Application Deadline : 14-Dec-21 (Midnight New York, USA)
Time left : 14d 8h 53m
Additional Category : Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction
Type of Contract : Individual Contract
Post Level : International Consultant
Languages Required :
English
Starting Date :
(date when the selected candidate is expected to start) 15-Jan-2022
Duration of Initial Contract : Estimated January 15, 2021 – July 14, 2022
Expected Duration of Assignment : approximately 120 working days
UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
Background
1. Background
Launched at the United Nations in 2008, the Business Call to Action (BCtA) aims to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by challenging companies to develop inclusive business models that engage people at the base of the economic pyramid (BoP) – people with less than US$8 per day in purchasing power – as consumers, producers, suppliers and distributors of goods and services.
The BCtA is a unique multilateral alliance among donor governments – including the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, and AGFUND with the United Nations Development Programme, which hosts the secretariat.
Over 280 companies, ranging from multinationals to social enterprises, and working in 82 countries, have responded to the BCtA by committing to improve the lives and livelihoods of millions in developing countries through access to markets, financial services, affordable healthcare, water and sanitation, education and other critical services. BCtA member companies are market leaders that provide examples of successful, profitable and scalable models for reaching poor communities and contributing to global development.
The Communication Consultant will work under the supervision of the Programme Manager
Duties and Responsibilities
2. Scope of Work and Activities
As part of its mission, BCtA is looking for a Strategic Communications Consultant. The consultant will provide technical expertise and advisory services to ensure regular update and implementation of a comprehensive BCtA communications strategy. The approval of all deliverables and instructions for all activities shall be developed in coordination with the BCtA Programme Manager.
The following areas are considered to be within the scope of this consultancy:
Strategic Communications and Content Development
Provide technical advice, update and support the implementation of the BCtA Communications Strategy;
With the oversight of the BCtA team, maintain a Communications Toolkit consisting of standard, re-branded templates targeting different BCtA audiences (member companies, prospective members per company category, funding and programme partners); as well as Communications and Events SOPs for BCtA events, collateral and logo usage, branding, marketing, and media outreach;
Provide advice on BCtA brand positioning, website, social media channels, collateral and other materials;
Based on inputs from the BCtA team, create relevant content including:
4 quarterly newsletters and ad-hoc mailings;
A minimum of 20-member press releases/ media advisories or feature stories to support BCtA company announcements; – A minimum of 40 pieces of strategic content (BoP impact stories, blogs or op-eds featuring BCtA work, the work of member companies, donors and/or partners);
Speeches/talking points for BCtA events and speaking opportunities;
Support the promotion and distribution of key BCtA knowledge management, research and reporting products, such as corporate reports, online Impact Measurement Hub, case studies and others as requested.
Media Management including Media Partnerships
Provide communication advice and support for reputational management in line with UNDP corporate communication standards and guidelines;
Improve BCtA’s media coverage by developing a media engagement strategy and updating target media lists comprised of a comprehensive database of journalists, social media influencers, and high-profile contributors.
Advise on and reach out to key media at the global and country levels, advocating on key issues at the core of BCtA’s mandate, raising awareness of BctA and its company initiatives, and increasing BctA’s external presence on media outlets;
Identify and support opportunities to create visibility for BctA through its partner network, high-level Champions, relevant events and partnerships with like-minded organizations, business networks, UN and academic institutions;
Manage an active pipeline of content for the BctA media platforms with third part companies providing outreach and communication support.
Assist with daily media monitoring by scanning online media for relevant news, interviews and articles mentioning BCtA member companies and relevant topics.
Website Content Management and Social Media Campaigns
Design and implement a web content management strategy that increases audience traffic to and engagement with the BCtA public facing website. Ensure it is regularly updated with quality, creative multimedia content including new member profiles, press releases, videos, human impact stories, events, reports, blogs, briefs. Ensure website member portal and full website backend technically maintained with support from technical experts;
Design and implement a social media strategy to increase audience volume and engagement with BCtA accounts on social media. Ensure updated daily with quality content showcasing BCtA member company achievements and inclusive business thought leadership, generating traffic, engagement and increasing overall number of followers; engage BCtA staff and the online community according to specific targets, Communications Calendar, and outreach agreed with the Programme Manager.
As part of this strategy, design and deliver online communications campaigns, including for priority BCtA issues and themes, BCtA General Assembly Annual Event/s, BCtA Phase III delivery, and other activities such as events and publications;
Events
Provide communications advice and support to BCtA Annual Event/s, including thorough outreach communications in the run-up and post-event; and generating media coverage of the events;
Provide media and communications support to additional global, regional and national events including press releases, media engagement, social media campaigns, and outreach communications pre-and post-event.
The consultant shall support the BCtA Secretariat in other communications/knowledge management tasks that may arise during the assignment period. The consultant will work closely with UNDP communication teams as well as the other partners of the BCtA in implementing this assignment.
The consultant shall be ready to undertake international travel on behalf of the BCtA if required by the team. Travel costs will be borne by UNDP and consultant expressly accepts UNDP travel policies.
3. Expected Outputs and Deliverables
Under the direct supervision of the Program Manager, the Strategic Communications Consultant is expected to:
Implement BCtA communication strategy 2022.
Produce strategic content (20 press releases, 20 feature stories, 20 blogs, news pieces and other content) including content for media partnerships: 3BL media
Drive BCtA social media coverage and distributions across Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
Produce and disseminate BCtA quarterly newsletters.
Develop creative and impactful communication materials to disseminate and promote the work of BCtA and its member companies.
Assist in the preparation and provide quality assurance for presentation materials, briefing notes, surveys, and knowledge products for internal and external audiences;
Support team members in better communicating BCtA tools, services and business offers.
