Nov 26, 2025
Terms of Reference (ToR) For Customizing the Design of a Manual into Afan Oromo, Tigrigna, Afar, and Somali
Background
The Coalition of Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations for Elections (CECOE) comprises over 175 civil society organizations operating across all regional states and the two city administrations. CECOE was established in 2019 to augment and coordinate the roles of Ethiopian CSOs in election observation, monitoring, voter education, and the prevention of post-electoral conflicts. CECOE has a proven track record of success, having observed the 6th General Election of Ethiopia, the Sidama referendum, the South West Ethiopia Peoples’ Region referendum, the South Ethiopia referendum, and the referendum rerun in Wolaita Zone. CECOE has also been engaged in various advocacy activities, including advocating for electoral reforms, peacebuilding, and enhancing the participation of women in Ethiopian politics.
CECOE is currently implementing a project titled “Civic Education for Better Civic Engagement and Political Participation in Ethiopia.” This project is funded by the German Government and supported by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH under the “Support to Good Governance (S2GG) in Ethiopia” as part of the project has developed a comprehensive manual has been developed that has already been translated into five languages: Amharic, English, Afan Oromo, Tigrigna, Afar, and Somali. The Amharic and English versions have been professionally designed and formatted, maintaining consistent layout, visuals, and branding standards.
Objective of the Assignment
The objective of this assignment is to adapt the existing manual design and layout (developed in Amharic and English) into Afan Oromo, Tigrigna, Afar, and Somali, ensuring that each version mirrors the original format, style, and visual identity.
Scope of Work
The selected company will be responsible for:
Design Adaptation
Use the existing InDesign or editable design files of the manual.
Insert the provided translated text (Afan Oromo, Tigrigna, Afar, Somali) into the design template.
Maintain all visual elements, graphics, fonts, and styles consistent with the Amharic and English versions.
Formatting and Layout Adjustment
Ensure proper alignment, spacing, and readability of each language text.
Adjust font types and sizes where necessary to ensure compatibility with each script (e.g., Ethiopic and Latin).
Ensure page numbering, tables, and captions are correctly formatted.
Quality Assurance
Review and cross-check for any layout errors, missing text, or misaligned elements.
Conduct a visual proof with the organization’s team before finalizing.
Output and File Management
Produce both print-ready and web-optimized versions.
Submit editable source files (InDesign or equivalent) and final PDFs.
Deliverables and Timeline
Deliverable
Description
Timeline
Inception meeting & sample layout
Initial discussion and sample layout for one language
Within 5 days of signing the contract
Draft design layouts
First drafts of all 4 languages
Within 15 working days
Incorporation of feedback
Adjustments after review by CECOE
Within 5 working days
Final deliverables
Print-ready and editable versions for all 4 languages
Within 25 working days total
Deliverables
The design company will be required to submit the following items. All deliverables must be provided for each of the four languages specified (Afan Oromo, Tigrigna, Afar, and Somali), ensuring consistency with the original Amharic and English versions.
Drafts for Review
Complete Digital Drafts: A full, PDF version of the manual for all four languages (Afan Oromo, Tigrigna, Afar, and Somali). This draft is for the CECOE team to conduct the “visual proof” mentioned in the Scope of Work.
Final Production-Ready Files
Print-Ready PDFs (4 files): High-resolution, press-quality PDF files (one for each language). These files must be:
Exported in CMYK color mode.
Include necessary bleed and crop marks for professional printing.
Have all fonts and high-resolution graphics embedded.
Print-Ready PDFs (4 files): High-resolution, press-quality PDF files (one for each language). These files must be:
Exported in CMYK color mode.
Include necessary bleed and crop marks for professional printing.
Have all fonts and high-resolution graphics embedded.
Editable Source Files
The designer must provide all native, editable working files used to create the manuals. This package is crucial for [Name of Organization] to make future updates.
Packaged InDesign Files (4 folders): A complete, packaged Adobe InDesign (or equivalent) project folder for each of the four languages.
Each package must include:
The editable design file (.INDD).
An InDesign Markup (Interchange) file (.IDML) for backward compatibility with older software versions.
A “Links” folder containing all placed graphics, images, and visual elements.
A “Document Fonts” folder containing all specific font files used in the layout
Qualification Requirements
The design company should have:
Proven experience in graphic design and publication layout.
Experience working on multilingual publications (preferably in Ethiopian languages).
Proficiency in Adobe InDesign or equivalent design software.
Ability to meet deadlines and produce high-quality outputs.
A portfolio of previous, similar work.
