Background

The UNDP Oslo Governance Centre (OGC) is UNDP’s Global Policy Centre for policy development and applied research with an overarching focus on democratic governance. The OGC is one of UNDP’s five  Global Policy Centres and sits within the Governance and Peacebuilding Cluster, Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS), UNDP. Drawing on UNDP’s expertise in human development, democratic governance and conflict prevention OGC engages with Norwegian, Nordic and partners from the South in undertaking applied research and developing policy options and tools for governance support and peacebuilding.

The centre’s objective is to be a:

1. source of knowledge that influences policy and practice in governance and peacebuilding;
2. contributor to policy formulation and programming to processes of transition from crisis and conflict toward more peaceful, just and inclusive societies; and
3. contributor to SDG 16 measurement and learning.

OGC’s target audience for communication and advocacy include the public, UNDP internally (primarily Country Offices), relevant research and policy communities (academia and civil society) as well as decision-makers. Effective and impactful communication is essential to the work of the Centre.

Institutional Arrangement / Reporting Relationships   

Under the overall authority and supervision of the Director of the UNDP Oslo Governance Centre, the IC will work closely with UNDP Nordic Representation Office (NRO), the Policy Specialist (Knowledge Management) and other OGC and UNDP staff as required. The consultant is expected to work from the OGC office premises in Oslo.

Duration of Work  

Full time between 2 August – 31 December 2021. 

Schedule of Payments

The Consultant will be paid by deliverables.  The Consultant must submit Certification of Payment forms to be approved by UNDP OGC before payments can be processed.   

Travel:

No travel is foreseen for this consultancy.

Application Procedure:

The application is a two-step process. Failing to comply with the submission process may result in disqualifying the applications.

Step 1: Submission of technical proposal. That will include providing application via UNDP Job-shop (jobs.undp.org )

Interested candidates should provide the following documents and information:

• Uploading a CV/P11 and a statement of interest indicating all past experience for similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the candidate and at least three (3) professional references (the template can be downloaded from this link: http://sas.undp.org/Documents/P11_Personal_history_form.doc.
• Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability which also includes a brief description (not more than 300 – 500 words) of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment.
• Submit one writing samples in English and one in a Scandinavian language.

Step 2: Submission of Financial Proposals:

Applicants are required to submit their lump sum financial proposals in US Dollars for this consultancy, using the financial proposal template available here: http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_file.cfm?doc_id=45780.

Please fill in section A I on page 4. The total sum is the lump sum offer that should be filled in on page 1, Section E.

The proposals should be sent via email to oslo.governance.centre@undp.org with the following subject heading: “Financial Proposal - Communications consultant” by the application deadline. Proposals received after the deadline will be rejected. To assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal must indicate an all-inclusive professional lump sum fee and include a detailed breakdown of the cost. The term ‘all-inclusive’ implies that all costs (professional fees, assignment related travel expenses to join the duty station, communications, income tax, utilities, consumables, insurance, etc.) that could possibly be incurred by the Contractor are already factored into the financial proposal.

Criteria for selection

Only those candidates who meet the minimum level of education and relevant years of experience requirements will be considered for the consultancy. The shortlisted candidates will be scored based on a review of their functional competencies and other criteria as described above. The candidates with the highest scores may also be invited for interviews.

Combined scoring method: where the qualifications and competencies will be weighted a max of 70% and combined with the price offer which will be weighted a max of 30%.

Method: cumulative analysis method will be used to evaluate proposals.

When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract will be made to the individual Consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• Responsive / compliant / acceptable.
• Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Technical criteria weight: 70 (70% of total obtainable scores)

Only those candidates who meet the minimum level of education and relevant years of experience requirements will be considered for the technical evaluation. The technical evaluation will include a desk review and may also include interviews with shortlisted candidates.

