Background

Project Title

Using Strategic Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) to Accelerate the Implementation of the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017-2022 (Strategic M&E Project)

Background and rationale

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Philippine country office have embarked on a partnership to strengthen the conduct of evaluations of priority government programs under the Philippine Development Program (PDP). Financed by NEDA and implemented with full UNDP country office support, the Strategic Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Project will help strengthen the capacities of NEDA and select government agencies to conduct evaluations that support the achievement of the PDP and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by enabling evidence-based decision making.  

The Strategic M&E Project has the following components: 1) managing the conduct of evaluations of key themes, sectors, and/or programs under the PDP; 2) assessing the evaluation capacity of and providing learning opportunities to NEDA and other government agencies; 3) supporting the implementation of the National Evaluation Policy Framework (NEPF) through the development of implementation guidelines and other advisory services; 4) project management; and 5) strengthening monitoring of the Philippine Development Plan (PDP).

The project seeks to leverage communication and knowledge management tools to support the project’s outputs. For one, the project aims to ensure that all outputs, specifically, the evaluations commissioned and outputs of capacity building activities, are communicated and utilized by the right stakeholders and through the right channels. Creative and high-quality knowledge products—publications and other printed material, infographics and other online promotional material, audio-visual presentations, among others —will be required for the project’s outputs to reach and meet the needs of stakeholders. Also, to facilitate communication of Project outcomes, there is a need to leverage available digital tools— the National Evaluation Portal, social media, and other innovative platforms, to facilitate the efficient storage, creative reporting, and utilization of knowledge assets.  

The project requires the services of a National Consultant for Communication and Knowledge Management who shall advise and assist NEDA and UNDP in developing and implementing a communication and knowledge management strategy for the Project. S/he shall design, recommend, and implement appropriate content, tools, channels, knowledge products, and promotional activities to support the dissemination and utilization of evaluations, capacity development, and other Project’s outputs. S/he shall likewise provide editorial, creative, and knowledge management direction and oversight to service providers to be hired by UNDP.  

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work

Under the overall guidance of the UNDP Institutions and Partnerships Team Leader, and the NEDA Monitoring and Evaluation Staff (MES) Director, and reporting directly to the Strategic M&E Project Coordinator, the National Consultant for Communication and Knowledge Management shall be responsible for the following:

Develop and oversee the implementation of a Strategic Communications and Knowledge Management Plan, which shall include the following at the minimum:  

1. A mapping of key stakeholders and their needs and expectations about the project and core messages on the project broadly and targeted messages for the key stakeholders; 
2. A protocol for managing—particularly cataloguing, storing, and communicating—content produced by the project;
3. A repository of the abovementioned content and assets
4. A timeline  of key communication activities and outputs that support the project’s key milestones 
5. Support the RBM Consultant by developing creative and high-quality communication and promotional materials to effectively communicate the Project’s emerging results, good practices, and lessons learned. At the minimum, a translation of key results into a compendium, social media cards/GIFs/poster infographics for online promotion and for the appropriate use of the country office;
6. Support the Project in design and layout of the year-end accomplishment report and bi-annual project briefs for the government and development partners, including infographics and final art for front and back covers aligned with Client branding. Also, the development of email newsletters.

For a total of six (6) evaluation studies commissioned by UNDP for NEDA: 

1. Develop the communication plan of the study, including key messages, stakeholder management, and issue management;  
2. Implement the communication plans, including the production of full communication suites and knowledge products per study: 1) popularized report; 2) 1-page executive summary; 3) policy brief; 4) standard slide deck; and 5) translation of study’s key findings into social media posts, online articles, and infographics for online promotion; and
3. Organization of two public fora and/or other promotional activities.

For a total of thirteen (13) NEDA studies, commissioned by NROs but not undertaken by the Project

1. Produce a full communication suites and knowledge products per study: 1) popularized report; 2) 1-page executive summary; 3) policy brief; 4) standard slide deck; and 5) translation of study’s key findings into social media posts, online articles, and infographics for online promotion

Collaborate closely with NEDA Monitoring and Evaluation Staff, UNDP, as well as communications focal persons of NEDA Development Information Staff (DIS) and UNDP CO-Comms, to ensure that the plans, messages, and products are consistent with their communication plans and brand manuals. Any product released under the Project must have the approval of NEDA and UNDP. 

