Background

As a party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) has undertaken important steps towards understanding and addressing climate change issues. It is increasingly recognized not only by the Government and scientific community, but also by its citizens that climate change is an issue of key strategic importance. B&H has put great emphasis on climate change as one of the most significant development challenges facing the country. The importance of adaptation was clearly reflected in its Second National Communications and Climate Change Adaptation and Low Emission Development Strategy (CCA LEDs), adopted in 2013. In 2015, B&H submitted its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC), as part of the negotiations leading to the historic Paris Agreement, which it signed in April 2016.

Authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina and key domestic stakeholders realize the increasing threat posed to them and the development of the country by climate change and the need of adapting to it in order to avoid or minimize negative consequences.  The government is motivated to support and implement the national adaptation planning (NAP) process as adaptation issues are becoming very important for the country’s further development.

The overall project’s objective is to support the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina to advance the national adaptation planning process. Green Climate Fund (GCF) resources will be used to enable the government to integrate climate change related risks, coping strategies and opportunities into ongoing development planning and budgeting processes. The project will advance adaptation planning in B&H with a focus on most vulnerable sectors such as water management, agriculture, forestry etc., upgrading the knowledge base for adaptation, prioritizing adaptation interventions for the medium term, building institutional capacities for integrating climate change adaptation and demonstrating innovative ways of financing adaptation at the sub-national/local government level.

Objective

To define the rationale for communications about climate change adaptation and the NAP process, and suggest approaches to strategic communications in order to make clear and purposeful communication with stakeholders  to support National Adaptation Plan (NAP) processes.

Purpose

The purpose of this consultancy is to conceptualize, design and develop the Communications and Outreach Strategy for Bosnia and Herzegovina to address Climate Change Adaptation processes as well as to develop three photo essays in line with the UNDP standards

The selected international consultant is expected to closely coordinate with the Project Manager of the project and the Energy and Environment Sector Communications Officer.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Communications Consultant is expected to conceptualize, design and develop the Communications and Outreach Strategy for Bosnia and Herzegovina to address Climate Change Adaptation processes.  The Communications and Outreach Strategy will be developed to raise awareness and knowledge on the importance of climate resilient development and medium to long-term adaptation planning.

The consultant is expected to identify the most effective communication channels to highlight the National Adaptation Plan process and climate change adaptation concerns. Overall, the Strategy shall include activities to raise awareness on both - the project results and climate change issues. In addition, the consultant is expected to develop three photo essays in line with the UNDP standards.

Scope of work

The Communications Consultant is expected to perform following tasks:

1. Review the following documents as background documentation:

  • Relevant UNDP and Project document(s) for National Adaptation Plan;
  • Relevant NAP publications developed by UNDP Bosnia and Herzegovina and by the key NAP project stakeholders;
  • NAP communication guidelines.
  •  

2. Develop stakeholder’s analysis and ensure that they are comprehensive. Prioritize audiences and rank each according to level of influence and impact on National adaptation plan. Define overall approach and strategy to communications and outreach activities.

3. Overall approach and strategy to communications and outreach activities.

4. Develop communications goals:

  • Confirm primary drivers behind communications goals and validate targets against potential value-added, to ensure optimized communications delivery and impact.

5. Key messages development for each identified target group and general public:

  • Clarify problem(s), solution(s) and action(s) to develop coherent and powerful messaging around issues and events. For each target audience tailor key messages. Define what is known about target audiences and how information will be obtained? Frame the Issue: What is it really about? Who is affected?

6. Identify the most effective communication channels adopted to various target groups, to highlight the NAP process and climate change adaptation concerns that the project will address;

7. Assess the impact and value of different channels and suggest most effective ones in line with the available budget, timeframe, recommend their frequency and allocation for critical to passive messaging;

8. Suggest tactics to increase stakeholder’s participation in strategic planning for adaptation;

9. Incorporate best practices from other countries, relevant to the climate change adaptation and how (to what extend) these “lessons learned” can be applied to Bosnia and Herzegovina;

10. The Strategy should also address the gender aspects from communications perspective;

11. Suggest timetable of activities;

12. Monitoring and evaluation:

  • Suggest indicators;
  • Assess media and digital platforms tracking options and recommend solution which provides trend analysis as well as issue-specific feedback. Develop matrix for quantitative and qualitative evaluation in order to measure success of the Strategy.

13. All activities suggested should take into consideration available resources and budget as well as be feasible and cost effective.

14. Develop three photo essays in line with the UNDP standards. UNDP BiH will provide all necessary inputs.

Deliverables/outputs

Consultant is responsible for the following deliverables:

  1. Detailed Plan of Activities with methodology and time-table for the assignment prepared, submitted to and approved by UNDP Bosnia and Herzegovina - 1 day, by 05 Jan 2019, 7%;
  2. Draft Communications and Outreach Strategy for medium to long term adaptation planning with implementation timeline to be submitted for approval by UNDP Bosnia and Herzegovina and NAP Project Board. (including at least one mission to BiH ) - 6 days, by 30 Apr 2019, 40%;
  3. Final Communications and Outreach Strategy for medium to long term adaptation planning with implementation timeline prepared based on the comments and suggestions provided by UNDP Bosnia and Herzegovina and NAP Project Board, approved by UNDP Bosnia and Herzegovina - 4 days, by 31 May 2019, 27%;
  4. Develop three photo essays - 4 days, by 30 Sep 2019, 26%.

