Communications Specialist- PEA

Consultant

Overview

Lead the production of communication products for poverty-environment integration projects.

You have:

• Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communication or related field; Master's Degree desirable.
• Minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in Journalism, Public information, Communication, or related field.
• Demonstrated experience in developing high-quality web-stories, articles, and/or visual stories in English.
• Demonstrated experience in developing high-quality videos in English.
• Experience working with multilateral organizations, UN system and/or familiarity with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Experience in working in a diverse, multi-disciplinary environment and engaging multiple stakeholders.
• Experience in coordination and production of communication products in Africa and/or Asia Pacific.
• Excellent oral and written communication in English.

Contract

This is a International Consultant contract. More about International Consultant contracts.

Background

Eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge facing the world today and an overarching objective of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The mainstreaming of poverty-environment objectives into policy, budgeting, programming, and investments by the United Nations Development Programme–United Nations Environment Programme (UNDP–UNEP) Poverty-Environment Action for Sustainable Development Goals (PEA), launched in 2018, and its predecessor entity, the UNDP–UNEP Poverty-Environment Initiative, demonstrates how improved environmental sustainability can address this challenge and contribute to poverty eradication.

The focus of PEA is on deepening and broadening poverty-environment mainstreaming and aligning finance and investment with poverty, environment, and climate objectives, in the face of the changing forms and conditions of poverty found in the world today.

While the overall intended outcome of PEA is "Strengthened integration of poverty-environment objectives into policies, plans, regulations and investments of partner countries to accelerate delivery of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals", PEA delivers three interrelated outputs:

Output 1: Development planning, budgeting, and monitoring systems integrate environmental sustainability and climate change objectives for poverty eradication

Output 2: Public finance and investment frameworks incentivize shift in public and private investments towards environmental sustainability and climate objectives for poverty

Output 3: SDG implementation and acceleration processes leveraged to scale up use of integrated poverty-environment mainstreaming approaches and tools

PEA has embarked on eight (08) full-fledged country projects — in Bangladesh, Lao PDR, Malawi, Mauritania, Myanmar, Mozambique, Nepal, and Rwanda — and six (06) technical assistance initiatives — in Indonesia, South Africa, and Tanzania; an establishment of virtual platform; and via strategic partnerships with the Asian Development Bank, GIZ and UN Women. Each technical assistance and country project has its main focus and these are highlighted on the PEA website.

Since the inception of PEA, efforts have been made by technical assistance and country projects to yield results and increase PEA’s visibility in the field of poverty and environment on its dedicated website. This is even more needed during PEA’s last year of implementation in 2022.

To share key messages and the impact of PEA’s work at the country, regional and global levels to a wide range of partners and the public via multiple channels, the global PEA project intends to develop the following communication and visibility products in English.

• A media article and/or web story and a visualized story (through i.e., videography, infographics and/or photo essay) for each of the 08 full pledged country projects and 06 Technical Assistance initiatives.
• A film/video for at least 5, possibly for all, full-fledged country projects and Technical Assistance initiatives; and
• A stock-taking (long and short versions) on the achievements and impacts of PEA’s Global Output 3 - SDG implementation and acceleration processes leveraged to scale up use of integrated poverty-environment mainstreaming approaches and tools.

PEA intends to commission a dedicated Communication Specialist to plan for and manage an end-to-end production while ensuring the quality of the above-mentioned communication and visibility products.

Institutional Arrangement

The individual consultant will report to the Knowledge Management and Monitoring and Evaluation specialist (M&ES) with overall guidance from the PEA co-managers and input from the wider PEA global team. The consultant will also closely work with designated focal persons/communication officers from PEA’s technical assistance and country projects to access wider pool of expertise and to ensure alignment with UNDP and UNEP communications initiatives.

