Jr Communications Consultant (open to Malaysian nationals only)

Consultant

Contract

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

Background

UNCDF is the UN’s capital investment agency for the world’s 47 Least Developed Countries (LDCs). UNCDF uses its capital mandate to support LDCs pursue inclusive growth. UNCDF promotes financial inclusion, also through digital financial services (DFS), as a key enabler of poverty reduction and inclusive growth; and it demonstrates how localizing finance outside the capital cities can accelerate growth in local economies, promote sustainable and climate-resilient infrastructure development, and empower local communities. Using capital grants, loans and credit enhancements, UNCDF tests financial models in inclusive finance and local development finance; ‘de-risks’ the local investment space; and provides proofs of concept, paving the way for larger and more risk-averse investors.

Recently, UNCDF has formulated its strategy ‘Leaving No One Behind in the Digital Era’ based on over a decade of experience in digital finance in Africa, Asia and the Pacific. UNCDF recognizes that reaching the full potential of digital financial inclusion in support of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aligns with the vision of promoting digital economies that leaves no one behind. The vision of UNCDF is to empower millions of people by 2024 to use services daily that leverage innovation and technology and contribute to the SDGs. Please refer to the link for further information: https://www.uncdf.org/article/4931/global-strategy-leaving-no-one-behind-in-the-digital-era

For years, many financial inclusion practitioners assumed that providing access to finance would enable people to use money in ways that would set them up for success. But having access does not cause people to be financially healthy, stable, and successful. For example, only 29% of Americans are financially healthy despite a booming economy and near-universal financial inclusion. 83% of Kenyans were financially included in 2019 but only 22% were deemed financially healthy, a drop from 39% in 2016.

Financial inclusion tends to be reduced to binaries as opposed to being a discussion of a spectrum. Financial health, on the other hand, is arguably a more customer-centric concept, one that offers principles to define impact more holistically, measure it systematically and create it in a sustained and meaningful manner. Fundamentally, it is a non-product-centric approach based on the end consumers' needs.

Financial inclusion and financial health are also fundamentally different approaches, with distinct entry points. With financial inclusion we start with the question, “What does a financial product or service unlock?” With financial health we turn this notion on its head and ask instead, “What does it take to be financially healthy?” Using this “impact” question as an anchor, we work backwards to better align financial interventions to what makes customers financially healthy.

Hosted by UNCDF, the Centre for Financial Health is set-up as an umbrella platform towards convening a global coalition and thought leadership. The Centre for Financial Health acts as a convener, providing a platform to bring together global, regional and local actors committed to using financial and digital solutions to improve the financial lives of low-income families—helping them climb - and stay - out of poverty. The Centre creates space for thought leadership where best financial health practices and models are exchanged and lead to concrete action with governments and the private sector.

The Centre is implementing programmes in different countries called Living Labs which support players with a combination of high quality financial, advisory and networking support to design, test and scale financial health solutions. The aim of the programmes is to improve the financial health of five million people over the next four years. Driving global advocacy and learnings around financial health requires focus on communication, evidence base, research, partnerships and proof of concepts.

In line with that, UNCDF is looking for a Jr Communications Consultant to be part of the communications team to strengthen the global efforts. The Jr Communications Consultant will assist the communications team in driving the global advocacy and communication efforts related to different interventions managed under the Centre. The details are outlined in the scope below.

Duties and Responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant will be based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and will be working with a team of specialists in digital innovation, digital financial services, and insights across Asia and Africa. The consultant will assist in the implementation of communications activities broadly under five areas of work.

1. Content creation: The consultant will assist in creating content for the launch of Agritech Challenge under the south-south innovation platform and publications. These will primarily consist of blogs, news pieces and videos that can be adapted for social media, website, media pitching, etc.

Expected outputs:

• Blogs focused on key highlights from publications and reports: Saving series, financial health working paper, and Grab report.
• Articles related to key milestones and progress on Agritech Challenge 2021.
• Videos of participants, enablers and winners for social media sharing for the Agritech Challenge.
• Photo repository for all photos organized thematically and with captions.

