Development of Civic Education Manual Consultant

Jul 3, 2024

1. Background

Ethiopia has been undergoing significant political, social, and economic transformations in recent years. Amidst these changes, the role of civil society organizations (CSOs) has become increasingly vital in fostering democratic values, promoting civic engagement, and ensuring that citizens are informed and active participants in the democratic process.

The Coalition of Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations for Elections (CECOE) is a coalition of over 175 local civil society organizations dedicated to enhancing democracy and electoral processes in Ethiopia. CECOE’s mission is to build a more democratic society through education, advocacy, and active participation in electoral and political processes. CECOE has been at the forefront of efforts to empower citizens, monitor elections, and advocate for transparent and accountable governance.

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” 

Civic education is essential for empowering citizens with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to participate effectively in democratic processes. It helps citizens understand their rights and responsibilities, the workings of government, and the importance of their involvement in public life. Given the diverse and multilingual nature of Ethiopia, it is crucial to develop civic education materials that are accessible and culturally relevant to all segments of the population.

CECOE recognizes the need for a comprehensive Civic Education Manual to support its member organizations in delivering effective civic education programs. This manual will serve as a key resource for trainers and educators, providing them with the tools and knowledge to educate citizens about democracy, governance, and civic participation. The development of the manual will draw on the National Election Board of Ethiopia’s Civic and Voter Education Manual, and the Malawi Guide to Civic Education: The NICE Experience, as well as findings from the needs assessment to be conducted. Additionally, the manual will be accompanied by a validation workshop and a Training of Trainers (ToT) program to ensure that CECOE member organizations are well-equipped to utilize the manual in their respective regions and communities. Following the finalization of the manual, CECOE will engage in the production of infographics and educational videos which will be used to run civic education social media campaigns. 

2. Objective

The main objective of this assignment is to develop a comprehensive Civic Education Manual, conduct a validation workshop, and provide training for CECOE member organizations. These efforts aim to improve the quality of civic education materials and campaigns and enhance the capacity of citizens to actively participate in public and political life.

3. Scope of Work

The Consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:

A. Development of Civic Education Manual

1. Conduct a needs assessment to gather relevant information for the manual.
2. Develop a two-part Civic Education Manual:
   1. Part One: A step-by-step training guide for civic educators.
   2. Part Two: Training materials for civic education campaigns.
3. Collaborate with a graphics designer consultant to develop infographics based on the Civic Education Material.

B. Validation Workshop

1. Plan and organize a one-day validation workshop in Addis Ababa.
2. Collect feedback from the workshop participants and incorporate it into the final manual.

C. Training of CECOE Member Organizations

1. Develop a 3-day Training of Trainers (ToT) program based on the manual.
2. Conduct the ToT program for trainers nominated from 40 CECOE member organizations.

4. Deliverables

The Consultant is expected to deliver the following:

1. Civic Education Manual:
   • Draft version for validation.
   • A final version incorporating feedback from the validation workshop.
2. Validation Workshop:
   • Workshop agenda and materials.
   • Workshop report including feedback collected.
3. Training of Trainers (ToT):
   • Training agenda and materials.
   • ToT program implementation report.

5. Duration

The consultancy is expected to complete the assignment within three months from the date of signing the contract.

6. Reporting

The Consultant will report to the CECOE project manager and provide regular updates on the progress of the assignment.

7. Qualifications

The ideal Consultant should possess the following qualifications:

• Academic qualification in human rights, political science, civic education, or a related field.
• Proven experience in developing educational materials, with a track record of producing high-quality materials.
• Knowledge of adult learning principles and instructional design.
• Familiarity with the political and civic context of Ethiopia and experience working with civil society organizations.
• Ability to work collaboratively with a diverse group of stakeholders.
• Experience in conducting training and workshops.
• Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and manage multiple tasks effectively.

8. Submission of Proposals

Interested consultants are invited to submit their detailed technical and financial proposals, including:

• A cover letter
• CV
• Proposed methodology

Proofreading and Editing

May 7, 2024

1. Background

The Coalition of Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations for Elections (CECOE) is a coalition of over 175 civil society organizations operating in all regional states and the two city administrations. CECOE was established in 2019 with the aim of augmenting and coordinating the role of Ethiopian CSOs in election observation, monitoring, voter education, and preventing 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, peace building, and enhancing the participation of women in Ethiopian politics. 

CECOE is currently jointly implementing a project with NIMD funded by the European Union (EU) titled” Enhancing the Participation of Women in Ethiopian Politics: Balancing the Scales“, which aims at supporting women in Ethiopia to participate meaningfully and equally in politics and to take leadership positions in democratic institutions (including political parties) at national and regional levels. As part of the project, CECOEhas been preparing women encyclopedia in Amharic which encompasses the profiles of prominent women across various sectors in Ethiopia and seeks to hire consultant who will be responsible for conducting proofreading and editing of the women profiles .     

• Scope of Work

        2.1 Proofreading and Editing

• Review ,edit and  standardize  contents  of the profiles
• Supplement  missing facts to improve the quality of the profiles
• Verify the accuracy of information included  in the profiles 

             2.2 Communication and Collaboration

• Work closely in consultation   with CECOE’s focal person and  address any feedback or concerns related to the profiles  
• Collaborate with the project team, including subject matter experts, to ensure standardized and   human-interest story approach is employed through the proofreading and editing of the profiles.

3. Deliverables

• Edited, verified, standardized and  proofread 75 profiles ensuring  accurate presentation of the contents adherence to the guidelines to be provided.
• Timely communication and updates on the progress of Editing and proofreading tasks.

4. Qualifications and Experience

• Proficiency in both the Amharic and English languages.
• Proven experience in proofreading , editing and preparation  of biographies, stories or documents, in the relevant languages.
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to maintain the integrity of the original content.
• Proficiency in Amharic editing tools and software, if applicable.
• Any relevant certifications or degrees in, editing, proofreading, literature or   language studies.

5. Timeline

The assignment is expected to be completed within a total of one month, starting from the signing of the contract agreement commencement date. The following deadlines will apply:

• Review the prepared profiles- 2 working days
• develop and share the thematic areas of the profile to ensure uniformity  of  the profiles-2 working days
• Edit and  standardize uniformity of the contents-  10 working days
•  Supplement missing facts of the profiles to  enhance  the quality  – Five working days
• Verify information and ensure a human-interest story approach is used in the portrayal of  the profiles  – Five working days
• Editing  and final Proof reading works to the women profiles: Eight working days

  6. Proposal Submission

Interested Editors and proofreaders should submit the below documents using the link on or before May 10, 2024.

• Updated resume or CV highlighting relevant experience.
• Financial Proposal
• Consultancy license
• Samples of previous prepared profiles, proofread and edited  work
• References from previous clients, if available.

7. Payment Terms

The proof reader and editor will be compensated based on the rate that will be agreed during the selection process and will be documented in the contract. Payment will be made according to the following terms:

• The proof reader and editor will submit an invoice for the completed tasks on a regular basis,
• Payment will be processed within five working days of receiving a valid invoice.

    8. Confidentiality

The proof reader and editor is expected to maintain strict confidentiality and not disclose any information related to the project or its content to any third parties.

9. Ownership of Work

 All proofread and edited profiles will become the property of CECOE

10. Application deadline

Proposals should be submitted via the website from May 7, 2024 –May 17, 2024