Travel

1. UNDP will cover the cost of travel of the individual to the duty station, as well as their return to their home upon completion of their services. Travel costs are covered only in the event that the function will be undertaken physically in the duty station and excludes working from home arrangements.
2. Include any official travel expected to be associated with performing the functions

The following documents shall be required from the applicants:

1. Personal CV, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.
2. A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.
3. A link to 2 samples of previous work , which were produced by the applicant in the past, to demonstrate the experiences required by this TOR (link to be included in the cv)
4. Managers may ask (ad hoc) for any other materials relevant to pre-assessing the relevance of the candidates’ experience

Duties and Responsibilities

The selected Communication Specialist will work under the day-to-day supervision of the PEA Knowledge Management and Monitoring and Evaluation specialist (M&ES) and closely with the designated focal points for each country project and technical assistance to:

1. Develop a workplan/inception report for the design and delivery of the above-mentioned products, to be agreed with the M&ES and country project focal points and endorsed by co-managers. The workplan/inception report should include, but not limited to:

• Key messages of the media article/web-story for each of the country projects and Technical Assistance initiatives and recommended dissemination channels
• Story line or the visualized communication products and recommended tools (i.e., videography, infographics, photo essays, etc.)
• Identification of country projects and Technical Assistance initiatives to produce the short film/video and

1. Plan to produce the short film/video including role and responsibility of PEA’s units i.e., PEA global project, country project and Technical Assistance focal points, and others.
2. Prepare the media article and/or web story and a visualized story for each of the eight country projects and six Technical Assistance initiatives.
3. Prepare the script for the selected short films/videos, TOR for the producer(s) and support country projects and Technical Assistance focal points in recruiting and managing the producers to ensure quality of the films/videos
4. Ensure clear communication of the synergies between country projects and Technical Assistance initiatives, as appropriate
5. Ensure smooth communication and coordination between relevant PEA global project staff, country project and Technical Assistance focal points for the timely production of quality products; and
6. Advise the PEA project on, but not limited to, additional products drawing on PEA’s success stories and others.

Working with a range of colleagues across UNDP and its Communication Division via designated focal persons/communication officers, the consultant is expected to perform the following tasks and produce the following outputs/deliverables, in English:

Output 1 – A media article/web-story and a visualized story each for eight country projects and six Technical Assistance initiatives

(5 working days x 14 country projects/TA initiatives = 70 working days)

Deliverables:

• A media article and/or web-story about what PEA has done, the achievements, impacts, challenges faced, lessons learned, if any and recommendations
• A visualized story of a highlighted achievement/success

Tasks:

• Read PEA materials and familiarize with the concept, the Programme activities, and achievements
• Research, consult and write web articles/visualized stories covering the project implementation period for each technical assistance and country project as above-mentioned while ensuring coherence across technical assistance and countries:
• Ensure and show linkages and partnership, if applicable, between PEA’s technical assistance and country project’s interventions.

Quality criteria:

• Maximum 1000 words for each media article and/or web-story
• Each visualized story should highlight achievement/success
• Relevant to the public, policy makers and practitioners.
• Follow and be in line with UNDP/UNEP Knowledge Management & Communication Guidelines
• Ensure voices of the beneficiaries
• Convey in an easy to understand, human-focused appealing messages on the innovative approach of PEA
• Attractive to print media, websites, and other social communication channels

Output 2 - A film/video for at least five, if not possible for all, full-fledged country projects and Technical Assistance initiatives

(7 working days per video/film produced - minimum 5 video/films)

Deliverables:

• Script for each video/film
• TOR for the producer of the video/film
• Support to country manager/TA focal points in managing the video/film production
• Quality assurance of the videos/films production

Tasks:

• Read PEA materials and familiarize with the concept, the Programme activities, and achievements
• Research, consult and write script for each video/film and TOR for the producer of the video/film; support to country projects/TA focal points in managing the video/film production and quality assure of the videos/films
• Work in collaboration with PEA’s focal person regarding PEA’s Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) under development with UNITAR

Quality criteria:

• Full version length: 4-5 minutes, short version length: 90 second, IG/FB Teaser Length: 15 second covering PEA implementation which highlights key achievements and/or challenges,
• Each video/ film should show linkages and partnership, if applicable, between PEA’s technical assistance and country project’s interventions
• Relevant to the public, policy makers and practitioners
• Follow and be in line with UNDP/UNEP Knowledge Management & Communication Guidelines
• Ensure voices of the beneficiaries
• Convey in an easy to understand, human-focused appealing messages on the innovative approach of PEA
• Attractive to print media, websites, and other social communication channels

