Background

The impact of climate change in Cambodia will be unprecedented and a threat to life, livelihoods and life-supporting systems. There is consensus on the urgent need to adopt low carbon development agendas while preparing for the new climate risks already affecting the country.

In 2006, the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) established a high-level inter-ministerial National Climate Change Committee (NCCC) to provide policy guidance and coordination. To date 20 ministries are represented in the NCCC. Acting as the secretariat of the NCCC, the Climate Change Department (CCD) of the Ministry of Environment (MoE) is responsible for the coordination of climate change activities including policy and strategy development, climate change mainstreaming into key sectors, coordination and conduct of assessment and research, mobilization of resources for programming and promotion of education and awareness raising activities in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.

In early 2010, the NCCC launched The Cambodia Climate Change Alliance (CCCA), a three-year initiative funded by Sida, Danida, EU and UNDP focusing on (1) policy development and institutional capacity building; (2) promotion of climate change knowledge and education; and (3) enabling access to technical and financial resources by key line ministries, local government, and civil society organizations. On behalf of the NCCC, MoE is implementing the initiative, taking into account the planning, reporting and monitoring. 

Limited awareness about climate change at all levels of society has been identified as an important barrier to an effective and coordinated response. Although efforts to inform the population are on the rise throughout Cambodia led by MoE as well as NGOs and media groups increasingly committed to the issue, these are still scattered and insufficient. Recognizing this MoE commissioned in early 2010 a Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) Study to begin measuring and segregating the levels of knowledge about climate change among Cambodians and the types of adaptation practices in use. The Study also looks into people’s most trusted sources of information as well as media consumption patterns. Results of the Study will be available in time to critically inform this assignment.

In addition, the CCCA – particularly through its second focus area or expected result- provides a unique opportunity for MoE to jump start and facilitate the design of an inter-ministerial framework that will guide the range of much needed national and sub-national climate change education and awareness programs and campaigns over the coming decade.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objectives of the Assignment:

The following presentation of objective and deliverables for the consultancy.

Objective: Develop  a National Climate Change Education and Awareness  Strategy and Action Plan

Tasks:

1. Review and analyze the findings of the KAP Study and other existing baseline  research and perception surveys;
2. Familiarisation of existing Climate Change/Environment education and awareness programs throughout the country;
3. Identification of best practices and potentially effective programs that could be rapidly replicated or scaled up;
4. Assessment of the capacity of MoE’s Department of Environmental Education, their existing strategy as well as past and planned activities; 
5. Organization of  consultations (at least one workshop and a series of meetings) with key stakeholders including (but not exclusive) MoE, Ministries of Information and Education, Disaster Risk Reduction organizations, civil society, development partners, media, production and advertisement organizations, private sector and international experts in the field to: 

• Establish a common understanding about the urgency and complexity of educating and influencing individual and collective behaviors favorable to the environment and prepared to adapt to and mitigate the effects of CC;
• Share and analyze best practices from Cambodia and around the region;
• Establish clear roles and responsibilities of each participating sector/group at national and sub-national level in relation to CC education and awareness;
• Jointly develop and agree on a National CC Education and Awareness Strategy and Action plan that outlines the long term vision and recommendations as well as the medium and short term needs and the types of campaigns that will effectively address them;
• Possibly identify a pilot national campaign to be implemented immediately;
• Agree and commit to an informal system that will ensure CC education and awareness programs and content are coordinated.
• Consultations will need to be carefully planned to produce a progressive and highly inclusive output.
  

6. Write up the draft National Climate Change Education and Awareness Strategy and Action Plan document as well as a dissemination plan; 
7. Presentation of draft National Climate Change Education and Awareness Strategy and Action Plan before key stakeholders.

Expected Deliverables:

1. Reports and supporting documentation of the consultations (agendas, invitation letters, discussion minutes and workshop proceedings, etc..)
2. Well-prepared draft National CC Education and Awareness Strategy and Action Plan, and it’s dissemination plan in English and in Khmer; 
3. Agreed Education and Awareness Pilot Campaign draft document in English 
4. Capacity assessment report of MoE’s Department of Environmental Education with recommendations for capacity development
   

Scope of Work:

Building on the findings of the KAP Study and based on in-depth assessments and consultations, this consultancy is  expected to produce a draft National Climate Change Education and Awareness Strategy and Action Plan. This will constitute a map and platform for the subsequent design of targeted education and awareness campaigns to be implemented by different stakeholders and sectors. In addition to the CCD, MoE’s Department of Environmental Education and Communications will be closely involved throughout the process.

This consultancy is also envisaged as an opportunity to enhance the capacity of MoE in the field of climate change communication and more generally environment education. Under the CCCA a Project Communications Officer was recruited for the long term implementation of the Public Information Strategy. During the course of this assignment the consultant will provide necessary coaching and on-the-job training to the National Officer.

Final Products or Deliverables:

1) Draft National Climate Change Education and Awareness Strategy and Action Plan.

• Reports and supporting documentation of the consultations (agendas, invitation letters, discussion minutes and workshop proceedings, etc..)
• Draft National  CC Education and Awareness Strategy and Action Plan document as well as dissemination plan in English and Khmer
• Agreed Education and Awareness Pilot Campaign draft document in English
• Capacity assessment report of MoE’s Department of Environmental Education with recommendations for capacity development and proposal for CC Education and Awareness activities for it
  

2) End-of-Consultancy Report

• Final consultation report

Monitoring and Progress Controls:

The consultant will be fully based at MoE and will report to the CCCA National Project Coordinator, the CCD Director. He/she will work closely with the Team Leader of CCCA’s Result 2, the CCCA Project Communications Officer and the members of the MoE Education Department.

