Background

1. Background Information on the Programme:

The ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine has had a direct and highly negative impact on social cohesion, resilience, livelihoods, community security, and the rule of law. Recognising the need to urgently address reconstruction, economic recovery and peacebuilding needs in areas affected both directly and indirectly by the conflict, in late 2014 the Government of Ukraine requested technical assistance and financial support from the international community to assess priority recovery needs. In late 2014, the United Nations (UN), the World Bank (WB) and the European Union (EU) conducted a Recovery and Peacebuilding Assessment, which was endorsed by the Cabinet of Ministers in mid-2015.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has been active and present in eastern Ukraine for the past decade, before the conflict, with a focus on community development, civil society development, and environmental protection. Work on addressing the specific conflict-related development challenges discussed above built on this earlier engagement, established partnerships, and started in 2015 through the United Nations Recovery and Peacebuilding Programme (UN RPP). The UN RPP is a multi-donor funded framework programme implemented by four partnering UN agencies: UNDP, UN Women, UNFPA & FAO in collaboration with the Government of Ukraine.

The UN RPP was designed to respond to, and mitigate, the causes and effects of the conflict. It is based on findings of the Recovery and Peacebuilding Assessment (RPA) and is aligned to the State Target Programme for Recovery as well as to the two oblast development strategies up to 2020. It takes into account the opportunities that have arisen from the Minsk Protocol of September 2014 and the renewal of its cease-fire provisions (the latest cease-fire having been agreed in March 2018) and is also fully adjusted to the humanitarian-development nexus. It is an integral component of the UNDP Country Programme and is therefore fully aligned with the United Nations Partnership Framework (UNPF). It is closely interlinked with the Democratic Governance and Reform Programme, operating nationally and in all of Ukraine’s regions, and is consistent with the SDGs, in particular, SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong institutions).

The Programme’s interventions are grouped under the following key Programme components, which reflect the region’s priority needs:

Component I: Economic Recovery and Restoration of Critical Infrastructure

Component II: Local Governance and Decentralisation Reform

Component III: Community Security and Social Cohesion.

The Programme, which operates based on a pooled funding arrangement, follows a multi-sectoral programme-based approach and is implemented using an area-based methodology. It is a unifying intervention framework for 12 projects funded by 12 international partners and is worth about 80 million USD.

In October 2018, four UN agencies (UNDP, UN Women, FAO and the UNFPA) have countersigned a new joint project document, funded by the EU. The overall objective of the project is to restore effective governance and promote reconciliation in the crisis-affected communities of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts of Ukraine, thereby enhancing the credibility and legitimacy of local governments in the government-controlled areas (GCAs) of the regions. It will contribute to peace build and prevent further escalation of conflict in Ukraine through effective and accountable decentralisation, gender-responsive recovery planning and equal access to services, as well as enhanced community security and social cohesion.

This endeavor will be achieved through the pursuit of the following specific objectives:

1.       To enhance local capacity for gender-responsive decentralisation and administrative reforms to improve governance, local development and the delivery of services.

2.       To stimulate employment and economic growth by assisting to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) development through demand-driven business development services and professional skills training.

3.       To enhance social cohesion and reconciliation through the promotion of civic initiatives.

4.       To support sector reforms and structural adjustments in health, education and critical public infrastructure to mitigate the direct impacts of the conflict.

The UN RPP is looking to contract the National Expert on the elaboration of information products and campaigns, promoting local governance and decentralisation reform in the east of Ukraine (hereafter – Consultant) to support in developing activities that raise stakeholders’ knowledge and capacity on local governance and decentralisation reform and contribute to production and dissemination of knowledge in various formats.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the UN RPP Programme Coordinator of Local Governance and Decentralisation Reform Component and the UN RPP Communication Officer, the Consultant will support the UN RPP programme with the development of communication and knowledge products, promoting results and best practices for local governance development and in support of the decentralisation reform in the east of Ukraine.

The ideal candidate should have a proven track record of success in the communications sector or related fields, as well as excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Duties and Responsibilities

2. Description of Responsibilities / Scope of Work

Specifically, the Consultant will perform the following key tasks:

• Studying the organisation's objectives, promotional and communication policies, and needs to build public relations strategies that influence public opinion and promote results, ideas, and services;
• Support to create and implement a communications strategy that further will promote benefits of amalgamation, local governance development and decentralisation reform at the East of Ukraine, interact with the public and maintain productive relationships with key stakeholders and policymakers;
• Elaborating a detailed work plan on the implementation of the abovementioned communications strategy and agree it with UNDP;
• Ensuring the provision of top-quality advisory services through developing knowledge management roadmap indicating results and best practices of the local governance development and provision of the decentralisation reform at the East of Ukraine, as well as to propose feasible model in line with the corporate UN RPP Knowledge Management Framework, also reflecting on the latest development trends and knowledge management best practices;
• Creates and delivers at least 12 presentations, brochures, newsletters, and other publications on local governance development and decentralisation reform;
• Provide at least 5 events by July 2020 – media training for journalists of both Donetsk & Luhansk oblasts, Knowledge Management working group, assistance to the UN RPP Local Governance and Decentralisation Reform Component’s Presentation at EU Delegation to Ukraine, etc.;
• Coordinate the writing and editing of at least 12 media articles/press releases in 6 months;
• Coordinate the production of at least 3 short informational videos on lessons learned in the sphere of the local governance development and decentralisation reform as well as Grants’ Success Stories in coordination with UN RPP Communications unit;
• Produce at least 2 results-based informational one-pagers on both Ukrainian and English about the best practices and achievements in the sphere of the local governance and decentralisation reform at the East of Ukraine and ongoing activities and plans;
• Write and disseminate at least 6 briefing notes on various topics and themes (such as unique learnings and product development from the programme) in 6 months;

