- Background
The East African Business Council (EABC) is the apex body of private sector associations and corporates across the East African Community (EAC). As part of its 2026 strategic turnaround agenda, EABC is strengthening its flagship publication- the East Africa Business Review to position it as the leading regional platform for trade, investment, and policy intelligence.
The magazine serves as the official quarterly publication of EABC, showcasing policy reforms, private sector insights, investment opportunities, and regional business developments. It also provides a premium platform for organizations to enhance their visibility through advertisements, sponsored content, and thought leadership articles.
The publication is planned as a 36-48 page digital-first quarterly magazine and limited high-quality print copies of approximately 1000 per issue for board meetings, high-level dialogues, sponsors and targeted stakeholders.
To ensure high-quality content and strong commercial performance, EABC seeks to engage a qualified Sales and Communications Firm to generate advertising revenue by sourcing and soliciting advertisements and sponsored articles and to support clients in developing content for the magazine.
- Objective of the Assignment
The objective is to engage a firm that will:
- Generate revenue through advert sales and sponsored content
- Support the development, packaging, and quality assurance of articles and advertisements from clients.
- Enhance the magazine’s market positioning and visibility across the EAC region
- Convert one-off advertisers into recurring multi-issue and annual partners
- Support bundled visibility offers that link magazine placements with EABC events, policy forums, reports and digital campaigns
- Deliver post-issue visibility, revenue and client-engagement reports to support renewals and continuous improvement
- Scope of Services
- Sales and Marketing
- Identify, engage, and secure advertisers, sponsors, and partners for each quarterly issue
- Map priority commercial targets, including banks, insurance companies, telecoms firms, logistics providers, manufacturers, agribusiness companies, energy firms, professional service providers and development partners seeking regional visibility
- Promote bundled packages (multi-issue and annual visibility partnerships)
- Prepare and use approved media kits, rate cards, sponsorship decks and annual partner offers aligned to the concept note and EABC partnership packages
- Develop and pitch tailored proposals to potential clients
- Begin sales 8-10 weeks before each issue in line with the quarterly production calendar
- Achieve agreed revenue targets per issue
- Support achievement of minimum paid inventory thresholds for each issue before final production, including at least one paid feature and two paid advertising placements, unless otherwise agreed with EABC
- Secure signed commitments and coordinate payment confirmation with EABC before final advert placement
- Content Development and Editorial Support
- Support clients in developing high-quality advertorials, sponsored articles, and corporate profiles
- Provide copywriting, editing, and content packaging services to clients
- Ensure consistency in messaging, branding, and editorial quality
- Work closely with EABC to align content with the magazine theme
- Ensure sponsored content is clearly labelled and separated from editorial content to protect editorial credibility
- Align client content with the agreed issue theme and magazine sections, including reform and policy tracking, sector spotlight, member/investor spotlight, market intelligence, programme impact, dialogue outcomes and thought leadership
- Client Coordination and Account Management
- Coordinate submission of artwork and editorial content from clients
- Liaise with designers and EABC editorial teams to ensure timely production
- Provide advisory support to clients on effective messaging and positioning
- Maintain a client status tracker covering prospects, proposals, commitments, artwork, content, approvals, invoices/payment status and renewals
- Manage client deadlines in line with the 10-12 week issue production cycle and EABC editorial calendar
- Distribution and Visibility Support
- Support digital dissemination strategies to maximize reach and engagement
- Support dissemination through the EABC CRM mailing list, website, LinkedIn, X, partner networks and event/conference packs
- Advise on targeted distribution to key stakeholders, investors, and institutions
- Recommend targeted use of limited high-quality print copies, initially 1000 per issue, for board meetings, high-level dialogues, sponsors and priority stakeholders
- Revenue Tracking and Reporting
- Maintain accurate records of all sales and client engagements
- Submit monthly and post-publication performance reports
- Provide market intelligence, trends, and recommendations to improve revenue performance
- Track sales pipeline, conversion rates, secured placements, revenue by package, outstanding payments and renewal opportunities
- Prepare post-publication distribution and sponsor visibility reports for EABC and participating sponsors
- Provide recommendations on pricing, bundled visibility products, annual partnerships and digital add-ons
- Deliverables and Timelines
- For each issue, submit:
- (i) sales and client acquisition plan;
- (ii) target advertiser/prospect list;
- (iii) pipeline tracker during active production;
- (iv) client content briefs and edited content packs;
- (v) confirmed advertiser/sponsor schedule; and
- (vi) monthly and post-publication performance reports
- The workplan should be aligned to the magazine’s fixed 10-12 week production cycle, from planning and sales launch through distribution and reporting
- Reporting and Coordination
The firm will report to the Executive Director, EABC, and work closely with the Communications and Digital Department.
EABC will retain final editorial approval, sponsor placement approval, invoicing/payment confirmation and release sign-off; the firm will support sales, client content and account management within this governance model.
During active issue production, the firm shall participate in regular coordination check-ins with EABC Communications and Digital, Finance/Admin and the contracted designer.
