Supporting the implementation of the Awareness Raising Campaign on Social Security in the Southern Region of Iraq

Call for Expressions of Interest from local NGOs

March 2025 – October 2025

1. BACKGROUND

As part of a Joint UN Programme on Social Protection in Iraq funded by the European Union, the International Labour Organization (ILO) seeks to enhance awareness and understanding on accessing social security benefits across Iraq. This initiative aligns with the objectives of the new Social Security Law No. 18 in Federal Iraq and the current social security legislation in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). The goal is to support the extension of social security coverage and improve inclusion for both formal and informal workers.

To achieve this, the ILO plans to engage a local NGO with presence and operations the Southern region of Iraq, specifically in Basra, Dhi Qar, Muthanna, Najaf, Karbala governorates, which present the most original and well-designed proposal] to implement awareness raising interventions in all above-mentioned governorates or at least 3 of them. The interventions will leverage cultural events, sports, arts and crafts competitions and other innovative outreach methods to promote the importance of social security enrolment among both workers and employers. Special attention will be given to ensuring that messages are responsive to and tailored appropriately to the specific social security needs of women, men, young workers (both female and male), and workers with disability as well as migrant workers and members of their families.

The ILO together with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MoLSA) and the Lapis Group has already developed messaging for the National Campaign launched on 5 November 2024 to mark the first anniversary of the Law No 18. NGOs are required to use and build upon the overall vision of the National Campaign and those messages. Along the implementation of local awareness raising activities, applicants may propose to fine-tune the messaging to better fit their local context and target audiences based on lessons they document.

This initiative will be implemented over an 8-month period, from March 2025 to October 2025, and will involve close coordination with the ILO, MoLSA Local Departments of Social Security and tripartite committees established in selected governorates, as well as the NGO taking the lead in implementing a mobile theatre intervention.

1. SCOPE OF WORK

Interested NGOs are invited to submit proposals, detailing how they can:

1. Implement Awareness Raising Interventions to expand social security coverage using the following possible entry points (applicants may also propose their own ideas on the entry points for local awareness raising):

Culture and sports: Utilize local cultural and sports events such as football matches, theatre, music concerts, poetry, literature festivals, and arts and crafts markets to spread information. The points below provide some inspiration on possible areas of engagement and events in specific geographical locations but does not strictly concern the Southern region.

• Sports Events: Iraqi Premier League matches, particularly high-profile games like the Baghdad Derby, and Gulf Cup tournaments held in Basra. Engage stadium audiences with banners, halftime presentations, or interactive booths. Marathons, cycling competitions, skateparks and other events and venues with high participation are also expected to be explored.
• Religious Events: Large gatherings such as the Arba’een Pilgrimage in Karbala, where many people and especially informal seasonal workers participate. Set up roadside booths, distribute materials, and engage with seasonal workers during the pilgrimage. Zakariya or Mawlood Nabawi celebrations, as well as Nawrooz should further be considered, where applicable.
• Literature Events: Al-Marbad International Poetry Festival (Basra), Baghdad International Book Fair, “I am Iraqi, and I read” annual event, which attract intellectuals and families. Sponsor discussions on social issues and distribute campaign materials targeting educated audiences. Set up awareness raising and information booths and stands at universities, public libraries or other literature associated sites.
• Theatre and Music: Festivals like the Babylon International Festival, Baghdad International Theatre Festival, and Kurdistan’s music and dance festivals in Sulaymaniyah and Erbil. Collaborate with performers to incorporate social security messaging into performances or set up engagement booths.
• Heritage and Cultural Festivals: Mosul Heritage Festival, Baghdad Walk, Baghdad Days and other events celebrating Iraq’s rich history and culture. Showcase social security benefits through exhibitions or culturally resonant displays.
• Fairs and Expos: Erbil International Fair and the Iraq Agriculture and Food Expo, targeting rural workers, farmers, agricultural workers and professionals. Focus messaging on benefits for agricultural and small business workers. Handcrafts bazars and fairs as well as job fairs should also be targeted, when applicable.

B) Artists competitions: Conceptualise, organize and manage artists’ (adults, children’s and/or youth) competitions to raise workers, employers’ and general publics’ awareness of the importance of social security for protecting workers’ rights and contributing to enterprises productivity.

