Introduction

The International Labour Organization (ILO) works with its constituents to promote decent work for social justice. The ILO is the United Nations agency responsible for setting international labour standards. Founded in 1919, the ILO brings together government, employer, and worker representatives of 187 member states to set labor standards, develop policies, and design and implement programs to promote decent work for social justice.

The ILO in Somalia is currently working with its constituents to promote decent employment opportunities and economic development. One of the projects currently being implemented by the ILO is “Creating Decent Work Opportunities for Somali Internally Displaced People (IDPs), Returnees and Host communities through Employment-intensive Infrastructure Improvement” in Baidoa, Somalia. The project has had a great success and positive impact in creating jobs for IDPs, returnees and host communities through employment intensive infrastructure projects implemented. In addition to improving access to markets and social amenities. These have both advanced the decent wok agenda and local economic development.

In cognize of the importance of creating visibility and better communication of project results. ILO intends to procure the services of a Consulting Firm to assist the project team in developing a detailed communication and visibility strategy and implementation plan in the early stages of phase 2 planning. The strategy will be developed in collaboration with DCOMM and the Country Office- Addis Ababa, utilizing the tools and templates for communication.

Background

The “Creating Decent Work Opportunities for Somali Internally Displaced People (IDPs), Returnees and Host communities through Employment-intensive Infrastructure Improvement” is a four-year (Dec 2019 – Dec 2024) project funded by Germany/KfW in Somalia. The ILO implements the project in close cooperation with the federal, state and district-level government institutions, including the federal and Southwest State Ministries of Public Works, Reconstruction and Housing, Labour and Social Development, Planning, Investment and Economic Development and Baidoa District Authority.

The overall objective of the project is to increase the socio-economic development of the target IDPs, returnees and host communities in Baidoa District, whereas the immediate objective is to improve access to basic economic and social services, transport and employment opportunities through the construction and maintenance of key infrastructure assets.

The immediate objective is improved and sustainable access to basic economic and social services, transport, and employment opportunities.

The project has the following two mutually reinforcing components:

• Infrastructure development and creation of employment opportunities to the target groups through the use of ILO’s employment intensive investment approach
• Capacity building of the Ministry of Public Works at State level and Baidoa district authority with focus on institutional, technical, and managerial aspects of infrastructure development and maintenance (planning, design, implementation, supervision/monitoring, and evaluation) using employment intensive methodology, contractors, and short term workers.

The project has gone through the preparatory, planning, and detailed design process. A feasibility study was undertaken between December 2019 and January 2020 to prioritize the list of infrastructure measures identified through participatory processes with the involvement of the IDPs, returning refugees and their host communities. A detailed design of infrastructure projects was undertaken from October 2020 to March 2021. The first Tenders were advertised in October 2021, and the construction commenced in May 2022.

The first round of road construction projects – 2 LOTS have been completed and the second round of projects- 3 LOTS is ongoing.

A second phase of the project has been approved.

Objective

The overall objective of this assignment is to develop and implement a communication and information management strategy. The aim is to enhance and promote the visibility of the project through use of innovative communication and knowledge tools. Particular emphasis should be given to communicating project updates with major stakeholders in a transparent manner and to increase the visibility of the project’s as well as knowledge produced, success, and lesson learnt among government, donors and the ILO’s national and international media platforms.

The communications strategy and plan will identify key issues, communications products and stories that increase of the project’s visibility with clear objectives, target audience, messaging, communications products and channels for dissemination and outreach. The project communication strategy and plan should be in line with the ILO Global Communication Strategy and aligned with regional strategic communication objectives.