Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Zimbabwe, serves as the Principal Recipient (PR) of the 3-year Global Fund HIV Grant (2018-2020) and provides Fund Administrator support services to the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), the PR for TB and Malaria grants. As part of its PR role, UNDP implements capacity development (CD) activities to strengthen the systems for health and national institutions. Such capacity development responses are designed based on the needs and priorities of national implementing partners, national stakeholders and aligned to national strategies.

The National AIDS Council (NAC) is one of the Sub-Recipients (SR) for the Global Fund supported HIV Grant specifically managing AGYW and KP programs. In this regard, NAC collaborates with UNDP on capacity development initiatives, to effectively respond to changing landscape of the HIV epidemic. With more than 20 years in existence, NAC’s main mandate is to coordinate the multi-sectorial response to HIV/AIDS. Specifically, and among other responsibilities, NAC performs the following functions; -

• Ensure the development of strategies and policies to respond to HIV/AIDS
• Mobilisation of resources in support of the National response to HIV/AIDS
• Enhance the capacity of the various sectors of the community to respond to the HIV/AIDS epidemic and to coordinate their response.

As one of the Sub-Recipients (SRs) to the HIV Global Fund grant (2018-2020), NAC is working with various stakeholders in promoting access to HIV services by selected Key Populations (KP) groups in the country. In addition, NAC is also coordinating the Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) grant on prevention programmes for adolescents and youths in and out of school across 30 Districts in Zimbabwe. The programmes include Sista2Sista, Modified DREAMS, SASA!, One Stop Centres and Male Engagement.

There are still palpable gaps in reaching out to Key Populations (KPs) and AGYW especially for the former because of the stigma and discrimination associated with this group. There is therefore need to change how the general population perceive Key Populations in the country and strategise on the development and dissemination of various multi-media products so that they can reach the population groups of interest and the general public. In order to address these gaps the programme will thus seek to facilitate the Development of multi-media programmes that are designed to support Key Populations (KPs), Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW).

This communication strategy is envisaged to contribute to changes in the general perception of the population of Key population issues and AGYW issues and foster their access to health and HIV services and contribute to the attainment of the 90-90-90 strategy.

Purpose of Consultancy, Scope of Work and Timelines:

The purpose of this consultancy is to develop and execute innovative multimedia programmes designed to support Key Populations (KPs) and Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Zimbabwe. The consultant is expected to closely work with partners implementing these programmes so as to better understand their current gaps and come up with multi-media products that will address the communications needs of KPs and AGYW as well as bridge the information gaps of the general public regarding these two groups. The multi media products will encompass messaging for Men who have Sex with Men (MSM), Transgender (TG), Sex Workers (SW) both male and female, as well as for Adolescent Girls and Young women. It is envisaged that the consultant will work with CSOs and other stakeholders already involved in the implementation of this grant as well as the Key populations and AGYW themselves in developing the various concepts and messaging of the multi-media products/programmes to ensure that the messaging talks to the real gaps and told through the lenses of the affected key population groups. This consultancy is planned for 10 days over a period of no more than two calendar months. It is important to note partners in this grant have entered an acceleration mode as the grant enters its final year of implementation in 2020, hence the need to deliver the guidelines within the stipulated timelines.

Overall objective

The overall objective of the assignment is to develop multi-media programmes for Key Populations and AGYW to address communication gaps and strengthen the general population’s understanding of the needs of these groups. The development of the multi-media products will entail full participation of the interested Key population groups and AGYW so as to foster ownership and ensuring that the real needs of these groups are properly communicated to the targeted audiences.

The specific objectives of this consultancy are:

•         To scan the current multi-media communication landscape in the country and document gaps that need to be addressed in fulfilment of a comprehensive and effective multi-media communication strategy on the issues affecting KPs and AGYM.
•       To generate a comprehensive concept note and approaches on the proposed multi-media programme/strategy
•     To develop concrete messaging themes with the full involvement of the KPs and AGYW and these will require the endorsement of these stakeholders before the development processes could be initiated.
•      To facilitate the development and costing of the multi-media communication strategy in readiness for resource mobilisation by the programme implementers.
•        To convene a meeting with all stakeholders and give feedback on the costed multi-media communication strategy and canvass for its endorsement and eventual implementation.

Proposed Methodology:

The consultant is expected to review available information and undertake stakeholder consultations on the various communication needs of the KPs groups and AGYW. Face to face meetings with representatives of the Key population groups and AGYW as well as meetings with focal persons of CBOs could be arranged as part of scanning the communication landscape and documentation of gaps. The consultant will also engage stakeholders on the development of a concept note for the multi-media communication strategy and facilitate its endorsement before implementation. A formal presentation of the costed multi-media strategy with all stakeholders will also form the basis of this methodology. Records of such meetings or engagements with stakeholders should be kept and presented as part of the consultant’s deliverables for this work.

