Background

Global Pulse (http://www.unglobalpulse.org/about-new) is an innovation initiative of the United Nations Secretary-General on Big Data. Its vision is a future in which big data is harnessed safely and responsibly as a public good. Its mission is to accelerate discovery, development and scaled adoption of big data innovation for sustainable development and humanitarian action.  This initiative will build a catalytic network of in-country innovation centers, which will test new tools, data, and analysis, share what lessons with the global community, mainstream successful approaches for real-time impact monitoring into policymaking. The first Lab has been established in New York (Pulse Lab New York) followed by Jakarta, Indonesia and Kampala, Uganda.
 
Pulse Lab Kampala (http://www.unglobalpulse.org/kampala) is an inter-agency initiative of the United Nations under the Office of the Resident Coordinator in Uganda. The first of its kind in Africa, it will bring together researchers from Government, the UN, non-governmental organizations and private sector to explore the utility of new sources of digital “Big Data” (such as social media, mobile data, online information) and real-time analysis techniques for social development monitoring and program planning.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of work:

The Individual Consultant will produce communication products for Pulse Lab, Kampala. These will include products for the website and handouts.

Deliverables:

Individual Consultant/Contractor will:

• Write 8 blogs for web content including text, photo & graphic design;
• Write 8 articles for web content including text, photo & graphic design;
• Write 3 press releases and media advisory related to Pulse Lab Kampala events/news;
• Design 1 brochure for Pulse Lab Kampala project;
• Design 1 brochure for Pulse Lab Kampala radio project;
• Produce 6 project fact sheets;
• Design layout out for private policy page;
• Design layout for external reports;
• Selection/production of materials for presentations on projects in 10 thematic areas topics. Including text, photo & graphic design;
• Design layout for Pulse Lab Kampala folders;
• Write Pulse Lab Kampala elevator pitch;
• Report with monitor of Pulse Lab Kampala references in media;
• Design layout for web-project sites;
• Write 2 new stories on Pulse Lab Kampala for UN Magazine in Uganda;
• Draft communications strategy for Pulse Lab Kampala;
• Draft 1 weekly post for social media / Pulse Lab Kampala.

Methodology:

• The communications expert is expected to work in close consultation with the Manager and team at Pulse Lab Kampala as well as the Communications Specialist at the Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO);
• Skype meetings with Pulse Lab Kampala and RCO staff will be necessary to begin with but once the overall message has been agreed upon, actual materials to be delivered may be worked on at the location of the expert’s choice and delivered via email;
• Copyright and ownership - All materials produced and other intellectual property will be solely owned by Pulse Lab Kampala. Any material provided to the expert will remain the property of Pulse Lab Kampala.

Working Arrangement:

Institutional Arrangements:

• The consultant will report to Pulse Lab Kampala Manager on a regular basis on the progress but this will be done in line with the set deliverables of the assignment;
• The consultant will liaise, interact, collaborate/meet staff at Pulse Lab Kampala and partners;
• UNDP (Pulse Lab Kampala) will support the consultant in the following:
• Access to all reports and data relevant to the assignment. These will include donor reports, project documents and donor reports;
• Support and assistance to gain access to relevant stakeholders for consultations to the extent possible.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

• Plans and produces quality results to meet established goals;
• Generates innovative, practical solutions to challenging situations;
• Demonstrates substantive and technical knowledge to meet responsibilities and post requirements with excellence;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
• Responds positively to critical feedback and differing points of view.

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrate intergrity and ethical standards;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality, and age sensitivity and adaptability. 

Core skills:

• Ability to conceptualize, plan and execute innovative ideas;
• Displays open, co-operative behavior with other team members;
• Remains calm and in control, and good humoured even under pressure;
• Responds positively to critical feedback and differing points of view;
• Sets priorities, produces quality outputs;
• Meets deadlines and manages time efficiently;
• Excellent oral and written skills;
• Must be able to translate between science/tech and international development;
• Excellent communication skills, organized (dealing with many stakeholders);
• Planning/organizational skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education: 

• MSc in public information, International Relations/Public Affairs, Journalism, Communication or other related disciplines.

Experience:

• A minimum of five years of post-graduate experience in communications work, focusing on writing and disseminating information and related materials is preferred;
• Proven writing and editing skills, with an excellent command of English, and an ability to convey complex ideas in a creative, clear, direct, and lively style;
• Experience handling complex enquiries and interactions with multiple stakeholders;
• Fully proficient computer skills and use of relevant software and other applications, e.g. word processing, PowerPoint or equivalent, graphics software, internal databases, Internet, etc. is required.

Language Requirements:

• Excellent command of English.

Price Proposal and Schedule of payments:

Payment to the individual consultant will be made upon receiving the agreed deliverables: 

• 50% of the lump sum upon delivering agreed deliverables 1-6, 8, 9 and 13;
• 50 % of the lump sum upon delivering 100% of agreed deliverables 7, 10, 11,12,14,15 and 16.

Evaluation method and criteria:

The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• Responsive/compliant/acceptable, and;
• Highest Combined Score (based on the 70% technical offer and 30% price weight distribution) where the minimum passing scores of technical proposal is 49%.

Technical Proposal (Maximum 70 points):

• MSc in public information, International Relations/Public Affairs, Journalism, Communication or other related disciplines - 5 points;
• At least five years of post-graduate experience in communications work, focusing on writing and disseminating information and related materials - 5 points;
• The ability to communicate simple, clearly and effectively with excellent design, written and editing skills in innovative ways - maximum 30 points;
• Editorial, design and publishing experience -maximum 30 points;
• Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 of 70 points (70%) in the technical evaluation will be considered for the financial evaluation.

Financial Proposal (Maximum 30 points)

• To be computed as a ratio of the Proposal’s offer to the lowest price among the proposals received by UNDP.