Supervision and Reporting
The company will report to CECOE and work closely with CECOE’s communications team.
Duration of Assignment
The total duration of the assignment is 25 working days from the contract signing date.
Payment Terms
Milestone
Payment Percentage
Upon submission and approval of sample layout
30%
Upon submission of draft designs for all four languages
40%
Upon submission and approval of final deliverables
30%
Application Procedure
Interested and qualified design firms are invited to submit:
A brief technical proposal describing their approach and timeline.
A financial proposal with a detailed cost breakdown per language.
Company profile and relevant experience.
Samples of previous similar design work.
Nov 17, 2025
Background
The Coalition of Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations for Elections (CECOE) comprises over 175 civil society organizations operating across all regional states and the two city administrations. CECOE was established in 2019 to augment and coordinate the roles of Ethiopian CSOs in election observation, monitoring, voter education, and the prevention of post-electoral conflicts. CECOE has a proven track record of success, having observed the 6th General Election of Ethiopia, the Sidama referendum, the South West Ethiopia Peoples’ Region referendum, the South Ethiopia referendum, and the referendum rerun in Wolaita Zone. CECOE has also been engaged in various advocacy activities, including advocating for electoral reforms, peacebuilding, and enhancing the participation of women in Ethiopian politics.
CECOE is currently implementing a project titled “Civic Education for Better Civic Engagement and Political Participation in Ethiopia.” This project is funded by the German Government and supported by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH under the “Support to Good Governance (S2GG) in Ethiopia” as part of the project has developed a comprehensive manual has been developed that has already been translated into five languages: Amharic, English, Afan Oromo, Tigrigna, Afar, and Somali. The Amharic and English versions have been professionally designed and formatted, maintaining consistent layout, visuals, and branding standards.
Objective of the Assignment
The objective of this assignment is to adapt the existing manual design and layout (developed in Amharic and English) into Afan Oromo, Tigrigna, Afar, and Somali, ensuring that each version mirrors the original format, style, and visual identity.
Scope of Work
The selected company will be responsible for:
Design Adaptation
Use the existing InDesign or editable design files of the manual.
Insert the provided translated text (Afan Oromo, Tigrigna, Afar, Somali) into the design template.
Maintain all visual elements, graphics, fonts, and styles consistent with the Amharic and English versions.
Formatting and Layout Adjustment
Ensure proper alignment, spacing, and readability of each language text.
Adjust font types and sizes where necessary to ensure compatibility with each script (e.g., Ethiopic and Latin).
Ensure page numbering, tables, and captions are correctly formatted.
Quality Assurance
Review and cross-check for any layout errors, missing text, or misaligned elements.
Conduct a visual proof with the organization’s team before finalizing.
Output and File Management
Produce both print-ready and web-optimized versions.
Submit editable source files (InDesign or equivalent) and final PDFs.
Deliverables and Timeline
Deliverable
Description
Timeline
Inception meeting & sample layout
Initial discussion and sample layout for one language
Within 5 days of signing the contract
Draft design layouts
First drafts of all 4 languages
Within 15 working days
Incorporation of feedback
Adjustments after review by CECOE
Within 5 working days
Final deliverables
Print-ready and editable versions for all 4 languages
Within 25 working days total
Deliverables
The design company will be required to submit the following items. All deliverables must be provided for each of the four languages specified (Afan Oromo, Tigrigna, Afar, and Somali), ensuring consistency with the original Amharic and English versions.
Drafts for Review
Complete Digital Drafts: A full, PDF version of the manual for all four languages (Afan Oromo, Tigrigna, Afar, and Somali). This draft is for the CECOE team to conduct the “visual proof” mentioned in the Scope of Work.
Final Production-Ready Files
Print-Ready PDFs (4 files): High-resolution, press-quality PDF files (one for each language). These files must be:
Exported in CMYK color mode.
Include necessary bleed and crop marks for professional printing.
Have all fonts and high-resolution graphics embedded.
Print-Ready PDFs (4 files): High-resolution, press-quality PDF files (one for each language). These files must be:
Exported in CMYK color mode.
Include necessary bleed and crop marks for professional printing.
Have all fonts and high-resolution graphics embedded.
Editable Source Files
The designer must provide all native, editable working files used to create the manuals. This package is crucial for [Name of Organization] to make future updates.
Packaged InDesign Files (4 folders): A complete, packaged Adobe InDesign (or equivalent) project folder for each of the four languages.
Each package must include:
The editable design file (.INDD).
An InDesign Markup (Interchange) file (.IDML) for backward compatibility with older software versions.
