The Black Sea Basin environment is of paramount importance both in terms of regional development and of quality of life for its inhabitants. The Black Sea ecosystem is known to be rich and diverse but is also considered to be vulnerable as it experiences notably significant pressure from land-based pollution. The seriousness of environmental issues has been recognised by the countries of the region and they have responded with national and regional strategies and actions to tackle these issues. The Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea against Pollution (Bucharest Convention) addresses these problems through enhanced cooperation among its signatories. Further coordination in policies and legislation is a common interest to all the Black Sea countries. This is particularly true for the riparian Member States of the European Union: being Contracting Parties to the Bucharest Convention and members of the Black Sea Commission (BSC), they also value such coordination as a factor that influences their own ability to comply with the EU legislation, notably the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) and the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD).

The present project is built on the results and conclusions of previous two project phases (EMBLAS and EMBLAS-II) in the Black Sea and will ensure complementarities and synergy with activities under relevant actions in the region. The overall objective of the project is to help improve protection of the Black Sea environment. This objective will be pursued through further technical assistance focused on marine data collection and local small-scale actions targeted at public awareness raising and education. The key involved actors are research / scientific and educational institutions and civil society organizations community.

The specific objectives are: i) Improve availability and sharing of marine environmental data from the national and joint regional monitoring programmes aligned with the MSFD and WFD principles and the Black Sea Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Programme (BSIMAP); ii) Support joint actions to reduce river and marine litter in the Black Sea basin; iii) Raise awareness on the key environmental issues and increase public involvement in the protection of the Black Sea.

Several activities will be implemented in the following components of EMBLAS-Plus project: 1. Implementation of National and joint regional monitoring programmes; 2. Joint monitoring and reduction of marine litter; 3: Conducting Environmental public awareness and educational campaigns; 4. Management and coordination of the project.

The project will be implemented in the context of the ENI Regional East Strategy Paper (2014-2020) ; Regional East Multiannual Indicative Programme (2017-2020)  and the Joint Operational Programme for the Black Sea Basin 2014-2020 . The project is part of the ENI East Regional Action Programme 2017, Part 2: Support to the Implementation of the Eastern Partnership Multilateral Dimension and the Implementation of the Northern Dimension and the Black Sea Synergy. The Black Sea Synergy offers a forum for tackling common problems while enabling political and economic reform. An important goal is to bring added value to the citizens of the region while ensuring environmental sustainability.

The project will have to be closely coordinated with on-going initiatives, particularly under the EU's Cross-Border Cooperation Programme. The cooperation agenda established with the EU's Joint Research Centre and the European Environment Agency will be pursued as part of implementation. 

Location:
Home based, with travels in the Black Sea region for the project events.
The beneficiary countries to be covered are the members of the Black Sea Synergy , with a primary focus on the Black Sea coast countries Georgia, the Russian Federation  and Ukraine.

There are several envisaged missions with duration of 3 days, particularly related to the monitoring cruises, awareness raising campaigns and coordination meetings (Odessa – 2 missions, Kiev- 1 mission, Batumi – 2 missions, Tbilisi – 1 mission, Istanbul – 3 missions). The project will be implemented in Georgia, Russia and Ukraine.

The Expert for Public Relations (PR Expert) will support the project implementation in the activities related to public communication and promotion of project results, with particular attention to the PR activities related to the monitoring cruises, awareness raising campaigns, public events, grant programs and dissemination and promotion of the project results. 

He/she will work in close coordination with the Project Management Advisor and under direct supervision of the UNDP Regional Technical Advisor for International Waters, who will have the overall supervision role on the project from the UNDP side.  
The PR Expert will closely cooperate with the other international, national experts and partner organizations working on the project, as well as with the UNDP Water Program Analyst and Project Assistant. The PR expert will be closely cooperating with the Communication teams of the UNDP IRH and Country offices, as well as EU Delegations of Ukraine and Georgia.

In detail, the PR expert will have the following tasks in the project

• Follow-up and keep updated the Project Communication and Visibility Plan;
• Facilitate design and production of the project publications, audio-visual productions, presentations and visibility items related to the monitoring surveys, campaigns for the marine litter pollution prevention, dissemination of the project results;
• Keep updated the project website www.emblasproject.org and facebook “Fans of the Black Sea”;
• Organize press-events in cooperation with UNDP COs and EU Delegations, including preparation of the media communication materials (media invites and press-releases);
• Organize public events (e.g. Black Sea Clean Beach days) and education campaigns on marine litter pollution prevention;
• Upon request from UNDP, present the project at various events.

