Background

The new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will require a rethink of how our societies and economies are organized, how we can eradicate poverty and how we can adopt sustainable patterns of production and consumption.

The UNDP-UN Social Impact Fund is established with the objective of accelerating the scale-up of successful social business models through a new investment architecture that leverages traditional development funding with Social Impact investments. The goal is to attract follow-on and additional investment capital that can lead to greater social impact while providing the potential for sustainable and inclusive economic returns.

UNDP-UNSIF outcomes include:

• Social Impact Investment advisory services to public and private investors focusing on SDG based results;
• SDG-related impact investment selection and financing and the development of a robust pipeline of social impact projects;
• Quality assurance certification to raise the investment potential of social impact projects along social, economic and environmental standards building upon UNDP’s work on environmental and social screening standards as well as its gender marker seal;
• Building upon UNDP’s South-South cooperation strategy and corporate partnership initiatives, an online and offline platform/ eco-system for impact investing rolled out and subsequently institutionalized, to facilitate project pipeline development, research and advocacy for policy reform for upscaling social impact investments for SDG attainment;
• Development of a research consortium to explore new analytical frameworks that quantifiably measure and disaggregate non-financial and financial returns.

Duties and Responsibilities

To ensure that UNDP-UNSIF is fully understood and recognized internally and externally, strategic, consistent and influential communications is needed. Under the guidance and supervision of the Project Manager, UNDP-UNSIF, the International Consultant is expected to perform the following tasks:

Communications Design & Implementation (60%)

• Work closely with the Project Manager and Communications Advisor to develop integrated communications and branding strategy, for both internal and external audience;
• Lead the outreach efforts for various platforms and formats including but not limited to print, multimedia, online (web & mobile), social media, infographics, interactive, etc., in accurate, simple, easy-to-understand yet visually-appealing manner;
• Draft proposals on high-impact advocacy campaigns, media & policy events, creative communications initiatives, public-private partnership initiatives, as well as internal initiatives;
• Coordinate and advise on targeted communications and marketing activities relevant to partner groups (e.g. theme/issue, country, delivery mechanism), in collaboration with Communications Advisers;
• Develop and strengthen media relationships in the area of impact investment, both internationally (with focus in Asia-Pacific) and nationally in countries where impact projects emerge, in order to increase the coverage of media activities and campaigns;

Partnership Development (40%)

• Support relationship-building, coordination, info sharing, activity planning for major existing partners;
• Work closely with project manager to network and build database of potential partners as well social impact projects;
• Organize a series of events with partners (current and prospective) and UNDP-UNSIF supporters to establish the leader role of UNDP-UNSIF in social impact investment, especially in Asia and the Pacific region;

Support with horizon scanning of potential new partnerships in the areas of potential investments

The consultant will be responsible for the following deliverables:

Deliverable 1:

Sector mapping, branding positioning, communication package outlining

Deliverable 2:

Organization of the 1st Board Meeting

Deliverable 3:

Finalize communication package for initial promotions, including logo, video, website, social media channels, etc.

Deliverable 4:

Develop advanced and targeted communications materials for specific stakeholders

Deliverable 5:

Build media outreach database

Deliverable 6:

Build partners database

Deliverable 7:

Implementation of strategy and further event organization

The work on and acceptance of deliverables will be preceded by agreement with the Investment Analysis/Compliance Advisor on the outline of each deliverable, methodology, and the sources of information.

Timeline for submission of each deliverable will be agreed with the consultant upon signing of the contract.

The consultant will work under the supervision of the Project Manager, UNDP-UNSIF Project. The consultant will provide support services in terms of:

1. Coordinate with applicable stakeholders within UNDP BRH, UNDP BPPS, BERA, UNDP Country Offices, and other associated internal business units
2. Coordinate with applicable external stakeholders that are leaders in the certification sector and engaged within the financial services sector.  This may include GIIN, IRIS, ISO, GRI, as well as selected investors and auditor institutions

Duration

Approximate duration of assignment is 260 working days, 15 February 2017 – 15 February 2018.

Duty Station

Bangkok, Thailand with some travel expected.

Competencies

The successful candidate is expected to have excellent proven organizational, communications and writing skills; and to be familiar with the UN system and impact investment. In addition:

Corporate Competencies

• Demonstrates commitment to UN's mission, vision and values;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability:
•  Demonstrates sound judgment, diplomacy and sensitivity to confidential matters.

Functional Competencies

• Good communications, planning and multi-tasking skills;
• Familiarity with Adobe CQ5, WordPress, social media channels;
• Able to articulate abstract concepts into easy-to-understand visual presentations such as diagrams, infographics, motion graphics, etc.

Understanding of impact investment & knowledge of the scene of social impact in Asia-Pacific

Required Skills and Experience

Education

• Master's or higher degree in communications, journalism, marketing, social science, business management, finance, international relations or a related field.

Experience

The candidate is expected to have experience with identifying potential demand within the following areas:

• Minimum of 3 years' experience in journalism, PR, marketing; preferably in an international agency;
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience in international development field; preferably in Asia-Pacific region;
• Track record of building cross-sector partnerships and understandings;
• Experience and familiarity with UNDP procedures is an asset.

Language

• Fluent English
• Chinese an asset

Qualified candidates are requested to apply online via this website. The application should contain:

• Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number);
• Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment, and a methodology, if applicable, on how they will approach and complete the assignment;
• Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price.

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials.

*Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant/contractor during the contract period (e.g. fee, health insurance, vaccination and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services). All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This includes all travel to join duty station/repatriation travel.

Payments will be made only upon confirmation of UNDP on delivering on the contract obligations in a satisfactory manner.

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 set forth under dss.un.org

General Terms and conditions as well as other related documents can be found under:  http://on.undp.org/t7fJs.

Qualified women and members of minorities are encouraged to apply.

Due to large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ qualifications and financial proposal.

The award of the contract should 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.

 Technical Criteria – 70% of total evaluation – max 35 points

• Criteria A (Academic background) specified in the announcement – max 5 points
• Criteria B (Proven knowledge management or technical advisory experience in

knowledge management – max 15 points

• Criteria C (Proven knowledge of UN/UNDP, particularly of specific modalities of work and priorities.) – max 5 points
• Criteria D (Proven experience in developing knowledge partnerships) – max 10 points

Only the highest ranked candidates who would be found qualified for the job will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation – max. 15 points

Monthly on receipt of time records.

Annexes:

• Annex 1 – Terms of References (TOR);
• Annex 2 – Individual Consultant General Terms and Conditions;
• Annex 3 - Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability Template;
• Annex 4 - Financial Proposal Template.

All document can be downloaded at http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=35175

This contract does not carry any expectation of any future engagement by UNDP.