Drafting a Joint UN Communications & Advocacy Strategy

Contract

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

Background

The United Nations Development System in Eswatini requires the services of a competent person/company with the necessary expertise to draft a UN Joint Communications & Advocacy Strategy in line with the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSCF 2021-2025) which came into effect on the 1st of January 2021. The consultant will also be expected to facilitate a strategy development workshop comprising members of the UN Communications Group (UNCG), including programme and technical teams.

In October 2020, the Government of Eswatini and the United Nations Development System signed the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2021-2025). The UNSDCF defines how the UN system will support the implementation of the country’s priorities with the overall goal being to support “a prosperous, just and resilient Eswatini where no one is left behind.”

Communications and advocacy run through all the work and activities for UN agencies, Funds and Programmes who are supporting the Government and the people of Eswatini. Through the UNSDCF 2021-2025, the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) has identified opportunities for strengthening communication and advocacy efforts to achieve better results for the next five-year cycle. The UN Communications Group (UNCG) in Eswatini is currently chaired by Dr. Cornelia Atsyor as delegated by the Resident Coordinator, Ms. Nathalie Ndongo-Seh. The UNCG is represented by communications focal points of all AFPs operating in Eswatini and plays a vital role in promoting the principle of Communicating as One. The UNCG, with guidance from the UNCT, pursues a communication strategy that is based on supporting communication on national development priorities, the UNSDCF and other joint programming documents. Through the Resident Coordinator System, the UNCG is responsible for identifying new and innovative ways to demonstrate how UN programmes are delivering results; promoting coherent communication; serving as an advisory board to UNCT on strategic media and communication matters; and facilitating the communication of UN strategic policy decisions taken. The group’s annual priorities are greatly influenced by the UNCT and UNSDCF annual programming priorities. The United Nations Global Communications Strategy sets out how the UN is changing its approach to communications – moving away from being messengers of danger and disasters and position the Organization as conveyors of hope and solutions.

Objective of the Assignment

The main objective of the consultancy is to produce a well-articulated Joint UN Communications & Advocacy Strategy that is in line with the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework. The consultant is also expected to facilitate the drafting of costed UNCG joint annual work plans for the period 2022 and 2023.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the Development Coordination Officer – Communications & Advocacy in the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, the UNCG Task Team, with guidance from the UNCG Chairperson and the UN Resident Coordinator, the Consultant shall be expected to;

• Familiarise themselves with the UNSDCF 2021-2025, the CCA, UNDAF 2016-2020, Joint UN Communications & Advocacy strategies (2016-2020), UN Global Communications Strategy 2020, and other relevant documents.
• Review and adapt strategy templates from the UN Department of Global Communcations.
• Facilitate 2-day workshop for UN Communications Group, PPSG and Results Groups participants.
• Use the inputs from the workshop to draft Joint UN Communications & Advocacy Strategy for the period 2021-2025.
• Summarise the draft strategy into powerpoint slides for sharing with key internal groups, includig UNCT.
• Attend all stakeholder engagements & events and collect informationon as appropriate.

Deliverables:

1. Review all relevant documentation and prepare tools for strategy development workshop.
2. Facilitate strategy development workshop
3. Draft strategy document for review by UNCG and other technical teams
4. Review comments and submit final strategy.

Reporting Mechanism:

The consultant will report to the UNCG through the Development Coordination Officer – Communications & Advocacy in the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office.

Competencies

Core Competencies

• Leadership
• Communication.
• Teamwork.
• Planning and Organizing.
• Accountability.
• Commitment to Continuous Learning.
• People management

Functional Competencies:

• Good facilitation skills
• Good report writing skills

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• A degree in communication, journalism, public relations, or health communication.

Experience:

• A minimum of five years experience in communication and advocacy strategy development.
• Experience in the work of the United Nations would be an asset.

Language Requirement:

• Proficiency in written and spoken English and SiSwati.

How to Apply:

Interested individuals must submit the following documents /information to demonstrate their qualification, experience and suitability to undertake the assignment. All supporting documents must be part of the detailed CV and uploaded as one document.

1. Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP; OFFEROR’S LETTER TO UNDP
2. Personal CV or P11, indicating all experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references; Link for the P11 form: https://un.org.sz/p11/P11.docx
3. Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment; and a methodology on how they will approach and complete the assignment
4. Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided. If an Offeror is employed by an organization/company/institution, and he/she expects his/her employer to charge a management fee in the process of releasing him/her to UNDP under Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), the Offeror must indicate at this point, and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP.

Incomplete proposals may not be considered. All applications must be made on-line.

Note: Please note you can upload only one document to this application (scan all documents in one single PDF file to attach).

Criteria for Selection of the Best Offer

Using a weighted scoring method, the award of the contract will be made to an individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined to be 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. A combined scoring method – where the qualifications and methodology will be weighted at 70% and combined with the price offer which will be weighted at 30%.