UNDP Jobs - 64190- Junior Communications and Web Consultant

Junior Communications and Web Consultant

Location :

Geneva, SWITZERLAND

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

04-Apr-2016

Application Deadline :

08-Mar-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

9 months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

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 post is located in the Senior Transformative Agenda Implementation Team (STAIT) based in Geneva. The Inter-Agency Standing Committee’s (IASC) Emergency Directors Group (EDG) established the STAIT to support the roll-out of the IASC Transformative Agenda at field-level. The STAIT is an inter-agency team which includes senior NGO and UN colleagues with extensive experience in humanitarian operations. The STAIT provides peer support for country operations to provide a better collective humanitarian response. The STAIT aims to contribute to a ‘mindset shift’ in the way humanitarian actors work together to enable a more effective, accountable and timely humanitarian response. The STAIT’s work focuses on the following main areas:

Leadership (at all levels including: Humanitarian Coordinators, Humanitarian Country Teams, Inter-Cluster, Clusters, sub-national);
Coordination;
Humanitarian Programme Cycle with a focus on delivery;
Accountability to Affected People;
Centrality of Protection;
Enabling security management.

The Junior Communications Consultant reports directly to the Communications Specialist.

Overall Goal and Purpose of the Consultancy

The overall goal of the consultancy is to assist the Communications Specialist in managing and editing the STAIT’s new website, production and dissemination of an online TV series for the STAIT, as well as assisting in creating a range of communications products (videos, infographics, audio, summaries) that clearly summarise the Transformative Agenda and its related Protocols, and other issues related to humanitarian policy and STAIT activities (STAIT missions, OPRs, webinars, Learning & Training). The role will also include supporting Humanitarian Affairs Officers on the team as well as the potential of helping to launch the STAIT on a social media platform.

The specific purpose of the Junior Communications Consultant is to help ensure information on the Transformative Agenda is communicated to STAIT’s target audience to improve their understanding of the TA, create ownership of the TA in different agencies and NGOs, and strengthen its application in the field. The primary target audience is senior humanitarian leadership in countries affected by crises. Other audiences the STAIT works with include senior members of IASC agencies and NGOs and the broad humanitarian community.

All communication actions will aim to ensure a wide number of practitioners involved in humanitarian response across the globe are familiar with response structures and processes (broad understanding will make the application of the TA more accepted and provide the opportunity for all agencies and NGOs to commit more fully to the agenda).

General overview of the role:

The Junior Communications Consultant will support the Communications Specialist in 1) Managing and editing the STAIT website 2) developing communications products to support webinars, missions, and learning.

This will focus on the following outputs:

Managing, editing and updating the new STAIT website;
Assisting the team in updating the STAIT’s communications strategy and work plan;
Assisting the Communications Specialist in the production and dissemination of communications and learning products related to the TA and its protocols, STAIT missions, webinars, and learning missions – this includes the creation of video, audio and written products as well as helping to produce and manage an online video series for the STAIT (which includes arranging logistics with the UN Radio & Television service);
Assisting in the production of a detailed brand book for the STAIT to ensure consistency across all products (style, appearance, content);
Creation of a concept note on social media use for the STAIT (with help from the Communications specialist);
Social media management (if STAIT launches across a social media platform);
Aiding the humanitarian affairs officers on reports, summaries and presentations – from an editorial standpoint.

Duties and Responsibilities

Over the course of nine months the Communications Consultant 's role will be to:

Manage, update and edit the STAIT’s new website which will include: Adding content produced by the STAIT into STAIT’s CMS (Node-based), editing all content before publishing, advising on the type of content to publish as well as it’s style and design, uploading videos and other multi-media content, creating tweets that will featured on the website, developing new web pages and navigation pages as needed, as well as daily management of the CMS to filter social media tweets and news stories being displayed on the website. Some HTML coding may be involved.

Assist in updating the communications strategy and work plan (with support from the Communications Specialist and other members of the STAIT), that relates to senior humanitarian leadership in the field (HCs, HCTs) while keeping in mind senior managers in UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs; as well as a broad base of humanitarian practitioners. The Junior communications consultant will also create a concept note on social media outreach and social media guidelines (with the support of the Communications specialist if needed).

Assist in the production and dissemination of communications and learning products related to the TA and its protocols, STAIT missions, webinars, and learning missions to senior humanitarian leadership in the field and HQ, and a wider audience of humanitarian practitioners. This may take the form of re-packaging policy and guidance documents into accessible and easily absorbable communication products in multi-media format (infographics electronic, video, audio, animation). Products will be developed with the support and expertise of subject-matter experts from within STAIT and partner agencies. Technical resources (e.g. for video, animation) may be sought from partner organisations to the STAIT team; and/or outside contracting may be available depending on STAIT resources. The STAIT team will provide advice and support on the content of learning and communications products and approaches to disseminating products. The products which will be expected from the consultant are as follows: A series of communication packages on issues of relevance to the humanitarian community to complement the four areas of Accountability to affected people (AAP), Leadership, Protection and Delivery (with support from the STAIT team on content).

These pillars may include three of the below communication products

Talking head video;
Animation video;
Audio clip/interview;
An infographic;
Interactive checklist;
Q&A document (for webinars);
A case study;
Webinar summary.

