VisionRI led consortium shortlisted for innovative strategic communications and public relations services to Somalia's Ministry of Finance

The creativity and works of the finally selected company/consortium towards realizing the strategic goal will play a key role in achieving the Ministry’s objectives of strengthening good governance through accountability, public engagement and information sharing alongside the senior leadership team, said the Ministry in the request for proposals.

India’s prestigious development consultancy firm VisionRI led consortium has been shortlisted for ‘Provision of innovative strategic communications and public relations services to the Ministry of Finance, Federal Government of Somalia’, a project funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB). The project will of 18 months’ period during which the finally selected company, besides other deliverables, will be required to deliver three high quality and inclusive national events at every six months to raise awareness of economic reforms, particularly, revenue generation, budgeting and expenditure across the Federal Member States. 

“Strategic communications and public relations services have been the focus of VisionRI under development communication arena. We have executed several prestigious development communication projects in Africa and Asia while some others are in pipeline. Besides, our consortium partner 'Square Gold PR & Marketing', also has robust experience in the field of communication. The team is confident to bag project,” said Mr. J. P. Singh, Managing Director, VisionRI. The finally selected company/consortium will be responsible for providing leadership in all aspects of strategic communications and public relations. Besides, the contracted company/consortium will also be responsible for facilitating high-quality engagement with specific sectors and the community at large in financial reforms and in the effort to generate more domestic revenue to finance government policy priorities. The Square Gold PR & Marketing is a Nairobi (Kenya) based company which has executed several communication projects in Kenya and other African nations. 

The consortium has experience in over two dozen global development communication and communication projects out of which some important projects include - Information Needs Assessment, Sensitization Campaigns & Information Dissemination and Media Content Analysis under the Consultancy Services to Undertake Implementation of a Public Information & Awareness Building Campaign for the Petroleum Sector in Kenya funded by the World Bank; Communication Strategy and Campaign on Gas & Energy Pricing and Reforms Study in Bangladesh (Power Sector Development TA Project – IDA Grant # H092 BD) funded by International Development Association (IDA); Mother, Not Patient’ - A Global Communication Campaign by Devdiscourse; Needs assessment & Communication Strategy and Implementation Campaigns for Discover Your Career for Ministry of Education, Kenya; and 360° Communication Strategy for DT Dobie for DT Dobie, Kenya and Market Communication Strategy for SAT for South Africa Tourism for Kenya, Uganda & Tanzania.  

Along with the VisionRI led consortium, four other companies/consortiums were also shortlisted through this global tendering system. They include two companies from Somalia and two consortiums – one comprising companies from Germany and Kenya while the other comprising companies from Kenya and Somalia. The shortlisted consortiums/ companies have been asked to submit their technical and financial proposals by 11 am (Mogadishu Time) on April 7, 2020. 

The Scope of the Work of the projects includes the followings: 

• Provide strategic advice to the Ministry regarding effective management of communication issues and opportunities within the reforms process and other government institutions working with the Ministry on this;
• Design, organize, implement and evaluate stakeholder engagement through the management of key relationships to ensure effective communication with the public on budgeting, revenue and expenditure;
• Regularly evaluate and advise on best practice approaches to internal and external communications to support information sharing, stakeholder mapping and engagement and strengthen the brand of the Ministry to increase public trust;
• Develop and publish targeted information about the economic and financial reforms policies, programs and services;
• Provide a highly effective externally facing media service; This includes but is not limited to, digital communications, graphic design, press releases, crisis management, effectively communicating policy and procedural changes to the public in a culturally appropriate manner;
• Generate new video, graphic and written content for the website and Ministry social media;
• Utilize comprehensive market research data and carry out our focus group research and polling to shape communication, marketing and advertising campaigns to advance the vision and goals of the ministry and the FGS in general in key areas like tax education and revenue mobilization;
• Oversee the delivery of high quality and inclusive national events to raise awareness of economic reforms, particularly, revenue generation, budgeting and expenditure;
• Collate, interpret and disseminate the Departmental Reporting officer’s weekly briefings to inform public discourse and contribute to the drafting of the quarterly and annual reports to stakeholders.