I. Background

In fiscal year 2024 (FY24), CEPPS/IFES assisted the Financing, Transparency, and Oversight Unit (UFTF) in developing a Brand Manual and establishing a new institutional identity, including the creation of a new logo. This effort was a crucial first step toward developing a comprehensive 360° Institutional Communication Strategy aimed at strengthening public understanding of the UFTF’s role in ensuring the transparency and integrity of political party and candidate financing in Honduran electoral processes. It also aimed to enhance the UFTF's institutional image, promoting a positive and renewed public perception.

For fiscal year 2025 (FY25), CEPPS/IFES will continue supporting the UFTF by designing a Strategic Institutional Communication Plan for both the 2025 primary and general elections. This strategy is intended to ensure that all UFTF stakeholders—including political parties, candidates, the general public, and regulatory bodies—are well-informed about the UFTF’s role in promoting transparency in political finance and building public trust. The plan will focus on creating clear communication strategies regarding political finance accountability and will serve as a key tool for the UFTF to engage effectively with its internal and external audiences. The primary elections will serve as a pilot phase for the strategy, which the consultant will then refine for application to the general elections, incorporating lessons learned and adjustments based on the initial experience.

II. Activities

The contractor will carry out the following activities in coordination with IFES/Honduras and the UFTF:

• Initial Coordination and Planning
  • Participate in initial meetings with IFES, UFTF, and other strategic partners to define the scope, objectives, and timelines for the consultancy.
  • Co-design with IFES and UFTF the Strategic Institutional Communication Plan, including the Electoral Communication Strategy for Primary and General Elections, ensuring alignment and integration of lessons learned and best practices from the primary elections pilot.
• Communication Diagnostic and Analysis
  • Evaluate current communication channels and practices for primary and general elections to identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities.
  • Propose an institutional editorial line and strategic recommendations for media engagement.
• Development of the Electoral Communication Strategy for the Primary Elections
  • Design a communication strategy for the primary elections that includes:
    • Key messages.
    • Audience segmentation.
    • Communication protocols and a detailed timeline.
  • Create a crisis management plan, communication protocols, and strategies for digital and social media.
  • Develop standardized guides, templates, and formats to ensure consistency across electoral processes.
  • Create practical tools to support the Strategic Institutional Communication Plan.
• Pilot Report on the Primary Elections Communication Strategy
  • Develop a monitoring and evaluation report on the results of the primary elections communication strategy implementation.
  • Identify best practices, lessons learned, and recommendations to improve communication processes.
• Update of the Electoral Communication Strategy for the Primary Elections
  • Review and update the primary elections communication strategy based on pilot evidence.
    • Incorporate best practices, lessons learned, and recommendations.
    • Adjust key messages, audience segmentation, protocols, and digital strategies for optimized execution.
  • Development of the Electoral Communication Strategy for the General Elections
    • Design the general elections communication strategy, ensuring it includes:
      • Key messages.
      • Audience segmentation.
      • Communication protocols and a detailed timeline.
      • A crisis management plan.
      • Strategies for digital and social media.
    • Develop standardized guides, templates, and formats to ensure consistency across electoral processes.
    • Create practical tools to support the Strategic Institutional Communication Plan.
  • Workshop Facilitation and Capacity Building
    • Organize and conduct workshops for the UFTF communications team, focusing on:
      • Implementation of the strategy for primary and general elections.
      • Media management, spokesperson training, and communication protocols.
      • Crisis management simulations for primary and general elections.
    • Final Report and Recommendations
      • Document the strategies and plans implemented during the primary elections.
      • Adjust the strategies for the general elections.
      • Prepare a final report summarizing the process, outcomes, lessons learned, and recommendations for future actions.

III. Deliverables

IV. Qualifications and experience  

The contracted company or organization must have:

1. Minimum experience of 5 years in institutional and electoral communication, preferably in contexts of transparency and accountability.
2. Portfolio of projects that demonstrate the successful execution of communication strategies and plans.
3. Experience working with public institutions and international organizations.
4. Technical capacity to carry out effective training and manage relations with the media.

The technical team must include:

• Experts in political communication and crisis management.
• Specialists in digital media and social networks.
• Experienced facilitators for conducting workshops.

1. Duration of the contract

The consultancy period is from January 20, 2025, to May 10, 2025. Please take into consideration that on March 9, 2025, primary elections will be held in Honduras, for which the UFTF must have implemented or piloted communication plans in advance.

VI. Application 

Interested companies are invited to submit:

1. Technical proposal detailing the methodological approach, activities and schedule.
2. Financial proposal with a detailed budget.
3. Resumes of key personnel.
4. Documentary evidence or portfolio of previous projects.

Application deadline: January 10, 2024.

Send proposals to lzuniga@ifes.org with a copy to fchavez@ifes.org.