In 2020, the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine (MDT) launched a new era in the country's digital transformation by developing and operationalizing numerous online services. The implementation of new digital solutions, among others, depends on the ability of a local level to support undertaken endeavours. To facilitate the consistent digital transformation throughout the country and build a well-functioning institutional structure to foster it, MDT introduced several instruments to help regional authorities adopt and promote proposed digital instruments.

In particular, in March 2020, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved the introduction of a new specialised position of a Chief Digital Transformation Officer (CDTO) in all government institutions (https://bit.ly/3FkoaNw). This is a special Deputy Head of an institution who coordinates the digitalisation of an institution or a region, is in charge of databases, processes, and services, and promotes the instruments for increasing the digital literacy of citizens. The positions were introduced in each ministry, state company, agency, other central executive bodies, and oblast administrations.

CDTOs play a vital role in the implementation of national programmes. Namely, they assist in the effective usage of the subventions for the development of broadband Internet and TSNAPs in regions. In a framework of these subventions, it is planned to provide broadband Internet for 2,600 schools and kindergartens, 2,200 libraries, 2,890 medical institutions in 3,652 villages, as well as to build and re-equip TSNAPs in 165 hromadas in all Ukraine.

Besides that, the portal Diia.Digital hromada (https://bit.ly/3I2odiM) was launched in July 2021. It is an informational resource for local governments with templates of digital transformation projects, tools, law, examples of documents needed for the digitalisation. Besides that, a support service for the implementation of digital solutions for hromadas is intended to be launched.

As the digital transformation in regions increases the quality and comfort of life in hromadas, the aim of the Ministry is to ensure that the position of CDTOs appears in every oblast and hromada in Ukraine and that they have the necessary authority and resources to achieve rapid results.

Considering the importance and ambition of the outlined actions, there is significant potential to expand the number of CDTOs in hromadas of the country thereby strengthening regional capacity to facilitate digital transformation, increasing citizen digital literacy, and bridging the digital divide in the country. UNDP supports these efforts and assists the Government of Ukraine and MDT in digitalisation based on principles of leaving no one behind and a human rights-based approach.

Namely, on 1 January 2021, UNDP launched its Digital, Inclusive, Accessible: Support to Digitalization of State Services in Ukraine (DIA Support) Project (cutt.ly/DIA-Support-Project). Supported by the Swedish Government, the DIA Support project follows a mission to advocate for better and multifaceted inclusivity when developing or rendering public electronic services and aims to bridge the digital divide between generations and different social groups in Ukraine. The ultimate goal of the Project, shared by MDT, is that Ukrainian women and men have the necessary knowledge and digital skills to use digital and mobile-based services available to them.

As part of the project, UNDP will help the government partners – primarily MDT – to promote digital transformation in the regions and contribute to building a solid institutional structure of CDTOs in the country. Hence, it seeks the services of a Regional Digital Transformation Communications Consultant (hereinafter referred to as Communications Consultant) who is expected to support MDT with communication on all activities in the area of regional digital transformation.

2. Objectives of the assignment / Scope of work

Given the abovementioned, the Communications Consultant will concentrate his/her efforts on developing the thematic communications strategy and action plan on regional digital transformation that will support the regional digital transformation plans of the MDT for 2022, start-up for MDT and the Office of the respective Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation the routines of creation, coordination and implementation of content plans, media plans, relations with media and other communications channels based on tasks and principles of the communications strategy.

The assignment has to be carried out under UNDP supervision in close coordination and cooperation with MDT.

3. Measurable outputs of the work assignment/deliverables

Hence, it is expected that the Communications Consultant will deliver the following services (non-exhaustive list):

* The consultant should provide his/her proposal regarding the quantity of working days needed for each deliverable, based on the tentative deadlines indicated above, and indicate in the financial proposal amount distribution by deliverable section.

4. Deliverables and implementation schedule

In general, deliverables expected under the contract and used to confirm the number of expert days reported would include: background documents, analytical papers, and other documents. Sample deliverables are:

- A communications and PR strategy and action plan on regional digital transformation;

- Documents related to the implementation of an initial stage of the communications strategy and action plan on regional digital transformation;

- A communications content plan on regional digital transformation;

- A list of publications and other materials (at least 50) produced to promote the topic of regional digital transformation in line with the approved communications and PR strategy and action plan;

- Documents related to the organisation of events with the participation of the Deputy Minister office dedicated to the topic of regional digital transformation;

- A list of publications (at least 10) to cover major activities of the Deputy Minister office dedicated to the topic of regional digital transformation;

- Media clipping on the activity of the Deputy Minister office in the area of regional digital transformation generated over the course of the contract.

5. Management arrangements

The Communications Consultant will be primarily responsible for achieving the objectives of the assignment. He/ She will be responsible for all personal administrative expenses associated with the assignment.