1. Fine-tune messaging to Specific Audiences:
   • Further develop messaging specific to:

• Informal workers, focusing on sectors such as agriculture, construction, manufacturing, gig economy (e.g. food delivery, logistics and transportation services) and artisanal crafts.
• Formal sector workers not covered by social security, including those in private schools, retail, hospitality, and small businesses.
• Ensure messaging is tailored to:
  • Unique challenges that women and men of different ages, including those with disability, face in accessing social security;
    • Specific challenges that migrant workers and members of their families face in exercising social security rights in Iraq.
  • Print, reproduce and disseminate awareness raising materials developed for the National Awareness Raising Campaign at the events and interventions managed by the NGO.

1. Coordinate with Key Stakeholders:
   • Collaborate closely with the ILO and local Social Security Departments, as well as local workers’ and employers’ organizations, sectoral cooperatives/associations and other relevant stakeholders to align efforts and messaging.
   • Work with Youth Committees under the Ministry of Youth and/or Sports and the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities in Federal Iraq, and the Ministry of Culture and Youth in KRI to leverage their networks for reaching to different populations.
   • Partner with national institutions supporting women, such as the Iraqi Women Directorate, to ensure messaging resonates with women’s specific needs.
   • Ensure close partnership and coordination with an NGO managing a mobile theatre to multiply the impact of different awareness raising events.
2. Taking stock and reporting:
   • Identify, collect and document local success stories on the extension of social security to specific types of workers (e.g. female, migrant, workers with disability, domestic workers, contributing family members), workers in specific occupations and/or sectors (e.g. agriculture, construction), and produce further communications materials based on those (e.g. videos, posters, stories in local newspapers).
   • Document lessons learned throughout the awareness raising interventions and provide a detailed report at the end of the 8-month period.
   • Collect feedback from stakeholders and beneficiaries to inform future campaigns.
3. GEOGRAPHICAL CONSIDERAIONS, LOCATION OF EVENTS AND TARGET GROUPS

It is expected that proposals will focus on the following governorates in the Southern region of Iraq: Basra, Dhi Qar, Muthanna, Najaf, Karbala.

It is preferable that proposals focus on all the governorates withing the defined region. Nevertheless, interested NGOs may apply with proposals, covering only selected governorates withing the proposed geographical scope. In that case, interested NGOs must have capacities to cover at least 3 governorates within the selected geographical area with awareness raising activities. Interested NGOs could also make their own proposals of the geographical coverage in the South, based on their presence and capacities, making sure that at least 3 governorates from those outlines above are duly covered.

Awareness-raising interventions are planned to take place during key gatherings to maximize their reach and effectiveness. However, appropriate safety and security measures must be implemented to ensure the well-being of all participants.

Each event must clearly identify and emphasize its target groups, such as informal workers, formal sector workers without social security, women, men, or workers with disabilities.

The table below provides some indication of possible target groups and events in specific geographical locations, for inspiration, and does not strictly concern southern regions.

Event Type

Target Group

Best Locations

Engagement Strategy

Religious Events

Informal workers

Karbala, Najaf

Mobile booths, flyers, partnerships with local NGOs.

Sports Events

Informal and formal workers

Baghdad, Basra, Erbil

Stadium banners, halftime promotions, digital outreach.

Book and Film Fairs

Formal sector workers

Baghdad, Sulaymaniyah, Erbil

Sponsor talks or distribute materials.

Music and Heritage Festivals

Informal workers (artisans, vendors)

Basra, Mosul, Sulaymaniyah

Booths, collaboration with performers.

Agricultural Expos

Informal agricultural workers

Baghdad, rural governorates

Targeted messaging for farmers and seasonal workers.

1. USE OF AWARENESS RAISING CAMPAIGN MATERIALS AND VISIBILITY

NGOs are encouraged to print, reproduce and disseminate awareness raising materials developed for the National Awareness Raising Campaign at the events and interventions they implement and manage. The awareness raising materials will be made available by the ILO and MoSLA DSS.

Any other documents, materials, publications or other visibility and awareness raising items produced by NGOs in the course of delivering activities under the current ToRs must be aligned with the branding and communications requirement developed for the National Awareness Raising Campaign on Social Security. Further information and detailed guidance will be provided by the ILO and MoSLA DSS.

1. DELIVERABLES, TIMELINE AND PAYMENT SCHEUDLE

NGOs are expected to deliver the following:

Deliverables

Description

Timeline

Payment

Deliverable 1.

