1.0 About AATF
The African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to facilitate sustainable access to agricultural technologies for smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa. AATF is driven by the vision of a prosperous and food-secure Africa, where the livelihoods of smallholder farmers are transformed through innovative agricultural technologies that deliver results. These efforts, combined with optimal agricultural practices and product value addition, will contribute to agricultural transformation in Africa leading to food security and poverty reduction in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).
1.1 About OFAB
Despite the growing evidence of the potential of agricultural biotechnologies to address Africa’s food and nutrition challenges, widespread use remains limited due to several factors. These factors include controversies surrounding genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and lack of adequate enabling policy environment, Insufficient information, and knowledge among policymakers, who are sometimes confronted with contradictory sources of information.
The space is also invaded by Anti-GMO activism, whose message is based on propaganda, misinformation, and sometimes sheer ignorance. Policymakers have more often made decisions based on prevailing opinions in the public domain and not on scientific evidence. Even when such information is available, scientific facts are often mixed with social, ethical, and political considerations making decision-making even more complicated.
There is need for policymakers to acquire sufficient evidence-based knowledge on agricultural biotechnology to support their decision. In 2006, AATF established OFAB as a platform for information and knowledge sharing on agricultural biotechnology to help support the creation of an enabling environment for research, development, and deployment. To date, OFAB has 10 Chapters in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Rwanda, Malawi, and Mozambique.
1.2 Background of the assignment
One of the flagship activities of the OFAB is the annual Media Awards, created to celebrate the role of media in advocating for biotechnology in the development of Africa. The OFAB Media Awards (OMAs) recognizes exemplary journalists that exhibit best practices in credible science reporting that is crucial to better public understanding and acceptance of sciences, technologies and innovations that are needed to transform African agriculture for food and nutrition security, sustainable development, and poverty eradication.
The award is run at two levels.
First, is the evidence-based and factual stories in Radio, Television, Print and Online categories are rewarded at national level.
Secondly, the top winners in each of the categories compete at the continental level where the Africa overall winner is crowned.
Annually, the OMAs promote constructive dialogue on modern biotechnology through responsible, professional, ethical, and effective reporting. OFAB has run the competition since 2016, hence the need to reflect on the work to explore how the activity can be improved.
In addition, the consultant will also evaluate the OFAB Journalism Grant, an incentive grant dedicated to the former winners of the OFAB Media Awards.
The assignment aims at evaluating the journey of OFAB Media Awards through in-depth interviews with key beneficiaries, country media councils, journalists and coordinating team and through desk research with a view of generating implementable recommendations to improve the current structure and offerings of the OMAs.
1.3 Objectives of the assignment
- Evaluate the OFAB Media Awards framework and processes and generate recommendations for improvement.
- Identify OFAB Media Awards success factors at Chapter and Continental levels.
- Evaluate similar media awards and explore the possibility of integrating their unique characteristics into the OFAB Media Awards.
- Analyze OMAS’ value, achievements, and key lessons to leverage OFAB’s engagement with the media in creating an enabling environment for agricultural biotechnology.
- Assess the OFAB Journalism Grant with a view to identifying success factors, achievements, and recommendations for improvement.
2.0 Scope of Work
The scope of work will be to gather primary and secondary data across ten OFAB chapters. The evaluation will involve key interviews with friends, partners, media councils, and staff, which will be conducted virtually providing valuable insights into the OMAs processes.
Primary data collection-The consultant will gather primary data from the interviews, capturing the perspectives and experiences of the interviewees regarding OMA’s and OFAB Journalism grant impact and effectiveness.
Secondary data collection-The evaluator will collect secondary data from various sources, including reports, publications, and existing data to complement the primary data. The geographic coverage of the event will cover ten OFAB chapters across the following countries: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, and Rwanda. Gathering of primary data and shall be undertaken virtually.
2.1 Deliverables
- Prepare a comprehensive final evaluation report with clear proposals on:
- New model(s) for OFAB Media Awards at national and continental level.
- New model for OFAB Journalism Grant and a clear way forward.
- Prepare final findings report.
2.2 Duration
The period of the assignment is 45 days to be completed within 3 months upon signing the contract.
3.0 Qualifications /Experience
- Minimum of ten (10) years’ verifiable experience working in mass media/ strategic communication/development communication.
- Respectable media personality with ability to interact with media houses and journalists.
- Ability to operate under strict time limits with high level professionalism.
- Ability to communicate and conduct interviews in English and French.
- Track record of successful evaluation of media grants/awards/working with the media.
- Good knowledge of agricultural biotechnology advocacy and the communication environment in SSA will be an added advantage.
4.0 Application Criteria
Interested consulting firms or individual consultants should submit their technical and financial proposals with the following details:
- Technical proposal
- Clear work plan and evaluation proposal in English, describing the proposed methodology to undertake this assignment. The proposal should capture previous experience on similar projects.
- Submit three samples of the previous work samples demonstrating the most relevant to the undertaking.
- Three most recent references (with contact information) from previous clients.
- Indicate qualifications of the lead team and support team, with CVs and functional responsibilities of the key people to be engaged.
- Financial proposal
- Budget should be clearly broken down and justified including estimated days of working, expenses related to data collection, analysis, report writing, and presentation.
- Be comprehensive and inclusive of all applicable taxes.
- Clear cost structure for the evaluation study
- Indicate terms and conditions of payment.
5.0 Submission
Interested candidate(s) should submit their application to the Procurement Officer through the email procurement@aatf-africa.org by COB June 17, 2023, with the subject head “The Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology Media Awards (OMAs) and Grants Review.”
If you submitted your application during the initial call for proposal, you need not resubmit.
6.0 Terms and conditions of the proposal
AATF reserves the right to request new or additional information regarding each service provider and any individual or other persons associated with its project proposal. AATF reserves the right not to make any appointment from the proposals submitted.
Service providers shall not make available or disclose details pertaining to their Project proposal with anyone not specifically involved unless authorized to do so by AATF. Service providers shall not issue any press release or other public announcement pertaining to details of their project proposal without prior written approval.
AATF Service providers are required to declare any conflict of interest they may have in the transaction for which the tender is submitted or any potential conflict of interest. AATF reserves the right not to consider further any proposal where such a conflict of interest exists or where such potential conflict of interest may arise.
7.0 Confidentiality Statement
All data and information received from AATF for the purpose of this assignment are to be treated confidential and are only to be used in connection with the execution of these Terms of Reference.
All intellectual property rights arising from the execution of these Terms of Reference are assigned to AATF.
