International Consultant to Develop Communication Strategy and Information, Communication and Education (IEC) materials for Implementation of Peace Building Fund (PBF) Project

Consultant

Overview

Provide technical assistance for strategic communication in South Sudan's peace project.

You have:

• Advanced university degree in Communication, Journalism, Public Relations or related fields.
• At least 7 years of demonstrated professional experience in journalism, communications, external relations, public affairs, or corporate communications.
• Experience in developing communication strategies.
• Fluency in written and spoken English required; familiarity with South Sudan or a similar context is an asset.
• Knowledge of computer systems/applications and networks, including internet navigation, office applications, and interactive digital media.
• Strong understanding of post-conflict context.

Contract

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Background

The signing of the Revitalized Agreement to Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) in September 2018 was celebrated as a breakthrough for reversing the brutal civil conflict that has cost an estimated 400,000 lives and displaced more than 4 million people since its onset in December 2013. The signing of the R-ARCSS opened a new chapter and opportunity for peace building, including reforming the justice system, to solidify and speed up the peace process as a part of the implementation of provisions of the R-ARCSS. The signing also decreased active warfare across the country and increased public confidence in sustaining peace at the community level. As per the R-ARCSS, the Transitional Government of National Unity was formed in February 2020, and measures to build capacity of the formal justice and law enforcement system will facilitate the implementation of the R-ARCSS. The need of enhanced accountability through justice mechanisms is a crucial element to build trust for the formal system among the target communities, which will contribute to the peace process to be successful. In South Sudan, children and youth account for more than 70% of the population and are targeted and easily caught up in violence as a result not only of their social role and responsibilities as guardians of communities, but also because of the large-scale violence. Therefore, children and youth need to be particularly in focus when working for sustainable peace of South Sudan.

The UN has been present in South Sudan since 2011, the year of its independence, and able to support the development of the new country, the peace process, and other crisis the country has been facing. The UN support has, among other things, reached internally displaced persons and host communities, especially women and children, for example with information on key life-saving practices and humanitarian assistance. Multiple communication approaches such as mass media (mainly radio), IEC materials, community dialogue and inter-personal communication have been, and still are, methods used to promote sustainable behaviours that contribute to personal and community resilience, empowerment and peace-building efforts.

Duty Station: Juba, South Sudan if COVID-19 context changes, then in country support will be required. Otherwise home base support.

Duties and Responsibilities

UNDP, UNICEF and OHCHR, within a PBF funded project called “Breaking the Cycle of Violence”; focusing on contributing to sustainable peace through enhancing justice, trust and dialogue mechanisms, are looking for a qualified consultant to provide quality technical assistance on the component on strategic communication. This technical consultancy is envisaged to provide expertise to the implementing agencies (UNDP, UNICEF and OHCHR) on knowledge management, communication strategy and development of IEC materials to support the PBF project objectives of breaking the violence cycle. The communication strategy includes and is not limited to project results reporting, communication channels- print and social media, key targeted messaging to diverse audiences on breaking the cycle of violence, awareness raising for diverse audiences in South Sudan, print media design, layout and publication.

Scope of works and Deliverables

The consultant will work in collaboration with relevant staff of agencies (UNICEF, UNDP, OHCHR) in South Sudan, consult relevant in-country partners and with PBF, and will be expected to undertake the following task:

1. Desk Review of all background documents and reports to inform the communication strategy development

2. Develop communication strategy and of IEC Materials: The consultant should develop an advocacy and communication strategy to promote the Breaking the Cycle of Violence Project using PBF communication guidelines and IEC materials. This should include:

• Identify the target audiences (i.e donors, line ministries, local governments, CSOs, local communities, media; academia; general public)
• Identify the communication objectives for each target audience (Stakeholder mapping) at the national and local level.
• Identify the communication products and activities tailored to each audience, using the Project work plan, Reports, Evaluations building on already produced PBF communication material when possible, for each target audience.
• Specify appropriate communication channels, dissemination methods and media such as video, print, web/online media, traditional media, and social media, among others, to effectively communicate key messages to specific stakeholders
• Develop a work plan and results framework with clear results and indicators and for the implementation of the strategy, and for monitoring, reporting and evaluation.

3. Conceptualize, design and develop IEC materials for the PBF project with appropriate and relevant messages tailored for key stakeholders, beneficiaries, donors etc. using various formats as printed materials, imageries’, etc.

4. Conduct a validation workshop on the communication strategy and the IEC advocate materials. The consultant should organise (logistics support from the PBF TWG) and conduct a workshop for the stakeholders including broader constituency representation in order to form a basis and buy-in for the strategy and the IEC material. The workshop should include but not be limited to a) Mapping of target groups, identifying communication objectives for each targeted audience and tailoring activities.

5. Present the Communication Strategy to the Project Team

Deliverables

• Inception Report outlining methodology and workplan; Desk review of existing background documentation; Project Documents, Reports, Assessments, survey reports, mission reports, et al.; and interviews with stakeholders where necessary
• Draft Communication Strategy for the PBF project in South Sudan. (The Strategy should be comprehensive for outreach to different actors, including donors, key stakeholders and communities, and specify appropriate communication channels and dissemination methods for the IEC material and other communication measures);
• Presentation of Draft Communication Strategy to stakeholders for validation and endorsement
• PBF Project Communication Strategy
• Designed and developed IEC materials for the PBF project with appropriate and relevant messages tailored for key stakeholders using various formats as printed materials, imageries’, etc.
• Communication strategy prototype for dissemination on PowerPoint

Methodology

The consultancy will include the following processes:

• Coordinate with the PBF Technical Working Group for required materials especially PBF Communication guidelines, and other stakeholders for desk review of relevant documents, laws etc to be captured in the IEC materials
• Using the current context of COVID-19 to employ tools to conduct consultations with relevant stakeholders including PBF Technical Working Group members, other UN agencies, national justice actors and beneficiaries, etc
• Regular meetings/engagements/interviews/study material/focus groups discussions especially rule of law institutions, Children ministry and with local community.

