Background
United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) is the UN’s capital investment agency for the world’s 47 least developed countries (LDCs). With its capital mandate and instruments, UNCDF offers “last mile” finance models that unlock public and private resources, especially at the domestic level, to reduce poverty and support local economic development.
Local Finance Initiative (LFI) is one among several programmes being implemented by United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) in Tanzania and other countries with the aim of unlocking domestic capital markets to invest in local development. LFI supports commercially viable economic infrastructure projects with transformational impact in local communities. These projects are either sponsored/owned by private investor(s) or/and Local Government Authorities (LGAs) such as district and town councils, municipals, and cities.
To capture the achievements and lessons learned from programme implementation, UNCDF is seeking professional services to produce a ‘coffee table’ book which includes writing content, human interest stories, relevant photographs of high quality, video technology and professional designing of the book. The assignment includes production of 40 human interest stories for UNCDF highlighting the achievements and lessons learned from the implementation of programmes. The content for the coffee-table book and human-interest stories will be collected from 20 projects in Tanzania.
UNCDF is seeking a consultant to develop the coffee table book and human-interest stories. The consultancy will be based on the scope of work outlined below.
Duties and Responsibilities
The main objective of developing the coffee table book and human-interest stories is to capture outcomes and impact of UNCDF work and the lives of the people and communities in Tanzania.
Scope of the Work
Working under the direct supervision of the Chief Technical Advisor, the consultant will work closely with UNCDF staff during all stages of production of the coffee table book - from formulation of concept to development and finalization of stories, collection of relevant photographs, professional designing along with infographics, reviewing the draft and finalizing the product. It is expected that the selected consultant shall use own equipment and expertise as required to deliver the services stated in this TOR in a timely and effective manner.
The consultant will perform the following services:
- In close consultation with UNCDF staff, identify contents to be captured in the coffee table book and human-interest stories.
- Develop contents including case stories (approx. 300 to 500 words each), along with high quality photographs
- Develop infographics to creatively present facts and figures.
- Develop 5 high quality projects videos that can also be presented in augmented reality (AR)
- Produce at least 50 high resolution at least 300dpi photographs with relevant captions.
- Produce five human interest stories (500 to 700 words) for UNCDF websites along with relevant photographs.
- Design and layout of a coffee-table book about 105 pages, as per UNCDF Branding Guidelines.
- The coffee book should include augmented reality videos- (AR) of specific projects
A detailed brief will be provided by UNCDF on the requirements, guidelines and policies for human-interest stories and photographs as well as credits and copyright issues.
Deliverables/Outputs
1. An inception report in which among other things, should include a list of identified contents to be captured in the coffee table book & human-interest stories and a detailed work plan with clear tasks and completion date
2. 50 best photographs edited and optimized in high resolution (minimum 300 dpi at 8*10 inches) in JPEG or PNG format to be used by UNCDF. Photographs must comply with UNCDF’s standard technical requirements. Credits for photos and human -interest stories, together with copyrights for the photos will remain with UNCDF
3. Five high quality videos to be presented in augmented reality (AR ) form
4. Five human interest stories for UNCDF websites highlighting the achievement of SDGs, as per the UNCDF web guidelines, along with high resolution photographs and relevant caption for each photograph.
5. One well edited, high quality, ready to disseminate 105-page coffee table book with 40 human interest stories with augmented reality videos- (AR) as per the initial brief by UNCDF
Payment Terms
This contract will be based on the payment terms described below:
Payments will be made to the consultant based on deliverables/output as per the payment terms described below, and after submission of certificates of payment to UNCDF. All outputs shall be subject to written final acceptance by the Chief Technical Advisor of UNCDF and subsequent authorization to disburse the payment.
1. Inception Report - This is deliverable 1, to submitted within10 days of signing the contract (20%)
2. Five human interest stories, and 50 high resolution photographs with relevant captions along with 5 projects videos (for deliverables 2&3), within 30 days after commencement of the assignment. (40%)
3. One coffee table book, deliverable within 60 days from commencement of contract, approximately by August 2021. (40%)
Travel
The Consultant will be required to travel to several regions of Tanzania. The travel costs associated with the assignment shall be quoted in the financial proposal.
