Background

The UN Millennium Campaign was formed in 2002 to inform citizens about the Millennium Development Goals and assist them in holding their governments accountable regarding the commitments made. To help accelerate the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals before their expiration at the end of 2015, the UN Millennium Campaign has an agreement with UNDESA to provide support in communications and advocacy to build momentum around the programmatic framework of the UN Secretary-General’s MDG Advocacy Group - a group of eminent personalities to galvanize support for the Millennium Development Goals and leverage their unique resources, networks, and specialized skills. The main activities of the Group include a series of local, regional and global meetings as well as a range of individual and collective advocacy and outreach initiatives.

In the final year before the MDG expiration, the UNMC is also working to ensure citizens are directly involved in the design and accountability framework for the new international development agenda (“Post-2015 Agenda”, “Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”). Answering the call for an inclusive development process, the UNMC will work to ensure that these voices are heard and clearly articulated during key moments during the decision-making process.

2015, a year for global action on SDGs and climate change, is also slated to be the year when “Virtual Reality” (VR) technologies hit the consumer market. Much of this technology is currently marketed to those interested in gaming and music, but initial studies also point to their positive effects in developing empathy and challenging biases and prejudgments. While their use for social good is nascent, the potential is promising and exploration in this realm would generate significant returns from a messaging standpoint. This increased empathy and experience, could help possibly spawn new partnerships with VR device makers, such as Samsung, who could feature these videos on an ongoing basis and help promote the MDGs in the final year remaining.

The UNMC collaborated with the MDG Advocates, Samsung, Chris Milk’s VRSE.works studio and UNICEF to produce a VR experience entitled Clouds Over Sidra. VR offers an unprecedented opportunity to understand vulnerable communities through an immersive “experience”, building empathy and challenging preconceptions.

To this end an individual who has familiarity with the UN‘s work in development is now to be hired.  Skills related to video production, advocacy, social media and communications outreach/campaigning will be required. Most importantly, and without exception, the videographer must have hands-on production experience working with the equipment, technology, and film-making practices of 360 degree virtual reality filmmaking.

The individual contractor will support the production of programmatic content, such as videos, social media campaigns to enhance and amplify the UN’s programmatic work.

Duties and Responsibilities

The individual contractor will work under the supervision of the Special Adviser on Global Partnerships.

Work Assignment:

Creation of a Virtual Reality Proposal Document, which captures the value and impact of Virtual Reality, includes details on momentum after the launch of the pilot project, and a potential budget (2 weeks).

Research and story development for 5 VR experiences(1 month).

• Contact UN agencies, partners and stakeholders in country to gage interest and tease out a strong issue to be lifted;
• Review stories, existing footage and photos;
• Story development for each. This should cover the five regions where UNDP is present and conducts programmatic activities (to be confirmed after agreeing upon proposed Storyboard)

Coordinate filming and production (5 months)

Work with UNMC team on a dissemination strategy (1 month):

• Define Virtual Reality landing site;
• Content production for the UN webpage and social media channels (capture of film stills, mini cuts, infographics, etc);
• Work with UNMC team to integrate into existing communications and advocacy strategy and aid in dissemination across popular media outlets where possible.

Deliverables

• An acceptable Virtual Reality Proposal Document which outlines the projectand can be used for fundraising purposes (15 July 2015);
• Completed storyboard, timeline, and logistical plan for the roll out of the entire series (15 August 2015);
• Progress report on the completion of 2 Virtual Reality Films (30 September);
• Definition of a dissemination strategy, including the outline and language for web design and proposed accompanying materials, and any guidelines on short format (31October 2015);
• Progress report on the completion of 2 Virtual Reality Films (30 November 2015);
• Final reporton 2 Virtual Reality Films (31 December 2015).

Time frame and remuneration

• The individual contractor will be engaged for the period 1 July 2015 to 31January 2015;
• The Consultant should submit a detailed lump sum proposal, which will include Consultant’s remuneration and reimbursable expenses

Location of assignment:

• Home-based, with occasional meetings in UNMC headquarters (New York, USA), and travel.