Participate in project meetings, as required;
Submit a comprehensive report containing the results achieved through the planned activities.
Payments will be made upon submission of the below deliverables by or before the due dates agreed and their acceptance and certification by the BCtA Programme Manager:
Description of deliverables
Target delivery dates
Payment schedule
Deliverable 1: Y2022 BCtA Strategic Communications Plan developed and presented
1 month after contract signature
(6 w/days)
5%
Deliverable 2: Y2022 BCtA Website Content Management Plan developed and presented
1 month after contract signature
(6 w/days)
5%
Deliverable 3: Mid-term progress report on the implementation of Y2022 BCtA Communications and Website Content Management Plan developed
3 months after contract signature
(36 w/days)
30%
Deliverable 4:At least 4 BCtA virtual events supported
4 months after contract signature
(12 w/days)
10%
Deliverable 5: YY2021-2022 BCtA Annual Report finalized
5 months after contract signature
(12 w/days)
10%
Deliverable 6: Final report on the undertaken BCtA strategic communication and website content management activities, social media trends, impact on the partnership development, attitudes, and perceptions as well as recommendations for further improvements developed and presented
6 months after contract signature
(48 w/days)
40%
Competencies
4. Competencies
Corporate competencies:
Demonstrates integrity by modeling 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 favoritism;
Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment
Functional competencies:
Strong interpersonal skills, communication and diplomatic skills, ability to work in a team
Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback
Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations
Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities
Excellent public speaking and presentation skills
Required Skills and Experience
5. Qualifications
Academic Qualifications/Education:
A Master’s degree in communications, marketing, international affairs, public policy, journalism, or other relevant field is required.
Experience:
Minimum of 5 years of relevant national/international working experience in the area of communications, of which minimum 2 year should include communications experience in the area of business and development.
Demonstrated experience in social media management and monitoring: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Hootsuite, Union Metric, etc.
Previous communications experience with inclusive business- or responsible business-related initiatives, covering different audiences is a distinct advantage.
Proven record of producing articles, blogs and communications products using software, online platforms and CMS (i.e. InDesign/Photoshop, MailChimp or other HTML editors, Drupal/WordPress, Visualize and other infographic makers) – at least 3 samples of previous work must be provided;
Previous communications / PR experience with UN/UNDP or similar is an asset.
Language skills:
Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English are required.
Working knowledge of other UNDP languages, preferably French or Spanish, is an advantage.
6. Evaluation of Applicants
Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ qualifications and financial proposal.
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 (P11/CV and cover letter desk review and interviews) and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.
Technical Criteria – 70% of total evaluation – max. 70 points:
Criterion A – Relevant national/international working experience in the area of communications including in business and development – max 15 points;
Criterion B – Previous communications experience with inclusive business- or responsible business-related initiatives, covering different audiences – max 10 points;
Criterion C – Demonstrated experience in social media management and monitoring: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Hootsuite, Union Metric, etc – max 5 points;
Criterion D – Previous communications / PR experience with UN/UNDP or similar organizations – max 5 points;
Criterion E – Proven record of producing articles, blogs and communications products using software, online platforms and CMS (i.e. InDesign/Photoshop, MailChimp or other HTML editors, Drupal/WordPress, Visualize and other infographic makers) -at least 3 samples of previous work must be provided with links- max 10 points;
Criterion F – Methodology (evaluation of the brief approach on how the candidate would approach and conduct the activities (shall be uploaded by the applicant during online application) – max 10 points.
Criterion G – Interview – Language skills, communication skills and technical knowledge – max 15 points.
Please ensure that your experience related to criteria A-F and above-mentioned competencies is very well documented in your P11/CV and cover letter.
Candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% (38.5 points) of the maximum obtainable points for the desk review (55 points) will be invited for the interview.
Candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% (49 points) of the maximum obtainable points for the technical criteria (70 points) shall be considered for the financial evaluation.
Financial Criteria – 30% of total evaluation – max 30 points.
The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposal:
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
7. Application procedures
The application submission is a two-step process. Failing to comply with the submission process may result in disqualifying the applications.
Step 1: Interested candidates must include the following documents when submitting the applications (Please group all your documents into one (1) single PDF attachment as the system only allows upload of one document):
Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position. Please paste the letter into the “Resume and Motivation” section of the electronic application.
Filled P11 form or CVs including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees
(blank form can be downloaded from http://www.eurasia.undp.org/content/dam/rbec/docs/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc );
A brief methodology (no more than 2 pages) describing the proposed approach to this assignment;
Links to at least 3previous work samples.
Step 2: Submission of Financial Proposal – Only technically qualified candidates (obtaining a minimum of 70% – 49 points for the technical criteria) will be contacted and requested to provide a financial offer.
8. Contract Award
Candidate obtaining the highest combined scores in Technical and Financial evaluation will be considered technically qualified and will be offered to enter into contract with UNDP.
9. Terms of Payment
The assignment is based on a lump sum contract amount and payment is based only upon the certification and acceptance of the deliverables received as indicated in the TOR. In the event of non-performance and pre-termination where payments cannot be made in full or may have to be suspended, the final payment will be pro-rated against received and accepted deliverables.
Payments will be made only upon confirmation of UNDP on delivering on the contract obligations in a satisfactory manner.
10. Institutional Arrangements and other provisions
The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the BCtA Programme Manager and in close collaboration with other BCtA, IICPSD and FSH team members.
This is a home-based position, and the consultant is expected to use his/her own laptop and ensure respective Internet connection arrangements.
Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director. Consultants are also required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under dss.un.org
General Terms and conditions as well as other related documents can be found under: http://on.undp.org/t7fJs
Qualified female candidates and applicants representing minority groups are encouraged to apply.
Due to large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.
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