Competencies
Functional and technical competencies include:
- Project management and writing skills
- Communication, consultation and presentation skills (including ability to manage social development dialogue processes)
- Team management skills
Required Skills and Experience
Education (Mandatory):
- Bachelor’s Degree in communications, journalism, public relations, digital marketing, any relevant education background, or any other degree combined with extensive experience in development, public affairs, strategic communications, digital marketing etc.
Experience:
- Consultant with more than 5 years’ experience in documenting high impact case studies and video documentaries.
- Proven capacity to conduct field work in video production, high quality photography using professional digital equipment in documenting and recording.
- Proven capacity in video filming and editing.
- Proven capacity in applied qualitative research techniques, particularly interviews, focus group discussions and observational assessments.
- Strong capacity in field work including field visit logistics and coordination with relevant stakeholders.
- Specific experience, enabling the Consultant to perform the above mentioned including the designing and producing high quality coffee table books
- Experienced and sensitive photographer, and editor with ability to produce quality images to attract attention, stimulate interest and encourage understanding
- Professional experience in developing advocacy / communication materials
- Demonstrable experience and satisfactory completion of similar and or related work
- Proven ability to work with tight deadlines
- Prior experience in working with international organizations and development finance institutions and reporting SDGs achievement.
Language:
- Written and oral communication skills in English and Kiswahili is required.
Application Procedure
Interested applicants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications. Proposers who shall not submit below mentioned documents will not be considered for further evaluation. (Note: the system does not allow multiple uploads of documents. Applicants must make sure to upload all documents in one PDF file)
- Technical proposal indicating prior experience and how this assignment will be executed.
- Recent CV with references.
- A detailed financial proposal indicating the proposed daily rate and other expenditures including travels in USD
- A sample profile of not more than 2 stories (including photographs), one coffee table book, and 1 video that best demonstrates the applicant’s writing and photography/videography skills. Links to videos should be marked clearly under the sample portfolio section of the application.
- Confirmation of interest and Financial proposal using the templates available at http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_file.cfm?doc_id=29916
Evaluation and Selection Process:
Offers received will be evaluated using a Combined Scoring method, where technical will be weighted 70%, and a financial offer will be weighted at 30%.
Step I: Longlisting
Applications will be screened and only applicants meeting the following minimum criteria will be shortlisted:
- A University Diploma in any relevant field (please see Education above).
- A minimum five years of experience in content development and designing of communication materials such as reports and brochures (mandatory);and
- Proven track record of developing and designing coffee table books and/or human-interest stories for international organizations (mandatory).
Step II Part A. Technical Review of CVs by Desk Review - 60% out of technical evaluation
UNCDF will conduct a desk review to produce a shortlist of candidates by evaluating the following criteria with the corresponding points (100 points):
1. Work plan for the assignment (activities , approach and methodology and timelines): 2 points
2. Experience in content development and designing of communication materials such as reports, and brochures based on CV: 20 points
3. Experience in developing and designing coffee table books and/or human-interest stories for international organizations: 30 points
4. Quality of writing and photography/videography based on a sample portfolio submitted: 30 points
Only applicants achieving a minimum 70%/ 70 points from Step II part A - desk review above shall be invited for an interview.
Step II Part B Interviews - 40% out of technical evaluation
A competency-based interview shall be conducted for all the candidates who obtained 70% of the points at the desk review. Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% on the total of Steps II A and B will be considered as technically qualified and will be reviewed further for financial evaluation.
Step IV - Contract Award:
The contact shall be awarded to the applicant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:
- Responsive/compliant/acceptable vis-à-vis the requirements of the
- Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical (70%) and financial (30%) criteria.
Individual consultants and individuals employed by a company or institution are welcome to apply.
Any individual employed by a company or institution who would like to submit an offer in response to a Procurement Notice for IC must do so in their individual capacity (providing a CV so that their qualifications may be judged accordingly).
UNCDF 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.
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