Call For Expression of Interest- Consultant Writer ActionAid Nigeria (AAN)
SUMMARY
ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) is seeking the services of a skilled and experienced writer to develop a compelling and reflective autobiography-memoir-style book documenting the 25-year journey of the organisation. The book will highlight leadership transitions, organisational impact, key partnerships, innovations, lessons learned, and the voices of stakeholders, including past leaders, staff, partners, and rights holders.
AA Nigeria is an affiliate of ActionAid International, which is a global alliance of organisations working towards achieving a world without poverty and injustice in which every person enjoys the right to a life with dignity. As a large and visible development organisation, we work in more than 40 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and America. Our expertise lies in community-led approaches to development and working through partnerships with the poor and other grassroot organisations.
Background:
Since its establishment in 2000, ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) has been at the forefront of advocating for human rights, social justice, and transformative change in Nigeria. The organisation’s journey has been shaped by its unwavering commitment to fighting poverty, injustice, and inequality through a rights-based approach. AAN has worked closely with marginalised communities, empowering them to take control of their own development and advocating for systemic change at local, national, and international levels.
Over the past 25 years, ActionAid Nigeria has undergone significant transformations, marked by evolving strategies designed to address the changing socio-economic landscape of Nigeria. The organisation has adapted its approach to remain relevant and impactful, guided by its mission to end poverty and injustice. AAN’s leadership has also seen transitions over the years, each contributing uniquely to the development of the organisation and its strategic direction. From its early leadership to the present, these changes have reinforced AAN’s position as a key player in the Nigerian development sector, ensuring the continuity of its mission.
The organisation's first strategic phase, Fighting Poverty in the Midst of Plenty (2004–2008), laid the groundwork for ActionAid’s focus on economic injustice and the paradox of poverty in a country with abundant resources. Building on this foundation, the second phase, Fighting Poverty in the Midst of Plenty II (2009–2013), deepened AAN’s engagement with grassroots communities, emphasising empowerment and capacity-building to challenge systemic barriers to poverty eradication. The third phase, Take Action: End Poverty (2014–2018), shifted focus to amplifying the voices of marginalised groups, particularly women and youth, and mobilising them to drive systemic change. The fourth phase, Social Justice to End Poverty (2018–2023), highlighted the critical intersection between poverty and social justice, calling for stronger accountability from governments and stakeholders to ensure the rights of citizens, especially the most vulnerable, are upheld.
Now, under its fifth strategy, Citizens’ Action to End Poverty and Injustice, AAN continues to build on the successes and lessons of its previous strategies. This current framework prioritises the mobilisation of communities, movements, and actors to drive transformative change.
Twenty-five years on, it is important to reflect on the milestones, challenges, and successes that have defined ActionAid Nigeria’s journey. From its early days as an anti-poverty organisation to its immediate past on social justice and current focus on citizens’ action to end poverty and injustice, AAN’s work has made a profound impact on the lives of countless individuals and communities across Nigeria. The organisation's deep-rooted community engagement and strong partnerships with local actors have allowed it to remain a leading force in the fight against poverty and injustice.
This book not only documents AAN’s rich history but also serves as an inspiration for future generations of activists and change-makers who will continue the work towards a just and equitable world. The book is a space to share our story—how we started, how we have grown, and what we have become. It also offers an opportunity to document the lessons learned over the years and highlight the impact of our work in shaping both community and national development. More than a historical record, it is a reflection of our influence, values, and continued commitment to ending poverty and injustice in Nigeria.
Target audience/s
The target audience for the book includes Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs); current and former staff of ActionAid Nigeria; academics, researchers, activists and students; board members and governance structures; community stakeholders and the people we work with; as well as members of the public interested in development work in Nigeria.
The publication seeks to serve as both a legacy document and a knowledge product, providing insights into AAN's evolution and impact over the last twenty-five (25) years.
The documentation should help the audience to:
- Recognise the transformative impact of ActionAid Nigeria’s work in improving the lives of women, men, youth, and children across communities.