Travel

• Delivery of this work will require travel to 5 countries across the globe (countries need to be listed to the extent possible)
• Travel costs should be estimated as part of proposal, but will be obligated separately on a reimbursable basis. The reimbursable cost will be due upon submission of the Consultant the documentary evidence of such expenses and accepting them by the Client.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

• Able to produce high quality broadcast video on tight deadlines on a variety of different issues and subject matter;
• General knowledge and understanding of digital media landscape;
• General knowledge of the UN's work, and the new development agenda an asset;
• Able to work effectively with UN teams on location;
• Be able to cover regions indicated: Africa, Asia and Pacific, Latin America and Caribbean, CIS, and Arab States.

Core Competences:

• Demonstrated ability to interact with individuals of different national and cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which includes the willingness to understand different views and opinions;
• Excellent planning and organizational skills and proven ability to meet tight deadlines;
• Able to work in a culturally diverse environment;
• Ability to work under pressure, to prioritize and to show a spirit of initiative and a capacity to work in an independent way with limited supervision;
• Self-management and emotional intelligence;
• Excellent communication skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Undergraduate degree in Communications, Film, Photography or related field;
• A first-level university degree in combination with 2 additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years relevant experience in Audio-visual production, Digital Archiving, Production Management, Communications at the national or international level;
• Hands-on experience in filming and editing virtual reality films;
• Experience in proposal writing considered an asset;
• Proven experience working with Virtual Reality Technology;
• Knowledge and/or Experience in disseminating video content considered an asset
• Field experience in developing and emerging markets is an asset.

Language:

• Fluency in English (written and oral);
• Knowledge of French or Spanish is an asset.

Application proceure:

Recommended Presentation of Offer: The application is a two-step process. Failing to comply with the submission process may result in disqualifying the applications.

Step 1: Interested individual consultants must include the following documents when submitting the applications in UNDP job shop.

Personal History Form (P11) & CV (Please note that only 1 (one) file can be uploaded therefore please include all docs in one file):, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references (the template can be downloaded from this link:  http://europeandcis.undp.org/files/hrforms/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc).

Answer questions, including brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment.

Indicate available start date.

Step 2: Submission of Financial Proposal

Applicants are instructed to submit their lump sum financial proposals in US Dollars for this consultancy to bpps.procurement@undp.org. The proposals should be sent via email with the following subject heading: “Financial Proposal for Consultant, UNMC Virtual Reality & Video Specialist" by the deadline for this vacancy. Proposals to be received after the deadline may be rejected. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal should be all-inclusive and include a breakdown. The term ‘all-inclusive” implies that all costs (professional fees, travel related expenses, communications, utilities, consumables, insurance, etc.) that could possibly be incurred by the Contractor are already factored into the financial proposal.

Scope of Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments:

• Financial proposals must be all inclusive and must be expressed on the “lump sum” basis in USD;
• Payment will be made upon submission of a certificate of payment request, indicating the type of deliverable completed to be verified and cleared for payment by the supervisor.

Criteria for Selection of the Best Offer:

Only those candidates that meet the minimum level of education and relevant years of experience requirements will be considered for the technical evaluation. The technical evaluation will include a desk review to select the shortlisted candidates (those that score at least 49 out of total 70 obtainable scores). The technical evaluation may also include interviews with shortlisted candidate(s).

The selection of the best offer from the shortlisted candidates will be based on a Combined Scoring method – where the technical evaluation (desk review and interview) will be weighted a maximum of 70%, and combined with the price offer which will be weighted a maximum of 30%. The 70% rating shall be based on how well the Offer or meets the minimum qualifications/competencies described above.

The technical evaluation will be based on the following criteria with the corresponding points (out of a total 70 points):

• Criteria 1: Hands-on experience in filming and editing virtual reality films (30 points);
• Criteria 2: At least 5 years of Audio-visual production, Digital Archiving, Production Management, messaging and other interactive web content,Communications at the national or international level (15 points);
• Proven Experience in proposal development and partnership management, especially with UN agencies (15 points);
• Knowledge and/or Experience in disseminating content (10 points)

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 (70%) points on technical evaluation will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Financial evaluation (maximum 30 points):

The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposal:  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.