General Background

The UNDP Country Office in Guinea Bissau is reinforcing its Partnerships and Communications section as part of the new office vision and its partnerships and resources mobilization strategy.

UNDP has deployed tremendous efforts in the past year to mobilize resources for initiatives related to the i) sustaining peace agenda, ii) green and blue economy, in the context of the SIDS agenda and iii) resilience/recovery from COVID-19 and beyond, among others. These initiatives are at the core of UNDP’s planning process and they will constitute the core of UNDP’s programme for the next five years, to be translated into the Country Project Document, under formulation.

Continued advocacy, awareness raising, positioning and resource mobilization around these thematic areas will be a necessity. For this purpose, the office, in implementation of its partnerships and resources mobilization strategy, will put in evidence UNDP’s programmatic efforts in this area to help attract the attention of partners and donors and other important stakeholders like international media.

In this context, UNDP Country Office intends to recruit a thematic communications specialist to support the UNDP strategic vision in these sectors, to contribute to positioning UNDP Guinea-Bissau vis-à-vis the international audience and to provide additional technical support to what communications officers have already been undertaking in the field.

Under the direct supervision of the Communications Officer,  the thematic communication specialist will also work in close collaboration with, the resources mobilization officer, the Heads of Clusters, specific UNCT agencies and local and national counterparts.

Objectives and main tasks

The UNDP Country Office intends to recruit a thematic communications specialist to support the UNDP strategic vision in the following sectors : i) sustaining peace agenda, ii) green and blue economy, in the context of the SIDS agenda and iii) resilience/recovery from COVID-19 and beyond. The specialist will also provide additional technical support to the work communications officers are already been undertaking in the field.

In particular, the thematic communications specialist is expected to:

• Produce and support the production of communication products and materials.

Competency Summary: PROFESSIONALISM: Sound knowledge of and exposure to a range of development assistance issues, including PBF related programmes, COVID-19 pandemic and the SIDS/Blue economy; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations; takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Deliverables

The Thematic Communication Specialist is expected to deliver the following:

Output 1. Co-Lead the implementation of the UNDP’s Communications Strategy, with other communications colleagues, by:

• Working closely with the Communications Officer on content creation. Draft and edit a wide range of communications materials, including social media posts and assets, comment pieces, newsletters and innovative learning products.
• Conducting daily news monitoring and managing the UNDP’s social media channels on a daily basis. As per goals set in the annual Digital Communications Strategy, this includes boosting followers and engagement on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and other relevant channels that the specialist might advise to use. In this regard, the incumbent is expected to undertake research to identify and engage with new tools and platforms to help advance the UNDP’s mandate. These could include blogging platforms or channels such as WhatsApp.
• Ensuring our approach to prioritizing women in digital communications is well implemented.
• Accompany the intern-programme for external partnership with universities.

Output 2. Lead the production of communications tools and materials:

•  External newsletter
• Internal Newsletter
• Sustainable Peace Newsletter
• Design products
• Produce and post content for the UNDP Website.

Perform other communications duties, covering for other communications colleagues, if needed.

Recruitment Qualifications

Required qualifications and experience Education:

Masters / Bachelors's degree or Bachelor’s in media relations, journalism, developmental studies, business administration/marketing or equivalent publishing area.

Experience:

• Master’s Degree with 2 years or Bachelor’s with 4 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in public relations, communications or advocacy or similar areas.
• Good command and awareness of language dynamics
• Design thinking experience an asset
• Proven analytical and strategic thinking required
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages,
• Good knowledge and experience in handling of web-based management systems
• Advanced knowledge of and experience with photography and video.
• Advanced knowledge of and experience with blogging and social media will be an asset.
• Proven policy, advisory and advocacy experience and track record of engagement with senior officials, such as in the United Nations, government and external partners;
• In-depth understanding of the media sector and experience in supporting the media from a thematic perspective.
• Experience using Adobe Creative Suite for illustration, design, photo editing and video postproduction. Adobe certification is a bonus;
• Ability to design a wide range of communication supports, including infographics, presentations, and layouts for both web, social media, mobile and print.

Language:

Fluent written and spoken English is required. Working knowledge of Portuguese and/or French is an asset.

COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

PLANNING & ORGANIZING: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

LUMP SUM CONTRACTS: The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in installments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR.  In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including travel, per diems, and number of anticipated working days).

TRAVEL: All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This includes all travel to join duty station/repatriation travel.  In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the Individual Consultant 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 and will be reimbursed.

EVALUATION: Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodologies:

Cumulative analysis

When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• 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;

• Technical Criteria weight – 70 points;
• Financial Criteria weight – 30 points.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70 points would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Evaluation criteria:

• Education background - 10 points;
• Experience as defined in the ToR - 20 points;
• Competences as defined in the ToR - 10 points;
• Understanding of the ToR - 15 points;
• Methodology and overall approach - 25 points;
• Overall quality of the proposal (comprehensiveness, structure, language and clarity) - 20 points.