Public Relations Consultant 249 views

TERM OF REFERENCE (ToR) 

FOR THE RECRUITMENT OF PUBLIC RELATIONS CONSULTANT 

GENERAL INFORMATION 

Services/Work Description: Provision of Public Relations services to the Ministry of Justice (Post TRRC Unit) 

Post Title: Public Relations Consultant 

Employer: Ministry of Justice, The Gambia 

Duty Station: Banjul, The Gambia 

Duration: 162 days over 10 months 

Expected Start Date: March 2025

BACKGROUND 

The Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) of The Gambia was established by an Act of the National Assembly in 2017 to create an impartial record of the nature, causes, and extent of violations and abuses of human rights committed during the period July 1994 to January 2017, and to consider the granting of reparations to victims. 

The TRRC conducted investigations into 17 themes of human rights violations and abuses within its mandate, including unlawful arrests, detention, enforced disappearance, and persecution of media personnel and political opponents, as well as sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). The Commission heard public testimonies from 393 witnesses, most of whom were victims, and over 50 of whom were either self-confessed or alleged perpetrators. 

On 25 November 2021, the TRRC submitted its Final Report to President Adama Barrow, detailing its findings and 265 recommendations for implementation by the Government. In response to the TRRC’s report, the Government of The Gambia issued its White Paper on the TRRC recommendations in May 2022, where it accepted to implement all, except for 2 of the TRRC’s recommendations. 

Subsequently, in May 2023, the Government released an Implementation Plan, detailing its strategy for the implementation of the TRRC recommendations. The Implementation Plan aims to ensure that the TRRC’s recommendations are fully and effectively implemented, in a manner that is transparent, inclusive, and accountable. The Plan outlines the steps that the Government will take to implement the various recommendations and identifies the key stakeholders responsible for implementing them. The Plan is for 4 years, from May 2023 to December 2027. 

The Ministry of Justice has set up a Post TRRC Unit (PTU) to serve as a Secretariat to the Steering Committee responsible for coordinating the implementation of the recommendations. In addition to that the Ministry of Justice’s Communications Unit is mandated to keep the public abreast of the core Ministry’s mandate and activities.

SCOPE OF THE WORK 

Under the direct supervision of the Special Adviser on Transitional Justice, the Public Relations Consultant shall carry out the following general functions: 

▪ Prepare and distribute press releases.  

▪ Develop and organize PR campaigns and relations strategies. 

▪ Assist in managing crisis communication efforts and addressing reputation issues. 

▪ Monitor media coverage and social media platforms to identify opportunities for  proactive PR efforts. 

▪ Organize and facilitate press briefings, conferences and interviews with the media, public and other relevant stakeholders. 

▪ Support the dissemination of key updates through various channels, including online 

and print through press releases, official statements, social media adverts, radio and television content. 

▪ Provide tailored key messages for populations, addressing unique needs and concerns, especially victims of human rights violations. 

▪ Gather feedback from the public and stakeholders to refine Public Relations 

approaches, which shall be reported back to senior management and the Steering Committee on the Implementation of the TRRC Recommendations. 

▪ Assist in the ongoing consultations with relevant stakeholders and post-TRRC activities, through engagement, communications, and outreach activities.

Deliverables / Outputs: Progress Reports with tasks completed to date, challenges and recommendations

Estimated Duration: After every 18 working days.

Approving Authority: Special Adviser on Transitional Justice.

INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENT / REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS 

The Public Relations Consultant will work directly with the Special Adviser on Transitional Justice. This is a full-time, in-person position. No reports or documents should be published or distributed to third parties without approval. 

LOGISTICS AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT TO PROSPECT IC 

The successful Public Relations Officer will be provided an office space at the Post-TRRC Unit at the Ministry of Justice for the duration of the consultancy. 

DURATION OF THE WORK 

The duration of this contract is from the date of signing the contract (anticipated in March 2025) for 162 working days spread across ten (10) months (until December 2025).

