National Consultant – Business and Human Rights Communication Consultant

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Thailand works with the Royal Thai Government, civil society, the private sector, and the public to find solutions to persistent development challenges in Thailand. UNDP in Thailand is implementing various projects to advance the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development in Thailand.

Business and Human Rights in Asia: Enabling Sustainable Economic Growth through the Protect, Respect and Remedy Framework (B+HR Asia) is a regional program aimed at promoting the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) in Asia through multi-country efforts focused on advocacy, policy development, technical advisory support, capacity building, awareness raising, innovation platforms, regional peer learning events, and South-South cooperation. This is a collaboration between governments, civil society, businesses, and other stakeholders to ensure that human rights are protected and respected in business operations and their supply chains and therefore contributing to inclusive economic growth and environmental sustainability which pave the way for achievement of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development. The program is supported by the European Union.

In Thailand, UNDP is supporting the Royal Thai government on the implementation of the National Actions Plan on Business and Human Rights (NAP) as well as promoting understanding and awareness of governmental agencies and the business sector on the UNGPs and the Thai NAP. Communications activities, as one of the key indicators of the project, aim to capture a wide range of audiences including governments, state officials, members of the business sector and corporations, civil society, NHRIs, UN entities and international organizations, and influencers in the area of business, human rights and socioeconomic policy. Audiences also include consumers and the general public in both Thailand and other countries in Asia and Europe.

To support the B+HR Asia project, UNDP Thailand is looking for a Communication Consultant on Business and Human Rights topics to enhance understanding of the UNGPs, the NAP and highlight the project’s key initiatives, namely human rights due diligence, human rights defenders, emerging business and human rights issues, etc.

OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The objective of this assignment is to support the Business and Human Rights project on the overall communication and advocacy strategy, communication products and content with a view to enhancing understanding regarding the concepts of the UNGPs, the NAP and highlighting the project’s key initiatives, namely human rights due diligence, human rights defenders, emerging business and human rights issues, etc.

SCOPE OF WORK

1. Development of knowledge and advocacy products/communications content on Business and Human Rights
   • Develop and implement social media strategy including the creation of social media content (posts, graphics, social media templates)
   • Copywriting (online & offline), editing and proofreading of communication collaterals (brochure, booklet, newsletters)
2. Support production of audio-visual products and narratives to increase visibility
   • Edit and proofread audio-visual content, coordinate with media agencies and B+HR Asia team on localised communication collaterals
   • Develop web content, human interest stories, news items and other relevant communication materials
3. Project support through other communication activities
   • Ensure branding and donor visibility on events and related materials
   • Coordinate with regional project team on multi-country campaigns

UNDP will provide relevant project documents such as project workplan, summary reports of project’s key initiatives 2020-2021, evaluation reports of project activities and UNDP’s research and study on specific business and human rights issues. The consultant is also expected to design the communication products/ materials by incorporating content from other recognized resources on business and human rights, such as the UNGPs and the NAP.

EXPECTED DELIVERABLES

PROVISION OF MONITORING AND PROGRESS CONTROLS

Under the supervision of the Project Manager – Business and Human Rights, and guidance from/liaison with other key colleagues from Business and Human Rights project and Communication team at UNDP, the consultant will be expected to provide weekly online updates on progress once the project commences at a pre-arranged mutually convenient schedule.

The consultant is expected to source and manage the required office space, IT equipment, asset insurance and other administrative/logistics services for implementation. The consultant will use his/her own equipment and software to complete the assignment.

DURATION OF ASSIGNMENT, DUTY STATION AND EXPECTED PLACES OF TRAVEL

Duration: 1 December 2021 – 10 April 2022 with a maximum of 80 working days.

Duty Station:     Bangkok-based with no travel required.

During COVID-19 situation, the consultancy will be requested to be home-based and shall set-up a schedule to engage with the project team weekly. Face-to-face meetings with the project team might be required depending on the current circumstances.

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism.

