UNCDF Jobs - 84906- Communications consultant

Communications consultant

Advertised on behalf of

UNCDF

Location :

New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

01-May-19 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

6 months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

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 UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) makes public and private finance work for the poor in the world’s 47 least developed countries.

With its capital mandate and instruments, UNCDF offers “last mile” finance models that unlock public and private resources, especially at the domestic level, to reduce poverty and support local economic development. UNCDF’s financing models work through two channels: financial inclusion that expands the opportunities for individuals, households, and small businesses to participate in the local economy, providing them with the tools they need to climb out of poverty and manage their financial lives; and by showing how localized investments—through fiscal decentralization, innovative municipal finance, and structured project finance—can drive public and private funding that underpins local economic expansion and sustainable development.

By strengthening how finance works for poor people at the household, small enterprise, and local infrastructure levels, UNCDF contributes to SDG 1 on eradicating poverty and SDG 17 on the means of implementation. By identifying those market segments where innovative financing models can have transformational impact in helping to reach the last mile and address exclusion and inequalities of access, UNCDF contributes to a number of different SDGs.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of work

The UNCDF Partnerships, Policy and Communications Unit is seeking a Junior Communications Consultant for 6 months starting May 2019 in UNCDF Headquarters in New York (USA).

Under guidance and supervision of the Communications Specialist, and working closely with the Knowledge Management and Communications Analyst, the Junior Communications Consultant will support the implementation of the UNCDF Communications work-plan for 2019, including various related tasks to (i) Communications and Branding and (ii) Knowledge Management and other strategic communications priorities through advocacy, coordination and knowledge sharing.

The Consultant will work with the Partnerships, Policy and Communications (PPC) Unit of UNCDF. The PPC Unit is responsible for implementing the UNCDF Partnerships, Policy Communications Strategy and plans and its components, including (list not exhaustive):

Strategic Partnerships and External Relations with donors, development partners, the UN System, the media and the public, increasing awareness and support for UNCDF’s work in the two practice areas: Local Development Finance and Inclusive Finance;
Resource Mobilization: primary responsibility to raise core resources while supporting programme units and regional and country's offices in mobilizing non-core (earmarked, thematic or other) resources. PPC provides the tools and services that enhance UNCDF's institution-wide capacity to identify and capitalize on resource mobilization opportunities, including donor intelligence, quality assurance support to funding requests and donor reporting, and advice and support on contribution agreements with donor development partners.
Communications and Branding, including improving internal and external communications through web-based tools (website, intranet, social media), events, publications, new media initiatives, etc.

Under guidance and supervision of the Communications Specialist, the consultant is expected to undertake the following:

Writing & Editing

Support the draft and review of the Last Mile Finance Trust Fund report.
Draft and edit a range of materials, including blog posts, web content, inputs and presentations developed for the new initiative with Bamboo Capital Partners by UNCDF at global and country levels.
Collect stories and updates from countries and synthesize them into the short stories to be featured in the social media channels.
Support with the development of new articles in collaboration with partners and UNCDF team members, with an aim to publish in global media.
Support in the drafting of presentation materials, including decks, tailored for external stakeholder audiences.

Deliverables: 1. LMF TF report finalized. 2. A minimum of 35 articles published in UNCDF properties. 3. Three presentations or decks finalized.

Communication Design

Support the development and design of a range of marketing collaterals, including brochures, infographics and presentations developed for the new initiative with Bamboo Capital Partners by UNCDF at a global and country levels.
Oversee the production and dissemination of marketing collaterals and other multimedia products.

Deliverables: 1. Five marketing collaterals developed for Bamboo/UNCDF initiative finalized.

Communication Design

Support the development and design of a range of marketing collaterals, including brochures, infographics and presentations developed for the new initiative with Bamboo Capital Partners by UNCDF at a global and country levels.
Oversee the production and dissemination of marketing collaterals and other multimedia products.

Deliverables: 1. Five marketing collaterals developed for Bamboo/UNCDF initiative finalized.

Newsletter

Collect stories from the country offices and other resources within and outside UNCDF, format and adjust them as inputs to the newsletter.
Initiate the monthly newsletter review process by other team members, make necessary adjustments as per obtained feedback and release it in a timely manner.

Deliverables: 1. Four newsletters produced and sent through Mailchimp.

Social Media

Support in the expansion of UNCDF social media presence in country offices.
Support with the implementation of social media plan.
Support with the development of innovative assets, such as infographics and other visuals;
Keep abreast of social media trends and identify new opportunities to increase the visibility of UNCDF’s work on online platforms; Propose appropriate action/responses;
Monitor UNCDF’s communications activities on social media platforms to spot developments, trends and attitudes regarding philanthropy and fundraising opportunities.

Deliverables: 1. Monitor UNCDF YouTube channel to achieve an increase in audience, views and other metrics of 10%. 2. Develop a YouTube engagement strategy. 3. Prepare guidelines for YouTube posting.

Payment Terms

Monitoring/ Reporting requirements

Work-progress reporting/monitoring meetings will be held with Consultant on a weekly basis to check on progress towards deliverables. All activities of Consultant shall be discussed and agreed upon with the supervisor. The UNCDF Communications Specialist will be the final authority to control the quality and evaluate the work. Payments will be made monthly based on number of days worked and deliverables achieved.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UNCDF;
Ability to work as part of a team in a constantly evolving work environment.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills;
Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Highest standards of integrity, discretion and loyalty.

Functional Competencies:

Ability to manage workload with minimum supervision and collaborate with a wide range of colleagues and partners across organizations, while meeting deadlines;
Excellent interpersonal skills: being able to listen and collaborate with a wide range of players, being able to work independently, being pro-active and taking initiatives but also able to identify threats in social media use.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism, Development Studies, International Relations or a related field is required. Master's degree in the above areas is preferred.

Experience:

Minimum 1 year of experience in PR and communications, including social media and other digital media management (Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Google+ and blogs) is required;
Familiarity with the 2030 Agenda and private sector / philanthropy engagement for development is desirable;
Practical experience in developing innovative and effective social media campaigns, including using data for storytelling and, publishing stories and editing content is desirable;
Previous experience with communication work for the UN and private sector / philanthropy is considered an asset.

Language:

Fluency in English, including excellent writing and editing skills, is required.

Evaluation of Applicants
Individual contract applicants will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ qualifications and financial proposal.
Technical Criteria - 70% of total evaluation – max. 70 points:

Criteria A - University degree in relevant field as indicated in the Qualifications section - max. 20 points;
Criteria B - Number of years of working experience in relevant field including in the private sector as indicated in the Qualifications section- max. 25 points;
Criteria C - Proven experience (based on the best example provided) in producing deliverables similar to the one in this announcement – max 15 points;
Criteria D - Written and spoken fluency in English – max 10 points

The award of the contract will be made to the applicant whose offer will have 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%