UNV Jobs - 52261- Consultant - Junior Researcher/Writer for the UNV

Consultant - Junior Researcher/Writer for the UNV Annual Report 2014

Advertised on behalf of

UNV

Location :

Bonn, GERMANY

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

20-Jan-2015

Application Deadline :

02-Jan-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Six months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

Six 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

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is the UN organization that contributes to peace and development through volunteerism worldwide. Volunteerism is a powerful means of engaging people in tackling development challenges, and it can transform the pace and nature of development. Volunteerism benefits both society at large and the individual volunteer by strengthening trust, solidarity and reciprocity among citizens, and by purposefully creating opportunities for participation. UNV contributes to peace and development by advocating for recognition of volunteers, working with partners to integrate volunteerism into development programming, and mobilizing an increasing number and diversity of volunteers, including experienced UN Volunteers, throughout the world. UNV embraces volunteerism as universal and inclusive, and recognizes volunteerism in its diversity, as well as the values that sustain it: free will, commitment, engagement and solidarity.

UNV is headquartered in Bonn, Germany and has approximately 150 staff positions- with the majority in Bonn and some positions with different peacekeeping and political missions, and in other headquarters locations (e.g. New York and Tokyo).

The Communications Section focuses on clear and effective messaging to increase the visibility and impact of UNV. It documents the status of volunteerism and its contribution to development, raises awareness of volunteerism and its contribution to development among UNV stakeholders, encourages support of volunteerism for development, including observation of IVD, and produces and promotes materials (websites, annual reports, videos, etc.) to highlight UNV’s support for volunteerism for development and its contribution to partners’ development and programming objectives.

The Annual Report is the annual corporate flagship publication of the organization. The original is written in English and translated into French, Spanish and Arabic.

The Junior Researcher/Writer will produce the UNV Annual Report 2014, including research, writing, statistical presentation, design support, online launch and dissemination.

The consultant will report to the Communications and Partnerships Specialist, Communications Section, who is the Annual Report Project Manager.

Duties and Responsibilities

Research UNV project/activities for coverage in the Annual Report 2014, using project documents, mid-term and mission reports, evaluations, project fact sheets and country strategic profiles.

Analyse preliminary input from UNV staff and identified documentation – along with collecting additional needed information – producing an inventory with detailed documentation references and contacts for all potential stories/features/ infographics/videos or photo stories for the Annual Report;
Interview field staff (transcribe all interviews and download the Word documents onto the portal) and research/collect additional missing information on the 30 potential stories/features/ infographics/videos or photo stories for the Annual Report and maintain overview in a project management tool.

Due date: 28 February 2015.

Draft text of the Annual Report 2014

Ensure coverage of the development context, key objectives of the engagement, activities, results, also indicating the magnitude of the activity and its lasting impact (based on partners, budget, duration, UN Volunteers, other volunteers, engaged communities etc.);
Following consultation on the final selection of countries/projects/UN Volunteers to be featured, draft text of Annual Report 2014.

Due date: 31 March 2015

Finalize the text and coordinate layout finalization of Annual Report 2014:

Liaise with relevant colleagues at headquarters and field level to verify information, fact-check stories and data and obtain quotes, validation and clearances for their respective project descriptions;
Ensure fact checking and clarify missing information for the selected contributions;
Edit and proofread text laid out in Annual Report design, obtaining final clearances as needed.

Due date: 30 April 2015

Develop and coordinate implementation of concept for centrefold and statistics sections:

Liaise with Results Management Support and Volunteer Resources and Recruitment Sections to identify most appropriate date to highlight;
Prepare data for centrefold and statistics sections of the Annual Report;
Edit and proofread statistics and centrefold, obtaining final clearances as needed.

Due date: 31 May 2015

Coordinate social media and web launch and print distribution of Annual Report 2014:

Manage online/interactive content set-up and tool of choice for online presentation;
Prepare information and messaging for social media and web launch in English;
Coordinate translations into French, Spanish and Arabic;
Coordinate distribution, including recipient lists, cover letters and mailing.

Due date: 30 June 2015

Coordinate project wrap-up and conclusion:

Obtain and ensure filing of final design files, high resolution and web resolution files;
Coordinate obtaining feedback from headquarters and field colleagues, documenting lessons learned;
Handover information material received, including promising stories identified for potential coverage in the UNV Annual Report 2015.

Due date: 15 July 2015.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Track record of achievement and delivery with similar high-quality and efficient research and writing jobs;
Ability to work efficiently and effectively under pressure;
Time management and strict adherence to deadlines

Core Competenceis:

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

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Masters degree in journalism, communications, development or equivalent.

Experience:

Minimum of 7 years’ experience as a researcher or writer;
Demonstrate good analytical, communication and consolidation skills;
Demonstrate sound knowledge, inter alia, of international relations, the current sustainable development discourse, the MDGs and the post-2015 agenda; knowledge and experience of volunteerism in its diverse manifestations and cultural settings would be an advantage;
Have strong word processing and good design software skills;
Experience in the United Nations, or as a UN Volunteer, an asset.

Language:

Excellent research and writing/editing skills in English as mother tongue;
French, Spanish, Arabic fluency an asset.

Application procedure:

Applicants have to provide a technical and financial proposal. The technical proposal shall describe the methodology and the approach how to fulfill the required deliverables as well as outline the major components of its implementation.

The financial proposal shall consist of all-inclusive lump sum for the whole duration of the contract period, which shall include the consultancy fee, costs of living, costs for insurance, and cost of travel to and from the duty station. The financial proposal shall contain a breakdown of these costs and indicate the number of off-days the consultant wants to take during the contract period (if any).

The lump sum/contract price is fixed regardless of subsequent changes in the cost components.

Criteria for Selection of the Best offer

The selection of the best offer will be based on the combined scoring method – where the qualifications and methodology will be weighted – 70%, and combined with the price offer which will be weighted 30%.

Key selection criteria are:

Approach and working experience in the field of research (25%);
Proven analytical skills (20%);
Experience in results-based reporting (30%);
Expertise in creative journalistic writing (25%).

Qualified candidates are requested to apply online via the UNDP website. Interested candidates are advised to carefully review this ToR and ensure that they meet the requirements and qualifications described above.

Applications should contain

A brief cover letter, a short summary of relevant qualifications and a technical proposal. Please paste the letter into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application. A current completed and signed P11 form/ UN Personal History Form in English. Blank form can be downloaded from
www.sas.undp.org/documents/p11_personal_history_form.doc

Please also include your CV and submit at least two research and writing sample(s) as well as contact details for three references.
Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you provide all requested materials. All documents should be scanned and attached in one pdf format document.

Financial proposal should be sent in a separate e-mail and addressed to: procurement@unv.org clearly marking the job title in the subject line no later than COB (Bonn time) 02.01.2015.

Qualified women and members of social minorities are encouraged to apply.
Due to the large number of applications we receive, we are only able to inform the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.