UNDP Jobs - 69563- Communications Consultant

Communications Consultant – Individual Contractor

Location :

Bangkok, THAILAND

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

21-Dec-2016

Application Deadline :

02-Dec-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

12 Months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

12 months beginning December, 2016 with possibility of extension up to a maximum of 3 years.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

A number of countries in the Asia-Pacific Region that are served by UNDP have been successful in obtaining financing for projects from the Green Climate Fund (GCF). These projects are currently valued at $150M+, and other countries are in the process of submitting additional proposals to the Fund. Noting that these projects constitute large-scale development efforts by UNDP Country Office (directly or indirectly in support of implementing partners) in Sri Lanka, Maldives, Pakistan, Vietnam, and Pacific Islands (with more in pipeline), the UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub intends to contract the services of an experienced Communications Specialist to provide on-site and remote support (from Bangkok) in the next several months focusing on the following functions.

The engagement terms will be negotiated based on Project needs i.e., remote support from home location and in Bangkok with on-site missions to the Project locations across the Asia-Pacific region.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the Management Advisor and the Team Lead for Climate Change Adaptation Team in the Bangkok Regional Hub (BRH), the Communications Specialist will be responsible for the following functions:

Conduct communications needs assessment taking into account GCF projects and initiatives, and corporate requirements, and propose specific and costed options that respond to the needs assessment;
Plan and design internal and external strategies for communications and outreach focused on impact and results, transparency, advocacy, partner engagement and other corporate priorities;
Draft, summarize and edit succinct communications pieces of varying length for different internal and external audiences in close cooperation with UNDP task managers;
Support the substantive revision of content aimed at media outreach in coordination with the author(s), and communications focal points within relevant UNDP teams;
Under the guidance of the UNDP task manager and authors/specialists draft and/or edit publications to ensure clarity, consistency and readability of the text for the intended audience;
Design and layout materials (e.g. reports, posters, infographics, images, dynamic presentations, etc.) using a variety of software including InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Word and PowerPoint for internal and external audiences, and for presentation, print and online use;
Prepare materials for printing in line with UNDP editorial and visual guidelines, advising on print solutions, coordinating with printers and ensuring delivery of final error-free agreed materials;
Draft media advisories and press releases;
Liaise with media for press releases and events, establish media connections and aim to get maximum media attention for press releases, special events, press interview either through broadcast or print media;
Design, implement and measure effectiveness of UNDP’s digital strategy;
Monitor social media trends for outreach purposes and appropriately apply that knowledge to increasing the use of social media at UNDP;
Create and design infographics and manage Facebook, Twitter and other social media accounts;
Oversee the production of quality videos;
Assist in curating and posting stories, blogs, photos and videos in UNDP’s web content management system;
Identify and present recommendations for meeting the digital asset management needs of GCF projects and advise on the relative pros and cons of all options identified. Recommendations should ensure compatibility and address workflow within the UN global network with existing Adobe CQ5 Content Management System.

Competencies

Professionalism

Capable of working in a high pressure environment with sharp and frequent deadlines, managing many tasks simultaneously;
Excellent analytical and organizational skills;
Strong Social Media Skills, as well as graphic design skills;
Ability to shoot and edit videos an asset;
Exercises the highest level of responsibility and able to handle confidential and politically sensitive issues in a responsible and mature manner;
Results and client-oriented;
Highly detail-oriented;
Demonstrates integrity and ethical standards.

Communication

Excellent writing and verbal communication skills;
Strong interpersonal and communications skills, especially in a multi-cultural environment;
Communicates effectively in writing to a varied and broad audience in a simple and concise manner.

Teamwork

Work well in a team to advance the priorities of UNDP as a whole;
Projects a positive image and is ready to take on a wide range of tasks;
Welcomes constructive feedback.

Required Skills and Experience

Required qualifications/experience

Master’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations or related field;
At least 5 years of experience in generating communications, communication strategies, media operations and advocacy material via various media (i.e. print, video, websites);
Experiences in development communication issues and demonstrated experience in communicating climate change work tailored to different audiences is a distinct advantage;
Experience in UN related communications an asset;
Proficiency and experience with media and social media software, applications and communication tools;
Computer proficiency, especially related to professional office software packages (Microsoft Office);
Excellent in oral and written communication skills in English language are required.

Evaluation Criteria

The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as a) responsive/compliant/acceptable; and b) having received the highest score out of set of weighted technical criteria (60%). and financial proposal (40%). Financial score shall be computed as a ratio of the proposal being evaluated and the lowest priced proposal received by UNDP for the assignment. Maximum obtainable points for each criteria are listed below:

Education: 10 points;
Proven experience and skills in generating communications, communication strategies, media and;
Social media operations and advocacy material via various media: 20 points;
Proven experience in communication climate change work: 10 points;
Experience with media software, applications and communication tools: 15 points;
Experience of working with UNDP and other UN agencies: 5 points.

Submission of offers

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications. Please group them into (1) single PDF document as the application only allows to upload maximum one document:

Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided in Annex II;
Personal CV and P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references;
Financial proposal, as per template provided in Annex II.

Incomplete proposals may not be considered.

Annexes :

Annex I – Individual IC General Terms and Conditions;

Annex II – Offeror’s Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability for the Individual IC;

Annex III – Personal History Form (P11).

For any clarification regarding this assignment please write to rbap.icroster@undp.org.

Payment terms and other conditions

Considering the long term requirement, UNDP will negotiate the living costs in Bangkok with the selected consultant;
Contractor will submit monthly reports, as needed, and a consolidated report within 15 days of completion of the Contract to the Supervisor;
Payments of fees will be made on a monthly basis, upon certification of time sheet by Supervisor, except the fees for the last 15 days of the contract will be released upon submission of the final report as indicated above.

Financial Offer: 40 points

The financial offer will specify the daily fees in USD.

Travel :

All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This includes all travel to Bangkok, Thailand and return to place of domicile in most direct and economy class. Should the Individual Contractor (IC) wish to travel on a higher class, he/she can do so using their own resources.

Any unforeseen travel during the period of the assignment will have to be approved by the project manager, and all costs travel and living expenses would be reimbursed to the consultant in line with standard UNDP policy(most direct/economy class)

CVs of Individuals technically qualified but not successful for this assignment would be retained in the RBAP IC roster. However, the addition of an individual in the roster does not guarantee a contract with UNDP.