Background

The British Council is an organization which creates opportunity for the U.K and other countries with a focus on building trust betweenthem worldwide.

As part of our work in Ghana, we focus on providing young people with life changing opportunities by providing them with skills for employability and entrepreneurship, English and Exams. Over the years through our strong partnerships, our impact has been immeasurable. Globally, between 2011 and 2013 alone, we have partnered with over 15,390 government, business and social leaders worldwide in the delivery of our services. We have also reached over 19.8 million people through our events and programs—creating opportunities and connecting them with learning and creative ideas to build a mutually beneficial relationship between them and UK.

Our work in the society extends to our Social enterprise programme with the aim of creating opportunities and improving lives. Under this program we promote social investment to help foster a more sustainable, inclusive and prosperous future. Our programme also draws on UK expertise, striving to share best practice and create opportunities between the UK and Ghana.We provide (social) entrepreneurs and enterprise leaders with:

  • training
  • business consulting and mentoring
  • access to funding and investment opportunities
  • study tours
  • international networking

British Council Social Enterprise Activities

Duapa Challenge

Start-up social enterprises in Ghana are increasingly becoming vital parts of local economic growth and employment as well as active change agents in communities around the country. They are offering a new generation of active young people, much needed opportunities and enabling a more equitable and sustainable development. But their potential is all too often obstructed. In the most challenging Ghanaian environments, early stage social enterprises face a stifling range of interconnected challenges such as harsh regulations, non-existent early stage investment opportunities and a lack of relevant market insight.

However, these challenges notwithstanding, the social enterprise community in Ghana has seen a steady growth over the past five years. Several ecosystem players have collectively galvanized a community of active change agents from different sectors focused primarily on impacting markets. Inclusive growth remains at the heart of the local ecosystem. Partnerships that advance that core mission are key to the community’s growth. We are seeing more synergies built to seed new ideas and scale existing solutions emerging from this vibrant ecosystem in a the new innovation economy emerging from Ghana. The British Council is putting in the effort expected to further consolidate the gains made over the past half-decade.

The British Council’s deeper focus on grassroots initiatives to drive and shape conversations around inclusive business and social enterprise has led to a proposed Social Innovation Challenge; Duapa Challenge, an early stage social innovation support competition providing seed capital, training, technical and logistical support for an already existing, early stage viable social enterprise. The winner is also expected to participate in the British Council Entrepreneurial Africa showcase.

As part of activities of the 2016/17 programme year the British Council will be launching the second edition of the Duapa Challenge in October 2016 to:

•identify and support social enterprises creating change in Ghana

•creating awareness and mobilization support for social entrepreneurship in Ghana

•Launch a challenge and co-organise a local innovation bootcamp and pitch competition to select a winner to participate in the British Council Entrepreneurial Africa showcase.

•Provide seed capital for a viable social enterprise and provide support through the ideation to prototype/market entry phase.

•identify a enterprise that can be scaled up and have real potential for follow-on investment post-seed funding.

Aims and objectives

The objectives of the event are to:

  1. bring together early stage social entrepreneurs to connect, learn and develop synergies.
  2. provide seed capital for an already existing, early stage social enterprise.
  3. bring together social enterprise organizations, accelerators and stakeholders.
  4. generate buzz and enthusiasm in the social enterprise ecosystem and increase the attention of entrepreneurs to social entrepreneurship.
  5. bring prospective investors closer to early stage social enterprises

Programme Plan

Our core target

Duapa Challenge seeks to draw social entrepreneurs from the following sectors:

•Healthcare

•Agriculture

•Financial Inclusion

•Science & Technology

•Sustainable Energy

•Education.

Venue

Bootcamps will be held at Impact Hub, the British Council as well as other locations identified by the agency

Pitch Competition at the British Council and other locations identified by the agency.

Specific Deliverables of your agency’s input (work)

  • Propose and implement high publicity for the project – media,reach/coverage & impact
  • Coordinate, manage and ensure the smooth running of the project.
  • Generate massive interest by target audience which will result in high attendance and application.
  • Discover and work with relevant partners in the social enterprise ecosystem to achieve the aims of the event.
  • Propose top notch successful Ghanaian entrepreneurs (renowned, affluent and influential) to sit on the panel during the final pitch competition as “dragons” and a capable of investing in the start- up companies (potential of investing themselves will be welcome).
  • Propose a panel to review the first two pitch competitions.
  • Employ the following (but not limited to) media to raise top of the mind awareness:

-Print: - press stories

-Online:- radio websites, social media

  • Your agency must be innovative with all aspects of the project including communication media
  • Branding at the venue
  • Promotional materials (pens, notepads, freebies)
  • Organize the project and coordinate vendors as discussed with the British Council
  • Coordinate invitation of guests for the events
  • Photography and Videography (Youtube + TV). Propose a strategy for airing the show.
  • Produce a media report for all campaigns not more than 8 days after the event
  • Produce a budget for the project

Key Performance Indicators

  • Achievement of agreed top-of-mind awareness targets
  • The level of execution in line with agreed strategy (conformity to plans)
  • Generation of buzz & enthusiasm – within target group
  • Professionalism with organizing the event
  • Complying with deadlines and set milestones
  • Impact and awareness among stakeholders

Budget for all Media,Advertising and Event Management including tax

The Agency is expected to provide a budget (including VAT & NHIL)

This budget provided by the Agency should be fixed and the agency should note that payment will be made in instalments based on actual invoices submitted for specific activity.

Criteria for selection of your agency

Your agency will be selected based on a multimedia/ PowerPoint presentation delivered to a panel that must include the following criteria;

  • Innovation of event, communication plan & concepts
  • Relevance – FIT between strategy and event objectives (as above)
  • Clear & demonstrable mechanisms to deliver broad & specific objectives
  • Practical, yet exciting proposals
  • Respect for times & deadlines (non-negotiable)
  • Ability to work within approved budget to achieve more with quality delivery
  • Spend (allocation of budget) proposals – relative weight & importance
  • Cost effectiveness vs. efficiency
  • Agencies HR resource expertise + allocation

Key points for your presentation must include the following;

  • Proposed strategy for the programme, detailing how it will roll out on the event day
  • Media and publicity plan for event
  • Event delivery strategy including layouts
  • Strategy for impact
  • Budget breakdown
  • Resource capacity
  • A showcase of past events executed

Post-selection Expectations:

  • Implementation of plan to agreed specs – conformity to plan
  • Execution in line with brand image, concepts and formats
  • Respect for deadlines in execution
  • Effective use of contacts with media agencies
  • Adherence to agreed spend items & limits
  • Open channels of communication
  • Constant feedback – 2 way
  • Flexibility & adaptability
  • Prudence in use of budget

Timelines:

  • Open bid for event management agency- 23September 2016 (no later)
  • Event management bid closes-3October 2016
  • British Council short listing -4 October 2016
  • Presentation by Shortlisted Agencies-6October2016
  • British Council review, selection & notification-10October2016
  • Contract signed -11 October2016

Concluding points:

  • Submission of proposals (presentation) – 3 October 2016 (no later)
  • Adherence to schedule & punctuality
  • Selection will be based on creativity and cost
  • Scope of work may be expanded on need-basis
  • British Council points of contact:

-Sydney Tetteh-Hushie,

-Cosmos Owusu Adjei,

-Edem Abotsigah,

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