نيروبي المحفوظات

1.0 Background

The AECF, LLC (Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund) is a leading non-profit development organization that supports innovative enterprises in the agribusiness and renewable energy sectors to reduce rural poverty, promote climate-resilient communities, and create jobs.

We catalyze the private sector by surfacing and commercializing new ideas, business models, and technologies designed to increase agricultural productivity, improve farmer incomes, expand clean energy access, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve resilience to the effects of climate change. We finance high-risk businesses that struggle to access commercial funding; we are committed to working in frontier markets, fragile contexts, and high-risk economies where few mainstream financing institutions dare to go. We also focus on the most vulnerable, including women, youth, and those living in fragile contexts.

To date, we have supported over 698 businesses in 26 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, impacted more than 37 million lives, and created over 38,000 direct jobs

يقع المقر الرئيسي للمنتدى في كينيا وله مكاتب في كوت ديفوار وتنزانيا ونيجيريا وجنوب السودان وبنين والصومال.

2.0 Objective

As AECF continues to expand its continental footprint and influence, the organization seeks to strengthen its institutional visibility and positioning, not only as a funder, but as a bold African institution shaping conversations around enterprise growth, climate resilience, private sector development, and investment in frontier economies.

AECF therefore seeks to engage a qualified and experienced strategic communications partner to provide institutional positioning, executive visibility, media engagement, thought leadership, storytelling, and digital influence support across African and global platforms.

The objective of this assignment is to develop and implement an integrated strategic communications and institutional positioning approach that will:

Strengthen AECF’s institutional visibility and credibility.
Position AECF as a continental thought leader in enterprise and climate finance.
Elevate the visibility and strategic influence of AECF leadership.
Strengthen investor and stakeholder confidence.
Shape public and policy discourse around inclusive economic transformation.
Amplify AECF’s impact across priority markets and sectors.

3.0 Scope of work

The selected consultant or firm will work closely with AECF to strengthen its institutional narrative, external visibility, media presence, executive positioning, and digital influence.

The assignment may include, but will not be limited to, the following:

A. Institutional narrative and positioning

AECF seeks to develop a bold and differentiated institutional position within the African development finance and enterprise ecosystem.

Assignments may include:

Development of an institutional positioning framework.
Development of a narrative and messaging architecture.
Refinement of AECF’s institutional value proposition and key messages.
Development of strategic messaging aligned to priority audiences and organisational priorities.
Identification of priority themes and conversations for institutional positioning.
Strategic advice on strengthening AECF’s reputation and narrative ownership.

B. Executive visibility and thought leadership

AECF seeks to position its leadership as authoritative voices in enterprise development, climate resilience, frontier investment, and inclusive growth.

Assignments may include:

Development of executive positioning strategies and thought leadership platforms.
Development of opinion articles, commentary pieces, speeches, talking points, and other executive communications.
Identification and development of strategic speaking opportunities.
Development of media-ready executive narratives and key messages.
Support for executive interviews and other high-value media engagements.
Development of thought leadership campaigns around priority institutional themes.

C. Media relations and influence

AECF seeks to strengthen strategic relationships with leading African and international media and increase the quality and relevance of its media presence.

Assignments may include:

Development of a Tier 1 media engagement strategy.
Development and maintenance of a media database covering priority African and international markets.
Monthly media outreach and engagement.
Proactive media pitching and interview coordination.
Identification of high-value editorial and media opportunities.
Reactive media engagement and response support.
Development of media briefs, talking points and interview preparation materials.
Monthly media monitoring and sentiment reporting.

D. Strategic storytelling and campaigns

AECF works with enterprises across diverse sectors and markets, generating a rich body of stories, evidence and experiences that can contribute to wider conversations on development, investment and inclusive economic transformation.

The selected partner may be engaged to:

Develop strategic storytelling initiatives that demonstrate AECF’s impact.
Identify stories and narratives with institutional positioning potential.
Develop case studies, impact stories and feature articles.
Develop thematic campaigns around AECF’s strategic priorities.
Translate technical and programme information into compelling content for diverse audiences.
Develop content that connects AECF’s investments and partnerships to broader development and investment conversations.

E. Digital influence and audience engagement

The selected partner will support AECF in strengthening its digital authority and engagement across relevant platforms.

Assignments may include:

Development of digital thought leadership strategies.
Development of content for institutional and executive digital platforms.
Digital campaigns linked to strategic institutional priorities.
Development of social media narratives and content packages.
Identification of opportunities to increase executive and institutional digital influence.
Analysis of audience engagement and digital performance.
Recommendations for strengthening AECF’s digital presence and authority.

F. Strategic communications advisory

The selected partner will provide ongoing strategic communications advice to strengthen AECF’s institutional reputation, visibility and influence.