The technical evaluation of shortlisted candidates will be done based on a review of the following:

• Relevant communications, journalism or media related experience in a media outlet or development organization such as a research center, think – tank or multilateral institution. (15 %)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and professional working knowledge of Norwegian or other Scandinavian language. Application; submitted brief description of suitability and writing samples will be assessed. (20 %)
• Proven ability to organize and structure information. Application; submitted brief description of suitability and writing samples will be assessed. (15 %)
• Computer literate in standard software applications and ability to use current social media. (10 %)
• Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure. (10 %)

Financial criteria weight: 30 (30% of total obtainable scores)

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70%) on the technical part will be considered for the financial evaluation.

Criteria for financial evaluation (30 points maximum):

The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposal:

p = y (µ/z), where

p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated

y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal:
µ=price of the lowest priced proposal:
z = price of the proposal being evaluated:

The award of contract will be made to the individual Consultant who receives the highest combined score out of the weighted technical and financial criteria as specified above.

GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT (IC)

http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/documents/procurement/documents/IC%20-%20General%20Conditions.pdf.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work

The consultant will provide hands-on communications work and help implement the Centre’s Communication and Advocacy Strategy and Work Plan.

Specific duties and responsibilities:

1. Prepare and implement OGC’s Communications and Advocacy Strategy and Work Plan, providing communications support and advice to other staff.
2. Working with OGC team, manage and implement the communication elements of OGC activities, including events (see below).
3. Promote, enhance, and grow (where applicable) OGC through social media, the website, media presence, and other channels.
4. Develop and disseminate OGC’s advocacy and communication-related products, including to internal UNDP audiences.
5. Link OGC’s communication work to the broader UNDP communication work of the Nordic Representation Office, and UNDP more broadly – particularly in the Bureau for External Relations and Advocacy (BERA).
6. Overall help raise external profile of OGC’s work streams

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

Overall communications support to OGC including through:

• Leading the development of OGC’s communication and advocacy strategy
• Building a communications narrative to feed into the new OGC project document, including developing  a strategic communications work-stream
• Follow-up communications support related to flagship global events (like Oslo III, and HLPF side-event).
• Direct media-engagement to pitch OGC’s work, draft op-eds, articles and press-releases
• building a network of journalists in Norway, Nordic countries and globally with interest in OGC related work

Deadline 31 December, indicative payment 40%

High quality communications support to OGC organised events through social media, internal and external messaging and any other means in particular for:

• High-quality communications support to OGC for a set of high-profile events during the autumn of 2021
• Manage outreach and visibility for online events (with Nordic focus).

Deadline 30 September 2021, indicative payment 20%

Communications support strengthening information integrity:

• To all Information Integrity related events
• Assist with the launch of the strategic guidance paper for information integrity through internal and external communications.
• Other communications support to information integrity work aimed at raising the external profile of UNDP’s information integrity work (including updating webpage, drafting regular blogs, articles, case studies, and social media posts, etc.)

Deadline 29 October 2021, indicative payment 20%

Communications for SDG16:

• Communications support to OGC-planned Asia Pacific regional trainings and round tables.
• Social media and communications support to the joint UNDP-Southern Voice initiative.
• Other communications related support.

Deadline 30 November 2021, indicative payment 20%

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

• Experience working in governance and peacebuilding or a related development field.
• Extensive knowledge and experience in areas of communications.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. Professional working capacity in preferably Norwegian, or other Scandinavian language.
• Proven ability to organize and structure information.
• Computer literate in standard software applications and ability to use current social media.
• Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure.

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards.
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP, and partner organizations.
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s Degree in journalism, communications, management, development or other relevant field, or equivalent experience.

Professional experience:

• At least 7 years of communication, journalism or development experience in a media outlet or relevant organization such as development-related organizations, research centers, think-tanks or multilateral institutions.
• Experience and knowledge of the UN system/UNDP will be considered an asset, preferably in a communication role.

Language:                        

• Fluency in English both written and oral is required.
• Professional working knowledge of Norwegian or other Scandinavian language is required. 

Important Note:

The Consultant is required to have the above-mentioned professional and technical qualifications. Only applicants who hold these qualifications will be taken into consideration.