UNDP Jobs - 86224- Communications and Private Sector Research

Communications and Private Sector Research

Location :

New York

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

19-Aug-2019

Application Deadline :

19-Jul-19 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

12 months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

12 months

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

Working in over 170 countries and territories, and with a key role in governance and SDG integration, UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) is responsible for developing relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan. BPPS works closely with UNDP’s Crisis Bureau (CB) as part of UNDP’s Global Policy Network (GPN), which provides technical advice to Country Offices; advocates for UNDP corporate messages; represents UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora including public-private dialogues, government and civil society dialogues, South-South and Triangular cooperation initiatives, and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas. BPPS assists UNDP and partners to achieve higher quality development results through an integrated approach that links results-based management and performance monitoring with more effective and new ways of working. BPPS supports UNDP and partners to be more innovative, knowledge and data driven including in its programme support efforts.

UNDP is uniquely placed to work with all sectors of society to help mobilize the institutions and resources required to achieve a 1.5-degree future. Specifically, UNDP is already providing technical support to its country partners to deliver on, and contribute to, sustainable development and resilience-building in the context of the 2030 Agenda, the Paris Agreement and the Sendai Framework for Action. This is done through a vision outlined in UNDP’s Strategic Plan (2018-2022) that responds to a changing development landscape and the evolving needs of our partners.

UNDP’s support on climate change builds on an extensive portfolio of mitigation and adaptation projects and programmes for which UNDP provides oversight, quality assurance, and global and regional policy and technical advisory services. A subset of this portfolio focuses on strengthening enabling actions for NDC implementation, with a focus on the policy, institutional, reporting and financing mechanisms.

In addition to this extensive portfolio of support to countries, UNDP is also engaged at the global level as part of the UN System effort to advance ambitious climate action and NDC implementation. In 2019, the focus of the Secretary General will be on the Climate Action Summit which he is hosting in New York in September. The aim of this Summit is to mobilize political commitment to raise ambition and accelerate implementation of climate action in order to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement. UNDP has been explicitly requested to co-lead in the area of Resilience and Adaptation, as well as support deliverables on national ambition and enhancements of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). UNDP is also contributing to several other workstreams leading up to the Summit, including on nature-based solutions and energy

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work, Responsibilities and Description of the Proposed Consultancy:

UNDP is seeking a consultant with expertise in private sector engagement and knowledge development in climate change issues, National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), to support UNDP develop reports and knowledge products.

1. Technical support on private engagement

The consultant will support the NDC Support Programme deliver the global financial component. Using her/his private sector experience, s/he will suppor the production of a series of reports on private sector engagement for 6 programme countries - Tunisia, Philippines, Ivory Coast, Paraguay, Kenya and Ghana.

Expected deliverables:

Private sector landscapes for 6 countries that will provide an understanding of the private sector engagement in climate change related initiatives
An analysis of the private actors in at least 3 key sectors namely energy, agriculture, industry, agriculture and forestry, among others
Analysis of identified private actor’s business opportunities and their societal and economic benefits to identify entry points for climate investment
A report on regulatory due diligence on direct cross-border investing to help potential private sector understand the benefits, liabilities, risks and opportunities for their investments
At least 6 Fact sheets, 5 webinar content, and a blog series to highlight success stories and lessons learned of private sector engagement

Estimated time to complete the above deliverables: 100 days

Indicative timeline: August 2019 to July 2020

2. Knowledge package for key climate change events

S/he will develop knowledge products that can be showcased during the build up to critical events, such as the High-Level Political Forum, Secretary General’s Summit and the UNFCCC COP25.

Expected deliverables:

At series (at least 25 products) of blogs, stories, and social media content for the Climate Summit in New York highlighting the key findings and messages from the Summit
Knowledge products for the Latin America Climate and Caribbean Week in Brazil and the Asia-Pacific Climate Week in Thailand to share lessons learned and progress on the implementation of the Nationally Determined Contributions
Country profiles, blogs, stories and social media messages for the COP22 (at least 20 products)
On-site communications support at COP25 in Chile (Dec 2019)

Estimated time to complete the above deliverables: 88 days

Indicative Timeline: Series and knowledge products: August to October 2019. COP related information and material: October to December 2019

3. In-depth country profiles/ stories on climate change adaptation and the link to NDC implementation

Support the UNDP Climate Change Adaptation team and the wider Natural Capital and Environment team produce in-depth stories on UNDP’s work on adaptation. The consultant will be experienced in navigating programme documents, mining relevant information and have a proven ability to summarise and present technical information in a format that appeals to readers and tells a story.