The consultant will prepare several deliverables in cooperation with the project experts, within the following time frame and payment schedule:

February 2019 (25% of payment)

• Contribute to the Inception Report (chapter: Visibility Activities and chapter on the Project Activity 3: Conducting Environmental public awareness and educational campaigns related to the planned marine litter prevention);
• Update of the project communication plan (for 2019), including a concept for the visibility/promotional items related to the Black Sea Surveys (tentatively planned in summer 2019) and the Black Sea Clean Beach day and educational campaigns on marine litter;

June 2019 (25 % of payment)

• Propose content and facilitate preparation of project publications based on inputs of the project team ( “Further discovery of the Black Sea, linked to JBSS 2017” and Publication on MSFD on Initial assessment of the BS marine waters.) ;
• Facilitate preparation of other products as specified in the updated communication plan – promotional items for the Surveys 2019 and for education campaigns on marine litter reduction (including holographic presentation on marine litter impact in the marine environment);
• Prepare press-events in Georgia and Ukraine on the Results from the Surveys 2017 and forthcoming survey 2019 (including the media invitations and agenda).

October 2019 (25% of payment)

• Organize the Black Sea Clean Beach Day 2019 and education campaign on the marine litter prevention;
• Further development and update of the mobile phone application “Black Sea Savebook Game”;
• Update of the project communication plan (for 2020);
• Contribution to the annual progress report (section on the visibility activities).

August 2020 (25% of payment)

• Prepare press-events on the results from the Surveys 2019 in Georgia and Ukraine;
• Contribution to the final progress report (section on the visibility activities)

The assignment will require travel in the region, as specified above (section: Location). Any additional travels requested by UNDP will be covered separately as per UNDP rules and regulations. The consultant is expected to work closely with UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub, with the staff, responsible for the project implementation. 

Functional competencies:

• Excellent communication and management skills and demonstrable capacity to work with a multi-national team and to work with government institutions;
• Demonstrated ability to develop strategies and communication plans;
• Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
• Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations;
• Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities.

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling 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 favoritism;
• Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Academic Qualifications/Education: 

• Minimum Master Degree in one of the fields: economics, international relations, social sciences, public relations. 

Experience: 

• At least 3 years of experience in working on communication activities for the environmental projects (preferably in the Black Sea region), in particular related to one of the following fields: integrated water resources management, EU water legislation (Water Framework Directive or Marine Strategy Framework Directive),
• Particular experience in preparation of Communication Plans / Strategies, reporting & visibility in line with the requirements for EU funded projects, including communication with the project partners and stakeholders;
• Experience with organization of public events, meetings, presentations, press-conferences, etc.

Language skills

• Excellent writing, editing and oral communication skills in English (a writing sample to be provided with the application); 
• Working knowledge of Russian is an asset. 

Evaluation of Applicants:

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ qualifications and financial proposal.

The award of the contract should 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 a pre-determined set of weighted technical (P11/CV desk reviews, samples evaluation and interviews) and financial criteria specific to the solicitation. 

Only candidates who will get at least 70% of points in desk review and samples evaluation (Criteria A-E) will be invited for interviews. Only candidates who will receive will get at least 70% of points in technical evaluation (Criteria A-F) will be considered for financial evaluation.

Technical Criteria - 70% of total evaluation – max. 70 points:

• Criteria A – (desk review) academic qualification / education – max points: 10;
• Criteria B – (desk review) experience in working for the communications activities for environmental projects (preferably in the Black Sea region), in particular related to one of the following fields: integrated water resources management, EU water legislation (WFD or MSFD) – max points: 15;
• Criteria C – (desk review) experience in preparation of Communication Plans / Strategies, reporting & visibility in line with the requirements for EU funded projects, including communication with the project partners and stakeholders – max points: 15;
• Criteria D – (desk review) experience with organization of public events, meetings, presentations, press-conferences, etc. – max points: 15
• Criteria E – (written samples evaluation) language and writing skills – max points: 5
• Criteria F – (interview) communication skills – max points: 10.

Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation – max. 30 points.

Application procedure:

Qualified candidates are requested to apply online via this website. The application should contain:

• Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for this assignment.  Please paste the letter into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application. 
• Filled P11 form or CV including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees (blank form can be downloaded from http://www.eurasia.undp.org/content/dam/rbec/docs/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc) 
• Sample(s) of publication(s) or document(s) (e.g. a press release or communication plan) in relevant areas produced by the candidate, as author or co-author
• Offeror’s Letter (blank template can be downloaded from https://bit.ly/2KO1okS).
• Financial Proposal* - specifying: a) total lump sum amount in USD for the tasks specified in this ToR and b) travel costs (including i) airticket and ii) living allowances for 3 days in each location) for the missions to: 
  - Georgia – 2 missions to Batumi, 1 mission to Tbilisi, 
  - Ukraine – 2 missions to Odessa, 1 mission to Kiev, 
  - Turkey – 3 missions to Istanbul

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials.

*Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant/contractor during the contract period (e.g. fee, health insurance, vaccination, personal security needs and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services...). All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal.  Any other unforeseen travel costs will be covered separately as per UNDP rules and regulations.

Payments will be made only upon confirmation of UNDP on delivering on the contract obligations in a satisfactory manner. 

Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director. Consultants are also required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under dss.un.org

General Terms and conditions as well as other related documents can be found under: http://on.undp.org/t7fJsQualified women and members of minorities are encouraged to apply. Due to large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.