TERMS OF REFERENCE
Provision of Communications Consultancy Services
1. Background
The African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) was created, inter alia, to promote the development of Intellectual Property (IP) laws appropriate to the needs of its members, establish common services and training schemes, and assist its members in the acquisition and advancement of technology and the evolving of common views on IP matters.
Membership of the Organization is open to all Member States of the African Union (AU). The present members of the Organization are:
Botswana, Cape Verde, Kingdom of Eswatini, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Kingdom of Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe (Total: 22 States).
The ARIPO Secretariat is based in Harare, Zimbabwe.
ARIPO is looking to contract a well-established Communications Company to support the development of communications materials in line with the 2022 to 2026 ARIPO Strategic Plan.
2. Objective of the Assignment
The objectives of the assignment are to:
i. Create visually engaging content for the ARIPO website and social media platforms to enhance engagement with intellectual property and understanding and use of the e-service platforms.
ii. Develop style guidelines for social media platforms.
iii. Develop a marketing campaign.
iv. Review the ARIPO branding guidelines to ensure consistency across the Organization.
v. Design communication materials for ARIPO.
3. Scope of Work
The selected company is expected to:
3.1 Social Media Communications
i. Review and update the ARIPO Social Media Strategy.
ii. Develop the ARIPO Social Media Style Guide and Social Media Usage Guidelines.
iii. Generate content for the ARIPO social media pages – LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube by developing a monthly social media content calendar.
3.2 Branding Guidelines Review
Review and update the ARIPO Branding Guidelines with a focus on:
- Brand purpose: vision, mission, and core values
- Brand history: company milestones, brand story
- Audience Messaging: voice, tone, personality
- Boilerplate Text
- Visual Elements:
a. Logo placement, logo usage policy, joint use of logos
b. Typography
c. Colour palettes
d. Templates – develop and include images and editable templates for the following:- Business Cards
- Corporate folders
- Letter Heads
- Press Releases
- PowerPoint Slides
- Zoom Backgrounds
- Fact Sheets
- Vehicle Branding
- E-mail Signatures
- Publications (e.g., reports)
- Signage
- Corporate Gifts (e.g., notebooks, USB, T-shirts, Tote Bags)
e. Photography and iconography
f. Use of QR codes
3.3 Marketing Campaign Development
Develop a marketing campaign to enhance ARIPO’s activities and understanding of IP Rights and related content, including:
- Digital Campaign – suitable strategies to enhance visibility and understanding of the organization and IP
- Social Media Content Creation – responsibilities include:
- Monthly social media content calendar
- Social media posts (flyers, posters, infographics, cards, gifs, video clips, etc.)
3.4 Graphic Design Services
Provide support with the design and layout of:
- Reports
- Exhibition Booths
- Corporate Wear
- Branded Materials
- Booklets
- Flyers
- Monthly Mail Chimp Newsletter
4. Copyright and Ownership
All materials developed by the company in connection with services rendered hereto shall remain the intellectual property of ARIPO.
5. Timelines
The Communications Company will be contracted from July 2025 to December 2025.
Upon completion, services may be considered for a one (1) year extension (January 2026 to December 2026).
6. Reporting
The contracted company shall report to the Head of Communications.
7. Place of Assignment
The Consultant(s) shall provide the services and carry out the duties at/from their premises.
8. Qualifications
The company must have appropriately qualified personnel with a broad range of skills to deliver the identified tasks. Proposals must demonstrate capabilities and experience in designing similar digital marketing campaigns.
The Lead Consultant should have:
- At least three years of experience managing similar projects
- Demonstrated experience maintaining social media accounts, especially Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X
- Experience with new media executions, preferably with a development organization
- Knowledge and understanding of local and global digital landscapes and trends
- Experience with graphic design for digital media
- Ability to integrate communication initiatives with social media
- Proven ability to develop compelling content to generate audience engagement
9. Submission of Applications
Proposals, including the Consultancy Firm’s profile, CVs, copies of qualifications of the Lead Consultant and team members, and other relevant supporting documents addressed to the Director General of ARIPO should be sent via email to:
[email protected]
Deadline: 18 April 2025
Email Subject Line:
“ATIN: 2025/04/COMMUNICATIONS-CONSULTANCY/05”