Assist in producing, writing and managing a video series for the STAIT (this will support the Transformative Agenda and its protocols, STAIT webinars, OPRs and learning missions), as well as arranging logistics with the UN Radio & Television service or other external parties. This will include working with the STAIT each month to create and write a script on relevant topics, working with the UN TV & Radio service to arrange logistics, creating ideas for the style, tone of voice and direction of the series, advise on the appropriate platforms to disseminate the video, as well as editing the video (when needed) and uploading them to Youtube and Vimeo. This will also include ensuring that the STAIT team sends the videos to contacts at UN agencies and NGOs, as well as contacting communication departments within UN agencies and NGOs to help disseminate the video across their social media platforms.

Assist in the production of a short brand book (Technical resources (e.g. for graphic designing) may be sought from partner organisations to the STAIT team; and/or outside contracting may be available depending on STAIT resources for the STAIT which will be used) that will provide rules on how the STAIT brand works. The guidelines should include: an overview of STAIT’s brand history, vision, personality and key values; logo set up and correct tagline usage; visual examples of incorrect and correct logo treatments, chosen colour palette, and chosen type style. If possible, additional sections should focus on social media profile page applications.

Manage the design, formatting and editing of reports, presentations and other written materials related to OPRs and missions. The content will be provided by Humanitarian Affairs Officers and other teams members of the STAIT.

Method of payment

The consultant will be paid monthly with the production of monthly reports against the deliverables. The consultant will not be paid directly in regard to the deliverables through the contract, as the deliverables will be worked on concurrently, not consecutively.

The consultant will be paid only after approving authority confirms the successful completion of each deliverable as stipulated hereunder. The timeline of deliverables will be illustrated in a monthly workplan.

Logistics and administrative support to prospect

The STAIT will provide an office space for the consultant and access to the wireless network in the Palais des Nations, printer, telephone, stationery, and other office-related services. The Consultant will be expected to provide their own PC/laptop and other necessary equipment for the Consultancy.

The consultant will be responsible for all other expenses incurred in the consultancy period, including health insurance, and other necessary expenses, including travel to Geneva and accommodation in Geneva. These costs should be included in the financial proposal. The recruitment of the consultant will be all inclusive.

Competencies

CorporateCompetencies:

Demonstrates integrity and fairness, by modelling the UN/UNDP’s values and ethical standards;
Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of the UN and UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional Competencies:

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
Excellent interpersonal and networking skills;
Client Orientation;
Strong analytical, prioritization, problem solving and negotiating skills;
Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors;
Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to critical feedback;
Ability to build and sustain effective partnerships with UN Agencies and main constituents, and with NGOs, advocate effectively; communicate sensitively across different constituencies;
Planning and Organizing;
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
Delivers needed projects and tasks quickly;
Promotes knowledge management and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example to interns; and junior staff and consultants;
Sound time management and organizational skills with the ability to handle multiple tasks;
Capacity to work under tight deadlines, manage stress and adapt to rapidly evolving situations;
Ability to travel for short periods.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree or equivalent in Journalism, Communications, Information Management, International Relations, or a related field. Experience and a Bachelor’s Degree can substitute for a Masters’ degree.

Experience:

2-3 years of relevant experience in a field related to communications is required e.g. online and broadcast journalism, communications, public relations, communication design, etc.;
Strong writing skills, an eye for detail, and design capability to produce in-house print (infographics) and audio-visual products is required;
Experience of working in a multi-stakeholder environment, and bringing together multiple stakeholders towards a common goal, is an asset;
Experience with social media (Twitter, Facebook and Youtube) and other multi-media platforms for communication dissemination, is required;
Experience of strategy and work plan development is required, preferably related to communications and knowledge management;
Experience of managing open source websites is a strong asset;
Experience of audio-visual production and audio/video editing such as Final Cut Pro is essential;
Knowledge of humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness/response, crisis/emergency relief management, rehabilitation, political affairs or other related area is an asset;
Experience in the UN System and/or with NGOs or in an inter-agency environment is an asset, either at headquarters level or in the field;
Experience using or managing a CMS for websites (particularly news/blogs) is essential;
Familiarity of a variety of online marketing concepts, best practices and procedures, is essential;
Knowledge of presentation tools such as PowerPoint, Keynote or web-based apps like SlideRocket or Prezi are a strong asset;
Experience or training with radio and TV journalism is a strong asset;
Experience developing video concepts as well as producing videos is a strong asset;
Relevant design experience in new media design/communication design, is an asset. (InDesign);
Basic HTML skills are essential.

Language:

Fluency in written and spoken English is required for this post;
Knowledge of Arabic, French or other languages would be an asset.

Criteria for selecting the best offer

Upon the advertisement of the Procurement Notice, qualified Individual Consultants are expected to submit a CV/P11, a one-page motivation letter and a Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability on the attached UNDP template, only, in the first instance. Short-listed candidates will be requested to send a technical and financial proposal.

Accordingly, Individual Consultants will be evaluated based on

Responsive/compliant/acceptable proposal against the TOR;
The weighting of the proposals are as follows: Technical Criteria are rated at 70%, Financial Criteria at 30%.