- Eligibility Criteria
Interested firms must provide:
- Certificate of Registration/Incorporation
- Valid Business License
- Tax Clearance Certificate
- Proof of operation within an EAC Partner State
- Latest audited financial statements (an added advantage)
- Portfolio or samples of comparable media sales, strategic communications, content development or publication support work
- At least two client referees for similar assignments
- Application Requirements
Firms must submit a Technical Proposal (maximum 20 pages) and a Financial Proposal. The technical proposal should include:
- Firm Profile
- Core business areas and experience in sales, media, and communications
- Organizational structure and staffing
- Evidence of regional reach, media sales capacity and understanding of EAC private sector, investor and policy audiences
- Key Experts
- Summary of qualifications and experience (CVs annexed)
- Proposed team should include, at minimum, a sales/business development lead, account manager/client coordinator, content editor/copywriter and digital visibility/reporting support
- Relevant Experience
At least three (3) similar assignments in the past five (5) years, including:
- Client name and contact information
- Assignment scope and outputs
- Evidence should highlight advertising/sponsorship sales, client acquisition, publication or magazine content support, media kit/rate card use and regional stakeholder engagement
- Methodology and Approach
- Sales and client acquisition plan informed by the Magazine partnership package & rate card. Link: https://eabc-online.com/download/east-africa-business-review-magazine-partnership-packages-april-2026/?wpdmdl=12654&refresh=69e5e68b7818a1776674443
- Demonstrated understanding of the East Africa Business Review Concept Note, editorial sections, target audience and revenue sustainability model
- Target advertiser mapping and sales pipeline strategy, including priority sectors and annual partner conversion approach
- Issue workplan aligned to the 10-12 week production cycle, including sales launch, content collection, technical clearance, layout support, final approval and post-publication reporting
- Client content-development and quality-assurance process, including copywriting, editing, sponsored-content labelling and approval workflow
- Revenue tracking, reporting, renewal strategy and risk mitigation measures
- Financial Proposal
- State the cost of undertaking the assignment, showing the cost of delivery for one issue and for four quarterly issues. The proposal should clearly separate professional fees, reimbursables, taxes, assumptions, payment schedule and any proposed commission or success fee.
- Evaluation Criteria (100 Points)
| Criteria | Description | Points |
| 1. Firm’s Core Business & Technical Capacity | Assessment of the firm’s core business areas and mandate, organizational structure and staffing capacity, years of operation, and summary of technical competencies relevant to the assignment, including demonstrated capacity in media sales, sponsorship packaging, strategic communications and publication support across the EAC. | 10 |
| 2. Qualifications of Key Experts (Summaries) | Academic qualifications, professional experience, expertise. (Master’s degree in Mass Communication, marketing or related fields preferred) The proposed team should show clear roles for sales/business development, account management, content editing/copywriting and digital visibility/reporting. | 10 |
| 3. Relevant Experience in Similar Assignments | Demonstrated experience in at least three (3) similar assignments, including quality of past assignments and referees. Relevant assignments should include advertising/sponsorship sales, magazine/publication content development, media kit/rate card use, and regional stakeholder or investor-facing communications. | 15 |
| 4. Compliance with Legal and Administrative Requirements | Submission of complete required documents: incorporation, tax clearance, licenses, and other eligibility items
|
5 |
| 5. Methodology and Approach | Soundness and clarity of proposed methodology and workplan, including concept note understanding, target sector mapping, 10-12 week issue workplan, revenue execution controls, sponsored-content quality assurance, reporting and renewal strategy.
· Proposed sales and client engagement plan |
30 |
| 6. Financial Proposal
|
Assessment of cost-effectiveness, including clarity, realism, and value for money of the proposed budget. This should include the one-issue and four-issue cost breakdown, assumptions, taxes/reimbursables, payment terms and any commission/success fee structure. | 30 |
- Ethical Requirements
The selected firm shall:
- Maintain confidentiality
- Avoid conflicts of interest
- Adhere to ethical and inclusive practices
- Comply with the EABC Code of Conduct
- Clearly label sponsored content and protect editorial independence, with no paid placement presented as independent editorial content
- Avoid unverified claims or commitments to advertisers without written EABC approval
- Protect EABC, advertiser and sponsor information, including sales pipelines, rates, proposals and payment status
- Application Process
Interested firms should submit:
- Technical Proposal (maximum 20 pages, excluding annexes)
- Financial Proposal, separately labelled, with cost breakdown for one issue and four quarterly issues
Submit via email to: procurement@eabc-online.com copy: info@eabc-online.com
All submission documents should be sent as PDF or Word files and clearly labelled with the firm name and proposal component.
Subject Line: “Sales and Communications Firm for Adverts and Content Development – East Africa Business Review Magazine”
Deadline: 26th May 2026, 5:00 PM (EAT)
Late or incomplete submissions may not be considered.
EABC is an equal opportunity organization and encourages applications from all qualified firms within the EAC region.
EABC reserves the right to accept or reject any proposal and to negotiate the final scope, workplan and commercial terms with the successful firm.