A “Links” folder containing all placed graphics, images, and visual elements.
A “Document Fonts” folder containing all specific font files used in the layout
Qualification Requirements
The design company should have:
Proven experience in graphic design and publication layout.
Experience working on multilingual publications (preferably in Ethiopian languages).
Proficiency in Adobe InDesign or equivalent design software.
Ability to meet deadlines and produce high-quality outputs.
A portfolio of previous, similar work.
Supervision and Reporting
The company will report to CECOE and work closely with CECOE’s communications team.
Duration of Assignment
The total duration of the assignment is 25 working days from the contract signing date.
Payment Terms
Milestone
Payment Percentage
Upon submission and approval of sample layout
30%
Upon submission of draft designs for all four languages
40%
Upon submission and approval of final deliverables
30%
Application Procedure
Interested and qualified design firms are invited to submit:
A brief technical proposal describing their approach and timeline.
A financial proposal with a detailed cost breakdown per language.
Company profile and relevant experience.
Samples of previous similar design work
Sep 22, 2025
Issuing Organization: Coalition of Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations for Elections (CECOE)
Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Documentary Duration: 20 minutes
Language: Amharic
Submission Deadline: October 1, 2025
1. Background
The Coalition of Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations for Elections (CECOE), in collaboration with NIMD and supported by the European Union, seeks to produce a 20-minute documentary highlighting Ethiopian women’s participation in media and public engagement. The film will profile women as candidates, activists, community leaders, and civic educators, showcasing their challenges, achievements, and contributions to public engagement.
2. Objective
The objective of this documentary is to:
- Highlight the lived experiences of Ethiopian women engaged in media and public engagement.
- Showcase their contributions and media advocacy journey.
- Inspire other women and girls to participate in leadership, public advocacy, and civic engagement.
3. Scope of Work
The selected production company will be responsible for the full production of a 20-minute high-quality documentary and a 2–3 minute promotional trailer, including all activities from concept development to final delivery, in close consultation with CECOE. The company will also provide progress updates and all supporting production materials.
4. Deliverables
- 20-minute high-definition documentary in MP4 format.
- 2–3 minute promotional trailer
6. Eligibility & Requirements
- Demonstrated experience in TV documentary production
- Capability to produce high-quality video with professional equipment and crew.
- Strong storytelling and editing skills.
- Knowledge of women’s issues, political participation, and public engagement in Ethiopia is an advantage.
- Ability to meet deadlines and adhere to CECOE’s standards and ethical guidelines.
7. Evaluation Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated based on:
- Experience and capacity of the company (10%)
- Quality and relevance of previous work (10%)
- Technical approach and methodology (40%)
- Cost-effectiveness and budget (40%)
8. Timeline
The production company is expected to complete the entire documentary production process — from concept development, filming, to final delivery — within one month from the contract start date. Final submission of the 20-minute documentary and the 2–3 minute promotional trailer must be completed by November 5.
Aug 7, 2025
1. Background
The Coalition of Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations for Elections (CECOE) is a Coalition of over 180 civil society organizations (CSOs) engaged in the areas of elections, human rights, and democratic governance. Registered under Ethiopia’s Civil Society Organizations Proclamation No. 1113/2019, CECOE has played a pivotal role in election observation, civic and voter education, electoral advocacy, and inclusive political participation.
CECOE has observed the 6th general elections of Ethiopia and regional referendums in Sidama, South West Ethiopia Peoples’ Region, South Ethiopia, and the Wolaita Zone rerun. It has undertaken robust advocacy, including the “I Vote” digital campaign, and contributed to the legal reform process in the electoral space. CECOE is also committed to inclusive participation by targeting women, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and internally displaced persons (IDPs).
As CECOE grows in influence and scope, there is a need to strengthen its governance structure, particularly the Board’s operational framework and advisory mechanisms. This assignment seeks to recruit a consultant to develop internal rules of procedure for CECOE’s Board and to design a concept note for an Advisory Committee to guide the Board during electoral periods.
2. Purpose of the Assignment
To support CECOE’s effective governance, the consultant will be tasked with:
- Developing clear and comprehensive internal rules of procedure that:
- Define the Board’s decision-making processes during CECOE’s citizens’ election observation
- Clarify the roles and responsibilities of Board members during CECOE’s citizens’ election observation.
- Establish oversight mechanisms during CECOE’s citizens’ election observation; and
- Propose procedures for evaluating Board effectiveness and performance during CECOE’s citizens’ election observation.
