Background

Background information

UNDP works in about 170 countries and territories, helping to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities and exclusion, and build resilience so countries can sustain progress. As the UN’s development agency, UNDP plays a critical role in helping countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) envisions to contribute to Africa’s efforts to eradicate poverty and reduce inequalities and exclusion through the implementation of UNDP’ s Strategic Plan. In view of the transforming development cooperation landscape and the ambitious goals set out by the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development and the Africa Union Agenda 2063, it is more than ever crucial to mobilize a broad range of financing flows, including public, private, domestic and international, towards the implementation of SDG-aligned national development priorities, while putting in place new, more effective and integrated approaches to managing public and private finance.

Integrated national financing frameworks (INFFs) were first introduced by UN Member States in the 2015 Addis Ababa Action Agenda as a country-led approach for strengthening public and private financing for sustainable development. INFFs offer a framework for bringing together the policies used to mobilise and govern public and private financing. They help governments align and strengthen the contribution of financing policies toward implementation of national development plans. They deepen the connections across financing policy areas and help build greater collaboration between public and private actors.

In 2019, 16 countries committed to pioneer the INFF approach on the side lines of the UN General Assembly. Throughout 2020 and 2021, as the Covid-19 pandemic dealt shocks to both the sustainable development outlook and the means for financing recovery and medium- to long-term progress, interest in the INFF approach grew. The African continent led the number of countries volunteering to join the initiative. Currently, more than 40 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are now using the approach. National processes to tailor and operationalise INFFs through national institutions are advancing. A growing number of countries is reaching the defining stage of articulating an INFF Roadmap. By the end of this year, 22 countries will have developed a Financing Strategy that identifies reforms associated with budgeting, taxation, public debt, investment, development cooperation, private sector development, diaspora investment, remittances, etc.

Two and a half years from the initial commitments made by INFF pioneers to operationalise the INFF approach, and at a time when many countries will launch their financing strategies and introduce specific public or private related financing reforms, it is important to gather again, reflect and plan forward.

From 27 to 30 September 2022, UN ECA, UNDP, UNDESA, UNICEF, and the International Budget Partnership will host a continental workshop for African countries in Abuja, Nigeria. The proposed four-day workshop, conducted within the framework of the INFF Facility and the regional budget transparency initiative, will bring the African INFF community of practice together with other senior decision makers to share ongoing experiences in drafting Financing Strategies, setting up SDG Financing Dialogues and implementing open budget reforms. The event will also discuss emerging topics: disaster risk management and the green/climate agenda, fiscal decentralization, fostering a human-centred and green recovery amidst multiple shocks (the pandemic, climate events, conflict, macroeconomic volatility, fiscal austerity), etc.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work

The Communications Consultant will support UNDP’s Africa Sustainable Finance Hub and work with the communications focal points from partner organisations and the UNDP Nigeria office to implement strategic communication activities pre, during and post the regional workshop.

Before the INFF workshop (1 – 27 September)

• Develop a communications and outreach strategy  

Design a strategic communications plan (including a traditional media and social media plan) detailing the approach for communicating to different key audiences, including message development, collateral needs, target channels for communication and timeline. The plan should reflect a strategy for the build-up to the workshop, the strategy for during the workshop and for follow-up and engagement after the workshop (4-5 months following the workshop).  

This should be done as a co-creation exercise, with the INFF Global team (including the INFF global communication specialist) the UNDP regional and country teams, as well as regional partners for the INFF Workshop, led by the consultant. The strategy should identify opportunities for leveraging partner communications channels and capacity to support event promotion.

• Coordinate and manage the communication related aspects of the key workshop activities including the high-level events (which will be hybrid).
• Reminder email for participants
• Manage the INFF event web page (Include profile of speakers on the event website), draft the event flyer, 1 web banner, a roll up banner design)

Media outreach

Media outreach should include drafting and overseeing the finalization of:

• A press release for the event; and
• An interview or op-ed to be placed in a major global publication.

Details will be confirmed through the finalization of the communications strategy. The consultant should work together in collaboration with the UNDP global, regional and Country Office teams, as well as other partner agencies to circulate the press release and secure media placements. 

Develop social media content and distribute media kit

Develop social media messages and graphics for pre, during and post the event. The collateral should be organized in a Trello board or a simple outreach kit. The consultant will be responsible for coordinating with the social media focal points of all partner organizations for a joined-up campaign prior to the workshop. The social media kit should be distributed at least 1-2 weeks prior to the event.

Social media outreach should be done in close collaboration with the INFF Facility Communications Lead.

• Coordinate and oversee video production : Working closely with the video production and editing team to draft a 1-2 pager plan for filming the event (make a plan for interviews, b-roll footage, etc.) that will be used for the post-event video and other arrangements for the event.
• During the INFF Workshop (27-30 September)
  1. Coordinate with all INFF communication focal points to ensure the dissemination of communication materials during the conference (min. 8 twits and posts on social media during the event), provide guidance to the video production team and coordinate communication related arrangements (banners, screen backgrounds, etc) at the place of the event.
  2. Conduct a min. of 3 interviews with key INFF actors that will be used in the making of INFF videos and articles following the event.
  3. Take notes to capture what it was learned.

