International individual consultancy – Risk communication and community engagement response for COVID-19

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

1. Background

On March 2, 2020, the Montenegrin Government formed the National Coordination Body for Contagious Diseases as a response to the spread of the novel corona virus COVID-19.

In response to the increasing threat, the Government formed an inter-ministerial risk communication team which includes public communication professionals of different ministries and public institutions. The Ministry of Health formed an Operational team for risk communication on COVID-19, which works in close cooperation with the Institute for Public Health (IPH).

The Government launched a national campaign on COVID-19 to inform citizens about prevention measures, including special measures adopted in relation to the situation. The campaign covered all media and mobilized support from different sectors of society, including medical professionals, scientists, celebrities, civil society organizations, private sector and the international community.

As part of a coordinated UN support to the National COVID-19 Prevention and Response Plan adopted by the Government – under overall leadership of WHO - UNICEF provides technical assistance to strengthen national efforts on risk communication and community engagement (RCCE), as part of a coordinated UN support, under overall leadership of WHO, to the Government of Montenegro’s National COVID-19 Prevention and Response Plan.

Three key entities that form the Government’s RCCE structure, as follows:

• The National Coordination Body on COVID-19 - in charge of policies and measures beyond immediate health needs
• The Ministry of Health and Institute of Public Health - responsible for public health awareness, epidemiological assessment, measures to prevent spread of the disease, surveillance and health system readiness
• The Clinical Centre of Montenegro - responsible for patients, medical staff, hospitals and clinical measures/guidelines.

One of the fundamental strategies to reduce the spread of infection is risk communication and community engagement - by providing clear information, encouraging social distancing, use of protective masks, encouraging increased personal and hand hygiene and promoting other appropriate protective measures. These measures aimed at breaking the spread of infection signify the importance of appropriate risk communication and community engagement as a critical strategy to address the response.

All response activities should be conducted in a participatory, community-based way that are informed and continually optimized according to community feedback to detect and respond to concerns, rumors and misinformation. Changes in the response interventions should be developed based on population’s perspective of the public health measures. Responsive, empathic, transparent and consistent messaging in local languages through trusted channels of communication, using community-based networks and key influencers and building capacity of local entities is essential to establish authority and trust.

Given the current situation with resurgence of cases, there is a continued need to strengthen effective planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the COVID-19 RCCE Strategy, in order to ensure sustainability by strengthening resilience of national systems for potential future health and other emergencies.

2. Purpose

The purpose of this consultancy is to provide support for design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of risk communication and community engagement activities regarding the COVID-19 response, including strengthening of national capacities to effectively communicate about preventive measures and help protect the public’s health during the response to COVID -19.

3. Activities and Tasks

Under the direct supervision of the UNICEF Communication for Development Officer, the consultant will carry out the following tasks:

1. Support in conducting perception surveys of current risks, as well as to understand the target audience, their knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and practices; planning and response, and monitoring public sentiment and effectiveness of the communication activities;
2. Ensure high quality of key messages – prepare and pre-test messages through the participatory process, specifically targeting key stakeholders and at-risk groups, control accuracy, correctness and effectiveness of the messages. Risk communication response measures must be tailored to local context, language, sociocultural dynamics, etc., and may include communication guidance, press releases, talking points, social media messages, infographics, videos and animations, etc.;
3. Support in mapping target groups and preferred communication tools/channels that are available and deemed most effective to promote awareness and equip people with necessary information to protect themselves;
4. Provide technical support to development of targeted risk communication and preventive messages, IEC materials and videos on COVID-19, based on the existing global and regional resources and materials;
5. Plan the effective and timely dissemination of messages and materials through existing institutional settings, networks, traditional and digital media, etc.;
6. Provide technical support in adjusting/updating of the National risk communication plan, as required;
7. Support the Government in establishing, planning, coordination and monitoring arrangements for risk communication during and after COVID-19 (development and adoption of SOPs for crisis communication, guidelines, protocols, etc.);
8. Support in organization and implementation of required capacity building/trainings of national partners in the area of Public relations/risk communication and community engagement;
9. Support strengthening of partnerships at national and sub-national level for active engagement of national and local officials, health experts, scientists and academia, celebrities/influencers, civil society organizations, community groups and other partners in promotion of COVID-19 and other risk communication messages;
10. Support in designing, implementation and monitoring two-way listening and rumor monitoring systems, such as engaging with key influencers in target communities as well as partner focal points to obtain rumors, concerns, questions and other relevant feedback on an ongoing basis, mass and social media monitoring, etc.

11. Providing support to ensure effective communication coordination mechanism among relevant stakeholders - government departments, civil society organizations and UN agencies to synergize efforts, track, mitigate and respond to misinformation and share correct information and advice with the various target groups.

