Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) operates under a decentralized business model, where procurement is delegated to over 170 Country Offices, Regional Bureaus, Regional Offices, and Headquarter Unites within and outside of New York, who are all responsible for the results and management of procurement business processes in accordance with the established procurement policies, processes and procedures. UNDP procurement has experienced explosive growth in the past ten years, with its portfolio totaling over US$3 billion, making UNDP one of the three largest procurement organizations in the UN.

The Procurement Support Office (PSO), based at UNDP Headquarters under the Bureau of Management (BoM), provides the overall direction and guidance for UNDP’s procurement activities. PSO requires a Communications Consultant to support the communications needs of the office, and deliver the communications objectives under the Procurement Strategy 2014-2017.

Duties and Responsibilities

PSO is seeking a Communications Consultant to work with the PSO team to manage the communications needs of the office. The goal is to complete the projects as outlined in the Procurement Strategy 2014-17, and to ensure that PSO actively communicates procurement progress and accomplishments, as well as new procurement policies, tools and systems both internally and externally.

2014 -2017 Procurement Strategy; communication strategy, dissemination and results

• Develop a communication strategy for UNDP 2014-2017 Procurement Strategy including a dissemination strategy;
• Continuously implement the communications projects in the 2014-2017 Procurement Strategy.

• Advise on the format, design and content of information materials, especially the PSO Annual Report, in accordance with UNDP Communications standards and best industry practices;
• Actively engage in communicating procurement achievements and raising the profile and visibility of PSO internally and externally;
• Advise on the most effective ways of communicating and updating messages internally and externally.

Migration to procurement policies, process and procedures to the newly developed content management platform (named POPP platform)

• Manage the process of a whole-of-POPP content review, including improvements to language, structure and readability;
• Draft and implement effective communications tools for procurement policies (especially newly issued ones), aimed at facilitating the learning curve of users.

• Coordinate the design and maintenance of the PSO internal and external websites in collaboration with IT staff and content owners;
• Develop other ‘good news’ stories and communications tools (e.g. videos and information materials) to explain both procurement achievements and detailed policy concepts in a clear, understandable format;
• Highlight the role of procurement as a development tool and an enabler of development results.

Monitoring and reporting arrangements:

• The consultant will report to the Director, PSO and report progress on a monthly basis for inputs and guidance;
• The review and approval of final milestones will be at the discretion of the Director, PSO.
  

Competencies

• Ability to implement effective communications strategies to a diverse and multi-cultural audience;
• Demonstrated ability to write and communicate verbally with accuracy and professionalism.
• IT and website management skills;
• Strong analytical and research skills;
• Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure;
• Strong client orientation, knowledge-sharing and people skills;
• Demonstrates openness and adaptability to change and ability to manage complexities;
• Responds positively to critical feedback and differing points of view;
• Strong sense of corporate responsibility, results-orientation, and team spirit.

Required Skills and Experience

• Master’s degree in Business Administration, Media Relations, Journalism, International Relations or their equivalent.

• At least five (5) years of relevant experience at the national or international level in public relations, communications, journalism or advocacy;
• Previous experience in the UN or UNDP is an advantage;
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, good knowledge and experience in handling of web-based management systems.

• Fluency in English is required;
• Working knowledge of any additional UN language is an asset.
  

Documents to be included when submitting the proposals

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information (to be uploaded to this site) to demonstrate their qualifications:

• UNDP P-11: A duly accomplished UNDP P-11 form;
• A summary (no more than 2 pages) explaining why the candidates are the most suitable candidates for the assignment and explaining how would they attain the goal/ deliverables specified in the TOR;
• Only 3-5 best candidates would be invited to the interview and to present financial proposals;
• Financial proposal (Only for shortlisted candidates – to be submitted upon request): An all-inclusive monthly fee covering all costs (airfare, living allowances, insurance, communications, etc.) .
  

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:

* Technical Criteria weight; 600 points.

The assignment is based on a lump sum contract amount and payment is based only upon the certification and acceptance of the monthly reports received as indicated above. In the event of non-performance and pre-termination where payments cannot be made in full or may have to be suspended, the final payment will be pro-rating against received and accepted deliverables.