• After the INFF workshop (30 September – 1 February)
  1. Organise and finalise all event materials

For circulation in the post-event mailer and publication on www.inff.org.

• Post-event blog posts/news stories

Develop 3 post-event blog posts based on what was learned and explored during the workshop. The subject matter of the blogs will be agreed upon during the communication strategy development phase and will require additional interviews and research.

• Develop post-event video

Oversee the production of videos/infographics about the main findings of the INFF workshop with support from the video production company. Design 2 post-event INFF Africa presentation videos (based on footage from the event, including interviews), in close collaboration with the team and with the video production company. The consultant will be responsible of developing the concept and the script.

1. Develop post-event mailer
2. Produce the event report (a user-friendly format can be considered to share learnings/insights etc)
3. Update the social media kit with post-event coverage and distribute follow-up media kit
4. Video production

Design UNDP Country related videos (up to 5 short videos), in close collaboration with the INFF global team and with the video editing company. The consultant will be responsible of developing the concept and the script.

Evaluation and reporting

Produce event performance report based on monitoring and evaluation framework. All final materials should organized and submitted to the team in a shared folder.

Institutional Arrangement

The consultant will work under the technical supervision of the Regional Advisor on SDG Finance and South-South Cooperation of UNDP’s Africa Sustainable Finance Hub and in close collaboration with their respective team members.

Duration of the Work

The Contract duration is 6 months.  

Duty Station

The selected consultant will be home-based for the majority of the assignment but will be expected to travel for the 4-days INFF workshop in Abuja that will take place from September 27 to September 30, 2022.

Recommended Presentation of Offer

The application package containing the following (to be uploaded as one file):

• Cover Letter/Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment

• Personal CV or P11 (click here for P11), indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the consultant and at least three (3) professional references

• Financial Proposal specifying the all-inclusive total contract value. The Financial Proposal is to be submitted using the “Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability” template provided by UNDP with this VA.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

In the case of unforeseeable travel requested by UNDP, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between UNDP and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed. In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.

If the 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 a 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.

.Expected Outputs and Deliverables

D. Payment terms

Payments will be made upon submission of the below deliverables by or before the due dates agreed and their acceptance and certification by the Regional Advisor on SDG Finance and SSC Cooperation:

Competencies

Communication - Ability to listen, adapt and transform

Team work – Ability to work with others to achieve goals

Innovation – Ability to make new and useful work

Delivery – Ability to get things done while executing good job

Leadership – Ability to persuade others to follow

Required Skills and Experience

Required Skills and Experience        

Academic qualifications:

• Min.  Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Media, International Development, Political or Social Science, or other closely related field.

Years of experience:

• At least five year of professional work experience in communications, social media management, content development/editing/proofreading, research on development issues, etc. is required.
• Experience in graphic design is an asset.
• Proven successful track record with a demonstrable high-quality portfolio is highly desirable.
• Previous experience with the international organizations, particularly with the UN / UNDP is a distinct advantage.
• Previous experience in support communications around regional and global events with numerous partners, preferably for international organizations. Experience with finance-related events will be considered an asset.
• Previous experience in promoting multi-stakeholder partnerships on SDGs and 2030 Agenda is an asset. 

Language:

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

In the case of unforeseeable travel requested by UNDP, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between UNDP and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed. In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.

If the 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 a 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.

1. Criteria for Selection of the Best Offer

Applicants are reviewed based on Required Skills and Experience stated above and based on the technical evaluation criteria outlined below.  Applicants will be evaluated based on cumulative scoring.  When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• Being 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 where technical criteria weighs 70% and Financial criteria/ Proposal weighs 30%.

Technical evaluation - Total 70% (70 points): Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points on technical part will be considered for the Financial Evaluation. Below you will find the criteria:

• Min. Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Journalism, Media, International Development, Political or Social Science, or other closely related field. Maximum Points: 10

• At least five years of professional experience in communications, social media management, content development/editing/proofreading, research, etc., including demonstrable high-quality portfolio.  Maximum Points: 20

• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to write in plain English, articulate ideas and concepts with minimal text and high-quality editing skills.  Maximum Points: 20

• Previous experience with the international organizations, particularly with the UN / UNDP. Maximum Points: 10
• Previous experience in promoting multi-stakeholder partnerships on SDGs and 2030 Agenda. Maximum Points: 10

Candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% (49 points) of the maximum obtainable points for the technical criteria (70 points) shall be considered for the financial evaluation.

Financial evaluation - Total 30% (30 points)

The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposal:

p = y (µ/z), where

p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated

y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal

µ = price of the lowest priced proposal

z = price of the proposal being evaluated