This consultancy is to be fully based in Cambodia over a total of 60 working days from May to August 2011. Depending on implementation of activities and assessments, there will be a provision to possibly extend the assignment of 10 additional days over August 2011 for home-based or remote backstopping for supporting the roll out of a pilot education and awareness campaign.

All relevant background documentation will be made available in advance in hard and soft copies to minimize the time of research required by the consultant. Likewise relevant appointments will be pre- arranged to swiftly move through the consultations.

Payment Milestones:

First payment: 20% of the total amount, will be made after submission and acceptance of the consultancy inception report which includes work plan, key milestones and approach of conducting the assignment in consistent with the Term of Reference.

Second payment: 50% of the total amount will be paid within 15 days after submission and acceptance of the draft National Climate Change Education and Awareness Strategy and Action Plan which include the following outputs:

• Reports and supporting documentation of the consultations (agendas, invitation letters, discussion minutes and workshop proceedings, etc..)
• National Framework final document as well as dissemination plan in English and Khmer 
• Agreed Education and Awareness Pilot Campaign draft document in English
• Capacity assessment report of MoE’s Department of Environmental Education with recommendations for capacity development
  

Final payment: 30% of the total amount will be paid within 15 days after submission and acceptance of the following outputs:

• Final consultancy report

Every payment is subject to receipt of certification for payment, and performance evaluation for last payment duly completed and signed by the National Programme Coordinator and the Team Leader of the Environment and Energy Unit. 

Competencies

• Excellent writing, and communications skills – verbal and written; as well as facilitation skills
• Proficient in the use of the internet and PCs, including Microsoft Office and Windows XP;
• Proven ability to (i) work flexibly and independently with limited supervision in a multicultural team environment and deliver quality results against tight deadlines; (ii) multi-task in an organization transcending across national boundaries and multiple time zones.    
• Strong communication research and analytical skills. Up-to-date knowledge of environment and climate change topics and issues is an advantage.
• Willingness to  travel if required

Required Skills and Experience

Education:     

• Master’s Degree or equivalent in mass communications, education or related fields

Experience:

• At least eight years experience of working in the field of communications with practical experience behavior change and social mobilization communications
• At least 2 of the eight years engaged in the area of climate change and/or environment communication and education
• Proven experience analyzing and translating baseline research into strategic and programmatic recommendations
• Practical skills facilitating multi-stakeholder and multi-disciplinary consultation processes
• Experience in working with government institutions,
• Experience with strategy and action plan formulation would be an additional advantage 
• Work experience from Cambodia in the above mentioned is a strong advantage
  

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English. Knowledge of Khmer will be an advantage

Application Submission Process:

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

1. Proposal

(i) Explaining why Interested individual consultant are the most suitable for the work

(ii) Provide a brief methodology on how Interested individual consultant will approach and conduct the work

2. UNDP Personal History Form and Personal CV including past experience in similar projects and at least 3 references

Interested individual consultants must submit their applications online through UNDP Online Recruitment System. Correspondence (either in hard or soft format) will not be considered until the advance stage of the selection process. Applicants are required to fill and sign a P11 Form and submit it together with Curriculum Vitae on the online application. The P11 Form can be obtained at http://sas.undp.org/Documents/P11_Personal_history_form.doc

How to Submit Application

To submit your application online, please follow the steps below:

• Download and complete the UN Personal History Form (P11).
• Merge your P11, Personal CV, Proposals and other relevant documents into a single file.
• Click on the Job Title.
• Click “Apply Now” button, fill in necessary information on the first page, and click “Submit Application”.
• Upload your application.
• You will receive an automatic response to your email confirming receipt of your application by the system.

Application Evaluation Process:

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the Cumulative Analysis methodology [weighted scoring method], where the award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

a) Responsive/acceptable application, and

b) Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

• Technical Criteria weight; [70%]
• Financial Criteria weight; [30%]

The following criteria and allocated points will be used in Technical Evaluation.

• Relevant qualifications in working in the field of communications with practical experience in public/corporate communication and / or behavior change and social mobilisation communications - 30 points
• Proven previous engagement in the area of climate change and/or environment communication - 20 points
• Proven experience analyzing and translating baseline research into strategic and programmatic recommendations - 10 points
• Proven experience in facilitating multi-stakeholder and multi-disciplinary consultation processes - 20 points
• Proven experience in working with government institutions - 20 points

Only Individual Consultants obtaining a minimum of 70% of the obtainable points of 100 points in technical evaluation will be invited to submit the financial proposal and considered for the Financial Evaluation. The total number of points allocated for the price component is 100. The maximum number of points will be allotted to the lowest price proposal that is opened and compared among those technical qualified candidates who have attained a minimum of 70% score in the technical evaluation. All other price proposals will receive points in inverse proportion to the lowest price.

UNDP is applying fair and transparent selection process that would take into account both the technical qualification of Individual Consultants as well as their price proposals. The contract will be awarded to the candidate obtaining the highest combined technical and financial scores.

UNDP retains the right to contact references directly.

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.

Other Information:

This is a non-staff contract under the Individual Contract (IC) modality of hiring of the UNDP. Individuals engaged under an IC serve in their individual capacity and not as representative of a government institutions, corporate body or other authority external to UNDP. The incumbent shall not be considered as staff of UNDP, the UN common system or the government and are therefore not entitled to any diplomatic privileges or any other special status or conditions.