- Understand the integrity and transparency of ActionAid Nigeria’s processes. The organisation has consistently involved communities in decision-making, ensuring that initiatives are rooted in local needs and priorities. This approach fosters strong community ownership, making the programmes more resilient and self-sustaining, with impacts that endure well beyond the initial intervention.
- Appreciate ActionAid Nigeria’s profound role in strengthening government institutions. This is not just capacity building; it’s about creating systems that will continue to function long after the organisation’s intervention to ensure a legacy of change.
- Be compelled to share these stories of change. These stories are not just milestones in a book - they are a clarion call for action. By disseminating them, the audience will help amplify the successes and lessons learned, ensuring that the ripple effects of ActionAid’s work reach far beyond its direct beneficiaries.
- Be motivated to act and sustain the movement. Donors, partners, and stakeholders should see the continued impact of ActionAid’s work and feel an urgent need to continue supporting the organisation’s mission.
Tone and Style
The autobiography should be written in a memoir-style tone, blending personal narratives with organisational history. The writing should be engaging, reflective, and accessible, avoiding overly technical language. It should capture the voices of various stakeholders, providing a multifaceted perspective on AAN's journey.
Technical Compatibility and Deliverables
Deliverables:
- Interview transcripts
- First draft of the manuscript
- Second draft incorporating feedback
- Final clean manuscript ready for layout and publication
Provisional Specifications:
ActionAid Nigeria and the writer will co-decide on the final details during a joint planning meeting, as some specifications may evolve throughout the development process. The following are initial working parameters, subject to refinement during the planning and writing phases
- Word Count: Tentatively between 30,000 to 40,000 words
- Page Count: Estimated at 170 to 230 pages, based on an average of 250–300 words per page
Copyright
The writer will provide ActionAid Nigeria with all raw materials, including interview recordings and transcripts. All content developed under this consultancy will be the property of ActionAid Nigeria and cannot be used for commercial or personal purposes without prior consent.
Competencies
Corporate Competencies:
- Demonstrates integrity by modelling ActionAid’s values and ethical standards
- Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of ActionAid
- Displays cultural, gender, religious, racial, national, and age sensitivity and adaptability
Functional Competencies:
- Strong interviewing, storytelling, and editorial skills
- Excellent communicator with the ability to write in a compelling and accessible style
- Understanding of development work, feminist principles, and ActionAid’s human rights-based approach is an advantage
Education:
Bachelor’s degree in communications, Journalism, Literature, Social Sciences, Law or related field. A Master’s degree is an added advantage.
Experience:
The consultant is expected to have and submit the following qualifications:
- Proven experience in writing biographies, autobiographies or authoring memoirs, organisational histories, or similar works
- Strong interviewing, storytelling, and editorial skills
- Understanding of development work, feminist principles, and a human rights-based approach is an advantage
Assignment Location and Provisional Timeline
The assignment will commence by June 10, 2025, and should be concluded no later than August 27, 2025, to allow for layout, design, and printing. Specific timelines and milestones will be jointly agreed upon and strictly adhered to.
Work Arrangement & Reporting Lines
The writer will report to and work in close consultation with the Communications Committee. Regular check-ins and draft submissions will be scheduled.
Submission of Expression of Interest
Interested applicants should submit a CV detailing relevant competencies, alongside the list below. Applications must be submitted electronically as a single Microsoft Word file to Procurement.Nigeria@actionaid.org with the subject line: Writer AAN25, no later than May 23, 2025. Failure to comply with the submission guidelines may result in disqualification.
· Company or Individual profile (as applicable)
· Evidence of previous work (secured links are allowed)
· Proof of registration with FIRS or SIRS (state internal revenue service)
· A minimum of 2 reference letters must be submitted showing evidence of related work
· CAC registration certificate (for corporates)
· Cost proposal
If you do not receive feedback on your application within two weeks after the closing date, please consider your application unsuccessful