Following the assessment of submissions, the most technically capable and appropriately experienced applicant will be invited to negotiate a contract to provide the consultancy services. GOSL reserves the right to accept or reject late applications or to cancel the present invitation partially or in its entirety. It will not be bound to assign any reason for not engaging in the services of any applicant and will not defray any costs incurred by any applicant in the preparation and submission of Expressions of Interest.

Address 1

Permanent Secretary

Policy & Administration Unit

Department of Education and

Digital Transformation

4^th Floor, Francis Compton Building

Waterfront, Castries

SAINT LUCIA

Email: pertsecretary@learning.edu.lc

Address 2

Procurement Officer

Caribbean Development Bank

P. O. Box 408,

Wildey

St. Michael

BARBADOS

Tel:1(246) 539 1600

   Email: procurement@caribank.org

PROGRAMME FOR EDUCATION REALIGNMENT AND TRANSFORMATION(PERT)

Terms of Reference for Communications Officer

Project background

The Ministry of Education, Youth Development, Sports and Digital Transformation (MoE), is implementing the Programme for Education Realignment and Transformation (PERT) with financing from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), and counterpart contributions from the Government of Saint Lucia. The project, valued at approximately thirty million, four hundred thousand United States dollars (USD 30,400,000.00), seeks to enhance educational equity, inclusivity, and quality across the island’s education system.

While notable progress has been made in achieving near-universal primary and secondary education, persistent challenges remain—such as deficiencies in early childhood education, underdeveloped Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) systems, limited access for students with Special Education Needs (SEN), and outdated infrastructure. The Programme for Education Realignment and Transformation (PERT) builds on the foundation laid by the previous Education Quality Improvement Project (EQuIP) and seeks to address these systemic gaps while aligning national education efforts with international development priorities.

PERT supports the construction of new SEN facilities, retrofitting and equipping of TVET laboratories, upgrading school infrastructure to be more climate-resilient, and the development of early identification mechanisms for students with SEN or at-risk profiles. These interventions are guided by the Saint Lucia Education Sector Plan (2023–2028) and contribute directly to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, and 13.

The project comprises three components as follows:

1.   Infrastructure Development and Preparation

This component focuses on the foundational investments necessary to upgrade and expand   educational facilities across Saint Lucia. It includes project preparation activities such as consultancy services to produce detailed architectural designs, bidding documents, and cost estimates for a new Special Education Needs (SEN) School in Vieux Fort and a new classroom block at the Soufriere Comprehensive Secondary School. The component also covers the acquisition of a government-owned 2,790.40 square metre site in Vieux Fort, located in a designated institutional zone, to facilitate the construction of the SEN school.

Further infrastructure works will involve the full construction of the SEN school in Vieux Fort, replacement of a dilapidated classroom block at the Soufriere Comprehensive Secondary School, and the refurbishment and expansion of the school’s administrative facilities. In addition, TVET laboratories at Beanfield Secondary, Castries Comprehensive Secondary School, and other eligible institutions will be retrofitted and equipped to modern standards. Using Global Partnership for Education (GPE) grant funding, remedial works, repairs, and retrofitting for climate resilience will be carried out at seven primary schools: Bexon, Camille Henry Memorial, Canaries, Dennery, Gordon and Walcott Memorial Methodist, Soufriere, and Vieux Fort Primary. These works are informed by detailed hazard assessment reports and costed action plans.

1.Technical Services and Educational Resources

This component supports the technical oversight and provisioning of educational resources required to effectively operationalize upgraded facilities. It includes the engagement of consultancy services for the review, design, and construction supervision of all infrastructure works. These services will ensure the integration of gender-sensitive and climate-resilient features into the facility designs, meeting both safety and inclusivity standards.

Additionally, the component will finance the procurement of furniture, equipment, and educational tools for the newly constructed, rehabilitated, and retrofitted facilities. Procurement will prioritise adaptive technology and assistive devices for SEN, Early Childhood Development (ECD), and TVET students, ensuring that all materials support inclusive, non-discriminatory learning environments and avoid the reinforcement of gender stereotypes.

2.Institutional Strengthening and Capacity Building

This component focuses on building the institutional and human resource capacity necessary for   delivering inclusive and high-quality education services. It will finance consultancy services for the development of an early identification and assessment mechanism designed to support students with special education needs and those considered at risk. Additionally, the component will support the design and rollout of a gender-responsive entrepreneurship programme to be implemented across seven flagship secondary schools.

To complement these institutional reforms, extensive training and professional development will be delivered to 1,071 teachers, principals, and 160 education officers, including guidance counsellors. Key training areas will include SEN education, psychosocial support, gender sensitisation, TVET delivery, and ECD methodologies. Further, the project will support bachelor’s and master’s level education for 35 officers and 44 teachers in the disciplines of SEN, ECD, and TVET, thereby ensuring long-term sustainability and professional excellence within the education system.

