UNCDF Jobs - 49985- Communications Consultant

Communications Consultant – Mobile Money for the Poor

Advertised on behalf of

UNCDF

Location :

Brussels, BELGIUM

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

26-Oct-2014

Application Deadline :

07-Oct-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

3 Months

Languages Required :

English French

Expected Duration of Assignment :

12 Months

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

UNCDF is the UN’s capital investment agency for the world’s least developed countries. It creates new opportunities for poor people and their communities by increasing access to microfinance and investment capital. UNCDF focuses on Africa and the poorest countries of Asia and the Pacific, with a special commitment to countries emerging from conflict or crisis. It provides seed capital – grants and loans – and technical support to help microfinance institutions reach more poor households and small businesses, and local governments finance the capital investments – water systems, feeder roads, schools, irrigation schemes – that will improve poor peoples’ lives. Established by the General Assembly in 1966 and with headquarters in New York, UNCDF is an autonomous UN organization affiliated with UNDP.

With support from Australian Government, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (“DFAT” formerly AusAid) and by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), UNCDF launched Mobile Money for the Poor (MM4P) in March 2012, a global thematic initiative to address the opportunities and challenges of implementing branchless banking and mobile money in challenging markets in Africa and Asia.

MM4P’s long-term mission is to help low income and rural households in LDCs increase their financial security through appropriate, affordable and secure means to receive, manage and save money through these “digital financial services” (DFS). To do so, its intermediate goal is to help build inclusive digital financial sectors such that a wide range of digital financial services are provided responsibly, and at reasonable cost, by sustainable institutions in a well-regulated environment. UNCDF’s strategy to accomplish this goal is based on the financial sector development approach promoted by CGAP and others as the best means to increase access to finance. UNCDF has adapted this approach to DFS, which starts by defining the different stages of a market’s development and the range of interventions needed at different levels (i.e. macro, meso, micro, client) to move it across the stages. This combines a making markets work for the poor approach with UNCDF’s traditional operational model of directly supporting the most crucial level – retail service providers. UNCDF has pursuing this approach in Malawi and Laos since early 2013. During 2013, UNCDF has initiated full implementation of a range of activities in these two countries and launched its programme in Liberia and Nepal.

In early 2014, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation added its support to expand MM4P’s activities into Uganda. It is also working with new funds received by UNCDF for Nepal. MM4P is negotiating a partnership with another funding partner to roll out MM4P activities in three additional countries in sub-Saharan Africa for a period of five years, including Francophone and Anglophone Africa.

MM4P requires a consultant with a solid background of Digital Financial Services and project management to assist with the ramp up and entrance into new markets, which also necessitates a strengthening of its current programme tools.

Duties and Responsibilities

In close collaboration with the Knowledge Manager, the Consultant will provide assistance to the MM4P Programme, focusing on achievement of the following results:

Support communications effort of the programme on an international level and at a local level:

Draft press releases and news announcement of MM4P activities in liaison with the Knowledge Management team;
Develop and maintain a list of relevant media contacts on an international level and local level by liaising with the team and partners in countries;
Disseminate press releases and news announcement through a list of partner sites and monitor the outreach of the press releases and announcement;
Assist in the production and updating of MM4P presentations on a country and international level;
Assist in the production of tools such as banners, brochures, welcome packages etc. for events;
Assist in the coordination of MM4P events (preparation of location, guest list, welcoming participants etc.).

Contribute to strengthening the programme’s community of practice:

Contribute to the adaptation of the global communication plan to local communication plans;
Update the progamme site with information and knowledge tools produced by the programme;
Feed the community of practice with regular information on the evolution of the programme based on the programme’s communication plan and activities;
Manage and encourage exchanges inside the community of practice through online tools;
Maintain contact list.

Manage the social media presence and accounts of the programme:

Draft blog post and coordinate the writing of blog post by team members, consultants or partners of the programme;
Write social media post for Twitter and Linked In and respond to comments on these media;
Monitor social media activity by opinion leaders in mobile banking;
Coordinate social media activities with UNCDF headquarters, donors and partners.

Curate content relevant to financial inclusion in relation to digital financial services:

Monitor content produced by third parties related to mobile and branchless banking;
Ensure curated content is available on the relevant online tools created by the programme;
Compile relevant content in social media tools to be disseminated to MM4p Partners and other interested audiences.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Fully proficient computer skills and use of relevant software and other applications; web design and/or maintenance;
Actively works towards continuing personal learning, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills;
Ability to manage events, oversee contributions of other actors.

Corporate competencies:

Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Highest standards of integrity, discretion and loyalty.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

A University degree in communications, public relations, journalism, public/business administration, social sciences, or related discipline or the equivalent experience.

Experience:

A minimum of five (5) years’ experience in progressively more responsible positions in the field of communications;
Experience in working with mass-media;
Experience in the field of inclusive finance;
Experience in project management;
Experience in overseeing document and report production, print and electronic publishing;
Preferably experience in branding, communications and experience in media relations, graphic design and video production;
Experience in working in an international environment.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English and proficiency in French.

Consulting Fees/Personnel Costs:

The rates for consulting fees will be negotiated according to complexity of the tasks, degree or expertise and availability of the consultant.

Travel:

Any travel expenses to join duty station (Brussels) must be quoted in the financial proposal;
Occasional travel may be required and will be compensated according to UN polices.

Application:

Applications close on 07 October, 2014. Applications will be rated on both technical and financial submissions.

The best proposal that will be awarded the contract shall be selected through the following method:

Highest rated proposal using the combined scoring method, which assigns the weight distribution between the technical and financial proposals as set out in the RFP. The weight distribution shall be 70% technical and 30% financial.

All applications must contain the following information:

Cover letter with a summary statement of competencies in relation to the TOR;
Earliest availability and proposed schedule for consultancy;
Curriculum Vitae;
Completed P11 Personal History Form with names and current contacts of 3 referees (available from http://sas.undp.org/documents/p11_personal_history_form.doc).

Financial proposal for the full months assignment outlining:

Total professional fee (including professional fees, per diems in Brussels (if applicable);
Other professional expenses (such as insurance, taxes, etc.).

For the application template please refer to http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_file.cfm?doc_id=29916.

Both individual consultants and individual employed by a company or institution are welcome to apply.

Any individual employed by a company or institution who would like to submit an offer in response to a Procurement Notice for IC must do so in their individual capacity (providing a CV so that their qualifications may be judged accordingly). Women candidates or women-owned businesses are strongly encouraged to apply.