Call for applications: Diaspora Communication Strategy (International Consultant)

1. Project Context

The Government of Lesotho (GOL) recognizes the role that diaspora can play for development and economic growth of Lesotho. Over the past five years the government of Lesotho has made several efforts to engage Basotho diaspora. The government uses a holistic approach in engaging Basotho abroad, includes both the professionals and vulnerable diaspora. To date the government has developed three key policy frameworks including the enactment of Dual Citizenship Act with the aim to create an enabling environment for Basotho diaspora to have access and be a part of development initiatives at home. Key diaspora engagement frameworks developed by the government include the Diaspora trade and investment strategy, the National Diaspora Policy and the Lesotho Remittances strategy. In addition to these frameworks, the government has established the Diaspora Directorate within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations (MOFAIR). The aim is to create a facility that will serve as an interlocutor between diaspora and the GOL and help facilitate dialogue as well as providing collaboration space for diaspora opportunities. For the engagement to yield desired outcomes, the first crucial step is to understand Lesotho’s diaspora.

In 2022 the International Organization for Migration (IOM) supported the GOL to conduct profiling of Basotho diaspora. This exercise was a follow up to diaspora outreach forums done in the Republic of South Africa and virtual forums for Basotho residing in different countries which led to the formation of Basotho Diaspora Association. Within this context the IOM is supporting the GOL to develop a diaspora

communication strategy to enhance and strengthen the coordination role of the Diaspora Directorate. This strategy will be designed to be coherent with the National Diaspora Policy and Action Plan and contribute directly to its implementation. Beyond policy coherence, this strategy would also be shaped around early impact in helping to support the development of the homecoming initiative planned by the GOL.

In view of the above, IOM and UNDP seek to engage a consultant to develop a diaspora communication strategy and develop and deliver a short-term training programme for GOL officials on diplomatic missions on diaspora diplomacy focused on soft skills, such as networking, and other processes required for effective implementation of both the national policy and communication and outreach strategy. This will include an introduction to diaspora diplomacy as well as exploration of the key diplomatic potentials opened by diaspora engagement through the national policy and communication and outreach strategy. 

2. SCOPE 

 

i. Conduct a desk Review relating to current policy and operational landscape in Lesotho pertaining to diaspora communication, outreach and networking. The desk review should also explore effective

communication and outreach strategies for engagement of diaspora communities regionally and globally, including the iDiaspora page for IOM Southern Africa region with a view to extracting best practices. This would include review of formal strategies as well as different communication, outreach and networking tools including but not limited to digital diplomacy, social media platforms,

 communication networks, Lesotho diplomatic Missions abroad platforms.

ii. Conduct targeted stakeholder consultations with key government agencies, Basotho Diaspora to be held virtually, to gather their expectations and insights for the communication, outreach and networking strategy as well as how best to effectively communicate with the diaspora.

iii. Produce a first draft of the Communication, Outreach and Networking Strategy, a maximum of 20- 25 pages excluding Annex if any, which outlines the key institutions, processes, and products required to effectively building communication and outreach to the Basotho diaspora in line with national development planning and the National Diaspora Policy of Lesotho.

iv. Conduct a validation workshop on draft version of the Communication, Outreach and Networking Strategy with key government institutions, other relevant public agencies, civil society representatives, private sector representatives, the Basotho Diaspora and other relevant actors. This will facilitate the production of a final, publication ready, version of the Communication, Outreach and Networking Strategy with executive summary.