2. Social media and website management: Promote the Centre’s work and impact through social media and website to improve audience engagement and increase evidence-based conversation around financial health. Leverage on UNCDF’s and partner’s social media/website to increase user base and interaction.

Expected outputs:

• Social media calendar and content plan for publications launch and Agritech Challenge that promote engagement and invite conversations and interaction from relevant communities.
• Create and register social media handles for the Centre for Financial Health on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
• Report on the performance of social media platforms to recommend plans or strategies to optimize reach, engagement and follower base by 30%.
• Report on web traffic and KPIs using Google Analytics or other social media-focused analytics tools.

3. Event and webinars: Assist with planning and organizing webinars and events.

Expected outputs:

• Organize info sessions and learning related webinars for start-ups and enablers for the Agritech challenge.
• Organize workshop or virtual event such as press conference, webinars etc. in close coordination with communication team.

The table below shows the detailed deliverables and corresponding target delivery dates.

Deliverables/Outputs

Target Completion

Payment terms in % of total contract price

• For the Agritech Challenge Phase 1 the consultant will assist to organize at least 3 webinars for the info sessions and develop 4 video bites in coordination with country teams and partners to push out on social media.
• Develop a webpage on Agritech Challenge under south-south innovation challenge.
• One blog, one emailer on financial health paper and social media plan to push out the publication.

Week 2

10%

• A TOR for video production agency for the Agritech Challenge.
• Develop a detailed social media content plan for the Agritech Challenge.
• Organize one virtual press conference for the south-south innovation platform.
• A blog on Grab report summarizing key results.

Week 6

15%

• Organize one webinar related to Savings.
• Develop social media plan and emailers for the launch of saving series related publications.
• Organize three thematic webinars for startups and enablers for the Agritech Challenge.
• One blog and a news piece on the announcement of shortlisted start-ups and the way forward.
• Develop Agritech Challenge cohort webpage.
• Organize photo repository as per themes with captions on SharePoint.

Week 13

25%

• Register social media handles (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn) for the Centre and develop three months broad content plan.
• Submit plan on increasing followers and engagement on social media by 30%.
• Organize one workshop/webinar on UNGA topical discussion on ageing.
• Develop emailer and social media plan for the report on Elderly-Results from China.

Week 16

15%

• News piece on Agritech Challenge winners’ announcement.
• Develop a video on final winners and their winning idea for the Agritech Challenge.
• Organize learning webinar in coordination with innovation and, data and insights team.
• Organize at least two regional/country dialogues.
• One blog on learnings from Agritech Challenge.

Week 22

25%

• Report on social media analytics and recommendations and content plan for improvement.
• Report on website traffic and KPIs.
• Emailer and social media plan for launching project insights from China.

Week 24

10%

TOTAL

100%

Institutional Arrangement

Duration: May – October 2021

Duty Station: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with travel as required

Total Number of Working Days for Assignment: Max of 100 working days within 6 months

For unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed. UNCDF would cover the cost of stay for the selected individual.

Please note that UNCDF cannot guarantee residence permits or visas for consultants. Consultants are responsible for securing their work documentation. In the case of national consultants, applicants that are not nationals of the duty station requested will have to prove their residence status.

Provision of Monitoring, Progress Controls & Payments:

• The Communications and Public Relations Consultant shall provide technical oversight and guidance to the Consultant. The Consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Global Manager – Innovations and Financial Health.
• Payment will be made against satisfactory completion of each deliverable according to the payment schedule listed in the table above. All payments shall be subject to the clearance and approval of the Global Manager – Innovations and Financial Health.
• Final payment shall require a signed performance evaluation of the consultant.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

• Excellent communication skills.
• Excellent writing skills.
• Able to convey concepts visually.
• Fluency in using social media and using analytics to measure viewership.
• Strong project and event management skills.

