National Consultant to provide Communications Support for the High-Level Round Table Meeting

‘Support Programme for NSEDP Implementation towards LDC Graduation, MIC Transition and SDG Achievement (2017-2021)’ or in short ‘MPI-MOFA Programme’ has the objectives of improving the capacity of the Government of Lao PDR for the effective formulation and implementation of the 9th National Socioeconomic Development Plan (NSEDP) drawing on the lessons learnt from the implementation and monitoring of the 8th NSEDP. The effective implementation of the 9th NSEDP could help the country achieve the goals of Least Developed Country (LDC) graduation, reaching Middle Income Country (MIC) status, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
One of the expected results of the MPI-MOFA programme is to enhance the effectiveness of development cooperation between the Government of Laos and development partners through a dialogue platform called the Round Table Process (RTP). This is a major annual meeting where development stakeholders discuss the planning and the progress made in the National Economic Development Plans and the ways towards the LDC Graduation and achieving the SDGs.
This year, the Round Table Meeting (RTM) is at the High-Level (HL) which is organised every five years. Hence, a high level of publicity is expected from the event with the aim to advocate for productive policy dialogues between different stakeholders. The event and the side events will be organized over two days in the week of 15th November 2021 in Vientiane Capital (to be confirmed).
Therefore, the main purpose of this consultancy position is to support the communication aspect of the HL-RTM to ensure high visual impacts to the public and also to the participants before, during and after the event. For more information on the past communication materials for the Round Table Meetings, please visit  https://rtm.org.la/ 

[1] RTM was not organized in 2020 due to Covid-19 restrictions

The Communications Support Consultant will be reporting to the Programme Officer under the Poverty Reduction Unit. The job responsibilities are divided into three stages:

1. BEFORE THE MEETING:

• Work with the Communication Officer of UNDP and International Consultant of the UNRC in reviewing and finalizing various communication products, including videos, infographics, leaflets, flashcards.

• Manage the Round Table Process (RTP) website including uploading all the Press Releases, updating calendars, posting photos, collecting documents from relevant stakeholders and publishing them.
• Design front page banners for the MOFA website portal and RTP website.
• Compile and publish the reviewed documents related to the 10 Sector Working Group Meetings and other RTP related meetings onto the RTP website.
• Upload the press releases on the various social media platforms including Facebook and Twitter.
• Organize and take photos at the Meet the Press Event and all events leading up to the Round Table Meeting.
• Provide the final artwork of designed publications as a package in PDF, PNG/JPG and ADOBE In-Design formats, including text fonts used in the design, and provide the final text in WORD document if any changes in text are made for design.

      2. DURING THE MEETING:

• Take photos during the entire meeting which lasts for 2 days
• Support in creating the caption and posting of Facebook posts (in both languagesg) and Twitter posts for each of the following:

(a) Opening of the Technical Forum (Day 1);

(b) Work of each technical event and dialogues (5 events);

(c) Opening of the HL-RTM (Day 2);

(d) Closing of the HL-RTM (Day 2);

3. AFTER THE MEETING:

• organize and take photos at the Meet the Press Event
• Support in creating the caption of the press releases on Facebook and Twitter.

The Communication Support Consultant will be working closely with the International Graphic Designer, the National Programme Officer and Communication Officer, and other communication teams from the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The national consultant will need to adapt the available English designed products into Lao version. All design files together with Lao translation will be provided to the consultant.

During the period of the contract, the consultant is expected to adapt Lao version for the following design works:

1. Round Table Meeting Guidebook
2. Up to 10 infographics and 10 illustrations for PowerPoint presentation
3. One RTM booklet
4. One 9th NSEDP leaflet
5. 10 flash cards of the 2nd Voluntary National Review
6. One Cooperation Framework booklet

All products produced by the consultant under this consultancy will remain as the property and under the copyright of the UN  .

Excellent Lao and English verbal and writing skills

• A minimum bachelors’ degree from a reputable accredited university in communications and other related disciplines;
• At least 1 year of experience in communications and graphic design;
• Have a good command in using a professional camera and Adobe graphic design tools such as Photoshop, Illustrator and In-Design.
• Working proficiency in Lao and English.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Requirements for submission of proposals:

All interested and qualified International Consultant should apply on-line using the following links:

https://www.la.undp.org/content/lao_pdr/en/home/jobs.html 

In order to make your submission, please read the relevant documents available at the links below:

1.  TOR (Annex I)
2. IC General Terms and Conditions _ Annex II;
3. OFFEROR’S LETTER TO UNDP CONFIRMING INTEREST AND AVAILABILITY _ Annex III
4. P11 Form

Documents to be included when submitting the proposals:

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

1. A cover letter, explaining why you are the most suitable for the work;
2. CV 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 Annex III indicates breakdown costs that may arise.
4. Design portfolio, including a) a brief description of why the individual considers her/himself as the most suitable for the assignment; and b) at least five examples of a mastery of basic design principles including typography, line, form, color, pattern, contrast scale, weight; creative data visualization capacity, multiple audience designs and/ or advocacy/campaign designs.

Note:  Any request for clarification must be sent in writing to the following e–mail: [email protected]  and copy [email protected]

UNDP Lao PDR will respond in writing by standard electronic mail and will send written copies of the response, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to all consultants.

Please note that only short–listed candidates will be notified.

Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

For more detailed information about UNDP Lao PDR please visit our website at https://www.la.undp.org/content/lao_pdr/en/home/jobs.html