Request for Quotes: Equal Futures Network Public Engagement and Communications Toolkit

The Canadian Partnership for Women and Children’s Health (CanWaCH) is currently soliciting quotation(s) for a consultant to support in the development of a comprehensive communications and public engagement toolkit for CanWaCH’s initiative, the Equal Futures Network. The toolkit will act as a key resource for the Equal Futures Network, CanWaCH members, as well as other key stakeholders, looking to support their gender equality and social justice work. This toolkit will create a lasting impact for the Equal Futures Network project and provide members with a tangible tool with practical examples, information and resources to support their communications and public engagement work. 

Recognizing the different communications and public engagement needs for Francophone and Anglophone communities, we are seeking either a bilingual consultant or two unilingual consultants to collaborate in the creation of the final product. Additionally, we are interested in establishing a co-creative relationship with the successful consultant(s) in that the final product will be co-branded, co-owned and co-promoted. 

Equal Futures Network Background

The Equal Futures Network brings together organizations, agencies and projects from across Canada that are committed to advancing gender equality and social justice. Using innovative approaches, the Network builds partnerships by providing a platform for connection, collaboration and capacity strengthening. The Network is committed to ensuring the full inclusion of a range of stakeholders in Canada, by working alongside experts and representatives from diverse communities with unique perspectives. Our goal is to harness the collective power of organizations working to advance gender equality to shape the national gender equality narrative and ensure equal futures for all. 

The Equal Futures Network has strong commitments to advancing gender equality from an inclusive, rights-based and feminist framework. We acknowledge that Indigenous peoples are the traditional guardians of the land and recognize their long standing relationship with this territory. We believe that we have a responsibility to ensure the Equal Futures Network prioritizes reconciliation and decolonization, working with Indigenous peoples and communities, so that the Equal Futures Network can be a space that is reflective of the diversity of the work being done across the country and an inclusive space for all.

Scope of Work:

The work carried out by the consultant will include the following components, and must be completed before February 14, 2022:

• Work with CanWaCH staff and other identified key contributors to create a comprehensive, public, open-ended toolkit with practical resources, evergreen examples and supplementary information that will support a diversity of stakeholders communications and virtual/online public engagement strategies; 
  • Vendor(s) will be encouraged to engage with and leverage the knowledge, skills and work of Network members and other existing resources as key contributors to the overall toolkit. 
  • Fill sector gaps, particularly regarding measuring success for Public Engagement, and other identified areas (see proposed content) with examples of current best practices and examples;  
• Utilize established sector resources in the framework of toolkit (for ex. the VERCA Toolkit); 
• Work with designer to complete fully realized digital tool; 
• Present completed toolkit to CanWaCH and Equal Futures Network staff. 

Time-frame: Starting as soon as possible, contract to February 14, 2022.

Proposed Content: 

1. Best practices of engaging and mobilizing Canadians with an intersectional lens 
   1. Best practices and examples for using inclusive, decolonial, anti-racist, etc. language 
   2. Risk and combating online bullying
   3. Key moments – online and in=person activities
   4. Opportunities to influence/Partnership development/Meaningful engagement
   5. Tools and platforms 
   6. Local to global
2. Data Collection and Measuring Success  
   • Measuring Success: 
     1. Collecting data (for ex. best practices for securing and respecting ongoing informed consent) 
     2. Reporting data
     3. Using/Sharing data to engage with public audiences (virtual)

Toolkit Audience: 

• Equal Futures Network members (particularly small, grassroots and volunteer-run organizations);
• CanWaCH membership (local to global);
• Other key stakeholders and sector partners who work with and/or engage the Canadian public in the digital space, especially those with small communications departments. 

Qualifications: 

• Experience leading consultations, specifically in the communications/public engagement area; 
• Knowledge of issues and barriers relating to communications, social media and public engagement, especially for small-medium sized organizations; 
• Experience developing toolkits or other resource documents for diverse audiences particularly those relevant to CanWaCH/the Equal Futures Network (see audience above); 
• Prior knowledge and experience working with the Equal Futures Network is considered an asset. 

Submission details:

Submissions should include:

• Quotation Details and Costs
• Profile and/or CV of the person(s) carrying out the work
• At least two references with contact details
• A brief (400 word max) statement outlining relevant experience and qualifications

Quotations should be submitted in Canadian dollars, and should be fully inclusive of all anticipated costs and taxes.

The deadline for submissions is Tuesday, December 21, 2021 at 11:59am EST. However, quotations will be reviewed as they are received, and the contract may be awarded prior to this deadline. Quotations should be submitted to: [email protected] with ‘RFQ-Equal Futures Network Toolkit’’ in the subject line.

Evaluation:

The awarded service provider may be selected giving consideration to:

• Value for money
• Qualifications and experience of staff / personnel / candidate
• Relevant experience or unique suitability to CanWaCH’s/the Equal Futures Network purpose and scope of work

CanWaCH reserves the right to accept or reject any quotation, and to cancel the process and reject all quotations at any time prior to the award of contract without incurring liability or obligation to inform the suppliers of the grounds for such action.

Other details:

Please note that, at this time, CanWaCH is only accepting quotes only from individuals / organizations eligible to work in Canada.

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How to Apply:

The deadline for submissions is Tuesday, December 21, 2021 at 11:59am EST. However, quotations will be reviewed as they are received, and the contract may be awarded prior to this deadline. Quotations should be submitted to: [email protected] with ‘RFQ-Equal Futures Network Toolkit’’ in the subject line.