UNDP Jobs - 54020- National Consultant - Communication Expert (2 posi

National Consultant - Communication Expert (2 positions)

Location :

Dhaka, BANGLADESH

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

04-Mar-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

87 working days (over the period of March 2015 to June 2015)

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

Coastal areas of Bangladesh are the most vulnerable to the impact of climate change. The effects of sea-level rise and subsidence, changes in upstream river discharge, increased frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones, and erosion of coastal embankments pose a serious threat to the natural resource base and livelihood opportunities of coastal communities. The Government of Bangladesh is implementing the project ‘Community Based Adaptation to Climate Change through Coastal Afforestation In Bangladesh’. The project will enhance the resilience of both coastal communities and protective ecosystems through community led interventions that focus on coastal afforestation and livelihood diversification in four coastal districts i.e. Borguna, Bhola, Noakhali and Chittagong.

The project uses a four-pronged approach to reduce the vulnerability of communities and ecosystems in coastal zones. First, community-based adaptation measures at the local level will assist the diversification of livelihoods, strengthen natural barriers against climate change-induced inundation and erosion, and improve community warning systems to protect livelihood assets and facilitate the flow of climate-related information. Second, institutional capacity will be strengthened to incorporate climate risk reduction into coastal zone development and management at the national and sub-national levels. At the sub-national level, capacity building efforts will focus on the four Coastal Forest Districts (CFD) of Patuakhali (Barguna), Bhola, Noakhali and Chittagong. Third, the policy framework regarding coastal zone management will be assessed, and recommendations for climate-resilient policies will be developed, particularly regarding land use in coastal areas. Finally, knowledge gained through the project will be shared through the UNDP Adaptation Learning Mechanism with other areas and countries facing similar climate change threats in coastal communities. This strategy forms an additional component on top of existing and pipelined project activities under various ministries and departments.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objectives:

The objective of this assignment is to prepare a set of outreach materials including easily understandable media materials and collaborate with mass media, facilitate photo coverage and TV footage as well as prepare a number of impact based documentary films through assessing different scenarios of current and anticipated climate change impacts in the coastal areas of Bangladesh.

Scope of work and expected outputs / deliverables:

The consultancy is expected to be concluded by 30 June 2015. S/he will attend to following tasks:

Prepare and deliver a set of outreach materials, e.g. brochures, newsletters, reports, case studies etc.
Prepare and deliver easily understandable media and communicating materials and a list of key journalists and other individuals as prime target groups to ensure wide and targeted distribution of information (UNDP knowledge networks or other development networks).
Develop effective communication trails with project stakeholders to successfully complete the lesson sharing dialogue/workshop and seminar etc.
Responding to requests for information from donors, the media, government, and general public by providing documents and/or facilitating their access to relevant information sources.

Supervision and Performance Evaluation:

The National Communication Expert will work under the direct supervision of the Project Manager (PM)/National Project Director (NPD). S/he will work in close collaboration with Climate Change, Environment and Disaster (CCED) Cluster of UNDP and wide range of stakeholders related with the projects like Forest Department (FD), Bangladesh Forest Research Institute (BFRI), Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Department of Fisheries (DoF), Department of Livestock Services (DLS) and Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB).

The Consultant will be paid fee on instalment basis upon the completion of deliverables as mentioned in the schedule of payments.

Period of the Assignment / Services and Duty Station:

The duration of national consultancy will be for 87 working days from 01 March – 30 June 2015. The Consultant will be based at Dhaka for his/her work with frequent field visits to the project sites.

Reports:

The National Consultant will report to and deliver her/his outputs to Project Manager, CBACC-CF Project, CCED Cluster, UNDP.

Tentative Payment Schedule:

The contract price of the consultant is fixed with no adjustment. UNDP shall effect payments, by bank transfer to the consultant’s bank account provided in the vendor form, upon acceptance by UNDP of the deliverables specified in the ToR. Payments will be made upon the achievement of the corresponding deliverables:

1st Instalment (25% of the total contract value): After completion of deliverance a set of outreach materials, e.g. brochures, newsletters, reports and case studies, etc. (4 weeks after contract signing).
2nd Instalment (25% of the total contract value): After completion of deliverance easily understandable media and communicating materials and a list of key journalists and other individuals as prime target groups to ensure wide and targeted distribution of information (UNDP knowledge networks or other development networks) (8 weeks after contract signing).
3rd Instalment (25% of the total contract value): After completion of developing effective communication trails with project stakeholders to successfully complete the lesson sharing dialogue/workshop and seminar etc. (12 weeks after contract signing).
4th Instalment (25% of the total contract value): After completion of providing documents and/or facilitating their access to relevant information sources responding to the requests for information from donors, the media, government, and general public (16 weeks after contract signing).

Competencies

Good communication and interpersonal skills and experience in working effectively in a multicultural environment.
Professionalism: flexibility to make ad-hoc changes as and when the need arises; ability to perform under stress; willingness to keep flexible working hours.
Team work: Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations as a team member, in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.
Communications: excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
A team-player and self-starter, able to work with minimum supervision, with sound judgment.
Excellent writing skills.
Highly resourceful and self-motivated.
Excellent inter-personal communication and management and networking skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications:

University graduate with a Master’s degree in Journalism/ Mass Communication or related fields.

Years of experience:

Minimum 5 years’ hands-on experience in journalism, public information, social marketing, and advocacy positions, and/or campaign management.

Language Required: Fluency in speaking and writing in English.

Financial Proposal:

Total lump sum:

Example - The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in installments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including travel, per diems, and number of anticipated working days).

Travel:

All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This includes all travel to join duty station/repatriation travel. In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.

In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

Evaluation of the Candidates:

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

Cumulative analysis: The candidates will be evaluated through Cumulative Analysis method. The award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

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

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points in the technical evaluation would be considered for Financial Evaluation.

Technical Evaluation Criteria (Total 70 marks)

Overall experience in preparing easy to understand media materials, impact based documentary films through assessing climate change issues (30 marks)
Proven experience in designing and producing outreach materials (30 marks)
Working experience with UN, multilateral and bi-lateral development partners (10 marks)

Financial Evaluation (Total 30 marks)

All technical qualified proposals will be scored out 30 based on the formula provided below. The maximum points (30) will be assigned to the lowest financial proposal. All other proposals received points according to the following formula:

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