Request for proposals: A communications strategy for a food justice coalition
The Rural Health Advocacy Project (RHAP) advocates equitable access to quality health services for rural communities in South Africa. We work in partnership with government, civil society, health workers and communities across South Africa to identify, support and advance health policy and financing strategies that address the historical and entrenched inequities within the public health sector that systematically disadvantage rural areas and South Africa’s most vulnerable populations. Over the next decade, we aim to influence the health system’s reorganisation under the National Health Insurance fund (NHI) to ensure equitable access to quality health services for all South Africans, regardless of socio-economic status or where they live.
In late 2020 RHAP assumed the secretariat of the Healthy Living Alliance (HEALA). HEALA was formed in 2016 to support the government’s proposal to tax sugar-sweetened beverages to reduce overconsumption of sugar, which contributes to obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as Type 2 Diabetes. In 2018 the government enacted an 11% tax on sugary drinks under the Health Promotion Levy (HPL), and since then, HEALA has campaigned for a doubling of the levy to meet the WHO-recommended rate of 20%. In the medium- to long-term, HEALA has two primary policy advocacy campaigns:
Doubling the health promotion levy on certain sugary beverages to 20%, and
Advocating for evidence-based front of package warning labels on certain foods.
Alliance Development
RHAP’s mandate is to build HEALA into a broad-based, national coalition of diverse stakeholders advocating for policies and regulations that support and enable South Africans to make healthy food choices. RHAP has updated HEALA’s mission to reflect this, to, ”a coalition dedicated to advancing food justice in Africa”, and is working to build consensus and support for a food justice policy agenda among health and social justice civil society organisations.
In addition, RHAP is implementing a community engagement project, Xa Sisonke siyaphila – “Together we heal”, in Limpopo province and OR Tambo Health District. This education and advocacy project aims to understand better, support, and grow community awareness of the relationship between food and health and inequities in access to food. The project will also increase understanding of the crucial role government and markets play in shaping access to healthy food and creating healthy food environments. The goal is to build an informed and active community to mobilise for local and national food justice policies that enable individuals, families and communities to live healthy lives.
HEALA’s primary audiences for education and advocacy include:
Health & social justice community organisations, including faith-based organisations, health user groups (e.g. NCDs, HIV) and constituency-based;
Health workers and researchers –pre-service and in-service;
Policymakers;
Media; and
Consumers. NB: While it’s unlikely that HEALA will be open for individual membership, the public can become involved in specific campaigns, e.g. signing petitions or submitting comments on regulations.
RHAP is seeking the services of a Communications Specialist to develop a communications strategy and plan for HEALA that reflects its broader focus on food justice and incorporates its alliance/community engagement objectives. The strategy should include external and internal communications for specific target audiences. A significant component of the strategy should be strengthening HEALA’s social media platforms and website.
Under the guidance of RHAP, the consultant will undertake the following tasks:
Develop a comprehensive strategic communications plan for HEALA to guide alliance development/outreach activities, and inform and guide issue-specific communication campaigns.
Conduct a communications audit (rapid assessment) of current communications a brand identity;
Work with key stakeholders to identify goals, objectives and key milestones for the communications strategy;
Update/revise HEALA’s value proposition and key messages;
Compile and curate a list of key stakeholders for outreach purposes; and
Develop a targeted communications outreach strategy by stakeholder group.
Social Media Strategy and Content Development
Create an integrated digital engagement plan for the HEALA social media platforms (e.g. Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Youtube & LinkedIn) and an accompanying plan for a revised website.
Qualifications:
The consultant will have:
A minimum of 4 years experience in communications strategy development, preferably for social justice/non-governmental organisations.
Experience in social media management and social media content creation is required .
Fluency in written and spoken English.
Your proposal should include the following (in a single PDF):
An example of a press release and communications strategy drafted by the applicant;
Financial proposal, including a costed work plan and budget breakdown;
Timeline and work plan outlining steps, key milestones and timeline for completion (to be reviewed and refined together when consultant is selected);
Resume or curriculum vitae; and
Three references who can attest to previous communications work.
Proposals should be submitted to [email protected] with subject line “Communication Specialist” by 07 May 2021.
For more about RHAP, refer to http://rhap.org.za/