Objectives

The primary objective of this tender is to procure a strategic Public Relations and Reputation Management agency to support the Independent Development Trust (IDT) in executing a communications turnaround strategy over a 12-month period. The agency will assist in repositioning the IDT as a credible, reforming, and delivery-focused institution by addressing reputational risks, rebuilding stakeholder confidence, and effectively communicating internal reforms and progress.

Scope

The scope of work includes:

• Conducting a Communications & Reputation Audit to diagnose current challenges.
• Developing and implementing a Short-Term Turnaround Strategy focused on stabilisation, credibility, and confidence rebuilding.
• Providing media training for up to 30 personnel, including executive management and regional staff.
• Offering digital and social media support to enhance the turnaround narrative and engagement.
• Designing messaging frameworks that clearly distinguish governance, reform, and delivery narratives, aligned with IDT’s accountability model.
• Planning and executing a Medium- to Long-Term Repositioning strategy post-stabilisation, including strategic partnerships, flagship events, and institutional platforms such as the IDT Infrastructure Delivery & Reform Dialogue.
• Supporting the integration of media engagement and flagship events into the overall communication plan.

Technical Requirements

The agency must demonstrate the ability to:

• Perform a comprehensive media and reputation diagnostic.
• Develop a strategic communication plan grounded in factual evidence and institutional reform progress.
• Advise on proactive media engagement and stakeholder management, especially with dissatisfied client departments.
• Design and deliver messaging frameworks that align with IDT’s governance and accountability structures.
• Support media training for key personnel, including regional and national levels.
• Provide digital and social media support, integrating these channels into the overall communication strategy.
• Plan flagship events and institutional dialogues to demonstrate reform and delivery recovery.
• Ensure all activities are aligned with the IDT’s strategic objectives and institutional reform goals.

Skills Requirements

Interested agencies must demonstrate:

• Proven experience in strategic public relations, reputation management, and institutional turnaround projects.
• Capability to conduct detailed audits and diagnostics of media and stakeholder perceptions.
• Expertise in developing and executing communication strategies that reinforce reform narratives and rebuild trust.
• Strong media training skills for executive and regional personnel.
• Digital and social media management skills, including content creation, engagement, and analytics.
• Ability to design and facilitate flagship events and institutional dialogues that support long-term reputation building.
• Experience working with government or similar public sector institutions is advantageous.