PERT is expected to benefit students with special education needs, teachers and education officers, TVET students, and school infrastructure across the island. The project will also strengthen partnerships with international donors, engineers, educators, and community stakeholders to ensure an inclusive and sustainable education environment.

The Ministry of Education, Youth Development, Sports and Digital Transformation (MoE) is establishing the Saint Lucia Project Coordination Unit (PCU) for the implementation of Project activities. The services of a Communications Officer are hereby being sought.

Objective:

The Communications Officer will develop and implement a communication strategy to promote project outcomes, including community awareness on inclusivity and resilience in education. The role involves managing stakeholders’ engagement and producing content for various media. The Communications Officer will also support gender-sensitive and inclusive messaging in all project communications.

Terms of Assignment

The Communications Officer will report to the Project Coordinator. The position will be contracted in line with Government of Saint Lucia’s compensation guidelines and the level of responsibility envisaged. No relocation allowance is attached to this post.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The Communications Officer has the responsibility to design and execute a comprehensive communication plan to support the project’s objectives, including raising awareness about the education initiatives and project related efforts. The duties and responsibilities of the Communications Officer will include, but are not limited to:

• Plan and manage communication aspects of key project events, including workshops, and project launch.
• Develop or facilitate the development of a project website and social media page(s), and manage the website and social media site(s).
• Develop an image campaign for the positive re-branding and messaging of education that will effectively integrate SEN messaging and awareness raising into various education sectors (Early Childhood Education, Primary, Secondary, TVET).
• Develop an image campaign for the positive re-branding and messaging of education that will attract, inter alia, more males to complete their secondary education, and will fight gender- stereotypes in occupational choices of females and males.
• Utilise various communication channels, which may include but not be limited to radio, print, megaphone delivery, television, social media, billboards, advertising spots on the various media outlets, infomercials, jingles, etc. in executing the image campaign for the positive re-branding and messaging of education.
• Develop/produce publication layouts or relevant instruments and other promotional material for public information (e.g., Reports, Posters, press releases, brochures, website contents, speeches, interviews, briefing notes, tweets, Facebook posts,).
• Manage the social media presence through, but not limited to, postings, periodic web updates, email blasts, for the purposes of interaction with and provision of relevant information for stakeholders.
• Liaise between the project and key stakeholders, including government agencies, educators, parents, and students, ensuring clear, timely, and effective communication.

• Conduct and facilitate community sessions/stakeholder engagement across the island, and facilitate dissemination via various communication channels such as radio programmes.

• Organize press briefings and news conferences about project deliverables, important milestones and events, project impacts and outcomes.

• Collaborate with communications partners and service providers including advertising agencies and publishing houses, in the interest of the PERT project’s visibility and its strategic outcomes.

• Undertake media monitoring and analysis and provide timely feedback, including quarterly (or as often as is necessary) reports/presentations to the PCU of the public’s perceptions, expectations and concerns about the Project.
• Support internal communications within the project team and with the Department of Education to ensure messaging alignment, project updates and information flow.

Skills and Qualifications (Minimum Requirements):

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing or related field.
• A minimum of three years of experience in communications, particularly in development or education sectors.
• At least three (3) years’ experience in developing and coordinating outreach strategies/public awareness Campaigns.
• Proficiency in digital media with at least three (3) years’ experience in conceptualizing, preparing and maintaining multimedia and interactive content (such as press releases, websites, success stories, audio, video, targeting a variety of audiences).
• Experience in conducting community sessions/stakeholder engagement.
• Ability to speak and effectively utilise various platforms, such as newsletters, radio and television platforms, blogs and social media and other digital formats to strengthen outreach efforts.
• Excellent analytical and writing skills.
• Demonstrated experience in public awareness campaigns.
• Strong result orientation and possess a drive for excellence and taking initiative.
• Ability to understand, present and translate diverse complex information in a language that is suited to different types of audience.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals.
• Knowledge of Government’s project implementation process in Saint Lucia and the Caribbean region.
• Strong background knowledge in the procedures and operations of CDB.
• Experience in developing or coordinating outreach strategies/public awareness campaigns of projects financed by Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) or International Financial Institutions (IFIs) in the Eastern Caribbean.
• Experience in large-scale project implementation in the education or other public sector.
• Familiarity with issues relevant to the Education sector, particularly SEN, ECD, or TVET.
• Proficiency in multimedia communications, Microsoft Office Suite and other digital productivity tools.
• Eligible to work in Saint Lucia.

Duration

The initial contract for the Project Coordinator will be for a period of twelve (12) months during which time the Consultant will be required to work in country and may be renewed annually based on satisfactory performance, up to a maximum duration of forty-three (43) consecutive months.  

1. Comms Officer merged - updateded Feb 6 (1).pdf