Background

1. Project Title:

Strengthening Community Resilience to Climate Induced Natural Disasters in the Dili to Ainaro Road Development Corridor (DARDC)

1. Description:

The Dili to Ainaro Road comprises a joint investment by the Government of Timor-Leste and the World Bank aiming to upgrade the road infrastructure linking Dili to the district capitals of Aileu and Ainaro. The Dili-Ainaro Project is financed through Least Development Country Fund (LDCF) and implemented by Ministry of Social Solidarity (MSS) with support from UNDP and the project document was signed by UNDP and the Ministry of Social Solidarity (MSS) in October 2014.

Its goal is to protect critical economic infrastructure for sustained human development from climate induced natural hazards (flooding, landslides, wind damage) through better policies, strengthened local DRM institutions and investments in risk reduction measures within the Dili to Ainaro development corridor.

1. OBJECTIVE:

The Communication Officer will work with the DARDC project team, national counterparts, local administration and project beneficiaries to satisfy the project’s communications requirements.  The consultant will provide technical support for the implementation of the project’s communication strategy and work plan. This will include inputs to the project for achieving its targets in public awareness, promotion and advocacy, training and information dissemination in respect of strengthening community and climate resilience.

1. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES/ SCOPE OF SERVICE:

• Review and edit existing project communication materials.
• Develop and produce project publications.
• Prepare a Final Report summarizing the activities implemented in relation to the communication strategy and work plan, including the resources used, findings, lessons learnt, conclusions and recommendations.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. SPECIFIC TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the overall supervision of the Project Manager and close coordination with the other project staff, the Communication Officer will be responsible for the following tasks:

Inception, Review of the project’s communication strategy and work plan

• The Communication Officer shall review relevant documentation as provided by the project (particularly the project communication strategy and work plan) at the start of the assignment and all previously implemented and planned communication activities by the project.

Media Relations

• Develop, maintain and update media relations contact list/database.

• Collaborate with mass media through activities such as organizing project site visits, facilitating photo coverage and TV footage and utilizing both web-based and traditional media as appropriate.

• Establish, document, review and refine process of communicating with media contacts, including press conferences and events, issuing of media materials and press releases etc.

Networking and Partnership

• Foster partnership with media outlets and create networks of partners to promote DARDC project communication strategies

• Ensure or enhance the quality, consistency and appropriateness of specific project communication materials and messages transmitted to the press and the public and shared with counterparts and partners.

Events, Publications and IEC materials

• Liaison and collaborate with UNDP Media Unit staff and media representatives in promoting project activities, disseminating relevant information and ensure media participation and coverage of project events and publication of news item and information.

• Lead the development of media products and the use of media channels to promote project achievements and goals and prepare regular updates on project activities for internal and external distribution in print and as electronic media.

• Identify, develop, distribute and evaluate variety of media materials in multiple, appropriate formats (press releases, feature stories etc).

• Collect information and develop publication and advocacy materials (factsheets, presentations, briefs, brochures, etc.) for dissemination on climate resilient small scale rural infrastructure addressing the needs of different audiences.

• Work closely with field-based project staff in the development and preparation of training and IEC materials and publications for dissemination at national, municipality and administrative post levels for public awareness and advocacy for climate resilient infrastructures.

• Identify, develop and promote events that enhance the visibility of UNDP's work in respect of activities undertaken by the DARDC project.

• Ensure that gender issues and the needs of disadvantaged groups are taken into consideration and reflected in all materials prepared and published.

• Monitor and evaluate the use and effectiveness of media materials and share results and findings

• Manage and provide accurate and effective translation of publication materials in both English to Tetum.

• Develops promotional activities based on monitoring/evaluation of information, identifying areas requiring higher visibility.

• Project activities and lessons learned are well documented and promoted.

1. EXPECTED OUTPUTS AND DELIVERABLES

1. Communication products developed and produced including quarterly bulletins, press releases, media advisory, success stories, project factsheets, brochures (climate risk preparedness, Fukuoka technique, agroforestry and watershed management), risk maps, CVCA briefs, warning boards, short films and scripts produced, presentations prepared and other innovative communication ideas promoted.

