Background

Project Title

 Strengthening the Governance of Climate Change Finance to Benefit the Poor and Vulnerable and Strengthening the Governance of Climate Change Finance to Enhance Gender Equality

Project Description 

UNDP’s Bangkok Regional Hub (BRH) supports countries in the Asia-Pacific region on various development issues, including governance and environment. BRH operates under the UNDP Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) which has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan.

To respond to growing demands by countries and UNDP Country Offices, a multi-disciplinary ‘governance of climate change finance’ team was established in 2009 to deliver the abovementioned services through a coordinated regional approach. It is currently implementing two flagship regional projects—one funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and one by the Swedish International Development Agency, plus providing ad hoc support to other UNDP programs. UNDP is supporting governments to better articulate their response to climate in Asia and the Pacific through advocacy at multi levels, technical assistance, and policy advisory services. Support includes strengthening coordination mechanisms between Ministries of Finance, Planning, Environment, and local governments through a ‘whole of government’ approach to deliver integrated and comprehensive policies, strengthening budgeting processes and frameworks, and strengthening budget accountability mechanisms, including monitoring and oversight roles of parliaments, civil society, and the media, to address the needs of the poor and vulnerable in these processes. Taken together, these activities are pivotal to enhancing partner countries’ ability to mobilize, manage, and target resources earmarked toward a national climate change response.

Building on success of the 1st phase, the 2nd phase of the Swedish-funded programme, the Strengthening the Governance of Climate Change Finance to Enhance Gender Equality programme, expands its scope in various dimensions including substantively mainstreaming Gender Equality and Human rights into the Governance of Climate Change Finance in particular into national planning and budgeting process in Asia-Pacific countries, increasing implementing countries from 4 to 6 countries, increasing project budget from US$4.5 million to be approximately US$ 10 million and increasing project duration from 3 years to 5 years.

The program has been up-scaling its communications and outreach activities since inception, which are intrinsically related to in-country programming in at least nine countries in South and Southeast Asia. The team carries out a wide range of knowledge management activities to achieve its programme objectives, including conducting undertaking Climate Change Financing Frameworks, Climate Public Expenditures and Institutional Review (CPEIR) analyses, developing methodological guidelines to improve the integration of climate change into budgeting and project financing strategies, commissioning policy briefs, organizing regional dialogues and south-south knowledge exchanges, and developing advocacy partnerships and networks with international, regional, and national CSOs. To this end, an updated communications strategy and strategic communications plan has been elaborated.

The key objectives of the assignment are to:

• Support programme staff in the implementation of the strategic communication plan as per key outputs and milestones, and rebranding as appropriate;
• Produce and support the dissemination of various communications products and activities, including, but not limited to, print publications, web stories, e-newsletters, press kits, social media posts, banners and flyers, project brochures, advocacy video clips and multi-media products, etc in regards to GCCF Work;
• Support messaging and communications strategies for increased gender and human rights focused programmes in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Pacific;
• Provide editing and technical copywriting support for key knowledge products and communications materials, with an eye toward ensuring not only quality products but also consistent application of UNDP and GCCF programme branding, key messages, and relevant corporate style guidelines;
• Identify and proactively initiate opportunities to promote programme knowledge outputs and stories through other channels, including social media, other UN platforms, media outreach, etc.;
• Oversee the drafting of key programme reporting outputs including donor reporting documents.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objective and Scope of Work

Based on the updated communication strategy, the consultant will work closely with all members of the Governance of Climate Change Finance team and in particular Regional Climate Policy Specialist to implement the strategy and its key recommendations. This assignment’s key tasks and scope of work can be summarized as follows:

1. Develop knowledge and outreach products both hard copies and online version as suggested in the strategy and agreed with the team and relevant UNDP country offices, including: programme brochures, press kit, programme country communication strategy, and e-newsletter;
2. Managing the content of the website:
   • Ensuring consistency of all the pages under the project’s website, including double checking for the accuracy of links and images posted on the site.
   • Ensuring up-to-date uploads of new publications and relevant knowledge products of the project;
3. Providing editorial and proof-reading support to the project’s upcoming publications and knowledge products;
4. Acting as the focal point between the project and the website developer and design companies contracted by the project;
5. Taking lead on social media communication to enhance the team’s results outreach to both UNDP audiences and beyond;
6. Support the team as a communication focal point across Swedish-funded programmes, DFID-funded programmes;
7. Support the drafting of reporting documents including regional and country programme communication strategy;
8. Support new messaging and a shift in branding following a refocus on gender and human rights.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

The consultant is expected to deliver the followings:

Institutional Arrangement

The assignment will be conducted in overall supervision and oversight by the UNDP’s Governance, Climate Change Finance and Development Effectiveness Advisor with day-to-day supervision from the Climate Policy Specialist.