Report outlining geographic scope/locations, proposing awareness raising methods and providing detailed plan of events, activities and intervention, define target audiences and key stakeholders, including from state institutions and ILO social partners for each event, propose a feasible timeline, estimate the scope of coverage (outreach). The report should also propose any adjustments or elaboration of the key advocacy messages to better tailor them to the specific needs of the target audiences.

End March 2025

10%

Deliverable 2

At least 5 major cultural/sports events and/or other events and competitions with at least 200 people attending each event conducted in at least 3 governorates in the Southern region.

April – October 2025

30%

Deliverable 3

Mid-term progress report highlighting achievements, challenges, opportunities and lessons learned for further engagement.

End June 2025

20%

Deliverable 4

At least 1 artists’ competition engaging at least 20 artists resulted in at least 1 public exhibition attracting the total of at least 1,000 visitors held in at least 3 governorates in the South and any other innovative interventions proposed by the applicant (if applicable).

April – October 2025

20%

Deliverable 5

End-of-project report documenting activities (with details on the attendance and impact), outcomes, and lessons learned, including success stories and recommendations for future campaigns. Success stories should highlight replicable examples of successful engagement with local stakeholders, whether implemented as part of this campaign or independently, that have demonstrated a measurable and significant impact on increasing the enrolment of formal and/or informal workers in social security.

End October 2025

20%

The implemented interventions should be tailored to raise awarenesses on social security among different groups of workers, including women, men, youth, workers with disability, migrant workers and members of their families.

Each implemented event should have a detailed proposal, explicit goals and objectives, expected outcomes, and designated target audience.

Inception, mid-term and final reports could be produced in English or Arabic languages. The language of reporting will be decided with the NGO upon concluding an agreement.

1. REQUIRED BACKGROUND QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCIES

The contract shall only be awarded to NGOs with the following qualifications, experience and competencies:

1. Organizational Capacity and Experience

• At least 3 years of proven experience in implementing awareness-raising campaigns or similar outreach activities at the community and national levels.
• A strong track record of working with diverse stakeholders, including government entities, workers’ organizations, employers’ organizations, and community groups.
• Prior experience in organizing or participating in large-scale events (e.g., sports, cultural, or religious events) and effectively engaging audiences through creative and innovative means.
• Familiarity with social security systems and labour rights in Iraq, including challenges faced by informal workers, women, persons with disabilities, and migrant workers.

2. Technical Expertise

• Expertise in designing and delivering targeted messaging for different demographic and occupational groups, such as informal workers, formal sector workers not covered by social security, and vulnerable populations.
• Capacity to tailor messaging to address gender-specific, disability-related, and migration-related challenges in accessing social security.
• Experience in creating culturally sensitive and contextually appropriate communication materials, including videos, posters, and print publications.

3. Partnership and Coordination Skills

• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with government bodies, such as the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities, and local Social Security Departments, local workers’ and employers’ organizations, sectoral cooperatives, and community-based organizations.
• Capacity to engage with institutions supporting women, youth, and marginalized groups to ensure inclusive and impactful interventions.

4. Creativity and Innovation

• Ability to conceptualize, organize, and manage competitions and creative events that resonate with local audiences (e.g., artist competitions, youth engagement activities).
• Proven experience in utilizing non-traditional outreach methods, such as leveraging sports events, cultural festivals, and expos to raise awareness.
• Innovative approaches to engaging diverse populations, including urban, rural, and displaced communities.

5. Monitoring, Reporting, and Documentation

• Experience in collecting, documenting, and disseminating success stories, lessons learned, and stakeholder feedback from outreach campaigns.
• Strong capacity to produce detailed and well-structured reports summarizing campaign outcomes, challenges, and recommendations for future efforts.
• Established mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of interventions and adjusting strategies as needed.

6. Geographic Presence and Local Knowledge

• A solid understanding of Iraq’s sociocultural landscape, including Federal Iraq and/or the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
• A presence in or access to all or at least 3 Southern governorates of Iraq. Preferences will be given to NGOs capable to cover all the governorates defined in the Southern region.
• Awareness of local events and traditions that can be leveraged for awareness-raising interventions.

7. Resource Management

• Adequate financial and human resources to implement the proposed activities within the 8-month timeframe.
• Qualified staff with expertise in project management, communications, and community engagement.