QUALIFICATIONS OF THE SUCCESSFUL PUBLIC RELATIONS CONSULTANT

Minimum Academic Qualifications: 

▪ A bachelor’s degree in media, film production or communications, or post high-school certificate with seven years of relevant experience.

Years of experience: 

▪ Previous experience in the following areas is required: communications, public  

relations, engaging with civil society organizations and human rights stakeholders,  and gender within the context of the Gambia’s transitional justice process. 

▪ Experience working for the government or an international or otherwise large  organization is an advantage, in the same or similar capacity 

1. Competencies: 

▪ Proficiency in Microsoft applications. 

▪ Strong communication and interpersonal skills demonstrated the ability to build trust. ▪ Excellent organizational, team building and planning skills. 

▪ Demonstrated ability to work effectively in the team, delivering through and with others. d. Language and other skills: 

▪ Strong knowledge of English, including the ability to present clearly and concisely  ideas and concepts in written and oral form. 

▪ Proficiency in local languages (e.g., Wolof, Mandinka, Fula) is an advantage. ▪ Capacity to communicate fluently with different stakeholders. 

▪ Computer skills: full command of Microsoft applications (word, excel, PowerPoint)  and common internet and design applications will be required. 

Important Note: 

The Public Relations Consultant is required to have the following professional and technical qualifications. Only the applicants who hold these qualifications will be shortlisted and contacted. Women, youth, persons with disabilities, victims and their family members are strongly encouraged to apply and to indicate this information in their applications.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING THE BEST OFFER  

Upon the advertisement of the Procurement Notice, any qualified Public Relations Consultant is expected to submit via email: a CV with contact details of at least 3 professional references, a motivation letter (max 1 page) explaining suitability for the position, a writing sample of theirs, and in a separate email a financial proposal with their expected daily rate in GMD. Accordingly, Individual Applicants will be evaluated based on Cumulative Analysis as per the following scenario: 

▪ Responsive/compliant/acceptable, and 

▪ Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical 

and financial criteria specific to the solicitation. In this regard, the respective weight of the proposals are: 

1. Technical Criteria weight is 70% 

b. Financial Criteria weight is 30%

Contract award shall be made to the applicant whose offer has been evaluated and
determined as:
a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
b) having received the cumulative highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted
technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.
Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% from the maximum available technical score
(49 points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

The maximum number of points assigned to the financial proposal is allocated to the lowest
price proposal and will be equal to 30.
The proposal obtaining the overall cumulatively highest score after adding the score of the
technical criteria and the financial proposal will be considered as the most compliant offer.

PAYMENT MILESTONES AND AUTHORITY
The qualified Public Relations Consultant shall receive his/her service fees upon certification
of the completed tasks as satisfactory by the Solicitor General, as per the following payment
schedule:

Deliverables: Progress Report with tasks completed todate, challenges and recommendations,
after every 18 working days.

Approving Authority: Solicitor General

Percentage of Payment: 11.11%

CONFIDENTIALITY AND PROPRIETARY INTERESTS 

The Public Relations Consultant shall not either during the term or after termination of the assignment, disclose any proprietary or confidential information related to the consultancy service without prior written consent. Proprietary interests on all materials and documents prepared by the Public Relations Consultant under the assignment shall become and remain properties of the Attorney General’s Chambers & the Ministry of Justice. 

12.HOW TO APPLY AND ANNEXES TO THE TOR 

Interested individuals are to submit two documents, a Technical and a Financial  proposal to bids@posttrrc.com no later than 14 February 2025. Please read section 8  of this ToR for details of what to include in the Technical and Financial proposal. 

Interested individuals are encouraged to read the Government’s White Paper on the TRRC  recommendations, and its subsequent Implementation Plan, both available for download  here: https://www.moj.gm/downloads 

This TOR is approved by: 

Signature:

Date: 

1/16/2025

Name and Designation: Ida Persson, Special Adviser to the Minister of Justice on  Transitional Justice