Background

A - BACKGROUND

UNDP is the UN’s global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience, and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP is on the ground in about 170 countries and territories, working with national counterparts on solutions to global and national development challenges. In the programme countries, UNDP supports stabilization, state-building, governance and development priorities in in partnership with the host governments, the United Nations system, the development partners and other partners to help the country to achieve sustainable development by eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, accelerating structural transformations for sustainable development and building resilience to crises and shock.

UNDP has been a trusted development partner of the Maldives for more than 40 years, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty, reduction of inequalities and exclusion in areas such governance, environment protection, climate change mitigation and adaptation. In each of its thematic areas of work, UNDP at the request of its national partners provides relevant policy advisory support, technical assistance, advocacy, and knowledge to help Maldives achieve its global commitment on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). With Maldives’s transition to Middle Income Country Status, Official Development Assistance from traditional donor sources has been on the continuous decline. UNDP is therefore working with its national partners to identify and tap into alternative and innovative financing mechanisms for development. This process involves broadening outreach and forging wide-ranging partnerships with stakeholders - including other UN agencies, the government, the private sector, philanthropic Foundations, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and International Finance Institutions to advance the country’s development strategies and objectives.

The government of Maldives has embarked on a judicial reform agenda to strengthen the justice sector in order to provide enhanced access to justice to the people. As part of this reform agenda, there are ongoing efforts to strengthen the Judiciary including on the legal framework, capacity development of personnel and institutions and measures to increase access to justice.

To this end, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has changed its media strategies internally to be more media friendly and to continuously engage with stakeholders over modern media tools such as Social Media.  This is also intended towards increasing transparency of JSC’s work and create lasting impact in communities. In order to do so, JSC is working towards establishing a sound communication strategy and invest in building capacities of JSC secretariat to the concepts of communication and familiarizing with multimedia platforms.

UNDP Maldives has been supporting judicial reform and strengthening capacity of the judiciary over the years. Capacity building and training programmes have been conducted on various aspects to enhance rule of law and access to justice. In view of the existing needs, UNDP under its Integrated Governance Programme (IGP) together with JSC is seeking the support of a local consultant to engage with JSC’s Secretariat and Communications team to develop internal capacities and support strengthening of the communications function in a holistic manner. 

Duties and Responsibilities

B - DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Scope of Work

Under the guidance of the JSC and UNDP, the consultant will be based at JSC Secretariat and provide capacity building for staff of JSC. The tasks to be undertaken by the consultant under the Terms of Reference include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following;

• Conduct a rapid capacity assessment of the JSC including the existing structure and framework of communications and make short term recommendations for improving the Commissions communications strategy.
• Training of Secretariat Staff on news and communications matters including managing content and social media accounts, holding a press briefing, publishing news and announcements, engaging with public/media, dealing with negative publicity, and addressing issues of public interest.
• Develop a communications strategy/policy and facilitate the finalization of the document through consultation meeting with JSC and other key stakeholders;
• Develop an annual workplan on communication and media relations of related activities and events and facilitate the finalization of the document through consultation meeting with JSC. The plan should include PR related activities to enhance positive publicity, advocate transparency and building strong relationship with media.
• Provide training and support in developing content of news and information for media and website;
• Develop standards (SOPs), checklists, flowcharts etc to guide and institutionalize internal communications, which ensures transparent, consistent, and holistic management of the communications function and facilitate the finalization of the document through consultation meeting with JSC.
• Develop materials for PR related matters such as brochures and leaflets, infographics, routine social media posts and information screens;
• Submit an end of assignment report covering details of the consultancy including milestones, challenges, recommendations on next steps.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

• Conduct rapid capacity assessment of the JSC

• Training of Secretariat Staff on news and communications matters

• Develop a communications strategy/policy and facilitate the finalization of the document through consultation meeting with JSC and other key stakeholders;
• Develop an annual workplan on communication and media relations of related activities and events and facilitate the finalization of the document through consultation meeting with JSC.