6. Monitoring requirements / Terms of payment

The Communications Consultant will work under the overall supervision of the DIA Project Manager and will work closely with DIA Support Digital Literacy Specialist.

All deliverables shall be approved by UNDP in written form through e-mail after consultations with MDT. No documents should be published or distributed to third parties without the approval of MDT and/or UNDP.

All documents should be submitted to the UNDP in electronic form (*.docx, *.xlsx, *.pptx, and *.pdf or other formats accepted by UNDP). The language of the materials and reports is Ukrainian. The analytical paper should be submitted to UNDP for comments and approval no later than 15 March 2023.

UNDP will provide payment upon provision of each deliverable duly certified by UNDP in accordance with the schedule below:

Deliverable 1.     8.3%

Deliverable 2.     8.3%

Deliverable 3.     8.3%

Deliverable 4.     8.3%

Deliverable 5.     8.3%

Deliverable 6.     16.6%

Deliverable 7.     8.3%

Deliverable 8.     17%

Deliverable 9.     8.3%

Deliverable 10.   8.3%.

• Strategic thinking combined with a proactive, energetic approach to problem-solving and initiative-taking;
• Demonstrate a willingness to constant learning and self-development, ready to multitask;
• Enthusiastic about the topic of digital transformation and innovations;
• Demonstrate creativity and innovation management competencies;
• Encourage and participate in open communication in the team, communicate effectively;
• Strong organisational and time management skills.

8. Required experience and qualifications

• At least university degree (Bachelor’s) in journalism, communications, PR, marketing, philology, political science, law, public administration, social science or other related fields;
• At least four years of relevant experience in a similar position;
• Proven experience in creating communication and/or PR strategies;
• Experience in government relations and crisis communications will be considered as a strong asset;
• Fluency in Ukrainian and English (at least upper-intermediate level).

Skills

• Excellent writing and proficient communications skills to be demonstrated through provision of at least 5 information materials: press releases, social media posts, articles, blogs, etc. written by the applicant and at least 1 example of a successful communication strategy developed and implemented by the applicant.

9. Documents to be included when submitting the proposal

10. Financial Proposal

 Lump sum contract

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (please, refer to Section 4 Measurable outputs of the work assignment/deliverables). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of Cost by Components.

11. Evaluation Criteria

Educational background – 8 pts max

• 8 pts – Master’s in journalism, communications, PR, marketing, philology, political science, law, public administration, social science or other related fields;
• 6 pts – Bachelor’s in journalism, communications, PR, marketing, philology, political science, law, public administration, social science or other related fields.

Relevant experience in a similar position of a communications expert – 15 pts max

• 15 pts – 7+ years of experience;
• 13 pts – between 5 and 6 years of experience;
• 11 pts – at least 4 years of experience;

Experience in the development of a communication and/or PR strategy – 10 pts max

• 10 pts – 4 and more strategies were developed and implemented;
• 8 pts – 2-3 strategies were developed and implemented;
• 6 pts – at least 1 strategy was developed and implemented;

Experience in government relations and crisis communications – 5 pts max

• 5 pts – the applicant has relevant experience;
• 0 pts – the applicant does not have relevant experience.

Quality of the writing sample submitted – 24 points max

• 24 pts – The writing sample is extremely well structured, the style is concise and to the point, and the text explains complex issues in a structured manner. There are few if any at all grammatical errors, and the sample demonstrates expert-level awareness of the subject that is being reported/analysed;
• 22 pts – The writing sample has a structure, the style may be wordy or somewhat unclear, with minor repetitions and may be harder to follow. There are some grammatical errors or misprints, but they do not, in general, spoil the impression of the piece presented. The sample, otherwise, demonstrates significant awareness of the subject that is being conveyed to the reader;
• 19 pts – The writing sample’s text is not very well structured. The style is wordy and repetitive. The narrative is not easy to follow. The text has grammatical and stylistic errors that make it hard to comprehend or that make an otherwise professional in contents text look amateurish and substandard.

Language Skills – 8 pts max

• 8 pts – Native / fluent Ukrainian. Fluent English (advanced level / native);
• 7 pts – Fluent Ukrainian. Working knowledge of English (at least upper-intermediate level).

Maximum available technical score – 70 points

EVALUATION METHOD:

Cumulative analysis

Contract award shall be made to the incumbent whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and

b) having received the cumulative 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%

Only candidates obtaining a minimum 70% from the maximum available technical score (49 points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

The maximum number of points assigned to the financial proposal is allocated to the lowest price proposal and will equal to 30. All other price proposals will be evaluated and assigned points, as per below formula:

30 points [max points available for financial part] x [lowest of all evaluated offered prices among responsive offers] / [evaluated price].

The proposal obtaining the overall cumulatively highest score after adding the score of the technical proposal and the financial proposal will be considered as the most compliant offer and will be awarded a contract.