Technical Competencies:

• Analytic capacity and demonstrated ability to process, analyse and synthesise complex, technical information;
• Proven ability to support the development of high quality knowledge and training materials, and to train technical teams;
• Proven experience in the developing country context and working in different cultural settings.

Communication:

• Communicate effectively in writing to a varied and broad audience in a simple and concise manner.

Professionalism:

• Capable of working in a high pressure environment with sharp and frequent deadlines, managing many tasks simultaneously;
• Excellent analytical and organizational skills.

Teamwork:

• Projects a positive image and is ready to take on a wide range of tasks;
• Focuses on results for the client;
• Welcomes constructive feedback.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

The consultant should possess the following expertise and qualifications:

Education and Experience

• A minimum of Bachelor’s degree in communications, media relations, political science, human rights, social development or other related fields;
• A minimum of 1 year of relevant experience in communications or advocacy with UN agencies, international organizations, non-profit organizations and private sector;
• A minimum of 1 year of relevant experience on business and human rights and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), familiarization with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), Human Rights Due Diligence process and the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights.
• Strong writing and editing skills in English;
• Experience in social media (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube) management and/or online news, including data analysis;
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, good knowledge and experience in handling of web-based management systems;
• Good command of graphic design tools (e.g.: Adobe Creative Suite);
• Experience with UN agencies is a plus.

Skills

• Demonstrable effective and creative communications skills;
• Results-driven, initiative-taking, ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines;
• Ability to work independently or with very limited guidance;
• Highly motivated with a positive attitude and problem-solving approach;
• Good interpersonal and communication skills.

Language

• Proficiency in English and Thai required.

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism.

Management and Leadership:

• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills;
• Demonstrates openness to change/comments/suggestions and ability to manage.

PAYMENT TERMS

Consultant must send a financial proposal based on the lump sum amount. The total amount quoted shall be all-inclusive 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 service provider´s duty station) and any other applicable cost to be incurred by the service provider in completing the assignment. The contract price will be fixed output based price regardless of extension of the herein specified duration. Payments will be done upon completion of the deliverables/outputs and as per below percentages:

In general, UNDP shall 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 own resources.

In the event of unforeseeable travel not anticipated in this TOR, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon between the respective business unit and the Individual Consultant prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

Travel costs shall be reimbursed at actual but not exceeding the quotation from UNDP approved travel agent.

REVIEW TIME REQUIRED

The review and approval of payments will be made by the Project Manager on Business and Human Rights within 7-10 days.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF THE BEST OFFER

Evaluation Method and Criteria

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology

Cumulative analysis

The candidates will be evaluated through Cumulative Analysis method. When using the weighted scoring method, the award of the contract will 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 set of weighted combine technical evaluation of desk review and interview (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. 

**Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% marks in the Technical evaluation would be considered for Financial evaluation.

Technical Criteria for Evaluation (Maximum 100 points)

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Financial Evaluation (30%)

Financial proposals from all technically qualified candidates will be scored out 30 marks based on the formula provided below. The maximum marks (30) will be assigned to the lowest financial proposal.

All other proposals will receive points according to the following formula:

• p = y (µ/z).

Where:

• p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated;
• y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal;
• µ = price of the lowest priced proposal;
• z = price of the proposal being evaluated.

DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED WHEN SUBMITTING THE PROPOSALS

Interested candidates must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications. Please group them into one (1) single PDF document:

• Personal CV
• Two (2) examples of previous communications work in graphic design;
• One (1) example of writing example in English;  
• Offeror’s Letter to UNDP confirming interest and availability and financial proposal indicating daily rate/fee of the candidate in Thai Baht.

Incomplete proposals may not be considered.  The shortlisted candidates may be contacted and the successful candidate will be notified.

ANNEXES

Annex I – TOR_BHR Communication Consultant
Annex II – General_Terms_and_Conditions_for_Contracts_Individual_Consultants
Annex III – Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability and financial proposal

All documents can be downloaded at: https://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=84147