United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Development of a Media Platform for Cash Transfer

The Cash Learning Partnership (CaLP) is a global partnership of humanitarian actors engaged in policy, practice and research within cash transfer programming (CTP). Formed of a community of practice including over 150 organisations and more than 5,000 individuals in the humanitarian sector, CaLP is based on learning, knowledge sharing, networking and coordination around the appropriate and timely use of CTP in humanitarian response. CaLP believes that when appropriately incorporated into humanitarian response planning that includes access to goods and services, CTP presents opportunities for effective and efficient programming to meet the needs of people and communities affected by crises. With the number, scale and complexity of humanitarian crises increasing, CaLP acts as a catalyst for positive transformation within the sector.

One of the biggest challenges for scaling up cash globally is donor’s adversity to risk. The potential of a scandal in the media linked to cash transfer programming (CTP) greatly influences donor’s analysis of the risk of funding CTP. Media coverage plays a critical part in shaping public perceptions and attitudes towards CTP. Public perceptions have a role in influencing government and donor behaviour to foster change.

CTP faces two main obstacles in relation to the media attention it receives:

• Insufficient coverage from mainstream media.
• Bad press derived from negative coverage usually linked to misconceptions in parts of the media.

CaLP intends to lower the risk associated with CTP by refining the public’s understanding of cash by increasing the amount and improving the type of stories on CTP in the media.

Discussions with media professionals suggested that an effective way to influence media would be the creation of an online resource centre on CTP.

Consultancy Objectives

CaLP is seeking to engage a consultant / team of consultants to:

• Improve CaLP’s understanding of the media coverage of CTP stories
• Develop guidance materials on how to communicate about CTP for communications professionals and journalists, and
• Design and develop a new website aimed directly at journalists and communications teams interested in cash.

Key Deliverables

1. Background analysis
2. Guidance materials on how to communicate about CTP for communications professionals and journalists
3. Design and develop a new website aimed directly at journalists and communications teams interested in cash

Essential profile of the consultants:

• Solid experience in journalism or excellent understanding of the global media environment
• Good understanding of the humanitarian sector
• Proven experience in working with communication teams with an NGO or UN
• Proven experience in website design and digital media strategies
• Experience delivering training for media profesionals
• Access to a wide network of media actors
• Fluency in English

Desirable

• Experience in advocacy or campaigning
• Familiarity with cash transfer programming
• Experience of media coverage in emergency contexts To read the complete TOR please visit CaLP Website.

Expressions of interest are invited from suitably qualified and experienced teams of consultants with capacity to undertake the above activities.

The Lead Consultant should submit a detailed proposal with the following components:

a) Technical proposal to include:

• Maximum of two pages outlining the Consultants’ understanding of the TOR and the proposed methodology to conduct the assignment, including techniques and tools to be used;
• A proposed activities schedule/work plan with time frame (including a Gantt chart);

• Copies of the CV for the lead consultant and supporting team, specifying the roles and responsibilities of each team member.
  b) Financial Proposal detailing the following:

• Itemized consultant’s fees and costs - consultant should indicate professional rates and time input for each team member;

• Validity period of quotation.

CaLP welcomes expressions of interest that include the conversion of the content into an online platform. Proposal Submissions Expressions of Interest (including technical and financial proposals) should be submitted to administrator@cashlearning.org with copy to communications@cashlearning.org by 22nd August 2016