UNDP Jobs - 96059- Report Writer: UNDP Client Support Services (CSS)

Report Writer: UNDP Client Support Services (CSS) Project Service provision to the UN RC System

Location :

Home-based

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

07-Jan-21 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

As soon as possible

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

4 or 5 weeks

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 Client Support Services (CSS) team within the Bureau for Management Services (BMS), in UNDP provides support to the delivery of services to the United Nations Resident Coordinator System in areas of human resources, finance and general operation in 130 RC offices and 3 Regional Offices. The Client Support Services team will engage a service provider to write the project’s two years report. The report is expected to highlight achievements and successes throughout the years (2019-2020) as part of the service delivery to the UN RC System. The final report will serve as example and blueprint of UNDP’s global service offer to the UN RC System, capturing best practices and lessons learned.

Duties and Responsibilities

The CSS team is seeking to engage a service provider to write a Report on the service provision to the UN RC System, including but not limited to conducting research, review source documents, develop creative concepts, develop story and narrative, layout design, draft and finalize the report. Details about the report writing and scope of work are provided in the following paragraphs.

Scope of work:

Research and review: research and review source documents, other sources, review UNDP brand guidelines, color palettes and other assets to develop the concept;
Design, layout and draft report: develop initial design concept, finalize creative concept (story, narrative themes), source high quality compelling graphics/photography, manage photo credits, develop and finalize report outline;
Revisions: deliver sample pages for approval; manage review process and incorporate feedback and revisions, incorporate feedback from CSS team, revise and facilitate round of design-related revisions, manage all copyediting and proofreading, ensuring conformity to the UN Style Guide;
Finalize and deliver all design files for electronic distribution as well as future print needs.

Expected Outputs and Timelines:

The service provider (report writer) will deliver 10 to 20 pages of CSS Project Report, covering the service provision in 2019 and 2020 per the following outputs:

Draft concept: based on the scope of work and related activities, present draft layout and outline of the report be delivered. Timeline: within 1-2 weeks of signing of the contract
Draft report: fine-tuned draft report, with related design and graphics. Timeline: within 1-2 weeks of receiving CSS input into the draft concept.
Final report: delivery of final report, including editable design template file. Timeline: within 1 week of receiving CSS input into the draft report

As a reference, relevant MoU and Project Document can be found in this link: https://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=74111. The service provider (report writer) can review the documents to get a general understanding and background around the Client Support Services Project and context into the scope of services and expected outcomes.

Coordination Arrangements and Duty Station:

The Coordination Analyst in CSS team will handle day-to-day coordination with the service provider, review deliverables, secure feedback from the team, secure and certify acceptance of each output, and secure authorization for disbursement of payment.

The service provider (report writer) is expected to perform the activities at their own premises, with regular coordination and periodic reporting to CSS UNDP as required.

The Consultant will be responsible for providing her/his own laptop and communication facilities (internet, telephone, etc.).

Duration of Work:

The report is expected to be finalized by last week of December or first week of January and below is tentative timeline for each deliverable:

FIRST DELIVERABLE [Draft Concept]: within 1-2 weeks of signing of the contract
SECOND DELIVERABLE [Draft Report]: within 1-2 weeks of receiving CSS input into the concept
THIRD DELIVERABLE: [Final Report]: within 1 week of receiving CSS input into the draft report

Competencies

Corporate:

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.

Functional:

Ability to develop content knowledge and employ effective research methods (review documents, interview, observation, survey);
Ability to create and write documents concisely and clearly incorporating creative visuals, graphs, flowcharts etc.
Incorporate appropriate and effective report design to communicate information to target audience.

Technical:

Excellent organizational skills;
Experience in producing corporate products;
Understanding of UN, including UNDP, development issues and UN reform;
Knowledge of UN terms, language and style;
Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced University Degree in Communications, Public Relations, Business Communication or Creative Writing, Social Media and Marketing or similar fields.

Experience:

Track record in developing, design and writing of reports, minimum 7 years;
Familirity with UN Style guide and experience in writing similar reports with the UN System. Please submit a sample of previous work, related to this assignment;
Minimum 5 years of demonstrated experience in media, communication or public relations preferably within in the nonprofit sector.

Language:

Fluency in written and spoken English is required

Payment:

The service provider is required to submit a financial proposal for the services mentioned. Full payment is to be made at CSS acceptance of full and final report.

Application Procedure:

The application package should contain the following documents (to be uploaded as one file):

A cover letter with a brief description of why the Offer considers her/himself the most suitable for the assignment;
One sample/link to the sample of previous work related to this assignment;
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;

Note: The above documents need to be scanned in one file and uploaded to the online application as one document.

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

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around the specific and measurable deliverables of the TOR. Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR, and deliverables accepted and certified by the technical manager.
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.
This consultancy is a home-based assignment, therefore, there is no envisaged travel cost to join duty station/repatriation travel.
In the case of unforeseeable travel requested by UNDP, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between UNDP and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed. In general, UNDP should 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.
If the Offeror is employed by an organization/company/institution, and he/she expects his/her employer to charge a management fee in the process of releasing him/her to UNDP under a Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), the Offeror must indicate at this point, and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP.

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 - Total 70% (70 points):

Criteria 1: Familiarity with UN Style guide and experience in writing similar reports with the UN System. Maximum Points: 20;
Criteria 2: Review and recommendation based on the sample of previous work. Maximum Points: 10. Story gathering, writing and editing skills. Maximum 10 points;
Criteria 3: Demonstrated experience in developing, report writing and design (min. 7 years) of similar scope and thematic area (business operations marketing, promotions of business and service models, other relevant business administration. Maximum 10 points;
Criteria 4: Minimum 5 years of demonstrated experience in media, communication or public relations preferably within in the nonprofit sector. Maximum 20 points.

Candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% (49 points) of the maximum obtainable points for the technical criteria (70 points) shall be considered for the financial evaluation.

Financial evaluation - Total 30% (30 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:

Candidate obtaining the highest combined scores in the combined score of Technical and Financial evaluation will be considered technically qualified and will be offered to enter into contract with UNDP.