Result of Service

EXPECTED OUTPUTS AND TIMELINES / RESULT OF SERVICE Deliverable 1 - End October 2026

Review and understanding of all MSMEs' briefs completed
Branding packages developed for at least 50% of assigned MSMEs
Required revision processes initiated Deliverable 2 - Mid December 2026
Branding packages completed for all assigned MSMEs
Final editable and production files submitted
Final summary report submitted

Work Location

Home-based / Freetown / Travel within Sierra Leone may be required to meet MSMEs and participate in coordination meetings if needed

Expected duration

2,5 months

Duties and Responsibilities

BACKGROUND: The International Trade Centre (ITC) supports SMEs in developing countries by enhancing their competitiveness, promoting digital trade, and strengthening business ecosystems through initiatives such as Youth & Trade, ecomConnect, SheTrades, and tech sector development programmes. In Sierra Leone, ITC is implementing the “Empowering youth through digital technologies” project (2024-2028), which aims to boost youth employment and entrepreneurship by building digital skills, strengthening SMEs’ competitiveness, and improving support systems and policies within the digital economy. As part of this initiative, selected MSMEs will receive branding and communication support to strengthen their market positioning, improve the presentation of their products and services, and enhance their visibility across offline and digital channels. To support this component, ITC is recruiting a Graphic Designer Consultant to develop branding and promotional materials for a portfolio of 12-15 MSMEs from different sectors. DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES Under the direct supervision of the E-commerce Programme Officer, the Consultant will undertake the following tasks: Activity 1 - Branding Needs Review and Coordination (October 2026) The consultant will:
Participate in introductory in person meetings and briefing sessions with assigned MSMEs and the Branding Support Consultant.
Review and analyse the branding brief developed for each MSME.
Ensure a clear understanding of each enterprise's products, services, target market and branding objectives.
Coordinate regularly with the project team and relevant consultants to ensure consistency and alignment throughout implementation. Activity 2 - Branding Assets Development (November 2026) The consultant will develop branding packages for 12-15 MSMEs. The branding package may include:
Logo design: Develop a logo where required by the MSME, including appropriate logo variations and digital formats.
Mini branding guidelines: Develop a concise 3-4 page branding guideline covering: ○ Logo usage ○ Colour palette ○ Typography ○ Graphic elements/patterns, where applicable ○ Basic imagery/visual style ○ Basic brand tone/voice
Business card: ○ Design a professional business card, including contact and social media information. ○ Digital contact/business card: Develop an adapted digital version suitable for sharing through WhatsApp and other digital channels.
Thank-you card: Design a reusable thank-you/customer appreciation card.
Product and packaging branding: Develop appropriate bag labels, product labels, stickers and/or packaging elements, depending on the MSME's products and business model.
Social media templates: Develop three editable social media templates for use across platforms such as Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp. The templates should cover: ○ Product/service promotion ○ Customer testimonial/social proof ○ Educational or storytelling content
Social media profile assets: Develop appropriate profile/cover assets where relevant, such as a branded profile image, cover image or WhatsApp catalogue asset. The consultant will:
Produce visually coherent, professional and practical branding materials that reflect each MSME’s identity, target market and business objectives.
Ensure that all branding materials are suitable for digital use and future printing, with appropriate file formats and dimensions.
Incorporate feedback and provide up to three rounds of revisions per MSME, based on consolidated feedback from the MSME/project team.
Provide all editable source files and final high-resolution/production-ready files, organised in a clearly structured digital folder for each MSME.
Ensure that editable templates, particularly social media templates, can be easily updated and reused by the MSMEs using accessible design tools such as Canva, where applicable. Activity 3 - Quality Assurance and Finalization (December 2026) The consultant will:
Ensure consistency across all branding assets produced.
Incorporate feedback received from MSMEs and the project team.
Finalize and submit all deliverables according to agreed standards and timelines.
Prepare a brief summary of work completed and deliverables produced for each MSME. ITC Communication and Visibility Guidelines
All communication products delivered under this assignment must comply, where applicable, with ITC’s visual identity, communication and visibility guidelines, particularly where materials are intended for promotion through ITC corporate or project channels or include the ITC logo.
The Consultant will review and follow the relevant guidance and supporting materials available on ITC’s Communications and Events SharePoint, including corporate templates, Canva templates, partner identity guidelines and multimedia guidelines, as applicable.
No new project-specific logo or project social media account shall be created under this assignment. Copyright Clause: The consultant has to ensure that she has obtained the necessary permissions with regard to intellectual property rights required to perform her services under this consultancy contract and for the subsequent dissemination by ITC in any form. Documentary proof is to be submitted to ITC. Should any license fee be due for the use of copyrighted materials of third parties, the consultant shall request the prior written permission from ITC. ITC champions workforce diversity, inclusion, gender equality and gender parity and considers all qualified persons - of all genders - equally, including those with disabilities, without discrimination or prejudice of any kind.

Qualifications/special skills

Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, Marketing, Fine Arts or related fields. Extensive relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of a university degree. Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in graphic design and branding. Experience developing visual identities and marketing materials for SMEs. Experience working with businesses from diverse sectors. Experience using professional design software (Adobe Creative Suite, Canva Pro or equivalent). Experience working with entrepreneurship development programmes is desirable. A professional client portfolio must be submitted. Interested candidates are requested to submit:

A portfolio showcasing relevant graphic design and branding work, including examples of visual identity development, marketing materials, and promotional assets.
At least 3 professional references from previous clients or assignments, including contact details.
A financial proposal indicating the proposed consultancy fee and the fee per SME. Only applications that include the required portfolio and references will be considered.

Languages

Advanced English and Krio

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

Graphic Designer