Duties and Responsibilities

Specific Tasks:

The Consultant will:

•         Conduct desk review on the communication gaps with regards to key messaging on issues that are relevant to Key Populations and AGYW programming.
•       Undertake stakeholder consultations through face to face interactions with KPs and AGYW representatives and focal persons of CSOs and as appropriate conduct reference group discussion.
•     Convene a meeting to discuss the draft multi-media concept note and take further input from stakeholders
•      Facilitate a stakeholder-wide meeting to present a costed multi-media strategy and canvass for its endorsement and eventual implementation.
•        Proper packaging of the costed multi-media communication strategy and its delivery to UNDP and NAC.

Expected Outputs / Deliverables:

•         Inception meeting report including a detailed work plan and timelines
•       Reports on stakeholder engagements and draft concept note on the costed multi-media communication strategy.
•     Report on the costed multi-media communication strategy finalisation meeting
•      A costed multi-media communication strategy finalised and duly signed off by NAC with formal endorsement from the stakeholders’ meeting.

Schedule of Deliverables and Payments:

Deliverable                                                     No. of Days                        Payment

Inception report and a detailed work plan                       2                                               20%    

Desk review and consultations                                       2                                              0%

Presentation of draft concept note                                1                                                0%

Submission of final costed multi-media plan                 3                                              0%

Submission of final report                                             2                                              40%

Total Number of Days                                                10

Reporting and Institutional Arrangements:

UNDP hires and manages the contract to ensure that the assignment is delivered in line with UN values, whilst NAC, through the M&E Director’s office shall provide overall supervision in line with the core objective of the assignment. The consultant will report to the UNDP Capacity Development Officer, and will work closely with NAC and MOHCC focal persons, as well as the AGYW and KPs implementing partners.

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:

• Strong analytical, research and communication skills, including ability to produce high quality, practical and user-friendly guidelines.
• Professional and/or academic experience in one or more of the areas of international development, public health or related field.

Project and Resource Management:

• Ability to produce high quality outputs in a timely manner while understanding and anticipating the evolving client needs.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently, produce high quality outputs.

Communications and Advocacy:

• Strong ability to write clearly and convincingly, adapting style and content to different audiences and speak clearly and convincingly.
• Strong analytical, research and writing skills with demonstrated ability to think strategically.
• Strong inter-personal, negotiation and liaison skills.
• Strong training and facilitation skills

Partnership building and team work:

• Excellent negotiating and networking skills.
• Demonstrated flexibility to excel in a multi-cultural environment.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master's degree in media relations, journalism, publishing, public affairs or closely related fields.

Experience:

• 8 years of work experience in the field of media relations, journalism or/and communication;
• Proven experience in data analysis
• Experience working at UNDP and/or in the field of development
• Proven experience as an editor is an added advantage.
• Relevant experience in  KPs and AGYW
• Solid experience in developing operational research guidelines
• Strong communication and facilitation skills
• Experience of Global Fund, UN and / or UNDP policies and procedures highly desirable;
• Strong experience of programme partnership and collaboration with national institutions is highly desirable.

Language:

• Fluency in English and a local language is a prerequisite

Evaluation:
Candidates will be evaluated using a combined scoring method with the qualifications and methodology weighted at 70% and the price offer weighted at 30%. Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49% (out of 70%) points on the technical qualifications part will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Criteria for evaluation of qualifications and methodology (70 points maximum):

• Relevance of education to the consultancy (10 points)
• At least 8 years professional experience (10 points)
• Relevant experience in developing similar guidelines in high-pressure environments (15 points)
• Solid experience in Key Populations and AGYW programming and research (20 points)
• Experience of GF, UN and / or UNDP policies and procedures highly desirable (15 points)

Criteria for financial evaluation (30 points maximum):

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

Payment Method:

Payment: All-inclusive Daily Fee

Payments will be based on the Certificate of Payments that will be submitted at each milestone;

Final payment upon performance evaluation from the direct supervisor.

Security: 

Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to
certain parts of the country, as designated by the UN Medical Director. Consultants are also required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under https://trip.dss.un.org All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. In general, UNDP does 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 case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel.

Application Submission Process:

Step 1: Interested individual consultants must include the following documents when submitting the applications in UNDP job shop (Please note that only 1 (one) file can be uploaded therefore please include all docs in one file):

• Personal History Form (P11), indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references (the template can be downloaded from this link:

http://sas.undp.org/Documents/P11_Personal_history_form.doc

• Technical Proposal indicating prosed approach to the assignment

Step 2: Submission of Financial Proposal

• Applicants are instructed to upload their financial proposals using the Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability indicating an all-inclusive daily rate in USD using the financial proposal template available here: http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_file.cfm?doc_ 
• The Candidate must provide a link to a website that they have been actively involved in the development and management of together with a description of their role. The term ‘all-inclusive” implies that all costs (monthly professional fees, travel related expenses if applicable, communications, utilities, consumables, insurance, etc.) that could possibly be incurred by the Contractor are already factored into the financial proposal

ANNEX 2 - INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS is provided here:
http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/documents/procurement/documents/IC%20-%20General%20Conditions.pdf