UNDP Jobs - 74103- National Consultant to Prepare Communication Mate

National Consultant to Prepare Communication Materials

Location :

Kampala, UGANDA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

18-Sep-2017

Application Deadline :

31-Aug-17 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

25 Working days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

25 Working Days

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

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) sets an overall framework for intergovernmental efforts to tackle the challenge posed by climate change. It recognizes that the climate system is a shared resource whose stability can be affected by industrial and other emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

Under the UNFCCC, governments gather and share information on national policies and best practices, greenhouse gas emissions; launch national strategies for addressing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to expected impacts, including the provision of financial and technological support to developing countries; cooperate in preparing for adaptation to the impacts of climate change.

Action for climate change education (ACE) of the Convention seeks to promote action at the national and local level to provide the education, training and public awareness needed to understand and deal with climate change impacts.

Moving forward the Government of Uganda ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change UNFCCC and its Kyoto Protocol in 1993 and 2002 respectively.

In response to its commitments under the Convention and decisions of the Conference of the Parties, Uganda has made considerable effort taken big and bold steps towards the implementation of the Convention by:

Signing and Ratifying the Paris Agreement;
Submitted and supports implementation of the Nationally Determined Contributions;
Preparation and submission of its the National Communication, which identify sources of greenhouse gases and corresponding; mitigations, vulnerable sectors and adaptation options and measures to be taken given financial support;
Preparation of National Adaptation Programmes of Action, (NAPA) which identified immediate and urgent adaptation actions at community level to minimize vulnerability of communities;
Embarked on the NAPs development.

Given the high vulnerability of rural communities in Uganda, appropriate communication of adaptation strategies across all sectors is of utmost importance. Food security for instance relies to a large extent on rain fed and subsistence agriculture. This implies that food production and farming systems will have to cope with the changing climate patterns, such as increased droughts, floods, serious changes in precipitation cycles, affecting planting calendars and crop choices. In addition to water scarcity and increased climate variability, natural resources such as soil and plants will need to be more carefully managed taking climate risks into account.

In this regard, therefore public awareness, exchange of information and communication are important components that are crosscutting to the entirety of attempts undertaken by Uganda to implement the UNFCCC, Kyoto Protocol and he Paris Agreement. To that end there is therefore need to assess the level of awareness and design communication materials that respond to those needs identified. Due to the complexity of the climate change dilemma its critical that the climate change messages are communicated successfully considering many different groups including local communities, partners in implementation both state and non-state, opinion leaders/formers, and other key stakeholders.

The purpose of the assignment therefore is to develop a more systematic, effective and harmonized approach towards supporting NDC implementation, through communication and outreach on climate change and dissemination to promote public - private actor’s participation while taking into consideration the needs of the vulnerable groups, mechanisms of communication, heterogeneity of Ugandan population and various levels of education amongst information users.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of work and methodology:

To support the MWE-Climate Change Department (CCD) to develop a time-bound, achievable NDC communication plan between now, 2020 and beyond that will promote NDC implementation and other Sustainable development goals and objectives of the Ministry through clear, concise, and effective communications messages, delivered to specific target audiences, and using optimal communications tools and channels.

To significantly raise the level of awareness of the vulnerable communities and the entire general public of the opportunities and threats brought about by climate change, and to accept their roles and responsibilities to adapt to, and mitigate against its impacts.

The work is clustered into two work packages that include:

Work package 1: Stakeholders Consultation Analysis:

Co-organized inception workshop with various stakeholders at both the national and sub national level;
Engage and interviews various stakeholders at national and sub national levels.

Work package 2: Define the objectives, audiences, messages, tools, mechanisms and activities, resources and timescales for the communications of climate change messages:

Design communication materials i.e. posters, brochures leaflets fliers, policy briefs;
Describe the communication channels;
Design spot messages for radio and-print media to be run on a daily for the messages on NDC implementation.

Producing Audio visual products, including printing, supplies… activities carried out by the national consultant

Tasks of Assignment:

The consultant is expected to support and report to Ministry of Water and Environment (Climate Change Department):

Prepare inception report detailing the understanding/interpretation of the TORs; the methodology for carrying out the assignment; work plan and implementation schedule;
Assess the NDC and other relevant initiatives, with a view to identifying communication gaps and opportunities available to advance implementation;
Hold consultations with relevant stakeholders including government ministries and agencies, the domestic donor and development partner’s community, and civil society;
Design clear concise communication materials for print, broadcast media and general information such as poster depicting climate change impacts, policy brief on financing and projects Uganda has received since 2008;
Present to stakeholders the drafts during the stakeholders’ forum.

