Background

Project Title:

Business and Human Rights, Governance and Peace Building

Background:

The UNDP Asia-Pacific Business and Human Rights Unit is currently engaged in promoting the implementation of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGP). The UNGP clarifies the duty of states and the responsibility of businesses to uphold international norms and treaties on human rights. These Guiding Principles rest on three pillars: 1) the State’s duty to protect human rights; 2) the corporate responsibility to respect human rights and; 3) the joint-responsibility of both the State and Business sectors to provide access to remedy for victims of business-related abuses.

Momentum supporting the implementation of the UNGP through National Action Plans (NAPs) is developing quickly in the region. Nurturing this, an already well-developed community of industry advocates, human rights activists, and development practitioners are deepening their work on a wide variety of thematic area or industry-specific B&HR activities. While leading national and multi-national corporations are embedding human rights due diligence approaches into their operational policies and corporate communication profiles.

Project Description

UNDP is implementing the regional project, “Business and Human Rights in Asia: Promoting Responsible Business Practices through Regional Partnerships”, to which this consultancy is attached. The objectives of this project are to promote the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles in Asia through regional efforts focused on advocacy, policy development, technical advisory support, capacity building, awareness raising, innovation platforms, regional peer learning events, and South-South cooperation. The project will be implemented by the UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub in collaboration with UNDP Country Offices in the region and in partnership with regional initiatives, NHRIs, CSOs, other UN agencies, and the UN Working Group.

The B+HR Unit is seeking the support of a consultant to lead communications work within the project. The consultant will develop video and printed media content, craft project factsheets and infographic material and coordinate dissemination of such products. He/she will also support the drafting of knowledge management products and be in charge of developing and implementing communication strategies for project events.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work

Under the overall guidance of the Business and Human Rights Advisor, the Communications Consultant will be responsible for the following:

• Develop B+HR awareness-raising products (e.g. project briefs, and project-related videos) and support coordination of project branding;
• Develop and implement social media visibility plans for project events
• Develop and manage content for the B+HR project web-page with UNDP HQ;
• Increase visibility of the project by drafting press releases, op-eds, stories and other relevant communications materials;
• Research & create compelling content for social media messaging, collaterals to increase B+HR’s visibility
• Implement branding related digital initiatives to increase brand engagement and promote events;
• Support national and regional project activities (Workshops, Trainings, field visits, etc.)  through communications channels such as, but not limited to, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube;
• Content creation; video production and/or digital media on Business and Human Rights;
• Coordinate video production, including but not limited to script writing, liaising with vendor producers and UN Experts;
• Coordinate B+HR’s community of practice (CoP) routinely by liaising with partners in digital channels.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables:

The consultant will use his/her own equipment and software.

Intellectual Property

All information and production of communication pieces to the assignments as well as outputs produced under this contract shall remain the property of the UNDP who shall have exclusive rights over their use. The products shall not be disclosed to the public nor used in whatever format without written permission of UNDP in line with the national and International Copyright Laws applicable.

Institutional Arrangement:

The Consultant will work under the overall guidance of the Team Leader of Business and Human Rights in Asia (B+HR), Governance and Peacebuilding Team, UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub.

The consultant’s presence is not required at UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub premises. This assignment is on a part-time basis.  Consultant will work closely under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the Team Leader of Business and Human Rights in Asia (B+HR), Governance and Peacebuilding Team, UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub.

Duration

Up to a maximum of 150 working days (with possibility for an extension). The period of the assignment is estimated to be from 30 September 2020 – 31 July 2021.

Duty Station

The duty station will be home-based. This assignment is on a part-time basis.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism.

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

Required Skills and Experience

The Communications Consultant should possess the following expertise and qualifications:

Education

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Communications, Journalism, Multimedia, Literature, International Relations, or other related subjects in the arts and/or humanities;

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

• At least 3 years of experience working in communications, with demonstrable experience leading digital communications for projects;
• Previous relevant experience with UNDP or the broader UN system would be an asset.
• Demonstrable understanding or experience of creating communication content for a range of stakeholders;
• Experience in social media management and/or online news, including data analysis, and adapting strategies accordingly;
• Strong writing, editing, proofreading, layout and design skills in English;
• Experience writing persuasive messages for a range of audiences, including press releases, articles, blogs, newsletters, and social media packages;
• Experience managing web (using Adobe CQ5 or WordPress) and social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn
• At least 2 years of experience leading multimedia content creation, including shooting and editing video, and excellent command of graphic design tools. Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (including Premier Pro, Photoshop, InDesign or other advanced creative software) would be an asset;

Language

• Proficiency in communication skills in English.

Scope of Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments

The contract will be paid based on Daily Fee. Candidates shall quote an all-inclusive Daily Fee for the contract period. The term “all-inclusive” implies that all costs (professional fees, communications, consumables, etc.) that could be incurred by the IC in completing the assignment are already factored into the daily fee submitted in the proposal. If applicable, travel or daily allowance cost (if any work is to be done outside the IC’s duty station) should be identified separately. Payments shall be done on a monthly basis based on actual days worked, upon verification of completion of deliverables and approval by the IC’s supervisor of a Time Sheet indicating the days worked in the period.

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.  The provided living allowance will not be exceeding UNDP DSA rates.

Evaluation Method and Criteria

Only candidates which are responsive and compliant will be evaluated, Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology;

Combined Scoring method:

The award of the contract shall be made to the candidate 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%).

• The technical criteria consist of qualification review (education, experience, language) [max. 75 points] and interview [max.25 points] will be based on a maximum 100 points. Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 52.5 points (70% of the total qualification review points) would be considered for the interview.
• Financial score shall be computed as a ratio of the proposal being evaluated as the lowest priced qualified proposal received by UNDP for the assignment.

Technical Criteria for Evaluation (Maximum 100 points)

• Criteria 1: Education - Max 15 points;
• Criteria 2: Proven experience and skills in generating communications, communication strategies, media and Social media operations and advocacy material via various media- Max 25 points;
• Criteria 3: Experience with media software, applications and communication tools- Max 20 points;
• Criteria 4: Experience of working with UNDP and other UN agencies- Max 15 points;
• Criteria 5: Interview – Max 25 points.

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

For those passing technical and interview evaluation above, offers will be evaluated per the Combined Scoring method:

            a)  Technical and Interview (70%)

            b)  Financial evaluation (30%)

• The financial proposal shall specify an all-inclusive daily fee (including number of anticipated working days and all foreseeable expenses to carry out the assignment);

The applicant receiving the Highest Combined Score and has accepted UNDP’s General Terms and Conditions will be awarded the contract.

Required documentation

Interested candidates must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications. Please group them into one (1) single PDF document.

a)  Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability and Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided.  (Annex III);

b)  Curriculum Vitae;

c)  Brief description of why the applicant considers him/herself the most suitable candidate;

d)  Communications portfolio in English developed in the last 2 years by the applicant. Suggested samples to be included: a) Videos; b) Graphic designs; c) Written pieces focused on content for social media.

Incomplete proposals may not be considered. Only shortlisted candidates will be considered for the interview.

Annexes:

Annex I - TOR - Communications Consultant
Annex II - General_Terms_and_Conditions_for_Contracts_Individual_Consultants
Annex III - Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability and financial proposal
Annex_IV_P11 Form_for_ICs_optional
Annex V - IC Procurement Notice

***All documents can be downloaded at: https://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=69706

For any clarification regarding this assignment please write to procurement.th@undp.org under subject: JobAds 93744 - Consultant on Communications for Business and Human Rights.