Duration of the Assignment

The period of the assignment is to be completed from 7 Aug 2017 to 15 Jun 2018, with maximum192 working days.

Duty Station

The consultant will be based at the UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub Office, Thailand, with no travel required

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism.

Technical Competencies:

• Analytic capacity and demonstrated ability to process, analyse and synthesise complex, technical information;
• Proven ability to support the development of high quality knowledge and training materials, and to train technical teams;
• Proven experience in the developing country context and working in different cultural settings.

Communication:

• Communicate effectively in writing to a varied and broad audience in a simple and concise manner.

Professionalism:

• Capable of working in a high pressure environment with sharp and frequent deadlines, managing many tasks simultaneously;
• Excellent analytical and organizational skills.

Teamwork:

• Projects a positive image and is ready to take on a wide range of tasks;
• Focuses on results for the client;
• Welcomes constructive feedback.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• University Degree or equivalent in Communications, International Relations, Public Policy, Social Science or other related field.

Work Experience:

• Track record in implementing strategic outreach and communications activities for international organizations, NGOs, or political campaigns is required;
• 5-7 years of experience with content development and management of print and online communications for UN or other international organizations, including familiarity with social media and website management is required;
• 5-7 years of experience in production management and quality assurance of knowledge management and outreach products is required (both print and electronic outputs);
• Experience working with other UN agencies is desirable;
• At least 7 years of experience in relevant fields in international levels;
• Prior work experience in Asia -Pacific region is desirable;
• Excellent written and spoken English are required.

Language Requirement:

• Proficiency in English with advanced command of speaking and writing. Fluency in other languages spoken in the region is an asset.

Remarks:

• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply;
• Candidates who have residence in Bangkok, Thailand is preferable.

Financial Proposal

Payment terms for the contract.

Lump Sum

Price Proposal and Schedule of Payment :

Consultant must send a financial proposal based on Lmp Sum Amount. The total amount quoted shall be all-inclusive and include all costs components required to perform the deliverables identified in the TOR, including professional fee, travel costs, living allowance (if any work is to be done outside the IC´s duty station) and any other applicable cost to be incurred by the IC in completing the assignment. The contract price will be fixed output-based price regardless of extension of the herein specified duration. Payments will be done upon completion of the deliverables/outputs and as per below percentages.

At least seven working days of review time required prior to approval of payments.

In general, UNDP shall 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 his/her own resources

In the event of unforeseeable travel not anticipated in this TOR, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and the Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed according to UNDP travel rules and regulations.

Travel costs shall be reimbursed at actual but not exceeding the quotation from UNDP approved travel agent.  The provided living allowance will not be exceeding UNDP DSA rates. Repatriation travel cost from home to duty station in Bangkok and return shall not be covered by UNDP.

Evaluation

Criteria for Selection of the Best Offer

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

 Cumulative analysis

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 (70%). and financial criteria (30%). Financial score shall be computed as a ratio of the proposal being evaluated and the lowest priced proposal received by UNDP for the assignment.

Technical Criteria for Evaluation (Maximum 500 points)

• Criteria 1 Relevance of Education – Max 50 points;
• Criteria 2 Relevance of experience in area of specialization (e.g. content development and management of print and online communications, production management and quality assurance, etc.)– Max 100 points;
• Criteria 3 Availability - Max 100 points;
• Criteria 4 UN system experience – Max 75 points;
• Criteria 5 Language skill (speaking and writing)- Max 100 points;
• Criteria 6 Experience in international levels – Max 75 points.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% of the total technical points would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Shortlisted candidates shall be called for an interview which will be used to confirm and/or adjust the technical scores awarded based on documentation submitted.

Documents to be Included when Submitting the proposals 

Candidates wishing to be considered for this assignment are required to submit the following documents to demonstrate their qualifications. Please group them into one (1) single PDF document/ or one ZIP File as the application only allows to upload maximum one document:

• Personal CV or 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;
• Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability and Financial Proposal that indicates the daily rate/fee of the candidate, in US dollars, using the template provided in Annex III.

Incomplete proposals may not be considered.

ANNEXES

Annex I - TOR_ Communications, Outreach, & Knowledge Management Consultant;

Annex II- General Condition of Contract;

Annex III - Offeror’s Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability for the Individual IC, including Financial Proposal Template.

All documents can be downloaded at : http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=38989