 

Expected Experience and Qualifications

The consultancy firm should meet the following: experience and qualification requirements:

Essential Requirements

1.         Copy of valid and renewed business license, TIN, and VAT registration certificate.

2.         Firm’s contact details: telephone number, email, and contact person’s name.

3.         Prices may be quoted in USD, but payment will be made in ETB according to the prevailing exchange rate on the payment request date.

Qualifications

• Illustrators: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional certification in graphic design, fine arts, visual communication, or related fields.

Experience

• Illustration Expertise: 
  • At least 5 years of experience in creating high-quality, culturally relevant illustrations, infographics, and visual materials.
  • Proficiency in gender-sensitive design principles and creating content for diverse, low-literacy audiences.

Skills and Competencies

• Fluency in the local languages targeted for the illustration (Amharic, Afaan Oromo, Afar, Somali).
• Excellent command of English for understanding source content and effective communication with the CR WASH team.
• Proficiency in using industry-standard design and illustration software (e.g., Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign).
• Strong understanding of cultural norms, gender dynamics, and community contexts in the CR WASH operational regions.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders, including regional managers and gender focal persons.

Portfolio and Proven Track Record

• A demonstrated portfolio of similar completed projects, showcasing: 
  • Translated materials into local languages.
  • Illustrated materials developed for public awareness campaigns or similar contexts.
• References from at least two previous clients verifying the consultant’s quality of work, timeliness, and professionalism.

Additional Requirements

• Strong facilitation skills to lead validation workshops and incorporate stakeholder feedback effectively.
• Knowledge of the WASH sector and gender equality concepts is highly desirable.
• Ability to manage tight deadlines while ensuring attention to detail and quality.

Submission Requirements:

Interested firms should submit: 

• A brief proposal outlining relevant experience and approach to the translation 
• CVs of key personnel 
• Sample of previous work 
• A cost estimate and timeline 

Evaluation Criteria:

Proposals will be evaluated based on Technical and financial evaluation.

The weights given to the technical and Financial Proposals are:

• Technical =80% , and

• Financial =20%

Applicants getting less than 40% out of 80% in the technical evaluation shall be rejected and the financial proposals of those consultants scoring 40% and above shall be considered.

RTI shall award the applicant that has the highest point in the total sum of results of the technical and financial evaluation.

Payment and Schedule 

The amount of the payment/daily rate of the assignment will be negotiated between the consultant and RTI International. The consultant will be paid the agreed total amount up on completion of the task and submitting the training report. Travel costs and accommodations for field works will be covered by the consultant. The selected firm will be paid based on the following installments:

How To Apply

Submission Deadline:

Submit a complete proposal in PDF format via email to procurement@cr-wash.org Include Gender-MSMEs Training in the subject line of the submission. The application should be addressed to: Attention: Procurement Unit. All proposals must be submitted by January 12, 2025, at 5:30PM local time.

Any proposal received after the deadline for submission shall be declared late and will be rejected.

Contact Information:

For any inquiries and submission of proposals, please contact – USAID CR WASH activity procurement at procurement@cr-wash.org.