UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development; human rights; as well as humanitarian action and peace and security.

“Implementing Norms, Changing Minds” is a regional programme under the UN Women Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, which aims to support a reduction in discrimination and violence against women and girls in the Western Balkans - Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. The programme is anchored in the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention), and also in alignment with European Union accession standards. The programme is funded by the European Commission under IPA II.

Communications is a key component of UN Women’s work in the region and constitutes a vehicle for ensuring visibility for successful UN Women initiatives, results and programmes, including the regional

programme “Implementing Norms, Changing Minds”, as well as for raising awareness about key issues on gender equality and women’s empowerment. Moreover, as the regional programme is coming to an end in July 2023, highlighting the achievements and the programme’s impact on women’s lives is more imperative than ever.

In this regard, the regional programme is planning to produce and launch a series of five animated testimonial videos showcasing its impact on peoples’ lives by featuring beneficiaries’ testimonies. The series will stem from the regional animated testimonial video “Changing minds, changing lives,” launched in November 2022 and which shines a light on seven people’s stories from the Western Balkans and Türkiye who underwent a positive change in the last five years. Therefore, through the art of storytelling and following the same animated video style, the series will unveil real stories of people from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Serbia who faced a transformative change thanks to the regional programme. 

* For the European Union, this designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence. For UN Women, references to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of UN Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999).

1. Scope of Work and Specific Tasks

The consultant will conceptualize and produce five animated testimonial videos – up to 2 minutes for each video. Each video will feature up to five – and no less than three – programme beneficiaries from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Serbia, including government and civil society representatives, activists, and other relevant stakeholders. The consultant will work with the script and beneficiaries’ audio recordings provided by UN Women.

Specifically, UN Women will make available high-quality audio recordings of the beneficiaries’ quotes in local languages and English, but also the final written script in English.

In light of the above, the consultant will work closely with UN Women team to perform the following tasks:

• Conceptualize and develop the animated testimonial video to communicate key achievements of the regional programme, specifically from the above-indicated countries.
• Provide a PDF sketch for each video before starting the production phase.
• Modify, revise and edit the sketches as required, in consultation with UN Women team.
• Conduct quality control to ensure accurate and high-quality work.
• Add subtitles in the local languages – Albanian, Bosnian, Macedonian, and Serbian – and English to all five videos. The subtitles in the local language and translations in English will be provided by UN Women. Thus, there will be two versions of videos per country.
• Prepare the final video products in the required formats.

The consultant should:

• Follow UN Women Branding Guidelines and Identity Standards as well as the EU Communication and Visibility tools[1] and the EU-UN joint visibility guidelines.

• Explore and propose creative ways to convey information through animation elements.

2, Principles

• Messages should be positive and empowering and reflect the programme’s principle of partnership with women’s organizations, governments representatives and support to women from disadvantaged groups;
• UN Women will hold non-exclusive world rights in perpetuity of the final video products.

3. Deliverables and Timeline

The consultant will be required to produce and submit the deliverables below. The schedule and nature of the deliverables may be modified by the hiring manager in agreement with the consultant.

[1] Available at http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/funding/communication-and-visibility-manual-eu-external-actions_en

1. Core values

•Respect for Diversity

•Integrity

•Professionalism

2. Core Competencies

•Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues

•Accountability

•Creative Problem Solving

•Effective Communication

•Inclusive Collaboration

•Stakeholder Engagement

•Leading by Example

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women's Core Values and Competencies: 

 https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/Headquarters/Attachments/Sections/About%20Us/Employment/UN-Women-values-and-competencies-framework-en.pdf

1. Education

• Bachelor’s degree in graphic design, animation, communications and/or visual arts. A Technical degree in combination relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the bachelor’s degree.

2. Experience

• At least 5 years of professional experience in creation and editing of animation, graphic design
• Very good creative skills in writing, visual and digital storytelling, video and film making
• Very good creative skills and advanced command over a full range of graphic design software, including Adobe Suite/CC such as Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, After Effects etc.
• Solid understanding of social media and social platforms
• Experience in development of communications materials on gender and ending violence against women, specifically in producing animated testimonial videos will be considered as an asset
• Previous working experience with UN Women and EU-funded initiatives will be an asset

3. Language

• Excellent written and oral skills in English
• Knowledge of one of the regional languages considered an asset – Albanian, Bosnian, Macedonian, Montenegrin, Serbian

Duration Of Assignment and Location of Activities:

• The consultant is expected to work remotely, utilizing his/her own office space, computer, internet, telephone, and other equipment, as needed, to undertake the assignment.
• The consultant is estimated to work up to 50 working days over 4 months and is expected to start on the 15th of February.

Payments Schedule:

Payment will be made in USD in lump sum for each video based on the review and approval of deliverables for each video by the Regional EVAW Programme Manager at UN Women ECA Regional Office as explained in the section of Deliverables above.

Application Procedure:

The following documents should be submitted as part of the application:

• Cover letter to include a brief overview in English about which of your previous experiences makes you the most suitable candidate for the advertised position.
• Personal History Form (P11) including experience in similar assignments; can be downloaded at http://www.unwomen.org/about-us/employment, a signed copy should be submitted.
• Financial Proposal in USD specifying a total lump sum amount for the tasks specified in this Terms of Reference. The financial proposal shall include a breakdown of this lump sum amount for each animated testimonial video.
• Portfolio of work should be submitted relevant to the requirements of the TOR.

Evaluation of Applicants:

Consultants will be evaluated using a cumulative analysis method taking into consideration the combination of qualifications and financial proposal. Contract will be awarded to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

1. Responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
2. Having received the highest score out of below defined technical and financial criteria.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points in the technical evaluation would be considered for financial evaluation.

Financial Evaluation (30%) – max. 30 points:

The maximum number of points assigned to the financial proposal is allocated to the lowest price proposal. All other price proposals receive points in inverse proportion. A suggested formula is as follows:

p = 30 (µ/z)

Using the following values:

p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated

µ = price of the lowest priced proposal

z = price of the proposal being evaluated

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity, and organizational need.

If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.

UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.)