• Provide training support in developing content of news and information for media and website;
  Develop standards (SOPs), checklists, flowcharts etc to guide and institutionalize internal communications, which ensures transparent, consistent, and holistic management of the communications function and facilitate the finalization of the document through consultation meeting with JSC.
• Develop materials for PR related matters such as brochures and leaflets, infographics, routine social media posts and information screens;
• End of assignment report

Duration of the Assignment

102 days between September 2021 – March 2022

Institutional Arrangement

The consultant is expected to work with the relevant department of JSC under the guidance of the  Secretary General of JSC. And will be accountable to the assigned Programme Officer of UNDP Governance Unit for each deliverable as stipulated. Meetings will be held with the UNDP and partner’s senior management as and when needed.

Duty Station: Judicial Service Commission

C -PAYMENT TERMS

The method of payment is output-based lump-sum scheme. The total amount quoted shall be all-inclusive lump sum and include all costs components required to perform the deliverables identified in the TOR, including professional fee, travel costs, living allowance (if any work is to be done outside the IC´s duty station) and any other applicable cost to be incurred by the IC in completing the assignment. The contract price will be fixed output-based price regardless of extension of the herein specified duration.

The payments shall be released upon submitting the required deliverables/outputs with satisfactory by the Programme Manager and Assistant Resident Representative as per agreement for each report in accordance with a set time schedule to be agreed in the contract.

Note: Payments will be based on invoices on achievement of agreed milestones i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR and certification of acceptance by the UNDP. The applicant must factor in all possible costs in his/her “All Inclusive Lump Sum Fee” including his/her consultancy and professional fee, travel, honorarium, board and lodging, and any other foreseeable costs in this exercise. No costs other than what has been indicated in the financial proposal will be paid or reimbursed to the consultant. UNDP will only pay for any unplanned travel outside of this TOR and Duty Station on actual basis and on submission of original bills/invoices and on prior agreement with UNDP officials. Daily perdiums and costs for accommodation/meals/incidental expenses for such travel shall not exceed established local UNDP DSA rates.

For an Individual Contractor who is 62 years of age or older, and on an assignment requiring travel, be it for the purpose of arriving at the duty station or as an integral duty required travel under the TOR, a full medical examination and statement of fitness to work must be provided.  Such medical examination costs must be factored in to the financial proposal above. Medical examination is not a requirement for individuals on RLA contracts.

Competencies

D -COMPETENCIES

• Demonstrated ability of timely completion of tasks and assignments.
• Proven ability of delivering high quality products.
• Must possess excellent communication, management and coordination skills.
• Ability to identify and execute opportunities to improve operational efficiency
• Ability to work effectively with diverse groups of professionals 

Required Skills and Experience

E - REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Interested candidates is expected to fulfill the following criteria in terms of the expertise and qualifications;

Education:

• A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in communication, journalism or multimedia

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in a relevant field
• A minimum of 6 months of experience in training
• Past experience and familiarity with concepts of public advocacy, journalism and communications is required
• Experience working with relevant international organizations is desirable

Language Requirements: Fluency in written and spoken Dhivehi & English is required

Evaluation Method and Criteria

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

Cumulative analysis

The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as a) responsive/compliant/acceptable; and b) having received the highest score out of set of weighted technical criteria (70%). and financial criteria (30%). Financial score shall be computed as a ratio of the proposal being evaluated and the lowest priced proposal received by UNDP for the assignment.

Technical Criteria for Evaluation (Maximum 70 points)

• Criteria 1: A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in communication, journalism or multimedia (10 points)
• Criteria 2: Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in a relevant field (30 points)
• Criteria 3: Minimum of 6 months of experience in training (15 points)
• Criteria 4: Past experience and familiarity with concepts of public advocacy, journalism and communication (15 points)

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70% of the total technical points) during the desk review/interview are acceptable would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Interview

All candidates who pass the desk review stage will be shortlisted for an interview with representatives from UDNP and our partner.

Documentation required

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications. Please group them into one (1) single PDF document as the application only allows to upload maximum one document:

1. Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP in Annex II;
2. Personal CV or 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;
3. Financial proposal that indicates the lump sum rate/fee of the candidate in Maldivian Rufiyya (or USD in the case of international consultant).  In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal must include a breakdown of this daily fee (including number of anticipated working days and all foreseeable expenses to carry out the assignment); 

Incomplete proposals may not be considered.  The short-listed candidates may be contacted for interview and the successful candidate will be notified.