Expected deliverables:

At least 15 stories ot communication pieces inclusive of blogs, interviews and country profiles for National Adaptation Planning and NDC processes for developing countries supported by UNDP
Knowledge products on climate change adaptation
Craft a narrative of UNDP’s support into an engaging, evidence-based story

Estimated time to complete the above deliverables: 62 days

Indicative timeline: November 2019 to July 2020

Competencies

Functional competencies

Writing and editing

Ability to draft climate change content for multiple audiences (general public, policy-makers, practitioners)
Proven ability to efficiently mine technical information on climate change and summarize for less-technical audiences
Excellent at editing public and policy-orientated content at efficient rate
Proficient in editing technical content and shaping into compelling and engaging narratives

On-site communications support

Experience on-site participation at international climate change conferences
Demonstrated experience in organizing and staffing media interviews
Demonstrated experience in ‘live-Tweeting’ from technical climate change events
Ability to capture key insights and quotes from technical discussions on climate change
Demonstrated experience in conducting video interviews for social media

Strategy and advocacy experience

Ability to deliver on components of communications strategies around events and publication launches
Strong understanding of UN brand and public image
Ability to produce content that echo’s key messages, corporate policy and approaches

Due diligence and analysis / private sector

Demonstrated understanding of financial instruments used to blend public and private finance
Proven understanding of financial systems and private sector companies that invest in developing countries
Demonstrated understanding of economic policies and enabling conditions needed to attract investments
Proven ability to undertake a research project from beginning to end
Experience in all aspects of report production from desk research to finalizing a report, to outreach and dissemination

Required Skills and Experience

Academic qualifications:

At least an Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in environmental management, sustainable development, international relations, economics, business administration, social sciences or related disciplines, required?

Experience

At least two years’ professional experience in private sector in either: banking; consultancy; energy; finance; impact investment; private equity; or research, required
Demonstrated work experience in communications in the area of climate change, at the UN level or other development organizations, required
Experience developing knowledge products and content on climate change related issues, specifically on Paris Agreement, NDCs, NAPs, and other UNFCCC processes, required
Experience providing on-site communications support at key climate change conferences, desired
Demonstrated ability to work on a research project from conception to formatting findings into a report, as well as other information products, desired

Language:

Fluency in English, both written and oral.

The application package containing the following (to be uploaded as one file):

DOCUMENT 1: Online application with brief description of why the Offeror considers her/himself the most suitable for the assignment; and
DOCUMENT 2: Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects and specifying the relevant assignment period (from/to), as well as the email and telephone contacts of at least three (3) professional references.
DOCUMENT 3: Provide detailed answer to the following questions:
1. Can you outline in bullet points what components you think should be included in UNDP’s communications strategy for the UN Secretary General’s Climate Summit?
2. Briefly explain what role you UNDP can play in supporting governments increase their private sector engagement, with respect to NDCs.
3. Briefly explain how you would construct a Tweet that will be shared widely and direct traffic to UNDP content

Note: The above documents need to be scanned in one file and uploaded to the online application as one document. If the application package does not contain documents 1, 2 and 3 the application will be directly disqualified.

Shortlisted candidates (ONLY) will be requested to submit a Financial Proposal.

The financial proposal should specify an all-inclusive daily fee (based on a 7-hour working day - lunch time is not included - and estimated 20 days per month).
The financial proposal must be all-inclusive and take into account various expenses that will be incurred during the contract, including: the daily professional fee; cost of travel from the home base to the duty station and vice versa, where required; living allowances at the duty station; communications, utilities and consumables; life, health and any other insurance; risks and inconveniences related to work under hardship and hazardous conditions (e.g., personal security needs, etc.), when applicable; and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services under the contract.
Any unforeseeable travel agreed between UNDP and Individual Consultant, will be supported by the project travel fund and will be arranged according to UNDP entitlements and travel policy. Costs for airfares, terminal expenses, and living allowances should not be included in financial proposal.
Shortlisted candidates (ONLY) will be requested to submit a Financial Proposal.
The financial proposal should specify an all-inclusive daily fee (based on a 7-hour working day - lunch time is not included - and estimated 20 days per month).
The financial proposal must be all-inclusive and take into account various expenses that will be incurred during the contract, including: the daily professional fee; cost of travel from the home base to the duty station and vice versa, where required; living allowances at the duty station; communications, utilities and consumables; life, health and any other insurance; risks and inconveniences related to work under hardship and hazardous conditions (e.g., personal security needs, etc.), when applicable; and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services under the contract.
Any unforeseeable travel agreed between UNDP and Individual Consultant, will be supported by the project travel fund and will be arranged according to UNDP entitlements and travel policy. Costs for airfares, terminal expenses, and living allowances should not be included in financial proposal.