    4. Key Deliverables and Timeframe

Under the direct supervision of UNICEF Montenegro Communication for Development Officer, the Consultant will be engaged for a total of 5 months, for the period: mid-September 2020 until mid-February 2021.

The consultant is expected to produce the deliverables listed below by the end of assignment.

1. Perceptions surveys about COVID-19 situation in Montenegro conducted- throughout the assignment, last survey to be conducted by the end of January 2021;
2. Risk communication and community engagement Action plan developed – by the end of September 2020;
3. Key response risk communication messages finalized, communication materials are produced for different phases of the outbreak targeting different audience groups and are effectively disseminated through various communication channels – throughout the assignment;
4. In response to COVID-19 situation, national communication plan is updated as required – throughout the assignment, whenever required;
5. National SOPs, guidelines and protocols for risk communication developed and adopted – by the end of November 2020;
6. Training of national counterparts on risk communication and community engagement is completed – by the end of October 2020;
7. Partnerships of various partners at national and local levels in promotion of COVID-19 and other risk communication messages strengthened – throughout the assignment;
8. Feedback mechanisms on target audiences’ concerns, questions, and rumors established – by the end of October 2020;

9. Final report – by the end of February 2021.

   5. Management and Organisation

Management: The Contractor will be supervised by the UNICEF Montenegro Communication for Development Officer.

Organization: International individual consultancy is required for this consultancy.

Schedule: This assignment will commence by mid of September 2020 on a full-time basis until mid of February 2021.

Payment schedule: Payment will be on a monthly schedule, upon submission of monthly progress report and signed invoice. The report should be submitted to UNICEF supervisor and cover reflection of the expertise and services provided, as well as advancements and challenges observed.

UNICEF recourse in the case of unsatisfactory performance: UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs is incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines.

6. Qualifications and requirements:

   The consultant is expected to have the following qualifications to complete the task:

   Education

• Advanced university degree in one of the following areas: communication/social sciences/arts/humanities, public health, or any related technical field;

  Experience

• At least 10 (ten) years of field experience in (a) communication; (b) community engagement; (c) social science (d) journalism/media communication; (f) public health;

• Previous experience in supporting trainings to build national capacities;
• Experience in development, planning, implementation and monitoring of communication response plans, including emergency communication plans;

• Previous work experience with UNICEF is an asset

  Language

• Excellent command of English and local language; verbal and written.

• Demonstrated coordination and leadership capacity;
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills;
• Ability to work under stress and tight timeline;
• Demonstrated tact and high sense of responsibility and discretion;
• Demonstrates integrity and high ethical standards;

• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

  7. Application procedure

1. To apply for a vacant position, please submit CV, cover letter and P-11 form;

2. The candidates are requested to submit a financial offer as a separate document consisting of breakdown of the applicable costs for the whole period.

   8. Selection Method

All applicants will be screened against qualifications and requirements set above. Candidates fully meeting all the requirements will be further evaluated based on the criteria below.

The proposal will be evaluated against the following criteria:

A) Technical criteria – Interview evaluation process / Maximum points: 70

1. Technical Criteria - Interview – 70 % of total evaluation– max. 70 points

• Education: 20 points

• Previous experience: 25 points

• Technical questions at the interview: 25 points

Only candidates who obtained at least 70% of points from the technical part (who will score at least 49 points) will be qualified for considering for financial proposal evaluation

B) Financial criteria – evaluation of financial proposal - Maximum points: 30

The applicants are requested to submit their financial proposal consisting of professional fee only for the services to be provided.

• Financial scores will be calculated using the formula [lowest offer / financial offer of the candidate x 30].

9. Remarks****:

Upon conducting the recruitment process and prior the signing of the contract, the consultant will be required to complete the following online courses**. All certificates should be presented as part of the contract.** ​

All consultants and individual contractors, even those working from home, must complete the following online courses prior to signature of contract. All certificates should be presented as part of the contract.​

• Ethics and Integrity at UNICEF
• Prevention of Sexual Harassment and Abuse of Authority
• Sexual Exploitation Abuse (PSEA)

Consultants and Individual Contractors must complete the following course before commencement of any travel on behalf of UNICEF.

• BSAFE security training

  Any consultant or individual contractor who is issued a UNICEF email address must complete the following courses no later than 30 days after signature of contract.

• UN Human Rights and Responsibilities

• Information Awareness Security Course

The courses can be found on the following link: UNICEF Mandatory Training/Learning Classes. Course completion certificates should be shared and retained with the human resources unit of the hiring office.

10. Budget and Remuneration

    Payment schedule

The payments will be made upon successful completion of the deliverables and submission of invoices on a monthly basis. Recourse

UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs is incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines. UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities to apply.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.