TERMS OF REFERENCE - Brand Broker — IP Licensing

Brand Broker — IP Licensing

Consultancy to Broker IP Licensing Deals with Major Consumer Brands

1. BACKGROUND & ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

Ubongo is Africa's leading edutainment company, producing educational media content loved by children and families across Sub-Saharan Africa. With a portfolio of instantly recognisable characters, Ubongo is positioned to generate significant revenue and impact through IP licensing partnerships.

IP licensing presents a strategic opportunity for Ubongo to: (a) generate recurring non-grant revenue; (b) amplify brand visibility across consumer categories; (c) build long-term commercial partnerships with major regional and global brands; and (d) place educational, African-led content on everyday products that reach children in their homes, schools, and communities.

Ubongo is seeking an experienced IP Brand Broker to identify, approach, negotiate, and close licensing agreements between Ubongo's character IP and major consumer brands operating in Africa and internationally. This is a results-oriented, commission-based engagement with potential for ongoing retainer.

2. OBJECTIVES

The Brand Broker will be expected to:

• Identify and qualify prospective licensee brands across target product categories and geographies
• Lead outreach and relationship development with brand decision-makers on Ubongo's behalf
• Structure and negotiate licensing terms in line with Ubongo's commercial objectives and rate card
• Close a minimum of 2–3 signed licensing agreements within the initial engagement period
• Build a pipeline of 10–15 qualified licensing prospects for ongoing pursuit
• Provide market intelligence on licensing trends, competitor activity, and new category opportunities
  
  

3. SCOPE OF WORK

3.1 Onboarding & Strategy Alignment (Weeks 1–2)

• Immerse in Ubongo's IP portfolio, brand guidelines, character briefs, and existing commercial relationships
• Review and refine Ubongo's target licensee criteria and geographic priorities
• Agree on target categories: apparel, toys & games, publishing, food & beverage, consumer goods, digital products, and others as identified
• Confirm deal structure preferences: royalty rates, minimum guarantees, exclusivity tiers, and approval processes
• Establish reporting cadence and deal pipeline tracking system
  
  

3.2 Prospecting & Outreach (Weeks 2–8 and ongoing)

• Research and develop a qualified target list of 30+ prospective licensee brands across agreed categories and geographical territories
• Execute proactive outreach to brand procurement, marketing, and licensing decision-makers
• Represent Ubongo at relevant licensing trade shows, industry events, and pitch meetings (costs agreed separately)
• Develop and deliver customised pitch materials leveraging Ubongo's IP assets and audience data
• Track and report all prospect interactions in a shared CRM or pipeline tracker
  
  

3.3 Negotiation & Deal Closure

• Lead commercial negotiations on behalf of Ubongo, in close coordination with Ubongo's legal and commercial team
• Secure term sheets and facilitate the finalisation of licensing agreements
• Ensure all agreed deals align with Ubongo's brand guidelines, quality standards, and commercial objectives
• Coordinate with Ubongo's legal team on contract execution
  
  

3.4 Pipeline Management & Reporting (Ongoing)

• Provide bi-weekly pipeline updates covering prospect status, deal stage, estimated value, and key next steps
• Submit a monthly summary report to Ubongo's leadership
• Deliver a final engagement report at the end of the initial term with pipeline handover documentation
  
  

4. DELIVERABLES

Deliverable 1:  IP Licensing Strategy Memo: target categories, geographies, prospect criteria, and deal parameters (Week 2)

Deliverable 2:  Qualified Prospect List: minimum 30 brands with contact information, category, and rationale (Week 4)

Deliverable 3:  Pitch Deck & Materials: customised for major prospect categories (Week 3)

Deliverable 4:  Bi-weekly Pipeline Tracker: live updates throughout engagement

Deliverable 5:  Minimum 2 signed term sheets or executed licensing agreements within 6 months

Deliverable 6:  Monthly Summary Reports to Ubongo leadership

Deliverable 7:  Final Engagement Report with pipeline handover and recommendations (End of initial term)

5. ENGAGEMENT STRUCTURE & DURATION

The engagement is structured as an initial 6-month term, with option to renew. Ubongo is open to the following commercial structures from proposers:

• Commission-only: percentage of signed deal value (typical range: 10–20% of first-year guaranteed revenues)
• Retainer plus commission: monthly retainer covering operational costs plus a lower commission rate
• Hybrid: reduced retainer with performance milestones tied to pipeline development and deal closure

Proposers are invited to suggest their preferred commercial structure with full transparency on terms.

Initial Term:  6 months from contract signing

Renewal:  Option for 6-month renewal by mutual agreement

Expected Start:  July 1st 2026

Operating Territories:  Pan-Africa priority; diaspora markets and global considered

6. QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Essential Requirements

• Minimum 8 years of experience in IP licensing, brand licensing, or commercial partnerships
• Demonstrated track record of successfully brokering and closing licensing agreements — provide verified examples
• Existing relationships with procurement, licensing, or marketing decision-makers at major consumer brands in Africa
• Strong negotiation skills and understanding of licensing deal structures, royalties, and minimum guarantees
• Ability to represent Ubongo professionally and passionately in high-stakes commercial conversations
  
  

Highly Desirable

• Experience brokering children's entertainment or media IP licenses
• Network of contacts in toy & games, apparel, food & beverage, and publishing sectors
• Existing connections with licensing agents, retail chains, and consumer goods companies operating in Africa
• Experience at or with licensing industry bodies (LIMA/Licensing International)
  
  

7. EVALUATION CRITERIA

Evaluation Criterion                                                          Weight         Max Score

Track Record: Deals Closed & Revenue Generated             35%                   35

Existing Relationships & Network Relevance                         25%                  25

Commercial Proposal & Deal Structure                                  20%                  20

Proposed Strategy & Target Categories                                 15%                  15

References & Testimonials                                                      5%                    5

8. PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS

Proposals must include:

• Broker Profile: company/individual overview, credentials, and representative client list
• Track Record: verified list of at least 3 licensing deals brokered — including licensee, product category, deal value (or range), and outcome
• Proposed Strategy: target categories, geographies, outreach approach, and timeline for first deal closure
• Network Summary: overview of relevant existing relationships with major brands (brands need not be named if confidential)
• Commercial Proposal: clearly articulated fee structure (commission, retainer, or hybrid) with full transparency on terms
• References: minimum 2 client references from relevant licensing engagements
  
  

9. SUBMISSION DETAILS

Submission Deadline:  19th June 2026 (EAT)

Submission Method:  Email to tunu@ubongo.org

Subject Line:  RFP Response: Brand Broker — IP Licensing

Questions Deadline:  17th June 2026

Questions Contact:  tunu@ubongo.org

Ubongo values confidentiality and understands the sensitive nature of commercial networks. Proposers are not required to name specific brand contacts but should demonstrate the depth and relevance of their network.

Equal Employment Opportunity

UBONGO provides equal opportunities to all bidders and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by the laws of the country we are operating in.

Job Scam Warning

Our organization upholds a strict commitment to a fair, unbiased hiring process through BambooHR or very qualified recruitment agencies and shortlisting decisions are based solely on candidates' qualifications, skills and experience relevant to the position.

Beware of any individuals claiming to have influence over our hiring decisions or requesting favors in exchange for guaranteed shortlisting or employment opportunities. Such actions are against our policies and do not reflect our organization's values.