Assignments may include:

Strategic advice on institutional communications and reputation.
Communications support around key announcements, reports, partnerships and organisational milestones.
Advice on positioning AECF around emerging sector and policy conversations.
Support in developing communications responses to emerging issues.
Strategic counsel to the Communications function and senior leadership.
Periodic review of communications performance and recommendations for improvement.

G. Emerging and special assignments

Given the evolving nature of AECF’s work, communications landscape and strategic priorities, additional communications, media, positioning and thought leadership requirements may arise during the engagement.

The selected consultant or firm may therefore be requested to undertake related assignments that support AECF’s institutional positioning, visibility, influence and strategic communications objectives.

4.0 Eligibility requirements

Interested applicants should demonstrate:

For individual consultants

Proven experience in strategic communications, media relations and institutional positioning.
Demonstrated experience working with development finance institutions, impact investors, foundations, development organisations, or continental organisations.
Demonstrated experience positioning senior executives and institutions.
Strong relationships with African and international media.
Experience in executive thought leadership and digital influence.
Excellent storytelling, editorial and strategic advisory capabilities.
Strong understanding of African development, climate, investment and enterprise ecosystems.
Experience in media liaison, public relations, digital engagement, communications, marketing, or related fields.
Ability to communicate complex technical ideas clearly and persuasively to varied audiences.

For firms or agencies

Demonstrated experience in strategic communications, institutional positioning and media relations.
Proven experience delivering assignments of similar scale and complexity.
Demonstrated experience working with development finance institutions, impact investors, foundations, NGOs, or related organisations.
Strong relationships with African and international media.
Availability of a multidisciplinary team capable of providing strategic communications, media, editorial, digital and storytelling support.
Demonstrated experience in executive positioning and thought leadership.
Strong project management, quality assurance and reporting processes.
Strong understanding of African development, climate, investment and enterprise ecosystems.

5.0 Submission requirements

Interested applicants should submit:

Company or consultant profile.
Cover letter expressing interest and demonstrating suitability for the assignment.
Profile/CV of the lead consultant and key personnel, where applicable.
Relevant experience demonstrating successful delivery of similar assignments.
Examples of relevant institutional positioning, thought leadership, media relations, storytelling or strategic communications work.
List of at least three recent clients with contact details for references.
Brief understanding of the assignment and proposed approach.
Indicative workplan and methodology.
Relevant statutory and registration documentation for firms.
Any other information demonstrating the applicant’s suitability for the assignment.

N/B: PLEASE DOWNLOAD AND FILL IN THE TEMPLATE. ONCE COMPLETED, KINDLY COMBINED IT WITH YOUR BID SUBMISSION. THE TEMPLATE MUST APPEAR AS THE FIRST PAGE.

6.0 Evaluation criteria

Expressions of Interest will be evaluated based on:

Relevant experience and qualifications.
Demonstrated experience in strategic communications and institutional positioning.
Experience working with development finance, impact investment, development or continental organisations.
Track record in executive positioning and thought leadership.
Strength and relevance of African and international media networks.
Quality of previous communications, editorial and storytelling work.
Understanding of African development, climate, investment and enterprise ecosystems.
Quality of the proposed approach and methodology.
Demonstrated ability to deliver high-quality outputs within agreed timelines.

N/B: PLEASE DOWNLOAD AND FILL IN THIS TEMPLATE. ONCE COMPLETED, KINDLY COMBINE IT WITH YOUR BID SUBMISSION. THE TEMPLATE MUST APPEAR AS THE FIRST PAGE.

7.0 Application

The AECF is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The AECF considers all interested candidates on the basis of merit, without regard to race, gender, colour, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Interested firms/consultants are requested to submit their technical and financial proposal via the procurement portal https://procurement.aecfafrica.org/ by 25^th September 2026, 5 pm (EAT).
All questions should be directed to the procurement email aecfprocurement@aecfafrica.org by 17th September 2026, 5 pm (EAT). The subject of the email should be ‘Clarification: EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI) FOR STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS, MEDIA & INSTITUTIONAL POSITIONING PARTNER’.

8.0 Disclaimer

تحتفظ المؤسسة بالحق في تحديد هيكل العملية، وعدد المشاركين في القائمة القصيرة، والحق في الانسحاب من عملية تقديم العروض، والحق في تغيير هذا الجدول الزمني في أي وقت دون إشعار، كما تحتفظ المؤسسة بالحق في سحب هذه المناقصة في أي وقت، دون إشعار مسبق ودون مسؤولية تعويض و/أو تعويض أي طرف.

The AECF does not charge an application fee for participation in the tendering process and has not appointed any agents or intermediaries to facilitate applications. Applicants are advised to contact the AECF Procurement Department directly.

ن/ب: سيؤدي تقديم المستند المالي والتقني كوثيقة واحدة إلى استبعاد مقدم الطلب تلقائيًا.