Since 2017, Montenegro has significantly improved policy coordination and strategic planning in the context of the EU “fundamentals first” approach within EU Enlargement policy, good governance being an important segment of the Public Administration Reform (PAR). The European Commission Country Reports for Montenegro 2019, 2020 and 2021 underlined significant progress in policy coordination and strategic planning framework, yet coordination with stakeholders for policy development needs to be enhanced. Furthermore, inclusive and evidence-based policy remains only partially ensured. Administrative data collection and its systematic use for policy and law-making needs to improve across the administration.

To avoid slowing down the pace of EU negotiations and affect policy planning, as well as programming and absorption rate of IPA funds, more focus should be put on outcome-oriented, evidence-based approach when drafting strategies, in synergy with researchers and academia at all stages of policy development. As a small administration, Montenegro should make most of its human capital. Research and science should be more firmly linked to policy making, so that strategic planning and decision-making processes become more informed and based on evidence. Moreover, a significant position should be given to visibility of policy planning process and to the implementation of the existing legal and methodological framework.

One of the key principles for quality strategic planning are principles of transparency and cooperation, which suggest that strategic documents should be prepared in a wide consultation process that would include state institutions, local authorities, NGO’s, academia and the general public. This process should help in understanding the substance of public policies and reasons behind drafting policy proposals, i.e. strategic documents in a structured and methodologically defined manner. The existing Methodology for policy planning, drafting and monitoring strategic documents describes all the steps in the process and is an obligatory tool in preparation of strategies and programmes on national level since September 2018. However, there is still no unified approach in implementation of the Methodology and drafting of strategic documents by all the ministries and civil servants engaged in these activities. This situation was affected by institutional changes in the previous year, staff turnover and the fact that a number of civil servants had the opportunity to work on strategic documents and reports on their implementation for the first time. Therefore, the need to explain the Methodology and policy planning cycle in a simple and effective manner emerged as one of the prerequisites for its successful implementation and better quality of strategic documents. The Secretariat General of the Government (SGG), with support of UNDP, plans to prepare a set of videos that would translate the Methodology into a clear and understandable language, easy to understand for everyone interested or working in policy planning areas.

The project “Strengthening capacities for the acceleration of EU accession of Montenegro II” is funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and implemented by UNDP in partnership with the Office for European Integration and the Secretariat General of the Government. The general objective of the project is to assist, advise and support EU accession negotiations through strengthening the capacities of the Government of Montenegro in responding to the demands of the new phases of accession process, including the areas of policy planning and coordination.

Objectives of the assignment:  

The objective of the assignment is to develop video content and visualizations that would improve the understanding of the policy planning cycle and all the elements described in the Methodology for policy planning, drafting and monitoring strategic documents. 

Job content: 

Under the supervision of the UNDP Programm Manager and the Assistant Secretary-General of the Government, the consultant will perform the following tasks:

• In cooperation with the SGG and based on the Methodology, prepare short texts (scenarios) according to which video content/ animations on policy planning cycle and all the elements of the Methodology should be prepared. The texts should include practical examples that would simplify the language of the Methodology and familiarize both civil servants and wider public with the phases of policy planning process;
• Communicate and coordinate the work on creation of video content/ animations with the company that will be engaged with the purpose of visualizing the content of the Methodology, with support of UNDP;
• Create accompanying textual contents, suitable for sharing through official channels, social media, website www.javnepolitike.me;
• Suggest specific steps and ways to create quality and engaging content and provide support in raising the visibility of website www.javnepolitike.me.
• Prepare final report on undertaken activities.

Deliverables:

• At least 5 short texts (scenarios) for video content/ animations on policy planning cycle, with practical examples developed;
• In coordination with the company, make sure that the video content/ animations are prepared in accordance with the needs and requests of the SGG and UNDP;
• For every designed video/ animation, prepare accompanying text, suitable for sharing;
• A list of steps on how to create quality and engaging content for www.javnepolitike.me website prepared.

Timing and reporting: The junior consultant will be engaged in the period February 15 – June 15, 2022. The consultant will be responsible to prepare the Final report to the UNDP Project Manager, and it should contain sufficient details and information that would allow for the appraisal of the effectiveness to date of the assignment’s activities

Time duration and travel: The Consultant will be engaged in the period February 15 – June 15, 2022 in duration of 35 consultancy days. The consultants will work from home and online, with possibilities of using SGG offices when needed.  

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UN/UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Excellent communication skills, facility in working with teams and capacity to compose clear and readable narrative reports;
• Demonstrates ability to manage complexities and work under pressure, as well as conflict resolution skills;
• Excellent organizational and time management skills;
• Knowledge Management and Learning;
• Shares knowledge and experience; 
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills; 
• Ability to perform a variety of standard tasks related to Results Management, including collecting of documentation, data entering, preparation of revisions, filling, provision of information; 
• Ability to provide input to business processes re-engineering, implementation of new systems;
• Excellent inter-personal and communication skills; 
• Ability to work independently and in a team. 

Education: 

• Advanced university degree, preferably in communicology, journalism, visual arts or other related area.

Experience: 

• Minimum three years of working experience in the relevant field;
• Proven experience in content management, creating textual, video and social media content;
• Experience in drafting strategic planning documents or policy planning papers is considered an asset;
• Experience in text analysis in general, as well as analysis of strategic planning documents or policy planning papers is an asset;
• Experience in working with media, public relations offices, content management is an asset.

Languages:

• Fluency in Montenegrin language;
• Good command of spoken and written English language.

Other: 

• Computer literacy.

Criteria for selection:

Combined Scoring method will be used. When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as: (i) responsive, compliant, acceptable, and (ii) 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% (Background and education 10%; Relevant previous experience 20%; Substantial knowledge/Required competencies 30%; Required language 10%);
• Financial criteria weight - 30%.

Only offerors obtaining a minimum 490 points for technical criteria will be considered for the financial evaluation. For more information on procurement methodology for Individual Contractors, please refer to Procurement Notice.

Application procedure:

Interested applicants are requested to submit their applications by February 04, 2022 by using the Apply now button. The application should contain CV or P11 that can be downloaded at https://www.me.undp.org/content/montenegro/en/home/jobs.html. Please note that UNDP jobsite system allows only one uploading of application document, so please make sure that you merge all your documents into a single file.

Only the short-listed applicants will be contacted and requested to submit a letter of interest including a price quotation indicating the lump sum (in EUR) requested for the work envisaged in the section "Description of Responsibilities".