Copywriting and Editing Consultancy for the Great Blue Wall Ipact Report IUCN ESARO, COR TEAM RfP Reference: IUCN-25-07- P04772-13 Welcome to this Procurement by IUCN. You are hereby invited to submit a Proposal. Please read the information and instructions carefully because non-compliance with the instructions may result in disqualification of your Proposal from this Procurement. 1. REQUIREMENTS 1.1. A detailed description of the services and/or goods to be provided can be found in Attachment 1. 2. CONTACT DETAILS 2.1. During the course of this procurement, i.e. from the publication of this RfP to the award of a contract, you may not discuss this procurement with any IUCN employee or representative other than the following contact. You must address all correspondence and questions to the contact, including your Proposal. IUCN Contact: Jolly Chemutai Job title: IUCN ESARO, Procurement and Operations Assistant Email:
[email protected] 3. PROCUREMENT TIMETABLE 3.1. This timetable is indicative and may be changed by IUCN at any time. If IUCN decides that changes to any of the deadlines are necessary, we will publish this on our website and contact you directly if you have indicated your interest in this procurement (see Section 3.2). DATE-ACTIVITY 15th August-Publication of the Request for Proposals 18th August-Deadline for expressions of interest 19th August-Deadline for submission of questions 21st August-Planned publication of responses to questions 29th August-Deadline for submission of Proposals to IUCN (“Submission Deadline”) 5th September-Clarification of Proposals 8th September-Planned date for contract award 11th September-Expected contract start date 3.2. Please email the IUCN contact to express your interest in submitting a Proposal by the deadline stated above. This will help IUCN to keep you updated regarding the procurement. 4. COMPLETING AND SUBMITTING A PROPOSAL 4.1. Your Proposal must consist of the following four separate documents: Signed Declaration of Undertaking (see Attachment 2) Pre-Qualification Information (see Section 4.3 below) Technical Proposal (see Section 4.4 below) Financial Proposal (see Section 4.5 below) Proposals must be prepared in English. 4.2. Your Proposal must be submitted by email to the IUCN Contact (see Section 2). The subject heading of the email shall be [RfP Reference – bidder name]. The bidder name is the name of the company/organisation on whose behalf you are submitting the Proposal, or your own surname if you are bidding as a self-employed consultant. Your Proposal must be submitted in PDF format. You may submit multiple emails suitably annotated, e.g. Email 1 of 3, if attached files are too large to suit a single email transmission. You may not submit your Proposal by uploading it to a file-sharing tool. IMPORTANT: Submitted documents must be password-protected so that they cannot be opened and read before the submission deadline. Please use the same password for all submitted documents. After the deadline has passed and within 12 hours, please send the password to the IUCN Contact. This will ensure a secure bid submission and opening process. Please DO NOT email the password before the deadline for Proposal submission. 4.3. Pre-Qualification Criteria IUCN will use the following Pre-Qualification Criteria to determine whether you have the capacity to provide the required goods and/or services to IUCN. Please provide the necessary information in a single, separate document. Pre-Qualification Criteria 1.3 relevant references of clients similar to IUCN / similar work 2.Confirm that you have all the necessary legal registrations to perform the work 3.State your annual turnover for each of the past 3 years 4.How many employees does your organisation have who are qualified for this work? 5.Demonstrate 3 years of experience in writing and editing high-level publications for international clients, ideally in the environmental, sustainability, or development sectors. 6.CV of individuals working on proposed consultancy 4.4. Technical Proposal The Technical Proposal must address each of the criteria stated below explicitly and separately, quoting the relevant criteria reference number (left-hand column). Proposals in any other format will significantly increase the time it takes to evaluate, and such Proposals may therefore be rejected at IUCN’s discretion. Where CVs are requested, these must be of the individuals who will actually carry out the work specified. The individuals you put forward may only be substituted with IUCN’s approval. IUCN will evaluate Technical Proposals with regards to each of the following criteria and their relative importance: #-Criteria-Details-Weight 1 Clarity and Completeness-5 pts Proposal is complete, well structured, and addresses all requested elements including methodology, roles, and timeline. 2. Consultant Working Style-35 pts 2.1 Editorial Strategy-15 pts Clear approach to outlining, writing, editing, and proofreading a multistakeholder impact report. Should explain how diverse material (e.g. quotes, data, case studies) will be structured into a cohesive narrative. 2.2 Workflow and Responsiveness-20 pts Demonstrated ability to: (i) collaborate with IUCN and design teams; (ii) manage a structured review cycle (minimum three rounds); (iii) project manage; and (iv) deliver high-quality outputs under tight deadlines. 3 Consultant Competencies 45 pts 3.1 Relevant Experience-20 pts 3 years’ experience writing and editing high-level publications for international organisations. Bonus for experience in environmental, sustainability, or development sectors. 3.2 Storytelling and Clarity-10 pts Proven ability to transform technical or scientific content into compelling, accessible narratives. Minimum three writing samples required. 3.3 Regional Understanding-10 pts Demonstrated experience working with African institutions or regional stakeholders, with sensitivity to inclusive language and contextual nuance. 3.4 Language and Proofreading-5 pts Excellent command of English, including grammar and editing skills. 4 Collaboration-15 pts Proven experience in project leading impact reports and coordinating information collection and graphic designer teams 4.5. Financial Proposal 4.5.1. The Financial Proposal must be a fixed and firm price for the provision of the goods/services stated in the RfP in their entirety. 4.5.2. Prices include all costs Submitted rates and prices are deemed to include all costs, insurances, taxes (except VAT, see below), fees, expenses, liabilities, obligations, risk and other things necessary for the performance of the Terms of Reference or Specification of Requirements. IUCN will not accept charges beyond those clearly stated in the Financial Proposal. This includes applicable withholding taxes and similar. It is your responsibility to determine whether such taxes apply to your organisation and to include them in your Financial Proposal. 4.5.3. Applicable Goods and Services Taxes Proposal rates and prices shall be exclusive of Value Added Tax. 4.5.4. Currency of proposed rates and prices All rates and prices submitted by Proposers shall be in USD ($). 4.5.5. Breakdown of rates and prices For information only, the price needs to be broken down as follows: Description-Quantity-Unit Price-Total Price 1 2 3 4 5 6 TOTAL 4.6. Additional information not requested by IUCN should not be included in your Proposal and will not be considered in the evaluation. 4.7. Your Proposal must remain valid and capable of acceptance by IUCN for a period of 90 calendar days following the submission deadline. 4.8. Withdrawals and Changes You may freely withdraw or change your Proposal at any time prior to the submission deadline by written notice to the IUCN Contact. However, in order to reduce the risk of fraud, no changes or withdrawals will be accepted after the submission deadline. 5. EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS 5.1. Completeness IUCN will firstly check your Proposal for completeness. Incomplete Proposals will not be considered further. 5.2. Pre-Qualification Criteria Only Proposals that meet all of the pre-qualification criteria will be evaluated. 5.3. Technical Evaluation 5.3.1. Scoring Method Your Proposal will be assigned a score from 0 to 10 for each of the technical evaluation criteria, such that ‘0’ is low and ‘10’ is high. 5.3.2. Minimum Quality Thresholds Proposals that receive a score of ‘0’ for any of the criteria will not be considered further. 5.3.3. Technical Score Your score for each technical evaluation criterion will be multiplied with the respective relative weight (see Section 4.4) and these weighted scores added together to give your Proposal’s overall technical score. 5.4. Financial Evaluation and Financial Scores The financial evaluation will be based upon the full total price you submit. Your Financial Proposal will receive a score calculated by dividing the lowest Financial Proposal that has passed the minimum quality thresholds (see Section 5.3.2) by the total price of your Financial Proposal. Thus, for example, if your Financial Proposal is for a total of CHF 100 and the lowest Financial Proposal is CHF 80, you will receive a financial score of 80/100 = 80% 5.5. Total Score Your Proposal’s total score will be calculated as the weighted sum of your technical score and your financial score. The relative weights will be: Technical: 70% Financial: 30% Thus, for example, if your technical score is 83% and your financial score is 77%, you will receive a total score of 83
70% + 77 30% = 58.1% + 23.1% = 81.2%. Subject to the requirements in Sections 4 and 7, IUCN will award the contract to the bidder whose Proposal achieves the highest total score. 6. EXPLANATION OF PROCUREMENT PROCEDURE 6.1. IUCN is using the Open Procedure for this procurement. This means that the contracting opportunity is published on IUCN’s website and open to all interested parties to take part, subject to the conditions in Section 7 below. 6.2. You are welcome to ask questions or seek clarification regarding this procurement. Please email the IUCN Contact (see Section 2), taking note of the deadline for submission of questions in Section 3.1. 6.3. All Proposals must be received by the submission deadline in Section 3.1 above. Late Proposals will not be considered. All Proposals received by the submission deadline will be evaluated by a team of three or more evaluators in accordance with the evaluation criteria stated in this RfP. No other criteria will be used to evaluate Proposals. The contract will be awarded to the bidder whose Proposal received the highest Total Score. IUCN does, however, reserve the right to cancel the procurement and not award a contract at all. 6.4. IUCN will contact the bidder with the highest-scoring Proposal to finalise the contract. We will contact unsuccessful bidders after the contract has been awarded and provide detailed feedback. The timetable in Section 3.1 gives an estimate of when we expect to have completed the contract award, but this date may change depending on how long the evaluation of Proposals takes. 7. CONDITIONS FOR PARTICIPATION IN THIS PROCUREMENT 7.1. To participate in this procurement, you are required to submit a Proposal, which fully complies with the instructions in this RfP and the Attachments. 7.1.1. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have submitted a complete and fully compliant Proposal. 7.1.2. Any incomplete or incorrectly completed Proposal submission may be deemed noncompliant, and as a result you may be unable to proceed further in the procurement process. 7.1.3. IUCN will query any obvious clerical errors in your Proposal and may, at IUCN’s sole discretion, allow you to correct these, but only if doing so could not be perceived as giving you an unfair advantage. 7.2. In order to participate in this procurement, you must meet the following conditions: Free of conflicts of interest Registered on the relevant professional or trade register of the country in which you are established (or resident, if self-employed) In full compliance with your obligations relating to payment of social security contributions and of all applicable taxes Not been convicted of failing to comply with environmental regulatory requirements or other legal requirements relating to sustainability and environmental protection Not bankrupt or being wound up Never been guilty of an offence concerning your professional conduct Not involved in fraud, corruption, a criminal organisation, money laundering, terrorism, or any other illegal activity. 7.3. You must complete and sign the Declaration of Undertaking (see Attachment 2). 7.4. If you are participating in this procurement as a member of a joint venture, or are using subcontractors, submit a separate Declaration of Undertaking for each member of the joint venture and sub-contractor, and be clear in your Proposal which parts of the goods/services are provided by each partner or sub-contractor. 7.5. Each bidder shall submit only one Proposal, either individually or as a partner in a joint venture. In case of joint venture, one company shall not be allowed to participate in two different joint ventures in the same procurement nor shall a company be allowed to submit a Proposal both on its behalf and as part of a joint venture for the same procurement. A bidder who submits or participates in more than one Proposal (other than as a subcontractor or in cases of alternatives that have been permitted or requested) shall cause all the Proposals with the bidder’s participation to be disqualified. 7.6. By taking part in this procurement, you accept the conditions set out in this RfP, including the following: It is unacceptable to give or offer any gift or consideration to an employee or other representative of IUCN as a reward or inducement in relation to the awarding of a contract. Such action will give IUCN the right to exclude you from this and any future procurements, and to terminate any contract that may have been signed with you. Any attempt to obtain information from an employee or other representative of IUCN concerning another bidder will result in disqualification. Any price fixing or collusion with other bidders in relation to this procurement shall give IUCN the right to exclude you and any other involved bidder(s) from this and any future procurements and may constitute a criminal offence. 8. CONFIDENTIALITY AND DATA PROTECTION 8.1. IUCN follows the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The information you submit to IUCN as part of this procurement will be treated as confidential and shared only as required to evaluate your Proposal in line with the procedure explained in this RfP, and for the maintenance of a clear audit trail. For audit purposes, IUCN is required to retain your Proposal in its entirety for 10 years after then end of the resulting contract and make this available to internal and external auditors and donors as and when requested. 8.2. In the Declaration of Undertaking (Attachment 2) you need to give IUCN express permission to use the information you submit in this way, including personal data that forms part of your Proposal. Where you include personal data of your employees (e.g. CVs) in your Proposal, you need to have written permission from those individuals to share this information with IUCN, and for IUCN to use this information as indicated in 8.1. Without these permissions, IUCN will not be able to consider your Proposal. 9. COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE If you have a complaint or concern regarding the propriety of how a competitive process is or has been executed, then please contact
[email protected] . Such complaints or concerns will be treated as confidential and are not considered in breach of the above restrictions on communication (Section 2.1). 10. CONTRACT The contract will be based on IUCN’s template in Attachment 3, the terms of which are not negotiable. They may, however, be amended by IUCN to reflect particular requirements from the donor funding this particular procurement. 11. ABOUT IUCN IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together. Headquartered in Switzerland, IUCN Secretariat comprises around 1,000 staff with offices in more than 50 countries. Created in 1948, IUCN is now the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,300 Member organisations and some 10,000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools and international standards. IUCN provides a neutral space in which diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities, indigenous peoples organisations and others can work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development. Working with many partners and supporters, IUCN implements a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects worldwide. Combining the latest science with the traditional knowledge of local communities, these projects work to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems and improve people’s well-being. www.iucn.org https://twitter.com/IUCN/ 12. ATTACHMENTS Attachment 1 Specification of Requirements / Terms of Reference Attachment 2 Declaration of Undertaking (select 2a for companies or 2b for self-employed as applicable to you) Attachment 3 Contract Template Terms of Reference for IUCN Consultancy Copywriting and Editing Consultancy for the Great Blue Wall Impact Report Objective of the Consultancy The objective of this consultancy is to write, edit, and deliver a clear, compelling, and professionally structured Impact Report that effectively communicates the achievements, lessons, and future vision of the Great Blue Wall initiative. The report will align with IUCN’s tone and strategic communication objectives and be designed for a global audience of policymakers, donors, and conservation leaders. It will be launched at the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 (October 2025). The consultant will work closely with IUCN and the contracted graphic design team to ensure the report maintains a consistent narrative voice and a high level of editorial quality. Drawing on provided case studies, quotes, project data, and regional inputs, the consultant will structure and develop all written content for a report of up to 40 pages (approx. 10,000 words). This includes original copywriting, integrating feedback through multiple review rounds, and proofreading the final designed report. To support this, the consultant is expected to: Participate in a kick-off meeting with IUCN and the design team to agree on structure, tone, and workflow. Develop a full report outline for approval. Write and edit all written content based on supplied materials, ensuring clarity, consistency, and appropriate tone. Incorporate feedback through up to three tracked rounds of revision. Proofread the final designed report, ensuring a clean, publication-ready product. Coordinate closely with the design team to ensure content complements layout and timelines. The final product must meet the highest standards of editorial quality, be suitable for both print and web publication, and align with the wider communications style used in the 2024 IUCN ESARO Annual Report, while establishing a distinctive voice for the Great Blue Wall. Background Project Reference: P04772 Donor reference: : AVKE-00125 About IUCN IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together. Created in 1948, IUCN is now the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,400 Member organisations and around 15,000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools and international standards. IUCN provides a neutral space in which diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities, indigenous peoples organisations and others can work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development. Working with many partners and supporters, IUCN implements a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects worldwide. Combining the latest science with the traditional knowledge of local communities, these projects work to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems and improve people’s well-being. www.iucn.org https://twitter.com/IUCN/ About the Project The Great Blue Wall (GBW) is a pioneering, Africa-led initiative launched by IUCN in 2021 to accelerate ocean conservation, climate resilience, and sustainable blue economic development across the Western Indian Ocean region. At its heart, the GBW envisions a connected network of community-led marine and coastal conserved areas that protect biodiversity, regenerate ecosystems, and support inclusive, nature-based economies. The initiative brings together governments, communities, scientists, NGOs, and the private sector to unlock large-scale impact across countries and ecosystems. The GBW is delivered through a diverse portfolio of projects that span ecological restoration, livelihoods, and policy engagement. These include: Plastic waste reduction and circular economy innovation (e.g. community-based recycling and waste profiling) Blue carbon restoration, including mangrove rehabilitation and seagrass mapping Community-led marine protected area development Sustainable fisheries and local food systems Youth and women-led enterprise development in the blue economy Regional cooperation for ocean governance and marine spatial planning Ocean literacy, education, and science-policy dialogues IUCN is preparing the first GBW Impact Report to capture progress, share lessons, and communicate results to a global audience. The report will be launched at the IUCN World Conservation Congress and will serve as a key strategic product to showcase the scale and diversity of the initiative’s achievements to donors, partners, and decision-makers. Description of the Assignment The consultant will copywrite and copyedit the Great Blue Wall Impact Report. Tasks and responsibilities include: One kick-off meeting with IUCN and the design team to align on structure, tone, and timeline One detailed report outline submitted for review and approval One full report draft developed based on up to 40 pages (~10,000 words) of content Three structured rounds of feedback, submitted as tracked changes in Word One final proofread of the designed report before submission for print and web publishing Six weeks total for delivery of all content, including drafting, editing, and final review Up to five stakeholder voices (e.g. quotes or case stories) integrated into the content where appropriate Duration of the Assignment The assignment will run for a total of six (6) weeks, commencing upon contract signature in September 2025. The final, fully designed report must be submitted to IUCN by 1 October 2025, ahead of its launch at the IUCN World Conservation Congress. The consultant is expected to adhere strictly to the agreed timeline, incorporating review rounds, feedback integration, and quality assurance within this period. No extension of the deadline is anticipated. Deliverables and Activities The consultant will provide the following deliverables and carry out the following activities: Deliverable/Activity-Description-Deadline 1. Kick-off meeting -Within 3 days of contract signature Virtual meeting with IUCN team to align on content, structure, tone, and coordination with the graphic design team 2. Report outline submission -End of Week 1 Submission of initial report outline, including proposed section structure, narrative flow, and alignment with the agreed visual approach 3. Full content draft (Version 1) -End of Week 4 Delivery of the first full ~10,000-word content draft, including all main sections, feature boxes, pull quotes, and suggested captions 4. Revisions (up to 3 rounds) -Week 5–6 (rolling) Incorporation of IUCN feedback on draft content, including edits, refinements, and close coordination with the design team for content–layout alignment 5. Final content delivery -1 October Submission of the final approved content and proofreading of the fully designed report, delivered in: print-ready highresolution PDF, web-optimised PDF, and final clean Word version for archive Payment Schedule The Timetable below summarises the chronological order of deliverables and indicates milestones at which IUCN will pay the Consultant. Deliverable-Milestone payment Deliverable 1: 25% Kick-off meeting completed, with editorial style guide, tone, and workflow agreed Deliverable 2: 25% Submission and IUCN approval of editorial review plan Deliverable 3: 25% Submission and IUCN approval of edited full draft (Version 1) Deliverable 5: 25% Submission and IUCN approval of final proofread and fully designed report Skills and Experience The consultant must have the following skills, education and experience as a minimum: Minimum of 3 years of experience in writing and editing high-level publications, preferably for international organisations in the environment, sustainability, or development sectors (examples required). Proven ability to synthesise complex technical material into clear, compelling, and accessible narratives for diverse global audiences Experience managing collaborative editorial processes, including multi-round revisions with multiple stakeholders and alignment with design teams Strong project management and communication skills, with the ability to meet tight deadlines and maintain version control across iterative drafts Familiarity with IUCN or other intergovernmental/NGO style guides and tone preferred Demonstrated experience working with or in Eastern and Southern Africa is desirable Supervision and coordination The consultant will report to and work under the supervision of the Coastal and Ocean Resilience Team Impact Officer and Blue Science and Business Innovation Manager Declaration of Undertaking IN relation to Copywriting and Editing Consultancy for the Great Blue Wall Ipact Report I, the undersigned, hereby confirm that I am an authorised representative of the following organisation: Registered Name of Organisation (the “Organisation”): _______________________ Registered Address (incl. country): _______________________________________ Year of Registration:__________________________________________________ I hereby authorise IUCN to store and use the information included in the attached Proposal for the purpose of evaluating Proposals and selecting the Proposal IUCN deems the most favourable. I acknowledge that IUCN is required to retain the Proposal in its entirety for 10 years after then end of the resulting contract and make this available to internal and external auditors and donors as and when reasonably requested. Where the Proposal includes Personal Data as defined by the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), I confirm that the Organisation has been authorised by each Data Subject to share this Data with IUCN for the purposes stated above. I further confirm that the following statements are correct: The Organisation is duly registered in accordance with all applicable laws. The Organisation is fully compliant with all its tax and social security obligations. The Organisation and its staff and representatives are free of any real or perceived conflicts of interest with regards to IUCN and its Mission. The Organisation agrees to declare to IUCN any real or perceived emerging conflicts of interests it or any of its staff and representatives may have concerning IUCN. The Organisation acknowledges that IUCN may terminate any contracts with the Organisation that would, in IUCN sole discretion, be negatively affected by such conflicts of interests. None of the Organisation’s staff has ever been convicted of grave professional misconduct or any other offence concerning their professional conduct. Neither the Organisation nor any of its staff and representatives have ever been convicted of fraud, corruption, money laundering, supporting terrorism or involvement in a criminal organisation. The Organisation acknowledges that engagement by itself or any of its staff in fraud, corruption, money laundering, supporting terrorism or involvement in a criminal organisation will entitle IUCN to terminate any and all contracts with the Organisation with immediate effect. The Organisation is a going concern and is not bankrupt or being wound up, is not having its affairs administered by the courts, has not suspended business activities, is not the subject of proceedings concerning those matters, or in any analogous situation arising from a similar procedure provided for in national legislation or regulations. The Organisation complies with all applicable environmental regulatory requirements or other legal requirements relating to sustainability and environmental protection. The Organisation is not included in the UN Security Council Sanctions List, EU Sanctions Map, US Office of Foreign Assets Control Sanctions List, or the World Bank listing of ineligible firms and individuals. The Organisation agrees that it will not provide direct or indirect support to firms and individuals included in these lists. The Organisation has not been, is not, and will not be involved or implicated in any violations of Indigenous Peoples’ rights, or injustice or abuse of human rights related to other groups or individuals, including forced evictions, violation of fundamental rights of workers as defined by the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Declaration on the Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, child labour, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment. ______________________________________________________ < Name and position of authorised representative of the Proposer Declaration IN RELATION TO
How to Apply
[https://iucn.org/procurement/currently-running-tenders](https://iucn.org/procurement/currently-running-tenders)
NB: The email to be used for this tender exclusively , is [email protected]