Competencies

Core Competencies and values:

• Demonstrates integrity and fairness by modelling UN values and ethical standards;
• Demonstrates professional competence and is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results;
• Display cultural, gender, nationality, religion and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• High sense of relational skills, including cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability, with a demonstrated ability to work in a multidisciplinary team.

Functional Competencies:

• Proven Communication and Strategic Planning Skills
• Strong understanding of post conflict context
• Excellent facilitation and communication skills;
• Excellent analytical skills
• Ability to deal with multi-stakeholder groups;
• Ability to write results-based reports;
• Strong interpersonal and managerial skills, ability to work with people from different backgrounds and evidence of delivering good quality knowledge product.
• Good knowledge and understanding of the UN system will be an asset

Required Skills and Experience

Education

• Advanced university degree in Communication, Journalism, Public Relations or related fields
• (or an undergraduate degree plus at least 7 years of demonstrated professional experience in the field of journalism, communications, external relations, public affairs, public relations or corporate communications.)

Experience

• Experience in developing communication strategies
• Knowledge of communication research and planning. Technical competence of producing content and Knowledge of fundamentals for working in various media formats – print, audio, video, web etc.;
• Knowledge of computer systems/applications and network, including internet navigation, office applications, and specifically, interactive digital media;
• Proven track record in strategic communication planning, advertising, messages and IEC material development;
• Knowledge of the work modalities, processes and policies of the United Nations or other international organizations;
• Expertise in collaboration with different actors (state as non-state) and networking;
• Technical competence in producing content for various media formats – print, audio, video, web etc.;
• Ability to draft ideas and concepts in written and oral form clearly and concisely;
• Experience and knowledge of the African context in general, and the African socio-cultural, economic context;
• Experience of work in resource poor, post or protracted conflict;
• Fluency in written and spoken English required; Familiarity with South Sudan, or a similar context, is an asset

Language

• Strong communication skills - Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English;

Institutional arrangements

• The consultant will report to the PBF Technical Working Group (UNDP, UNICEF and OHCHR), UNDP South Sudan
• The consultant will work full time, based on UNDP South Sudan terms and conditions. Office space, administrative and logistical support will be provided.
• The consultant will not be availed a laptop.

Payment Schedule

• Inception Report outlining methodology and workplan (Based on Desk review of relevant documents, and interviews with stakeholders. 5 days = 5%
• Draft Communication Strategy for the PBF project in South Sudan. (The Strategy should be comprehensive for outreach to different actors, including donors, key stakeholders and communities, and specify appropriate communication channels and dissemination methods for the IEC material and other communication measures). 25days = 40%
• Stakeholder validation workshop/session and incorporate feedbacks and inputs. Final Communication Strategy for the PBF Project in South Sudan. Designed and developed IEC materials for the PBF project with appropriate and relevant messages tailored for key stakeholders using various formats as printed materials, imageries’, etc. 25 days = 35%
• Brief end-of-mission report on the project. Power point presentation of the developed communication strategy disseminated to UNDP, UNICEF and OHCHR. 5 days = 20%

Technical proposal comprising of the following: Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP Personal CV or P11, indicating all prior experience with similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and three (3) professional references Brief description (max. 1 page) of why you consider yourself as the most suitable for the assignment, and a methodology (max. 1 page) for how you will approach and complete the assignment.

Consultancy Evaluation Criteria

Offers received will be evaluated using a Combined Scoring method, where the qualifications and proposed methodology will be weighted 70%, and combined with the price offer, which will be weighted 30%. Criteria to be used for rating the qualifications:

Technical evaluation criteria

• Advanced university degree in Communication, Journalism, Public Relations or related fields
• (or an undergraduate degree plus at least 7 years of demonstrated professional experience in the field of journalism, communications, external relations, public affairs, public relations or corporate communications.). Weighted Score 30
• Experience in communication strategies development. Knowledge of theories and practices in communication research planning and strategy; Knowledge of fundamentals for working in various media formats – print, audio, video, web etc.; Weighted Score 30
• Knowledge of computer systems/applications and network, including internet navigation, office applications, and specifically, interactive digital media; Proven track record in strategic communication planning, advertising, messages and IEC material development; Weighted Score 15
• Technical competence in producing content for various media formats – print, audio, video, web etc.; Ability to draft ideas and concepts in written and oral form clearly and concisely; Weighted Score 15
• Experience of work in resource poor, post or protracted conflict; Fluency in written and spoken English required; local Arabic would be an asset,Familiarity with South Sudan, or a similar context, is an asset. Weighted Score 10

NOTE: Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% (49 points) in the Technical Evaluation will be considered for the Financial Evaluation. Financial evaluation (total 30 points) All technically qualified proposals will be scored out 30 based on the formula provided below. The maximum points (30) will be assigned to the lowest financial proposal. All other proposals receive points according to the following formula: p y (/z) Where: p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal price of the lowest priced proposal z = price of the proposal being evaluated.

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

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Potential interview questions

Added 5 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: jobs.undp.org