Background

UNDP’s Strategic Plan 2018-2021 sets out the direction to support countries to end extreme poverty, reduce inequality, and achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In response to the Plan and in line with the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, UNDP Thailand supports the Kingdom of Thailand on its path towards inclusive and sustainable green growth and democratic governance.

UNDP Thailand works in partnership with government and non-government entities as well as development partners to address issues of concern in Thailand, including climate change, energy, biodiversity conservation, peace building and social cohesion, anti-corruption, and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Intersex (LGBTI) people as well as sustainable livelihoods. We do so by providing a mix of policy advice, technical assistance, finance and programmes with innovations embedded in our approaches.

In order to move towards this programme direction, communication, advocacy, and knowledge products is key to support UNDP Thailand to develop new and innovative partnership, to advocate for gender mainstreaming, to create opportunities for domestic fund-raising, as well as to showcase development results and lessons-learned to general public, as well as for south-south exchanges.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objective of the Assignment

The objective of the assignment is for a professional writing consultant to be responsible for developing human stories, articles, other related communication materials in the view of supporting the communication and advocacy of UNDP Programme in Thailand.

Scope of Work

The individual contractor will report to UNDP Communications Officer, to complete the following tasks:

• Develop 20 human stories, articles and other related communication materials in view of supporting the communication and advocacy of UNDP work in Thailand, including but not limited to conservation of endangered species, marine and coastal conservation, good governance, story and inputs to knowledge exchange workshops.
• Provide inputs to the UNDP website and social media platforms

Expected Outputs and Deliverables:

Institutional Arrangement:

The consultant will report to the Communications Officer, UNDP Thailand.

Duration of the Assignment:

2 January 2020 – 30 November 2020 with maximum 120 working days over the period

Duty Station:

Home-based with anticipated travel to the project sites within the country.  The travel will be up to 3 days for each trip.

Travels will be authorized by UNDP Communication Officer as and when required.  Per diem and other travel costs advanced by IC holder will be reimbursed as per UNDP/IC rules.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling 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 favouritism.

Technical Competencies:

• Analytic capacity and demonstrated ability to process, analyse and synthesise complex, technical information;
• Proven ability to support the development of high quality knowledge and training materials, and to train technical teams;
• Proven experience in the developing country context and working in different cultural settings.

Communication:

• Communicate effectively in writing to a varied and broad audience in a simple and concise manner.

Professionalism:

• Capable of working in a high pressure environment with sharp and frequent deadlines, managing many tasks simultaneously;
• Excellent analytical and organizational skills.

Teamwork:

• Projects a positive image and is ready to take on a wide range of tasks;
• Focuses on results for the client;
• Welcomes constructive feedback.

Required Skills and Experience

The following minimum qualifications are required:

• This position is a national consultant;
• Minimum Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications or Journalisms or in relevant fields;
• Minimum 5 years of experience in the field of communications and journalism;
• 2 years’ experience in working on communications related to environmental conservation, climate change and sustainable development in Thailand;
• 2 years’ experience in designing communications materials and knowledge products with national or international development agencies;
• Experienced in working with the UN or other international development organisations will be an asset;
• Excellent writing skills (Thai and English);
• Good presentation and facilitation skills.

Price Proposal and Schedule of Payment :

Consultant must send a financial proposal based on Lump Sum Amount. The total amount quoted shall be all-inclusive and include all costs components required to perform the deliverables identified in the TOR, including professional fee, travel costs, living allowance (if any work is to be done outside the IC´s duty station) and any other applicable cost to be incurred by the IC in completing the assignment. The contract price will be fixed output-based price regardless of extension of the herein specified duration. Payments will be done upon completion of the deliverables/outputs and as per below percentages:

In general, UNDP shall not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources

In the event of unforeseeable travel not anticipated in this TOR, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and the Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

Travel costs shall be reimbursed at actual but not exceeding the quotation from UNDP approved travel agent.

Criteria for Selection of the Best Offer:

The Individual Consultant will be evaluated based on the following methodology: Cumulative analysis

The award of the contract shall 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 set of weighted technical criteria (70%). and financial criteria (30%). Financial score shall be computed as a ratio of the proposal being evaluated and the lowest priced proposal received by UNDP for the assignment.

Technical Criteria for Evaluation (Maximum 70 points)

Technical Criteria for Evaluation:

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

Documents to be included when submitting the proposals:

Interested individuals must submit the following documents /information to demonstrate their qualification, experience and suitability to undertake the assignment.  Please group them into one (1) single PDF document as the application only allows to upload maximum one document.

1. Personal CV, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) and at least three (3) professional references;
2. Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability and financial proposal using the template provided by UNDP.  Note: National consultants must quote prices in Thai Baht.
3. 2-3 Samples of written or published articles or communications materials

Incomplete proposals may not be considered. The shortlisted candidates may be contacted, and the successful candidate will be notified.

ANNEXES

Annex I - TOR_ Professional Writing Consultant

Annex II- General Condition of Contract

Annex III - Offerors Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability and Financial Proposal

All documents can be downloaded at :http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=61404