- Ensure the Board functions effectively during critical periods, particularly in overseeing the development, review, and approval of election observation reports.
- Designing a concept note outlining:
- The purpose and structure of an Advisory Committee for the CECOE Board during the election.
- Options and models for advisory mechanisms based on comparative experiences from citizen observer groups (e.g., CODEO-Ghana, TMG-Nigeria, ELOG-Kenya, EISA-South Africa, NAMFREL-Philippines, and ADR-India);
- The selection criteria and appointment processes;
- Scope of work during election and non-election periods.
- The rationale for establishing the Advisory Committee:- particularly its role in enhancing the technical quality, neutrality, and credibility of CECOE’s election observation reports.
3. Scope of Work
- Internal rules and procedures for the CECOE Board
- Analyze relevant legal frameworks and governance standards;
- Conduct consultations with CECOE Board members, management, and staff;
- Review CECOE’s governing documents and any existing procedures or frameworks;
- Benchmark board governance practices from comparable organizations in Ethiopia
- Develop the internal rules of procedure, including formats/templates for decision-making, performance review, and meeting management;
- Internal rules and procedures for the CECOE Board Advisory Committee
- Conduct consultations with CECOE Board members, management, and staff;
- Review CECOE’s governing documents and any existing procedures or frameworks;
- Benchmark advisory committee practices from comparable organizations in Ethiopia, Africa, and Asia;
- Draft the criteria for the size and composition of the Advisory Committee (neutrality, integrity, expertise, inclusivity, and other relevant criteria)
- Develop the internal rules of procedure, including formats/templates for decision-making, performance review, and meetings;
4. Methodology
The consultant is expected to employ a participatory and context-sensitive methodology that may include:
- Desk review of legal frameworks, relevant CECOE documents, and international best practices;
- Key informant interviews and/or focus group discussions with Board members, CECOE staff, and relevant stakeholders;
- Comparative analysis of advisory committee models from peer organizations.
- Presentation of draft outputs to CECOE for feedback and refinement.
5. Deliverables
The consultant shall submit the following deliverables:
- Inception Report – Including methodology, work plan, and timeline (within 1 week of signing the contract);
- Draft Internal Rules of Procedure for CECOE’s Board;
- Draft internal rule of procedure for the Advisory Committee;
- Facilitate Validation Workshop – discussing the drafts with CECOE stakeholders;
- Final Internal Rules of Procedure (revised based on input);
- Final Advisory Committee Concept Note (revised based on input).
- Submission of activity reports.
6. Duration and Timeline
The assignment is expected to be completed within 20 working days from the date of contract signing. A detailed schedule shall be agreed upon during the inception phase.
7. Required Qualifications and Experience
The ideal consultant should possess the following:
- Advanced degree in Law, Public Administration, Political Science, Governance, or a related field;
- Proven experience in institutional governance, civil society strengthening, or organizational development;
- Demonstrated ability to draft governance policies, rules of procedure, or bylaws for CSOs or Boards;
- Familiarity with the Ethiopian legal and civil society context;
- Strong analytical and writing skills;
- Knowledge of election observation and advisory practices in Africa and Asia is an added advantage.
8. Application Process
Interested consultants should submit the following:
- A technical proposal detailing the approach and understanding of the assignment;
- A financial proposal (in ETB) indicating the total cost, including taxes;
- Renewed consultancy license
- Updated CV highlighting relevant experience;
- At least two samples of similar work undertaken;
- References from previous clients (at least two).
- Application deadline should be August 17, 2025
Dec 16, 2024
- Background
The Coalition of Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations for Elections (CECOE) is a non-profit and non-governmental civil society organization with more than 175 member organizations. CECOE was licensed by the F.D.R.E. Authority for Civil Society Organizations (ACSO) in 2019 with registration number 4748 under the Civil Society Organizations Proclamation 1113/2019. CECOE was established with the aim of enhancing and coordinating the role of Ethiopian CSOs in election observation, voter education, preventing electoral conflicts, and providing capacity building and support for its member organizations. CECOE is a committed member of the East and Horn of Africa Election Observers Network (E-HORN), African Election Observers Network (AfEONet), a pan-African coordinating platform, and a founding member of the Global Network of Domestic Election Monitors (GNDEM), which connects regional networks and individual monitoring organizations across more than 88 countries worldwide. CECOE is currently implementing a project titled ‘Strengthening and promoting democratic processes and peaceful elections through enhanced engagement, capacity, and awareness of electoral stakeholders’ with the financial support from Irish Aid.
