Background

Within UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS), two closely related global initiatives to support Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) are hosted by the Ecosystems and Biodiversity (EBD) cluster under the Sustainable Development Group (SDG). They are the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) and the National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plan (NBSAP) Support Project.

Both BIOFIN and the NBSAPs Support Projects play a key and synergetic role in (i) operationalizing UNDP’s contribution to the global efforts towards achieving the Aichi Biodiversity Targets; and (ii) providing leadership and technical support to engineer the delivery of the Environment and Sustainable Development pillar of UNDP’s Strategic Plan. The Aichi Targets were agreed upon by CBD Parties during the COP10 in Nagoya, as part of the CBD’s Strategic Plan for the period 2011-2020.

Available evidence and decisions adopted by CBD Parties indicate a significant gap in finance for biodiversity management, for countries to scale up their efforts and achieve the 20 Aichi Targets defined in the CBD’s current Strategic Plan. A recent global top-down assessment conducted by the CBD High Level Panel for Resource Mobilisation estimated the global investment required amounts to between US$ 130 and 440 billion annually. However detailed national-level (bottom-up) assessments are required to provide more robust information on the biodiversity finance gap, fully taking into account the effects of the enabling policy environment.

In this context, at COP-11 in October 2012, UNDP and the European Commission (EC) launched a new partnership project “Building Transformative Policy and Financing Frameworks to Increase Investment in Biodiversity Management” that seeks to build a sound business case for increased investment in the management of ecosystems and biodiversity at the national level. With the Governments of Germany and Switzerland having joined this project since, it has grown into a multi-partner global endeavour – the UNDP-managed Biodiversity Finance Initiative – BIOFIN.

The BIOFIN Initiative will have a multi-tiered approach by:

• Mainstreaming biodiversity into national development and sectoral planning, to reduce the pressures exerted by the drivers of biodiversity loss and thereby reduce the investment needed to safeguard biodiversity, including through a significant strengthening of National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans (NBSAPs);
• Determining the national-level biodiversity finance gap, by defining the current investment baseline across those sectors relevant for the achievement of the Aichi Targets, and by defining the true investment needed to address biodiversity loss, taking into account cost-effectiveness and the effects of an improved enabling environment;
• Developing and rolling out appropriate national-level resource mobilisation strategies and mechanisms through which countries can identify, access, combine and sequence multiple sources of environmental and development finance, both national and international, for meeting their biodiversity management needs and achieving the CBD’s Aichi Targets.

BIOFIN has been developing new methodologies and tools needed to produce coherent and comprehensive frameworks for each of the above aspects. In a second step, these frameworks will be piloted and inform the development of NBSAPs and further transformational measures in 29 countries including at least Botswana, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Guatemala, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Philippines, Seychelles, South Africa, Thailand, Uganda and Zambia. In a third step, the methodological frameworks will be refined, based on the results of the country piloting, and then disseminated for wider application. Further support will be provided to other countries with concrete biodiversity finance capacity needs.

Additionally, some 140+ countries have accessed funding from the Global Environmental Facility’s (GEF) Biodiversity Enabling Activities (BD EA) with the aim of updating their NBSAPs and fulfilling other related obligations under the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD). The new generation of NBSAPs being now produced will be aligned with the Aichi Targets. In particular, Aichi Target 17 predicates the development, adoption and initial implementation of NBSAPs as effective policy instruments for biodiversity mainstreaming. Target 17 relates to all other Aichi Targets with respect to biodiversity policy development.

UNDP and UNEP are the two main GEF agencies for BD EA. They are also jointly implementing the GEF- financed global ‘NBSAP Support Project’, which cements the ‘NBSAP global partnership’', together with the CBD Secretariat, another key partner in the equation. The project aims at providing quality and focused technical support to all countries that have accessed—or will access—GEF resources for BD EA. An important mechanism for support provision in the context of this partnership is the NBSAP Forum (http://nbsapforum.net). A small global team based in multiple locations is in charge of implementing the NBSAPs Support project. They interact on a regular basis with partner institutions and UNDP teams across all regions. Project implementation is also carried out in close collaboration with UNEP, in particular with UNEP’s Centre of Excellence, World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC), as well as UNEP-GEF other relevant UNEP divisions.