8. Compliance and Accountability

• Compliance with ethical standards and best practices in engaging stakeholders, particularly vulnerable groups.
• Commitment to transparency and accountability in financial and operational reporting.

Interested NGOs are encouraged to provide evidence of their qualifications, including examples of past projects, partnerships, and achievements, in their proposals.

1. PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS AND SUBMISSION PROCEDURE

The ILO invites interested local NGOs to submit their proposals comprising of technical and financial parts as per the requirements specified below.

1. Organizational Background:
   • Overview of the NGO’s experience in social campaigns, public outreach, and working with local communities; details of prior work in promoting social or economic rights.
   • Record of specialisation in organising sport, theatre, music, art and or other events and competitions for awareness raising.
   • CVs/resumes of key personnel to be involved in managing and implementing activities under the current ToRs, as well as supporting the reporting.
2. Awareness Raising Intervention Approach:
   • Clear geographic coverage.
   • Type of planned activities, their detailed description, goals and objectives, tools, and methods for implementing the campaign, expected outcomes and impacts.
   • Strategies for reaching out to formal and informal enterprises of different sizes, and to formal and informal female and male workers, young workers, workers with disability, migrant workers with and without social security coverage.
   • Proposed refinements to the ILO’s messaging, where appropriate.
3. Detailed Budget and Timeline:
   • Detailed budget in USD or IQD[1] for the 8-month campaign period – NGOs should submit a detailed budget, including all costs for personnel, logistics, materials, and events, etc.
   • Timeline of activities with milestones linked to deliverables.
4. Monitoring and Evaluation Plan:
   • Approach to documenting lessons learned, success stories and evaluating campaign impact.
5. Commitment to Coordination:
   • Statement confirming willingness to collaborate with the ILO, local Departments of Social Security, local tripartite committees and/or workers’ and employers’ organizations in specific governorates, as well as other NGOs involved in the awareness raising activation on social security, including a mobile theatre.

Technical and Financial proposals must be submitted in English or Arabic in PDF format, with each page duly signed and dated. The Financial Proposal could be submitted in USD or IQD and should be valid for 90 days after the deadline for submissions.

Interested NGOs should submit their applications comprising of technical and financial proposals to [email protected] with the subjects “Supporting Awareness Raising Campaign – South” no later than 9 February 2025.

Note: Since there are three separate Terms of Reference (ToRs) advertised for the same work in different regions, each NGO is permitted to submit an application for only one region. Submitting multiple applications for different regions will not be considered and may lead to disqualification

1. Evaluation Process and Criteria

Proposals will be reviewed and evaluated by an Evaluation Panel, to determine compliance with the requirements specified in these Terms of Reference.

A two-stage procedure will be utilized in evaluating the Proposals, with evaluation of each Technical Proposal constituting 70 points being completed prior to any Financial Proposal which constitute 30 points being opened and compared.

Each Technical Proposal (70 points) is evaluated on the basis of its responsiveness to these Terms of Reference according to the criteria described below. The minimum passing score is 50 points:

1. 30 points for understanding of the Terms of Reference and the aim of the services to be provided, clarity of the proposal, overall methodological approach, appropriateness of geographical scope, selection of events and interventions, understanding of specific needs of the target audiences and overall estimation of potential challenges and opportunities;
2. 20 points for feasibility of the implementation and management plan with a timeline related to the different activities;
3. 10 points for proven experience in similar activities and prior experience in mass awareness raising in Iraq.
4. 10 points for competence of key personnel and coordination experience.

During the second stage of the evaluation, the Financial Proposals (30 points) of all qualified NGOs which have attained at least the minimum score during the technical evaluation (50 points) will be compared. The maximum number of points – 30 points – will be assigned to the lowest Financial Proposal submitted by applicants. All other Financial Proposals will receive points in inverse proportion.

The process of evaluating the proposals will be based on the percentage combination of Technical and Financial elements.

ILO Website Link: https://www.ilo.org/resource/vacancy-notice/awareness-raising-activities-south-iraq

How to apply

Technical and Financial proposals must be submitted in English or Arabic in PDF format, with each page duly signed and dated. The Financial Proposal could be submitted in USD or IQD and should be valid for 90 days after the deadline for submissions.

Interested NGOs should submit their applications comprising of technical and financial proposals to [email protected] with the subjects “Supporting Awareness Raising Campaign – South” no later than 9 February 2025.