Project: Local economic development in Bosnia in Herzegovina (LED in BiH) Project period: 1 August 2023 – 31 July 2027 (Phase I)
Contract Type: Service Contract
Service Duration: 1 December 2023 – 15 February 2024 Country: Bosnia and Herzegovina (hereinafter “BiH”)
The Swiss Confederation, represented by the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and acting through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), has contracted Caritas Switzerland and NIRAS (hereafter “the Consortium”) to implement the project mentioned above, aiming at strengthening capacities and institutionalising cooperation mechanisms for actors of Local Economic Development (LED) in BiH. The intervention strategy has two main parts: creating partnership and grant mechanisms on local levels complemented by capacity-building of stakeholders.
The project facilitates economic growth and job creation through strengthened capacity-building and introducing and institutionalising cooperation mechanisms of and among the leading three LED stakeholder groups: municipalities, the private sector and civil society. Local actors from these three stakeholder groups will jointly develop and establish gender-equitable and socially inclusive processes, strategies and mechanisms to ease the way of doing business in their localities and increase incomes for men and women; adapt to future challenges; and implement joint activities to maximise their locality’s comparative advantage.
The project’s first phase intervention zones are the following eleven municipalities: Zenica, Doboj, Zavidovići, Banja Luka, Prijedor, Žepče, Čelinac, Tešanj, Doboj Jug, Kakanj, and Teslić in Bosnia and Herzegovina (hereafter all referred to as local governments, i.e., LGs). The main target groups are LGs, business associations, development agencies, CSOs, private companies, and training and service providers.
The project is based on a facilitative approach using a four-step process. This process facilitates comprehensive and inclusive LED planning and implementation through collaboration among stakeholders from different sectors. It recognises the challenges arising from diverse perspectives and the interdependence among the three sectors and aims to address existing gaps to promote sustainable local economic development.
1 Communication for development (C4D) stresses the need to support two-way communication systems that enable dialogue and that allow all stakeholders (from public, private and civil society sectors) to speak out, express their aspirations and concerns and participate in the decisions that relate to their economic development.
The project is financed by the Government of Switzerland.
Caritas Switzerland
Step 1: Sector-Specific Working Groups: As a first step, three separate working groups will be established, each focusing on one sector: Private, Public, and Civil Society. These working groups will act as subcommittees as a necessary preparatory step. This is because the sectors have different and often conflicting views on LED in BiH. The main goal of these subcommittees is to foster discussions on LED issues from the unique perspective of each sector. Each subcommittee should develop a systemic competitiveness framework analysis of LED within its respective municipality.
Step 2: Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships: The second step is to merge these three subcommittees into a more significant multi-stakeholder partnership mechanism for each community. This step also includes a mediation component required for the different perspectives of the sectors. The main goal is for these three key actors to work together to formulate a shared vision for their respective communities based on their prior analysis of the situation in their communities. In addition, this step promotes an understanding of the interdependence of the three sectors in achieving LED.
Step 3: Inter-Municipal Collaboration: Step 3 brings different LGs together within their respective clusters or as a collective. This step aims to develop the grant and co-funding mechanism jointly. The grant mechanism is seen as a catalyst for promoting inter-municipal cooperation. At the same time, LGs should begin discussing specific project ideas and prioritise actions that can be implemented through the grant mechanism.
Step 4: Co-Financing and Implementation: The final step focuses on co-financing, executing, and monitoring the prioritised interventions through the grant mechanism.
The overall goal of this service contract is to design and create, together with the project implementation team, a long-term (2024 – 2027) communication strategy and plan for the project. The communication plan should be accompanied by a comm manual containing all necessary templates for external communication about the project and an activity plan for each year, divided into monthly and quarterly blocks.
The communication strategy and plan must include the following key elements and deliverables. Still, the bidder can add components at their discretion if they think they are pertinent to our communication strategy:
- Private Sector: Craft a communication strategy that speaks to the private sector’s interests, such as economic growth, investment opportunities, and potential benefits of LED. Utilise industry- specific language and engage with business associations and chambers of commerce.
- Local Government: Develop a communication plan focusing on LED’s importance in enhancing the local economy and governance. Emphasise efficiency, job creation, and the potential for improved public services.
- Civil Society: Tailor communication to highlight the role of civil society in shaping LED initiatives. Highlight the potential for community involvement, social impact, and opportunities for partnership and collaboration.
The project is financed by the Government of Switzerland.
Caritas Switzerland
- Project vision statement, logo, and slogan: Create a vision statement, logo, and slogan that resonates with all stakeholders and respects their perspectives.
- Banners for events: Design printed or digital banners that reflect the project’s branding and key messages for use during the events. These banners help create a cohesive visual identity for the project.
- Design and launch project website: Develop a dedicated website as a central hub for information, updates, resources, and stakeholder engagement. Ensure it is user-friendly and regularly updated.
- Communication Manuel: Create professional templates for presentation materials, including slides and handouts, to support project team members and facilitators during workshops and meetings.
- Communication plan: Propose a detailed communication plan for 2024 with concrete communication activities, including mobilisation of stakeholders, creation of content during events, a proactive comm campaign, media coverage, success stories, etc., as well a tentative plan for 2025-27 with an annual activity plan for each year, divided into monthly and quarterly blocks.
– Creative Campaign: Develop a campaign that effectively communicates the project’s objectives to all stakeholders, using simple, straightforward, accessible narratives and reaching people through popular channels.
- Reporting frequency and outputs: The selected Service Provider is expected to:
- Deliver and discuss with the project team weekly reports detailing the work in progress,
- Submit the final communication strategy, plan, and manual after agreement with the project team,
- Hand over all produced materials in an appropriate format when the service contract ends.
Submitted offers must include all costs and services with the total cost breakdown (incl. taxes where applicable). Please show calculations for each deliverable separately.
All the short-listed bidders will be invited for an in-person interview on 24 November 2024 in Sarajevo, including a 15-minute pitch of their ideas. The bidders are encouraged to provide us with examples of their previous engagements.
The project is financed by the Government of Switzerland.