The Financial Proposal is to be emailed as per the instruction in the separate email that will be sent to shortlisted candidates.

Evaluation process

Applicants are reviewed based on Required Skills and Experience stated above and based on the technical evaluation criteria outlined below. Applicants will be evaluated based on cumulative scoring. When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

Being 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 where technical criteria weighs 70% and Financial criteria/ Proposal weighs 30%.

Technical Evaluation (700 points) - desk review of the technical application or CV (560 points) and interview (140 points) - Total 70% (700 points):

A desk review of candidates’ applications will be undertaken and rated against the following criteria. A maximum of 550 points will be allocated to the desk review portion of the Technical Evaluation based on the following weighting:

Criteria 1: Demonstrated experience delivering on components of climate change communications and advocacy strategies for publications and key climate change events in areas related to the Paris Agreement, NDCs, NAPs and other UNFCCC processes. (One year of relevant experience = 40 points, two years of experience= 80 points, 3 years of experience= 120 points, more than 3 years of experience=175 points) Weight = 25%; Maximum Points: 175
Criteria 2: Experience working in finance and investment (One year of relevant experience = 35 points, two years of relevant experience=70 points, 3 years of relevant experience= 100 points, more than 3 years of relevant experience=140) Weight = 20%; Maximum Points: 140
Criteria 3: Advanced writing and editing skills and ability to translate complex technical work on climate change into content suitable for all audiences. Weight = 25%; Maximum Points: 175
Criteria 4: Demonstrated ability to conduct research and producing findings. From designing concept, to formatting findings into reports and other information products. Weight = 10%; Maximum Points: 70

Of the candidates who receive a minimum of 70% of points for the above desk review (392 points), the top 3 candidates will be invited for an interview. The interview will contribute to the total technical evaluation score and be awarded up to 140 maximum points, with 98 points indicating a passing mark.

Criteria 5: Interview Weight 20%; Maximum Points: 140

Only those candidates who qualified for an interview, received a passing mark on the interview (98 points), and obtained a minimum of 70% (490 points) of the maximum obtainable points for the technical criteria (700 points) shall be considered for the financial evaluation.

Financial evaluation - Total 30% (300 points)

The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposal:

p = y (µ/z), where

p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated

y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal

µ = price of the lowest priced proposal

z = price of the proposal being evaluated

Contract Award

The candidate obtaining the highest combined scores of Technical and Financial evaluation will be considered technically qualified and will be offered to enter into a contract with UNDP.

Institutional arrangements

The consultant will be HQ Based
The consultant will be supervised by and report directly to the NDC Support Programme Manager;
Payments will be made upon submission of a detailed time sheet and certification of payment form, and acceptance and confirmation by the Supervisor on days worked and outputs delivered;
The consultant will be given access to relevant information necessary for execution of the tasks under this assignment;
The consultant will be responsible for providing her/his laptop;
Any necessary missions must be approved in advance and in writing by the NDC Support Programme Manager;
Consultants are required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under https://dss.un.org/dssweb/;
The selected candidate is responsible for ensuring that s/he has the necessary vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director;
The selected candidate is responsible for obtaining any visas needed in connection with travel with the necessary support from UNDP;
All related travel expenses will be supported by the project travel fund and will be arranged according to UNDP entitlements and travel policy.

Payment modality

Payment to the Individual Contractor will be made based on the actual number of days worked and deliverables accepted, and upon certification of satisfactory completion by the manager.
The workweek will be based on 35 hours, i.e. on a 7-hour working day, with core hours being between 9h00 and 18h00 daily.