Background

The UNDP Country Office for Somalia (CO) has since 2010 been re-positioning itself for a more effective and coherent response to gender equality and women’s empowerment in its programmes. While CO programming to date has been informed by significant efforts to ensure gender sensitivity and gender responsiveness, the current move is to upscale to more gender transformative programming i.e. by addressing the causes of gender inequality through strategic actions that seek to transform the unequal power relations between men and women resulting in improved status of women and gender equality. Subsequently, in 2012 the CO established a Gender Unit in order to have dedicated capability to implement the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) project, and to support mainstreaming across other projects. These efforts respond to Outcome 4 of the Country Programme Document: “Somali women and men attain greater gender equality and are empowered.”

The GEWE project works with CSOs and the national gender machineries to empower women to achieve these outcomes. The Gender Unit strives to build the capacity of its CSO/NGO partners to ensure that our interventions are sustainable beyond the lifespan of support provided through Micro-Capital Grants (MCG) for specific project activities. Through the first year of implementing MCGs with partners in all three regions of Somalia, a number of needs have been identified with all partners which impacts the realization of the project. One key area of need that has been identified is Public Speaking. It is required for all of their work so that the messages they deliver can be effectively disseminated in a convincing, clear and concise manner. With regards to preparing speeches and presentations, areas that require strengthening include: adhering to specific topics or preparing coherent arguments to strengthen a case, and structuring speeches or presentations in a logical and concise manner. Power Point Presentations are often used, but practical skills in ensuring that these are meaningful, with adequate information, clear and effective structures and attention grabbing formats would also ensure that speeches and presentations are more powerful. The art of delivering public speaking is also an area where further skills should be built, including memorization, body language and confidence.

The purpose of this consultancy is therefore to deliver training on public speaking skills. Under the direct supervision of the Gender Specialist, the consultant will work closely with the Gender Unit to plan and deliver the trainings.

Duties and Responsibilities

The purpose of this consultancy is therefore to deliver training on public speaking skills. The specific objectives of this consultancy are to:

• To build the capacity of women’s CSOs and key staff from the gender machineries in public speaking and presentation skills, including improving the clarity and impact of presentations/speeches, and building the skills of participants to organize presentations and deliver them with confidence.

• To provide practical training in writing and delivering convincing and concise speeches and presentations through planning, preparing and structuring, including elements of effective communication and argumentation;
• To build confidence in public speaking and engage audiences, including through non-verbal communication and body language and how to overcome public speaking stress and anxiety, as well as dealing with question and answer sessions effectively;
• To learn how to develop compelling Power Point Presentations, including preparing and devising effective presentation.

The consultant will work closely with the Gender Unit to plan and deliver the trainings and be supervised by the Gender Specialist.
Training planning:

• The consultant will be expected to provide an overview of the training topics and tools being used, based on international best practices in public speaking.

Training delivery:

• The consultant will deliver a participatory training that will increase the participants’ technical knowledge on public speaking and how they can apply the different tools and methodologies in their own work as CSO staff and personnel from the gender machineries.

• The consultant will prepare a report for submission to the UNDP Gender Specialist, consolidating the referenced materials, key discussion points and training outcomes.

This entire Consultancy is expected to last for 18 working days within a validity period of 3 months (from issuance of the consultancy contract) broken down as follows: 3 planning days (curriculum development); 12 workshop days (including travel to the regions); 2 days for final report writing. The consultant will work under close supervision of the Gender Specialist based on the draft plan of work below.

The consultancy will be monitored and progress to set tasks determined accordingly:

• Activity: Review of documents and preparation of curriculum;
• Output: Preparation;       
• Schedule:  3 days.    

• Activity: Delivery of workshops per region, including travel days;                       
• Output: Training conducted;
• Schedule: 12 days.

• Activity: Delivery of workshops per region, including travel days;                         
• Output: Training conducted;
• Schedule: 12 days.

• Activity: Preparation of final workshop report; including post-training evaluation assessment;      
• Output: Final workshop report;
• Schedule: 2 days. 

• Final training curriculum and programme;
• Report of the training workshops, including an analysis of the participant’s evaluation forms and the materials as appendixes.

Remuneration will be calculated on a daily rate based on qualification and experience, and will follow UNDP guidelines and procedures.

• 15%: 1st Installment upon Signature;
• 45%: 2nd Installment upon Submission of draft report and curriculum;
• 40%: 3rd Installment upon submission of satisfactory final report after final comments;

Living expenses and travel will be paid separately and based on consultant’s approved travel schedule.

Competencies

• Proven ability of planning and managing training programmes in related issues;
  
• Excellent communication skills (spoken, written and presentational);
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to work in and with teams;
• Ability to set priorities and manage time effectively.

Required Skills and Experience

• Master’s degree in relevant social science discipline.

• Minimum of 6 years’ experience in a relevant field (media/public relations; preferably in relation to international development);
• Previous experience in the design and implementation of communications of public relations strategies, preferably for government or United Nations agencies;
• Experience in the development of communications or public relations trainings and materials for government or United Nations agencies;
• Experience in participatory training and adult experiential learning techniques;
• Good working knowledge and experience of the UN System; knowledge of UNDP processes and gender equality policies is an asset;
• Experience in delivering presentations with translation;
• Experience working in conflict countries and under difficult conditions.

Language requirements:

• Strong written and spoken English language skills, Somali language is an asset.

Other Information:

• The expert will be required to have a personal lap top computer and cover their transportation within Nairobi.