Background and Rationale:

While the field-based projects supported by AF conduct awareness raising activities on bio-diversity conservation among local level stakeholders, there is a need for a much widespread awareness campaign among general public throughout the country. On the other hand, there is a need to inform and sensitize policy makers and key personnel of relevant Government agencies about issues concerning biodiversity conservation for necessary policy interventions and actions towards establishing an enabling environment for forest and biodiversity conservation.

Arannayk Foundation plans to play a significant role in promoting mass awareness and enabling policy environment towards a biodiversity conservation movement in Bangladesh. Towards this end, it (AF) plans to share its experiences in tropical forest and biodiversity conservation efforts in Bangladesh with relevant other development actors and policy makers by organizing an information sharing event at an auspicious moment such as the World Environment Day (5 June) or the day of establishment of AF (26 July). Aside from influencing government policies in favor of tropical forest and biodiversity conservation in Bangladesh, this latter event is expected to help AF get known to, and build alliances with, other organizations in pursuit of its goal.

Therefore, AF will engage a competent service provider (NGO/ private sector) to be selected through a competitive bidding process to undertake the following communication interventions.

Objectives:

• To share the vision, mission, competencies and experiences of the Arannayk Foundation with environmentally concerned civil society organizations, donor agencies, national policy makers and key persons of relevant Government agencies.
• To raise mass awareness on forest and biodiversity conservation
• To create enabling environment (policy, service delivery) for forest and biodiversity actions by local communities, NGOs, voluntary organizations, local government bodies and the Government line agencies concerned.
  

Outputs:

• An information sharing event entitled 'The Arannayk Foundation Day' is organized on or around 26 July i.e., the day of the establishment of the Foundation along with the following pre-event communications:
  • Publishing a special supplement on Arannayk Foundation in at least two popular national dailies (one Bangla, one English)
  • Producing and airing of a public service advertisement (PSA) on forest and biodiversity conservation issues in at lest two TV channels of Bangladesh for at least 15 days prior to the Arannayk Foundation Day event.
• A comprehensive package of awareness campaign on forest and biodiversity conservation through print and electronic media is implemented, which may include among other things:
  • Airing of public service announcements (PSA) on forest and biodiversity conservation issues in multiple TV channels throughout the year.
  • Airing of TV spots on Arannayk Foundation activities and success stories
  • Publication of features and reports on environmental issues and success stories of forest and biodiversity conservation activities in newspapers (Bangla, English) on a regular basis
  • TV Talk-shows on forest and biodiversity conservation issues involving eminent environmental activities, Arannayk Foundation representative and relevant high-level government officials
  • Mobilization of nature clubs (Arannayk Clubs) involving young people
  • Other appropriate communication interventions within the budget of the project

Activities:

• For each of the stated outputs, prepare a concept paper and detailed work plan, which should be approved by the Arannayk Foundation Secretariat
• Develop the communication materials as per approved concept paper and work plan and get the draft materials checked and approved by the Arannayk Foundation Secretariat
• Produce and arrange dissemination/broadcasting of the communication materials
  

Institutional arrangements:

The tasks shall be contracted out to a competent organization or a consultant through a competitive biding process. The wining bidder (implementing entity) may hire expert services of other individuals (experts) or organizations for implementing parts of the assignment in case it does not have expertise in all aspects that are demanded by the assignment provided that it ensures timely delivery of the outputs of the assignment.

Qualification requirements for the implementing entity:

• The grant offer is open for: (a) communication firms, (b) communication-based NGOs, (c) consulting firms, and (d) individual experts.
• The implementing entity should have: (a) at least five years experience in performing similar tasks and (b) track record of sound financial management system, supported by the external audit reports of the organization.
  

Project duration: 1 year

Project sites/scope: Nationwide

Budget limit: Not exceeding BDT 60,00,000 (Sixty lac)

Guidelines for submission of project proposals:

To apply for this project, the applicant should submit the following documents:

1. Organizational profile
2. Technical proposal
3. Financial proposal

The organizational profile should include legal status, relevant manpower (supported by brief CV of key staffs/experts), relevant experience, and relevant physical facilities (office space, vehicle, computer, audio-visual equipment, camera, etc.).

The technical proposal should describe the conpect and methodology of each stated output (deliverables) of the project.

The financial proposal should include detailed cost-estimates for each output.

Evaluation process/criteria:

The project proposals received by Arannayk Foundation are evaluated by an independent team of evaluators based on the following criteria:

1. Organizational strength (40 points)
2. Quality of technical proposal (40 points)
3. Quality and competency of financial proposal (20 points)