Note 1: The International Consultant must ensure timely preparation and submission of all deliverables as mentioned before. The Deliverables provided will be quality reviewed and approved by the UNDP NAP Project Manager and the Energy and Environment Sector Communications Officer. The deliverables have to be submitted in English.

Note 2: Payments for deliverables will be lump-sum based as per deliverable, excluding local travel costs. Local travel will be organized and paid upon UNDP approval. International travel costs to and from B&H should be included in the lump-sum.

Competencies

Technical work:

  • Experience working on communications in the development sector, preferably working with donor-funded projects and project teams;
  • Proven analytical skills and ability to conceptualize and write concisely and clearly evaluated based on submitted methodology;
  • Familiarity with the UN requirements addressing Climate Change. Please provide a list of projects;
  • Experience in development of strategic communication plans. Please provide a sample of recently developed strategies;
  • Experience in development of photo stories (please provide links to published stories;
  • Experience working with UNDP and familiarity with UNDP editorial guidelines and templates, is an asset.

Partnerships:

  • Maturity and confidence in dealing with representatives of key target groups;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills, with analytic capacity and ability to synthesize relevant collected data and findings for the preparation of quality communication strategy for the project;
  • Excellent coordination skills and result-oriented collaboration with colleagues.

Results:

  • Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
  • Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
  • Good team player who has the ability to maintain good relationships.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications/Education and Experience:

  • Master’s degree in Journalism, Communications or other closely related field;
  • At least 10 years of professional experience working on communications in the development sector;
  • Demonstrable communication products from past assignment that showcase enhanced/developed communications from similar projects.
  • Experience with information architecture and information management tasks in a Web 2.0 environment;
  • In depth understanding of climate change and development issues.

Languages Requirements:

  • Fluency in both written and spoken English language (excellent writing, editing and communication skills) demonstrated in submitted one-page segment on English of any relevant study/publication/written document compiled in order to assess language skills.

Other Requirements:

  • Excellent computer skills (web based communication systems and IT tools) and ability to use information technologies as a tool and resource;

Technical  criteria:

  • Criteria A: Methodology (document which contains brief explanation on approach to conduct the work) - Weight: 30%, Maximum points: 30;
  • Criteria B: Demonstrable communication products from past assignment that showcase enhanced/developed communications from similar projects, In depth knowledge in information architecture and information management tasks in a Web 2.0 environment - Weight: 30%, Maximum points: 30;
  • Criteria C: In depth understanding of climate change and development issues - Weight:10%, Maximum points: 10;
  • Criteria D: Ratings based on shortlisting criteria (Academic qualifications/education; Relevant professional experience; Excellent computer skills; Knowledge of English - Weight: 30%, Maximum points: 30;

Financial criteria: Weight: 30%, Maximum points: 30

Long/Shortlisting Criteria:

  • Relevant Education:  Master’s degree in Journalism, Communications or other closely related field - Maximum 20 points;
  • Relevant professional experience: At least 10 years of professional experience working on communications in the development sector - Maximum 60 points;
  • Other skills: Excellent computer skills (web based communication systems and IT tools) and ability to use information technologies as a tool and resource - Maximum 10 points;
  • English language skills:  Maximum 10 points - Fluency in both written and spoken English language (excellent writing, editing and communication skills) demonstrated in submitted one-page segment in English of any relevant study/publication/written document compiled in order to assess language skills;

EVALUATION

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

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:
a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
b) 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%
  • * Financial Criteria weight- 30%

Applicants are required to submit an application including:

  •  Proposal:
    • Explaining why they are the most suitable for the work;
    • Provide a brief methodology on how they will approach and conduct the work; or sample of previous document/strategy/paper done by the consultant;
  • Completed and signed the Offeror’s template Confirming Interest and Availability (please follow the link: http://www.ba.undp.org/content/dam/bosnia_and_herzegovina/docs/Operations/Jobs/Offerors%20Letter%20to%20UNDP%20Confirming%20Interest%20and%20Availability.docx);
  • Latest personal CV, including past experience from similar projects, and email, telephone and any other contact details for references;
  • Financial proposal which will separately specify professional fee, indicating number of anticipated working days, travel costs (air-ticket or use of private vehicle), living allowance, and all other applicable costs.

Please scan all above mentioned documents and upload as one attachment only online through this website.

Note:

  • For an assignment requiring travel, consultants of 65 years or more require full medical examination and statement of fitness to work to engage in the consultancy.
  • Due to large number of potential applicants, only competitively selected candidates will be contacted for remaining steps of the service procurement process.

.