Main output:

The assignment is expected to generate a clear concise message using various approaches (posters/illustrations, policy briefs, leaflets and flyers) that responds to a varied group of stakeholders in line with NDC implementation channels to be used for communications

Deliverables:

An inception report detailing methodology, milestones, timeframe/work plan for the assignment;
A report of consultative meetings/workshops held with various stakeholders at both national and sub national level;
Clear, concise, and effective communications messages, delivered to specific target audiences, and using optimal communications tools and channels;
Draft communication materials developed that incorporate relevant feedback/input from stakeholders for review and acceptance by the Ministry Top Policy and UNDP.

Competencies

Excellent analytical skills and strong commitment to sharing expertise and experience in order to develop capacity of others, and work as a member/advisor of a team;
Must be a results-oriented team player with excellent interpersonal skills, including enthusiasm, tact, diplomacy and high integrity; concise and analytical thinking;
Ability to work with minimum supervision;
Strong communication skills; able to communicate effectively with people and able to write concisely and make presentations in a simple non-technical manner;
Excellent analytical, organizational and negotiation skills. Ability to demonstrate tact and diplomacy.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications:

Advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent), preferably in communications, journalism, public relations, International Development, Environment and Natural Resources Management, and any other humanities or other related field.

Experience:

Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in journalism, communications;
Minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience with some strong understanding of climate change and extensive experience in policy development, strong working knowledge of UNDP, government institutions, the civil society sector and working with state public authorities on issues related to climate change;
Experience in working with government counterparts;
Extensive knowledge and skills in the International Climate Change Regime is an asset;
Highly developed communication skills, including ability to draft/edit texts and to articulate ideas in a clear, concise style to a variety of audiences, as well as ability to identify strategic issues;
Ability to identify opportunities and risks, and communicate broad and compelling complex national and global issues in a concise manner;
Experience in gender mainstreaming in climate change and environment related topics;
Advanced skills in communication and facilitation.

Language requirements:

Fluency in written and spoken English.

Price proposal and schedule of payments:

The schedule of payment is detailed below. Payments are released after successful completion of the task and approval of the deliverable by UNDP and MWE:
Submission of an inception report detailing methodology, milestones, timeframe/work plan for the assignment & Co-organized Inception Workshop - 10%;
Co-organize consultative workshop with various stakeholders at both national and sub national level - 10%;
A report of consultative meetings/workshops held with various stakeholders at both national and sub national level - 30%;
A clear, concise, and effective communications messages, delivered to specific target audiences, and using optimal communications tools and channels- 20%;
A draft communication materials developed that incorporate relevant feedback/input from stakeholders for review and acceptance by the Ministry Top Policy and UNDP - 30%.

Evaluation Method and Criteria:

Cumulative analysis:

The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

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:

Technical criteria weight; - 70%;

Financial criteria weight; - 30%.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70 points (70% of the total technical points of 100) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation

Technical Criteria – Maximum 70 points:

Criteria:

Relevant degree – 10;
Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in journalism, communications - 15;
Minimum of five years with relevant experience with somestrong understanding of climate change and extensive experience in policy development, strong working knowledge of UNDP, government institutions, the civil society sector and working with state public authorities on issues related to climate change. - 10;
Experience in working with multi-stakeholders such as governments, NGO, and civil society organizations in both climate change and environment - 15;
Highly developed communication skills, including ability to draft/edit texts and to articulate ideas in a clear, concise style to a variety of audiences, as well as ability to identify strategic issues - 10;
Experience in gender mainstreaming in climate change/environment related topics - 5;
Advanced skills in communication and facilitation – 5.

Work arrangements:

Institutional Arrangement:

The Consultant will work under the overall guidance of Ag. Commissioner Climate Change Department, Ministry of Water and Environment.

Duration of the Work:

The consultancy is to be completed within 25 days.

Duty Station:

Submission of Application:

The candidate is required to submit an electronic application directly uploaded on the UNDP jobs website with all the requirements as listed here below. Annexes and further information may be downloaded on http://procurement-notices.undp.org/. (Reference #40148).

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications in one single PDF document to this website - http://jobs.undp.org (Ref no.74103).

Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP (Annex II);
Personal CV, 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.

Technical proposal:

Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment;
A methodology, on how they will approach and complete the assignment;
Financial proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided (Annex II);
Annexes 1 and II - may be downloaded from the UNDP Procurement Notices Website -http://procurement-notices.undp.org/ - under reference #40148. For further clarifications, please contact; janet.anyango@undp.org; moses.lutwama@undp.org;

Interested applicants should submit applications through uploading of all their required documentation in one single pdf document on this website only.