Output 3 – Evidence-based stock-taking of PEA’s global Output 3 achievements

(5 working days):

Deliverables:

• Stock-taking (long version) and article (short version) with evidence of PEA’s global Output 3 achievements in terms of:
  • Knowledge shared
  • Take up of PEA tools and approaches including through S-S collaboration and
  • Take up of PEA mainstreaming approach by partners

Tasks:

• Write stock-taking with the use of, including but not limited to:
  • PEA’s knowledge products
  • Reports of webinars, learning events
  • Available data, information, website, progresses and annual reports etc.…

Quality criteria:

• Stock-taking (long version) and article (short version of maximum 1000 words)
• Relevant to the public, policy makers and practitioners.
• Follow and be in line with UNDP/UNEP Knowledge Management & Communication Guidelines
• Convey in an easy to understand, human-focused appealing messages on the innovative approach of PEA
• Attractive to print media, websites, and other social communication channels

Competencies

Technical competencies:

• Strong technical knowledge of online communication, networking and collaboration tools

• Ability to review natural, social and economic scientific literature and other sources of information and to analyse it to produce high-quality documents understandable by all

Functional competencies:

• Planning and Organizing

Allocates the appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work

Uses time efficiently

Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary

• Creativity

Offers new and different solutions to solve problems or meet clients’ needs

Takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas, thinks outside the box

Takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things

• Communication

Ability to write clear reports articles and scripts

Ability to engage in diplomacy with various stakeholders

Competence in online communication

Specifically, the consultant’s prospective profile must demonstrate:

1. Experience that includes strengths in coordination and production of similar communication products in Africa, Asia Pacific, and other parts of the world (form of style and provide proof for the same services provided) and with the United Nations is an advantage
2. Identify risks and mitigation measures and propose and demonstrate innovative and creative way to address them while keeping in mind the diversity of the technical assistance initiatives and countries’ projects.
3. Demonstrate capacity to be highly responsive to requests, ability to work across multiple time zones and demonstrate excellent communication skills.
4. Provide proof of exceptional service delivery and demonstrate a deep understanding and ability to achieve UN/international standards across all aspects of the assignment.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communication or related field; Master´s Degree desirable.

Experiences:

• Minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in Journalism, Public information, Communication, or related field
• Demonstrated experience in developing high-quality web-stories, articles, and/or visual stories in English. Please provide links to 2 samples of previous work in your application
• Demonstrated experience in developing high-quality videos in English. Please provide links to 2 samples of previous work in your application
• Experience working with multilateral organizations, UN system and/or familiarity with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is an asset .
• Experience in working in a diverse, multi-disciplinary environment and engaging multiple stakeholders .
• Experience in coordination and production of communication products in Africa and/or Asia Pacific.

Language

• Excellent oral and written communication in English

1. EVALUATION

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of the applicant's qualifications and financial proposal. The contract will be awarded to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
• Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Technical Evaluation (70% of total evaluation; maximum 70 points):

Qualifications:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communication or related field; Master´s Degree desirable. (Max 5 points).

Experiences:

• Minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in Journalism, Public information, Communication, or related field (Max 5 points);
• Demonstrated experience in developing high-quality web-stories, articles, and/or visual stories in English. Please provide links to 2 samples of previous work in your application (Max 20 points);
• Demonstrated experience in developing high-quality videos in English. Please provide links to 2 samples of previous work in your application (Max 20 points);
• Experience working with multilateral organizations, UN system and/or familiarity with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is an asset (Max 10 Points).
• Experience in working in a diverse, multi-disciplinary environment and engaging multiple stakeholders (Max. 5)
• Experience in coordination and production of communication products in Africa and/or Asia Pacific. (Max. 5)

Language

Excellent oral and written communication in English (Pass/fail) ?

Financial Evaluation (30% of total evaluation; maximum 30 points)

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Potential interview questions

Added 4 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: jobs.undp.org