Background
UNDP-Global Environmental Finance Unit is based in UNDP’s Bureau of Policy and Programme Support and is responsible for providing leadership and technical support to, among other areas, delivery of the Environment and Sustainable Development pillar of UNDP’s Strategic Plan. Its main focus is on helping countries develop the capacity to fully incorporate environmental sustainability and resilience into development at national and local, but also global and regional levels. The principal areas of work are in environmental mainstreaming, environmental finance, adaptation to climate change, and local governance of resources, including energy.
The UNDP-GEF Unit helps developing countries to access, combine, and sequence resources from a wide range of funds, financial instruments, and mechanisms. . To achieve this, it works closely with UNDP country offices to help countries develop and implement programmes and projects which advance their capacity to put in place the right mix of regulatory and financial incentives, remove institutional and policy barriers, and create enabling environments that attract and drive private sector investment into sustainable development.
Within the UNDP-GEF unit, the work focuses on resilient livelihoods, food and agricultural systems, water management, climate information, resilient ecosystems and ecosystem-based adaptation, making the use and supply of energy more environmentally sustainable, affordable and accessible, to promote low emission and climate resilient urban and transport infrastructure, and to improve water and ocean governance and management and to sustain livelihoods at the local, national, regional and global scales.
In the context of the above, UNDP-GEF is looking to recruit the services of two consultants who will provide coordinated support with systematically documenting the evolution and results of select projects/programmes through improved communications, knowledge management, and external outreach. The consultants will also support with the organization of workshops and ensuring the sustainability of relevant UNDP-supported knowledge platforms.
The two consultants will assist UNDP-GEF to improve its communications and advocacy work on results achieved through a selection of projects in the different UNDP-GEF portfolios. The assignment is geared to broaden and deepen awareness of UNDP-supported programmes in these areas of work, engage with key audiences (donors, client countries, media as well as internal UNDP stakeholders), create brand recognition and lift the related media profile of UNDP-supported adaptation and biodiversity projects. The consultants will aim to introduce intervention instruments, highlight individual projects to different audiences, and mobilize partners, stakeholders, and the general public to advocate on results achieved through the portfolios.
Duties and Responsibilities
Scope of Work:
The consultants will work under the guidance and supervision of the corresponding Principal Technical Advisor.The scope of work will vary depending on the specific assignment, but would include one or various of the below tasks:
- Identify and engage with communications officers, stakeholders and product coordinators in key target countries to increase the visibility of the impact of the portfolio;
- Support the global communications strategy for the Portfolio in line with the visibility guidelines of UNDP and programme donors, and in coordination with the global network of communications focal points and specialists;
- Support the creation, packaging, and distribution of key messages and communications products;
- Edit relevant Portfolio publications and issue briefs;
- Support the creation and promotion of the Portfolio press kits;
- Support the content creation and architecture, and update of the Portfolio webpage;
- Update the Climate Innovations Network (CIN) forum to expand reach and impact;
- Support external communications as needed with development of press releases, factsheets, talking points, web updates, videos, virtual events and social media;
- Provide communications support at meetings, including managing virtual conferences/web streams, external communications, taking photos, reviewing communications material (website, press release, PowerPoint sharing) related to events;
- Coordinate communications for the global portfolio;
- Build and provide inputs for 2019-2022 communications strategies;
- Create one exposure story per month;
- Serve as Communications focal point for Regional Technical Advisors;
- Maintaining webpages for projects in specific portfolios;
- Manage social media portfolio;
- Support promotion for communications products;
- Build wireframe and taxonomy for web page in coordination with website administrator;
- Coordinate, produce and promote newsletter;
- Manage communications related to the UN Volunteer programme;
- Act as focal communications point for internal communications;
- Ensure project pipeline, project closings, MTRs receive adequate communications support, and are posted to the web;
- Draft and publish regular blogs and news content as per request from the PTAs;
Specific Outputs:
An indicative list of outputs includes:
- Key messages and communications products created, packaged and distributed;
- Produce edited relevant portfolio publications and issue briefs;
- Monthly update the Climate Innovations Network (CIN) forum to expand reach and impact;
- Revision of graphic design and review for project factsheets;
- Develop and provide inputs for 2019-2022 communications strategy;
- Monthly Exposure stories;
- Maintain webpages for identified projects in the portfolios;
- Manage social media portfolio;
- Build wireframe and taxonomy for web page in coordination with website administrator;
- Draft and publish regular blogs and news content as per request from the PTAs;
- Assist with process for Project pipeline, project closings, MTRs and post them on web.