Elections are the only legitimate means of assuming state power. However, these elections must be democratic and reflect the true will of the people. To achieve this, the election process should be free, fair, periodic, and based on universal and equal suffrage. Moreover, to ensure proper representation in the electoral process constituencies are demarcated. The demarcation of these constituencies should not be arbitrary but must guarantee fair representation of citizens. At the same time, there should be considerations for convenience for the election administration and for the people to elect their representatives, including the existing administrative boundaries often shaped by various factors. Therefore, the arrangement of electoral constituencies should be regularly reviewed and updated, ideally following each periodic population census. This process ensures that constituency boundaries can be adjusted as necessary to reflect changes including in population.
In Ethiopia, Article 54(2) of the Federal Constitution states that members of the House of Peoples’ Representatives (HoPRs), who are representatives of the Ethiopian citizens as a whole, are elected from candidates in each electoral district by a plurality of the votes cast. The Ethiopian Electoral, Political Parties Registration, and Election’s Code of Conduct Proclamation further clarifies this provision, stating that to be a member of the HoPRs, the candidate with the highest number of votes among the contestants shall be declared the winner. This means that the electoral system follows the First-Past-the-Post system. Furthermore, the constitution specifies that the number of HoPR members shall not exceed 550, with seats allocated based on population and special representation for minority nationalities and peoples. The House of Federation is the responsible organ for determining which minority nationalities require special representation, based on criteria established in advance.
Despite a constitutional requirement to conduct a national population census every ten years, Ethiopia’s last census was held in 2007. As a result, electoral constituencies have not been adjusted for population changes over a long period, despite increasing calls for such adjustments. Furthermore, in the past seven years, particularly in the now-defunct Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Region (SNNPR), administrative boundary changes have occurred mainly due to internal secession. These factors have made the Ethiopian constituency arrangement prone to errors, raising concerns about the quality of legislative representation and underscoring the need for a comprehensive scientific study to assess its theoretical and practical implications. Additionally, it is necessary to examine the implementation of the constituency demarcation system to evaluate its effectiveness, strengths, and weaknesses, especially in relation to citizens’ right to equal representation and participation. To address this gap, CECOE seeks to hire a consultant(s) to conduct an in-depth study on the demarcation of electoral districts and the quality of people’s representation rights.
The main objective of the study is to critically examine the effectiveness of electoral constituency demarcation in ensuring fair and equitable representation in Ethiopia. The study must consider changes in population growth since the approach was originally designed, as well as potential demographic shifts and boundary changes observed in Ethiopia. It shall also review the practices employed in past local and general elections, as well as referendums in Ethiopia. The study is required to thoroughly analyze the system’s strengths and weaknesses and provide alternative recommendations. In addition, it shall examine international best practices in constituency demarcation to draw lessons for Ethiopia and assess the impact of the current approach on the representation of minority groups.
To achieve the objectives outlined above, the consultant(s) is/are required to conduct a comprehensive literature review, covering both conventional and grey literature, including relevant legal frameworks. The study must also be supported by empirical data. Therefore, it is essential to collect data from relevant stakeholders using accepted scientific research methods. Geographically, the research will be focused at the federal level.
- Deliverables
The consultant(s) is/are expected to carry out the following activities within the given time frame:
- Submit an inception report and receive feedback from CECOE.
- Draft the research report based on the study conducted.
- Incorporate feedback and comments on the report from CECOE.
- Present the major findings at a one-day validation workshop that will be organized by CECOE after the feedback and comments are addressed and submitted to CECOE.
- Address the comments and feedback received during the validation workshop, as appropriate, and submit the final version to CECOE.
- Duration
The consultant (s) is/are expected to deliver the study within 25 days after signing of the contract.
- Reporting
The Consultant (s) will report to the CECOE project manager and provide regular updates on the progress of the assignment.
- Qualifications/ Eligibility criteria
The Consultant (s) should possess the following qualifications:
- Academic qualification in Election law, Constitutional law or other related fields.
- Strong understanding and experience working within the electoral system, including knowledge of election laws, procedures, and the role of various stakeholders.
- Extensive experience in qualitative and quantitative research methods, including data collection, analysis, and reporting.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex information clearly and effectively to different audiences.
- Ability to work collaboratively with a diverse group of stakeholders.
- Experience in conducting workshops.
- Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and manage multiple tasks effectively.
- Submission of Proposals
Interested qualified applicants shall submit their detailed technical and financial proposals, including:
- A cover letter
- CV
- Proposed methodology
Application Link:
Applications are to be submitted electronically through the CECOE website for the consecutive 7 days:
