Stakeholder Engagement Strategy for SDG-3 Acceleration -(Individual Consultant)

1. Background

Ethiopia is developing a costed SDG-3 Acceleration Plan to enhance progress toward achieving health-related Sustainable Development Goals. A core component of this effort is the development of a comprehensive Stakeholder Engagement Strategy to improve coordination, collaboration, and communication across all actors supporting SDG-3. This assignment will focus on conducting Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) to deepen understanding of stakeholder relationships, motivations, and collaboration barriers, and then use both data sets—the mapping outputs and KII findings—to design the overall Stakeholder Engagement Strategy. The duration of the consultancy assignment shall be for 10 November 2025 – 26 January 2026 (12 weeks).

2. Objective

To develop a comprehensive, evidence-based, and actionable Stakeholder Engagement Strategy that consolidates insights from the ongoing stakeholder mapping and newly conducted KIIs, defining practical mechanisms for coordination, engagement, and accountability to accelerate SDG-3 implementation in Ethiopia.

3. Scope of Work

The consultant will work closely with the SDG-3 Acceleration Plan Task Team, and partners responsible for the ongoing stakeholder mapping exercise.

A. Review and Integration

• Review all existing outputs from the ongoing stakeholder mapping process (including preliminary and final reports, stakeholder database, and analysis summaries).
• Identify information gaps and areas requiring deeper qualitative insights through KIIs.
• Synthesize relevant findings to inform the engagement strategy design.

B. Key Informant Interviews (KIIs)

• Develop a KII guide aligned with SDG-3 stakeholder themes (governance, coordination, resource mobilization, communication, etc.).
• Conduct targeted KIIs with key stakeholders, including:
o Ministry of Health leadership and technical departments;
o Regional Health Bureaus;
o Development partners and donor agencies;
o Civil society and community-based organizations;
o Private sector entities and professional associations;
o Academia and technical experts.
• Analyze KII data to identify stakeholder motivations, incentives, collaboration mechanisms, and barriers to coordination.

C. Strategy Development

• Combine insights from the stakeholder mapping and KII findings to design the

The consultant shall develop a comprehensive and practical Stakeholder Engagement Strategy (SES) that provides a clear framework for coordination, collaboration, and accountability among all SDG-3 actors in Ethiopia.

The SES should be based on evidence from the stakeholder mapping exercise and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and must include the following key components:

1. Executive Summary – Overview of purpose, scope, methodology, key findings, and strategic priorities.
2. Context and Rationale – Situate the strategy within Ethiopia’s SDG-3 Acceleration Plan, national health sector frameworks, and global SDG commitments.
3. Stakeholder Landscape Overview – Summary of stakeholder categories, influence and interest analysis, and insights from KIIs highlighting collaboration gaps, incentives, and engagement opportunities.
4. Strategic Framework for Engagement – Vision, guiding principles, and strategic objectives for coordinated action across government, development partners, civil society, private sector, and academia.
5. Mechanisms for Coordination and Collaboration – Practical structures and platforms for engagement, including communication, knowledge sharing, and joint decision-making mechanisms.
6. Roles and Responsibilities – Definition of roles for key institutions, including the Ministry of Health, Amref Health Africa, and other key partners in implementing and maintaining the engagement framework.
7. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Accountability Framework – Indicators and mechanisms to measure engagement effectiveness and ensure continuous learning and improvement.
8. Implementation Roadmap – Phased plan with priority actions, timelines, responsible entities, and resource considerations.

The final strategy should be actionable, aligned with existing national coordination mechanisms, and feasible for integration into the SDG-3 Acceleration Plan implementation framework.

D. Validation and Finalization
• Present the draft strategy to the MoH and partners for review and validation.
• Facilitate a validation workshop and incorporate stakeholder feedback.
• Produce a final version of the Stakeholder Engagement Strategy and a concise summary brief for integration into the SDG-3 Acceleration Plan.

4. Deliverables

1. Inception Report – including methodology, detailed KII plan, and work schedule.
2. KII Summary Report – Conduct Interviews and provide an analysis of interview findings and key stakeholder insights.
3. Stakeholder Synthesis Report – integrated summary combining KII results with the existing stakeholder mapping analysis.
4. Draft Stakeholder Engagement Strategy – including engagement framework, coordination mechanisms, and monitoring plan.
5. Validation Workshop Report – with participant feedback and agreed revisions.
6. Final Stakeholder Engagement Strategy.
7. Summary Brief – 2–3 pages, suitable for inclusion in the SDG-3 Acceleration Plan package.

5. Level of Effort and Timeline

The consultancy will run from 10 November 2025 to 30 January 2026, over approximately 35–40 working days. Tentative Schedule:
Phase Timeline Key Outputs
Weeks 1–2 Inception & planning Inception report
Weeks 3–5 KIIs and data analysis KII summary report
Weeks 6–8 Synthesis & draft strategy Draft strategy
Weeks 9–10 Validation workshop Validation report
Weeks 11–12 Finalization & submission Final strategy & summary brief

6. Role of Amref Health Africa

Amref Health Africa will provide overall coordination, oversight, and technical guidance throughout the consultancy period. Specifically, Amref will:

1. Provide Strategic Oversight and Coordination
   • Serve as the primary point of contact between the consultant, MoH, and other partners involved in the SDG-3 Acceleration Plan.
   • Ensure alignment of the consultancy activities with the broader SDG-3 Acceleration Plan objectives and timelines.
2. Technical Review and Feedback
   • Review and provide timely feedback on all deliverables, including the inception report, KII tools, and drafts of the Stakeholder Engagement Strategy.
   • Participate in regular progress review meetings and technical consultations with the consultant.
3. Logistical and Administrative Support
   • Provide logistical support for the organization of the validation workshop (venue, participant invitations, materials, etc.).
   • Facilitate payment processing upon submission and approval of deliverables in accordance with the agreed payment schedule.
4. Quality Assurance and Validation
   • Ensure that the final Stakeholder Engagement Strategy meets the quality standards required for integration into the SDG-3 Acceleration Plan.
   • Coordinate final validation with the MoH and relevant development partners.

7. Payment Schedule

Payments will be made upon satisfactory completion and acceptance of deliverables by Amref Health Africa, according to the following schedule:

Note:

• All payments will be made upon submission of deliverables accompanied by an official invoice and acceptance by the contracting authority.
• The consultant is responsible for all costs related to data collection, travel, communication, and logistics, unless otherwise agreed in writing.

8. Evaluation Criteria

Technical Evaluation (100 Points)

Criteria Details Points

1. Relevant Experience & Qualifications

a) Demonstrated experience developing stakeholder engagement or coordination strategies (15 pts)
b) Experience in Ethiopia or similar contexts (10 pts)
c) Proven ability to conduct and analyze KIIs (10 pts)
d) Academic qualifications and understanding of health/development sectors (5 pts)
e) References:
– 4 references (15 pts)
– 2 references (10 pts)
– 1 reference (5 pts)
– None (0 pts)
Total: 45 points

2. Proposed Approach & Methodology

a) Relevance and clarity of methodology (10 pts)
b) Integration of KII findings with existing stakeholder mapping outputs (10 pts)
c) Proposed framework for engagement and coordination (10 pts)
d) Practical monitoring and accountability mechanisms (10 pts)
Total: 40 points

3. Overall Proposal Quality

a) Clarity and logical flow (5 pts)
b) Alignment with ToR objectives (5 pts)
c) Completeness and presentation (5 pts)
Total: 15 points

Only technically qualified proposals (≥70 points) will proceed to financial evaluation.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or higher in Public Health, Development Studies, Public Policy, or related discipline.
• At least 10 years of experience in stakeholder engagement, coordination, or partnership management in the health or development sector.
• Proven experience designing engagement frameworks or conducting high-level KIIs in Ethiopia or similar contexts.
• Excellent analytical, facilitation, and writing skills.
• Familiarity with Ethiopia’s health system, governance structures, and SDG-3 frameworks preferred.