UNDP-GEF is seeking a Communications Expert to develop and support the implementation of communication strategies for BIOFIN (60%) and the NBSAP Project (40%) at global and national levels, such as through the development of various communication products and the preparation of, and participation in, national and international events.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Consultant will be primarily home-based and work under the supervision of the BIOFIN Project Specialist and the NBSAP Project Coordinator, with limited missions to regional/global meetings and UN offices. The Consultant will work with the global BIOFIN and NBSAP teams, as well as, national BIOFIN and NBSAP teams as applicable, pilot BIOFIN and donor country governments, other international/multi-lateral organisations, and contractors on the following:

• Update (or develop, where needed) the global communications strategies for BIOFIN/NBSAP, in line with visibility guidelines of UNDP and BIOFIN/NBSAP donors and including key BIOFIN/NBSAP messages;
• Develop a practical communications toolkit to be used by national level BIOFIN/NBSAPs teams in developing and implementing communication strategies at their level (templates, standardised messages, branding guidelines, “Dos-and-Don’ts”, tips to web-designers, etc.);
• Upon request and according to demand, guide and support the development of communication strategies for BIOFIN/NBSAPs at national level in the 29 core BIOFIN countries and the 41 UNDP NBSAP countries, and support this process at regional and national meetings;
• Develop and/or update banners, factsheets, news articles, press releases, website pages and articles, videos and other media products as required for the BIOFIN/NBSAP project and in collaboration with the projects’ global teams, designers and website moderators;
• Support communications to BIOFIN/NBSAP stakeholders using the BIOFIN/NBSAP Mailing lists;
• Write a news item for the BIOFIN/NBSAP websites once every 2 weeks;
• Specifically for the NBSAPs Support project, work with the global teams at UNDP, and through them with UNEP WCMC, in the regular preparation and issuance of the NBSAP Forum Newsletter on a regular basis;
• Develop UNDP-BIOFIN press kits and assist with the facilitation of media at international events;
• Advise BIOFIN/NBSAP country teams and the global team on all media related aspects;
• Editing of communication materials prepared by BIOFIN/NBSAP national teams and the global team;
• Develop templates/layout with a common identity for BIOFIN/NBSAP presentations, publications and reports;
• Develop a glossy version of the BIOFIN/NBSAP annual reports for a general audience;
• Frequently update BIOFIN/NBSAP social media platforms, such as YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, in close collaboration with the relevant members of the respective global teams, in particular the website moderators, and drawing in to contribute, as needed, members of the national teams.

Key Deliverables:

• By no later than June 2015, complete a global communications strategies for respectively BIOFIN and the NBSAPs Support Initiative, exploring where applicable synergies between the two, ready for approval by the respective project boards, and ensuring that the document remains dynamically updatable and implementable, even after the end of the assignment;
• By August 2015, a finalised and tested communications toolkit to be used by national level BIOFIN/NBSAPs teams;
• Regular and rolling contributions to various communication pieces and web-content of both BIOFIN and NBSAPs Support initiative, as per the tasks outlines for this consultancy;
• End-of assignment report and handover notes, covering communications issues, recommendations for improvement and follow up items for both BIOFIN and the NBSAPs Support initiative.

Information on Working Arrangements:

• Estimated level of effort including travel days: 200 days;
• The Consultant will be given access to relevant information necessary for execution of the tasks under this assignment;
• The Consultant will be responsible for providing her/his own working station (i.e. laptop, internet, phone, scanner/printer, etc.) and must have access to a reliable internet connection;
• Payments will be made upon submission of a detailed time sheet and certification of payment form, and acceptance and confirmation by the Supervisor on days worked and outputs delivered.