1. Final Report summarizing the activities implemented in relation to the communication strategy and work plan, findings, lessons learnt, conclusions and recommendations.

1. LANGUAGE OF THE SPECIFIC CONTRACT AND DELIVERABLES

The language of this specific contract shall be English. All reports are to be submitted in English unless otherwise stated. Publication materials are to be in the language to be specified and agreed based on the target audience.

1. SUBCONTRACTING

Subcontracting under this contract is not allowed.

Competencies

COMPETENCIES

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP
• Excellent communication skills
• Displays strong cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
• Quickly builds rapport with individuals and groups.

Functional Competencies:

• Ability to draft/edit texts and to articulate ideas in a clear, concise style to a variety of audiences
• Excellent interpersonal and negotiating skills and sensitivity to the local environment.
• Self-management, self-motivated, emotional intelligence and conflict management;
• Extensive information exchange contacts with national and international agencies involved in local and international studies of climate-induced natural disasters, in general, and reduction, in particular
• Sound policy understanding of global development concerns, climate change and disaster risk reduction, and disaster risk/watershed management
• Analytical and strategic thinking/results oriented

1. CONSULTANCY IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS

The Consultant will be supervised by as well as report to the Project Manager and work in close coordination with the project team of the DARDC Project for his/her inputs and field requirements including: office space in the DARDC project office, transportation to the municipalities outside of Dili, and related logistic needs for implementation of project activities only. Field visit and travel will be within the Municipalities to the project sites as needed.

1. DURATION OF ASSIGNMENT:

The assignment will be start between May 2018 to June 2018 (20 working days based on prior agreement and approval by the Project Manager) distributed over 2 calendar months.

1. FINANCIAL PROPOSAL

• The financial proposal must be expressed in the form of an “all-inclusive” lump-sum amount, supported by breakdown of costs as per template provided. The term “all inclusive” implies all cost (professional fees, travel costs, living allowances etc.) Under the lump sum approach, the contract price is fixed, regardless of changes in cost components.

• For duty travels, all living allowances required to perform the demands of the ToR must be incorporated in the financial proposal.

Schedule of Payments

The payment will be made based on satisfactory completion of the deliverables. The selected IC must submit supporting documents as per deliverables which serve as the basis for the payment of fees and duly approved by the Project Manager. The total amount of the contract sum will be made in monthly installments based on the number of days worked per month as per the IC time sheet duly certified by the Contractor’s supervisor.

1. RECOMMENDED PRESENTATION OF OFFER ( you can approach Procurement Unit at procurement.staff.tp@undp.org for the templates in case if you don't have them )

• Letter of application with duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Statement of Availability for the entire duration of the assignment;
• Personal CV and P11 Form, indicating all past relevant experience, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of professional references;
• Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided by UNDP.

1. EVALUATION

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis:

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:

1. Responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
2. Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

* Technical Criteria weighting: 70%

* Financial criteria weighting: 30%

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points in the technical evaluation criteria would be considered for the Financial Evaluation

The deadline for submitting applications is 02 May 2018

Only successful candidate will be notified.

Required Skills and Experience

1. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Education and Experience:

• Advance university degree (masters or equivalent) in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, International Relations or related fields OR Undergraduate university degree with a relevant combination of professional training, certification and experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

• One (1) year progressively responsible experience in the field of journalism, communications, public or international relations, including experience collaborating with government agencies and/or international organisations.

• Experience in the development and publication of a wide range of materials for information as well as promotion, public awareness and advocacy.

• Excellent computer skills with intermediate to advanced Microsoft Office skills, particularly Microsoft Publisher. Experience in the area of web management is desirable.

• Proven ability to work with a wide range of media, including experience in working with social media tools, such as Facebook and Twitter.

• Knowledge and understanding of development issues and relevant work experience in particular familiarity with technical concepts related to the environment and climate change issues is preferred.

• Demonstrated ability to translate IEC materials/documents accurately and efficiently.

Previous experience as a consultant with a government agency or development partner with specific experience in writing at least one communication strategies with a monitoring and evaluation framework.

• Language Proficiency – fluency in English and Tetum. Knowledge of other local dialects will be an asset.

• Availability and willingness to travel in the municipalities.