SPECIFIC PROCUREMENT NOTICE
SHORT-TERM CONSULTANCY TO DEVELOP DRAFT REGIONAL POLICY GUIDELINES ON THE USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN SADC
Reference Number: SADC/3/5/2/239
Procurement entity: The Southern African Development Community (SADC)
Number and Title of lots: N/A
Location: Gaborone, Botswana
Maximum Contract Budget: US$20,000.00
1.The Southern African Development Community (SADC) herewith invites individuals to submit their CV and Financial proposals to for the following services:
“SHORT-TERM CONSULTANCY TO DEVELOP DRAFT POLICY GUIDELINES ON THE USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN SADC”
The Terms of Reference defining the minimum technical requirements for these services are attached as Annex 1 to this Request for Expression of Interest.
2.The procurement method used for this contract is Open Bidding as defined in the SADC Secretariat Guidelines for Procurement and Grants, edition of January 2017, available at the following website: www.sadc.int.
3.The INVITATION TO BID is open to all individuals who satisfy the eligibility and qualification requirements stated in the Bidding Document
4.The date and time of submission of bids to socialmediause2022@sadc.int is 23rd August 2022 at 10:00 hours local time. Proposals received after this time and date, or submitted otherwise than indicated in the Bidding Document shall not be considered.
All notifications concerning this procurement process, including: modification of the Bidding Document, results of the evaluation or cancellation notices, will be published on the following website www.sadc.int and will also be communicated directly to the bidders.
5.Interested individuals may seek clarification or/and additional information concerning this contract, only in writing and by latest 10th August 2022 at 15:00 hours local time, through the following email: : hkambanga@sadc.int; senthufhel@sadc.int tenders@sadc.int Copy: pchifani@sadc.int ; yphillip@sadc.int
Att: Ag. Senior Officer-Procurement
SADC Secretariat
CBD Plot No. 54385
City:Gaborone
Country: Botswana
Tel: +267 3951863
6.Description of services: Short-Term Consultancy to Develop Draft Regional Policy Guidelines on the use of Social Media in SADC
Informed by the outcome of the meetings of the Ministerial Committee of the Organ (MCO) on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, the RISDP in line with one of its strategic objectives (enhanced conflict prevention, resolution and management systems, with early warning systems that are capable of tracking and monitoring political, security and socio-economic threats) seeks, among others, to regulate social media to minimise its misuse and peddling of fake news.
In turn the MCO had been advised by the State Security Sub-Committee (SSSC) held in April 2017 and April 2019 that the region continues to contend with the phenomenon of fake news the abuse of social media, which is now an emerging threat in Member States, as witnessed by the proliferation of the so-called hashtag (#) movements whereby cyber activists, mainly the youths, abused social media platforms to organise and coordinate anti-government protests, propagate and disseminate anti-government propaganda, and directing illegal activities which border on banditry and insurgency as well as transnational organised crimes. As a result, Member States are encouraged to enhance measures to regulate social media platforms as a counter measure to this emerging threat.
Member States through the SSSC meetings have highlighted, among others, the following concerns about fake news and the use of social media: religious extremism fundamentalists, advocates for secessionism, opposition activists and government critics, perpetrating activities with potential to breed terrorism in the region, advancing separatist agendas, as well as, conceiving, organising, coordinating and spreading ideas of violent anti-government demonstrations and protests aimed at destabilising and removing legitimately elected governments, respectively, through social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Certain individuals, especially from the opposition, also misrepresent themselves on social media to the extent of even purporting to be others. On the other hand, the internet and social media have also been used to spread propaganda and fake news on political, economic and security issues with a view to create despondency within the populace fueling tensions between governments and opposition supporters, meant again to destabilize governments.