The Consultant is responsible to ensure that reference to UN RPP, European Union and governments of Canada, Denmark, Sweden and Switzerland are included in all the relevant products created under the Contract. UN RPP Communications unit will provide visibility requirements for this Contract. 

3. Deliverables

4.            Proposed payment schedule

UNDP will pay the negotiated amount in 3 tranches according to the following payment schedule:

-          the first tranche will be paid upon completion of Deliverable 1 and submission and acceptance of the 1st Interim report (30%);

-          the second tranche will be paid upon completion of Deliverable 2 and submission and acceptance of the 2nd Interim report (40%);

-          the third tranche will be paid upon completion of Deliverable 3 and submission and acceptance of the Final report (30%).

5.            Monitoring/Reporting Requirements

The Consultant will regularly communicate with the Programme Coordinator (Local Governance and Decentralisation Reform) of Component II and UN RPP Communications unit and will share his/her work progress. Besides, the Consultant will submit reports to the UN RPP – upon the reach of each deliverable and a consolidated final report at the end of the assignment. Each report should include work progress as well as issues to be addressed, while the final report at the end of the assignment should include the achievements, lessons learned, and recommendations for further actions. The reports shall be made in Ukrainian with main findings and conclusions.

All reports and studies UNDP shall be transmitted electronically (Formats of *.docx, *.xlsx, *.pptx, *.pdf) on electronic source or in the form of electronic communication with the attached final product, which is also accompanied by an official letter in paper version of the Consultant about the data transmission of products to the UNDP. The studies/research/reports should be written in Ukrainian.

Competencies

6.            Experience and Qualifications Requirements

• University Degree in journalism, PR, marketing or related field. The post-graduate degree will be considered as an advantage;
• At least 2 years of relevant experience at the national level in the creation of effective communication social media strategies, communication campaigns and/or coordination of external and internal communications flow (publications, newsletters etc.);
• At least 2 years of experience in branding, communications and in media relations, graphic design and video production;
• Experience in international organisations will be considered as an advantage;
• Fluency in Ukrainian is required. Fluency in English is highly appreciated.

Competencies:

• Exceptional writing, research, and communication skills;
• Creativity and adaptability
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills;
• Ability to manage events, oversee contributions of other actors;
• Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments.

7.            Documents to be Included when Submitting the Proposals

Applicants shall submit the following documents:

8.            Financial Proposal

 Lump-sum contract

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 delivery of the services specified in the ToR. 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 the number of anticipated working days).

Working space and equipment will be provided by the project. The consultant is required to be in office within core hours from Monday till Friday unless task completion requires otherwise.

Travel costs

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 IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their resources.

In the case of travel out of Duty Station for training, supervising, and/or mapping and an unforeseeable trip, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, before travel and will be reimbursed.

Required Skills and Experience

9. Evaluation criteria

• University Degree in journalism, PR, marketing or related field – Specialist/Masters’ degree -12 points, Ph.D. of above – 15 points;
• At least 2 years of relevant experience at the national level in the creation of effective communication social media strategies, communications campaign and/or coordination of external and internal communications flow (publications, newsletters etc.) – 2 years - 13 points, 3-5 years – 16 points, over 6 years – 18 points;
• At least 2 years of experience in branding, communications and in media relations, graphic design and video production – 2 years - 13 points, 3-5 years – 15 points, over 6 years – 17 points;
• Previous experience with international organizations –yes - 5 points, no – 0 points;
• Language skills– Fluency in Ukrainian – 11 points, Ukrainian&English – 15 points.

10. Evaluation method

Cumulative analysis

Contract award shall be made to the incumbent whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and

b) having received the cumulative 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%

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% from the maximum available technical score (49 points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation

The maximum number of points assigned to the financial proposal is allocated to the lowest price proposal and will equal to 30. All other price proposals will be evaluated and assigned points, as per below formula:

30 points [max points available for financial part] x [lowest of all evaluated offered prices among responsive offers] / [evaluated price].

The proposal obtaining the overall cumulatively highest score after adding the score of the technical proposal and the financial proposal will be considered as the most compliant offer and will be awarded a contract.

Maximum available technical score - 70 points.

Link to UNDP documents templates: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/297e72t7i3v2969/AADDRyUo2uoNrYjuD8NLmdl0a?dl=0