Expected Output and Deliverables

The Individual Consultant is expected to accomplish the following:

Institutional Arrangements

1. The consultant shall work closely with the COP Manager and be directly supervised by the Project Coordinator of the NEDA-UNDP Strategic M&E Project, with whom all outputs shall be submitted and through whom all communications shall be coursed or copied.
2. The consultant shall report progress, provide updates, or raise issues to the Project Coordinator on a regular basis.
3. In performing its functions, the consultant is expected to coordinate, consult, and/or collaborate with members of the Project Management Team and external stakeholders.  It will need to work with communications focal persons of NEDA and UNDP CO-Comms for quality assurance, proper branding, and synching of posts in respective social media accounts and websites.
4. UNDP shall provide comments and provide outputs within five (5) working days upon receipt of output.
5. UNDP Philippines shall be entitled to intellectual property and other proprietary rights over all materials that have a direct relation to the project.
6. The Consultant is expected to turn over all assets, materials, collaterals to the project team in both raw and final versions as part of her/his final output.
7. Considering the COVID-19 pandemic and declaration of State of Public Health Emergency in the Philippines, all work of the Individual Consultant shall be done within the guidelines and protocols set by the local and national government.
8. Following IATF Quarantine Restrictions, this consultancy shall be performed remotely and will be a home-based assignment. Coordination/meetings shall be done through phone or online communication.
9. The Individual Consultant is expected to have his/her own equipment and workstation.

Duration of Work

The Individual Consultant will be engaged for 120 days from November 1, 2021, to May 1, 2022, unless revised in a mutually agreed-upon timetable. Changes in the duration of the contract will be implemented through the issuance of a contract amendment.

Duty Station

The duty station is in Manila. The Consultant is not expected to report on a daily basis to the UNDP Office. They shall be notified within a reasonable period of time of pertinent meetings where his/her presence is necessary. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and declaration of State of Public Health Emergency in the Philippines, all work of the consultant shall be done within the guidelines and protocols set by the local and national government.

Competencies

Required Skills and Experience

Qualifications of the Successful Individual Contractor and Criteria for Evaluation

The Offers received will be evaluated using a combined scoring method - where technical proposal (CV and Portfolio) will be weighted 70 points and combined with the price offer which will be weighted 30 points.  

The CV and Portfolio will be reviewed using the criteria in the table below. Only offerors who will obtain a minimum of 70% or 49 out of 70 obtainable points will be shortlisted and deemed eligible for evaluation of the financial proposal.

Scope of Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments

The Individual Consultant must send a financial proposal based on an all-inclusive lump-sum amount for the delivery of the outputs below. The total amount quoted shall include all cost components required to deliver the services identified above, including professional daily fees X number of person-days and any other applicable costs (e.g., software and online tool/platform subscriptions) to be incurred by the Individual Consultant in completing the assignment.

Medical/health insurance must be purchased by the Individual Consultant at his/her own expense, and upon award of contract, the Individual Consultant must be ready to submit proof of insurance valid during the contract duration.

Payments will be made upon satisfactory completion of the deliverables by target due dates. Outputs will be certified by the Programme Analyst of Institutions and Partnerships prior to payments.

Recommended Presentation of Offer

The following documents may be requested:

1. Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP;
2. Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experiences from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate
3. At least three (3) relevant samples outputs, preferable a published article or report, research paper, infographic, communication collaterals, or other such materials that best presents the candidate’s ability to translate complex issues and topics into compelling and actionable communication. A hyperlink to the public location of the output should ideally be included in the submission.  
4. Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided. If an Offeror is employed by an organization/company/institution, and he/she expects his/her employer to charge a management fee in the process of releasing him/her to UNDP under Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), the Offeror must indicate at this point, and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP. Medical/health insurance must be purchased by the individual at his/her own expense, and upon award of contract, the Individual Consultant must be ready to submit proof of insurance valid during the contract duration. 

Offerors must upload in one (1) file the documents mentioned above.

Templates for a) P11 Personal History Form and b)  Offeror's Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability and Financial Proposal (Annex 2) are available through the link below. UNDP General Terms and Conditions for Individual Contractors  are also available:

http://gofile.me/6xdJm/bE9TCw8fU

Incomplete submission of required documents may result in disqualification.

Please see the deadline of submissions above.

Because of the volume of applications UNDP receives, only shortlisted offerors may be notified.