Information on Working Arrangements:
- The overall objective of these Framework Agreements is to facilitate and expedite the process by which UNDP-GEF can hire the services of Communication Consultants for the global UNDP-GEF portfolios for communications support once there are specific assignments over the next 3 years;
- Estimated level of effort including travel: approximately 150 working days over 12 months for each consultant. Maximum working days over the 3-year period would be 450 days per consultant;
- UNDP does not guarantee that any quantity of services will be purchased during the term of the Framework Agreement as this will depend on forthcoming needs, good performance, and availability of resources;
- IC as a Framework Agreement is non-exclusive (i.e. it does not prohibit UNDP from entering into another such framework agreement with other individuals or entities);
- The Framework Agreements will be for a fixed all-inclusive daily fee;
- Once the Framework Agreements are signed, if there is a specific assignment, the focal person at UNDP would contact the Consultant by email informing of the specific deliverables required, and timeline for delivery;
- The consultant must advise within 48 hours whether s/he is available to deliver the requested service;
- Thereafter a Purchase Order will be raised. Financial commitments will only be established each time the services are requested within the scope of the Framework Agreement through the transmitted email and purchase order;
- Given the consultations to be undertaken during this assignment, the consultant is expected to be reasonably flexible with his/her availability for such consultations taking into consideration different time zones;
- 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 own working station (i.e. laptop, internet, phone, scanner/printer, etc.) and must have access to a reliable internet connection;
- The consultant will engage regularly with the supervisor by email and Skype on a weekly and/or as needed daily basis;
- The consultant shall submit to the Supervisor a monthly progress report on the status of the implementation of tasks;
- Payments will be made upon submission of a detailed time sheet (including deliverables and their timely execution) and certification of payment form, and acceptance and confirmation by the supervisor on days worked (with “a day” calculated as 8 hours of work) and outputs delivered.
Travel:
- International travel may be required. An estimated 3-5 missions during the first year (destinations to be identified) with expected total travel duration of approximately 4-6 days per mission. Expected mission travel would be discussed upon commencement of specific assignments;
- Any necessary mission travel must be approved in advance and writing by the PTAs for Adaptation and EBD;
- The BSAFE course must be successfully completed prior to commencement of travel;
- Consultants are responsible for obtaining any visas needed in connection with travel with the necessary support from UNDP;
- Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director;
- Consultants are required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under https://dss.un.org/dssweb/;
- The consultant will be responsible for making his/her own mission travel arrangements in line with UNDP travel policies;
- All related travel expenses will be reimbursed as per UNDP rules and regulations upon submission of an F-10 claim form and supporting documents. Costs for mission travel (including air tickets, living allowances) should not be included in the financial proposal.
Competencies
Corporate:
- Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s vision, mission and values;
- 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 favoritism;
- Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.
Technical:
- Ability to provide guidance on communications strategies;
- Knowledge of methodologies, tools, systems and apply practical experience in planning, monitoring, evaluating and reporting;
- Ability to efficiently handle and share information and knowledge;
- Ability to plan, organize, motivate, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
Functional:
Project/Programme Management
- Ability to productively share UNDP knowledge and activities (at UN and other venues).
Client Orientation, Professionalism, and Communications
- Ability to make new and useful ideas work;
- Ability to persuade others to follow;
- Ability to improve performance and satisfaction;
- Ability to listen, adapt, persuade, and transform;
- Capable of working in a high-pressure environment with sharp deadlines, managing many tasks simultaneously;
- Exercise the highest level of responsibility and be able to handle confidential and politically sensitive issues in a responsible and mature manner.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communications or other closely related field. Master’s degree preferred. (Max. 15 points);
Experience:
- At least 7 years of professional experience in communications in the development sector, preferably working with donor-funded projects and project teams (Max. 30 points);
- Demonstrated experience creating communication products, editing, developmental editing, proofreading and copyediting from past assignments that showcase experience in producing large projects. Please provide 2 links/samples of related communications products (Max. 25 points);
- Experience with international development and climate change adaptation/ecosystems and biodiversity is desirable (Max. 15 points);
- Experience working with UNDP and familiarity with UNDP editorial guidelines and templates, is an asset (Max. 10 points).
Language:
- Written and oral proficiency in English for all candidates (Pass/Fail).
Evaluation method:
- Only those applications which are responsive and compliant will be evaluated;
- Offers will be evaluated according to the Combined Scoring method – where the technical criteria will be weighted at 70% and the financial offer will be weighted at 30%;
- The technical criteria (education, experience, language [max. 95 points] and interview [max.30 points]) will be based on a maximum 125 points;
- Only the top 6 candidates scoring 66.5 points or higher from the review of the education, experience and languages will be considered for the interview;
- Candidates obtaining 21 points or higher in the interview will be deemed technically qualified and considered for financial evaluation;
- Financial score (100pts) shall be computed as a ratio of the proposal being evaluated and the lowest priced proposal of those technically qualified;
- The financial proposal shall specify an all-inclusive daily fee. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal must additionally include a breakdown of this daily fee (including all foreseeable expenses to carry out the assignment);
- The top two applicants receiving the highest combined score and who have accepted UNDP’s General Terms and Conditions will be awarded the contract.
Documentation to be submitted:
- Applicants must submit a CV and/or P-11 including Education/Qualification, Professional Certification, Employment Records /Experience;
- Two links/samples of related communications products demonstrating experience creating communication products, editing, developmental editing, proofreading and copyediting from past assignments that showcase experience in producing large projects;
- Applicants must reply to the mandatory questions asked by the system when submitting the application;
- Applicants must submit a duly completed and signed Annex II Offeror´s letter to UNDP confirming interest and availability for the Individual Contractor (IC) assignment to be downloaded from the UNDP procurement site.
Kindly note you can upload only ONE document to this application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
UNDP Personal History form (P-11):
http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/corporate/Careers/P11_Personal_history_form.doc.
General Conditions of Contract for the ICs
Annex II Offeror´s letter to UNDP confirming interest and availability for the Individual Contractor (IC) assignment
http://procurement-notices-admin.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=56510