Travel:

• Limited travel may be required to international workshops relevant to BIOFIN/NBSAP to ensure appropriate communications and messaging on-site, and offer guidance to the national teams on visibility and communications matters;
• Any necessary mission travel must be approved in advance and in writing by the Supervisor;
• The Advanced and Basic Security in the Field II courses must be successfully completed prior to commencement of travel;
• Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director;
• Consultants are also required to comply with the UN security directives;
• Consultants are responsible for obtaining any visas needed in connection with travel with the necessary support from UNDP;
• The consultant will be responsible for making his/her own mission travel arrangements in line with UNDP travel policies;
• All related travel expenses will be supported by the project travel fund and will be reimbursed as per UNDP rules and regulations for consultants.  Costs for airfares, terminal expenses, and living allowances should not be included in financial proposal.

Competencies

Corporate

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism.

Technical

• Advanced editing skills;
• Good command of commonly used design and publishing software packages;
• Computer literacy for Microsoft Office Package or equivalent;
• Demonstrated skills in writing news articles, press releases, success stories, newsletters, communication strategies and programmatic reports.

Professionalism

• Capable of working in a high pressure environment with sharp and frequent deadlines, managing many tasks simultaneously;
• Excellent analytical and organizational skills;
• Exercise the highest level of responsibility and be able to handle confidential and politically sensitive issues in a responsible and mature manner.

Communication

• Excellent writing and verbal communication skills;
• Communicate effectively in writing to a varied and broad audience in a simple and concise manner.

Teamwork

• Work well in a team to advance the priorities of BIOFIN and UNDP as a whole;
• Projects a positive image and is ready to take on a wide range of tasks;
• Focuses on results for the client;
• Welcomes constructive feedback.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism or other closely related field (Max: 5 points)

Experience:

• At least 5 years of professional experience in the field of communications, graphic design, journalism, website moderation or a related field (Max: 5 points);
• Proven expertise in developing and implementing communication strategies at the institutional/national level as a minimum, but preferably with a global or regional scope (Max: 5 points);
• Demonstrated experience in dealing with relevant graphic design and publishing programmes (Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign or equivalent – please indicate in your resume), developing, editing and layout of publications and content management for websites and social media (Max: 5 points);
• Previous experience working on communications and outreach that relate to sustainable development, environmental and/or biodiversity issues is an advantage, but not a requirement (Max: 5 points);
• Experience and good network with the international media is an advantage (Max: 5 points);
• Previous work experience with UNDP or a related organization and familiarity with their brand identity requirements is also an advantage (Max: 5 points).

Language Requirements:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English language (3 Points);
• Good command of oral and written Spanish is an advantage (Max: 2 points).

Evaluation method:

• Only those applications which are responsive and compliant will be evaluated;
• Offers will be evaluated according to the Combined Scoring method – where the technical criteria will be weighted at 70% and the financial offer will be weighted at 30%;
• The technical criteria (education, experience, languages (max 40 points), interview (max 25 points), and submission of work samples (max 10pts)) will be based on a maximum 75 points.  Only the top 5 candidates from the review of the education, experience, languages will be considered for the interview, submission of writing samples, and financial evaluation;
• Financial score (max 100 points) shall be computed as a ratio of the proposal being evaluated and the lowest priced proposal of those technically qualified;
• The financial proposal shall specify an all-inclusive daily fee.  In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal must additionally include a breakdown of this daily fee (including number of anticipated working days and all foreseeable expenses to carry out the assignment);
• Applicant receiving the Highest Combined Score and has accepted UNDP’s General Terms and Conditions will be awarded the contract.

Documentation to be submitted:

• Applicants must submit a duly completed and signed UNDP Personal History form (P11) to be downloaded from the below link;
• Applicants must reply to the mandatory questions asked by the system when submitting the application.

Kindly note you can upload only one document to this application (scan all documents in one single PDF file to attach). Incomplete applications will not be considered.

UNDP Personal History form (P11) required of all applicants:

http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/corporate/Careers/P11_Personal_history_form.doc.

General Conditions of Contract for the ICs:

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