Other Competencies:

• Pays attention to detail, strives for excellence, a team player, and takes initiative.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualification:

• A Bachelor’s degree in communication, journalism, linguistics/literature, marketing, business, international development or a related discipline.

Experience:

• Minimum of one (1) year of experience in writing and editing communications material such as press releases, blogs, newsletters, and managing social media accounts to improve visibility of initiatives and/or organizations demonstrated through work samples relevant to the position, e.g. written material, tweets and other communications material produced by the applicant.
• Minimum of one (1) year of experience with designing communications collateral for events, such as brochures and presentations, and assisting with logistics during events.
• Minimum of one (1) year of experience working on initiatives related to financial inclusion and/or entrepreneurship.
• Relevant experience with a UN organization/agency is preferable.

Language:

• Fluent in English, both written and oral.
• Additional language skills either in Mandarin or Malay is a plus.

Application Process

Interested individuals must submit the following documents as proposals in order to demonstrate their qualifications. (NOTE: The system does not allow multiple uploads of document. Applicants must make sure to upload all documents in one PDF file.)

All applications must contain the following information:

• Cover letter with a summary statement of competencies in relation to this Terms of Reference (TOR);
• Curriculum Vitae and/or Completed and Signed P11-Personal History Form with names and current contacts of three referees (Available at: http://sas.undp.org/documents/p11_personal_history_form.doc);
• Financial proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, including professional expenses (such as insurance, taxes, etc.). Please use the template available at: http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_file.cfm?doc_id=29916).
• A minimum of three (3) work samples that are relevant to the position, e.g. written material, tweets and other communications material produced by the applicant.

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested documents.

General terms & conditions to be downloaded:

• The General Terms & Conditions for Individual contract is available at: https://www.my.undp.org/content/dam/malaysia/docs/Procurement/AC_AntiFraud_General%20Conditions%20of%20Contract%20for%20Individual%20Contracts%20(2).pdf

Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA): A legal instrument between UNDP and a Company/institution, according to which, the latter makes available the services of an individual delivering time-bound and quantifiable outputs that are directly linked to payments

• The General Terms & Conditions for Reimbursement Loan Agreement is available at:https://www.my.undp.org/content/dam/malaysia/docs/Procurement/Reimbursable%20Loan%20Agreement%20_%20Terms%20&%20Conditions.pdf

Incomplete proposals may not be considered. Only short-listed candidates may be contacted, and successful candidates will be notified.

Evaluation Method

Applicants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

• Preliminary Evaluation – Step I: Screening;
• Technical Evaluation Weight - 70% x (Step II: Desk review 100 points);
• Financial Evaluation Weight - 30% (Step III).

Step I: Screening

Applications will be screened and only applicants meeting the following mandatory criteria will progress to the pool for shortlisting:

• A Bachelor’s degree in communication, journalism, linguistics/literature, marketing, business, international development or a related discipline.
• Minimum of one (1) year of experience in writing and editing communications material such as press releases, blogs, newsletters, and managing social media accounts to improve visibility of initiatives and/or organizations.
• Minimum of three (3) work samples that are relevant to the position, e.g. written material, tweets and other communications material produced by the applicant.

Step II: Desk Review

A desk review will be conducted to produce a shortlist of applicants according to the criteria listed below. Only applicants who obtain 70 points at this stage shall be invited for the next step.

• A Bachelor’s degree in communication, journalism, linguistics/literature, marketing, business, international development or a related discipline. – 20 points
• Minimum of one (1) year of experience in writing and editing communications material such as press releases, blogs, newsletters, and managing social media accounts to improve visibility of initiatives and/or organizations demonstrated through work samples relevant to the position, e.g. written material, tweets and other communications material produced by the applicant. – 25 points
• Minimum of one (1) year of experience with designing communications collateral for events, such as brochures and presentations, and assisting with logistics during events. – 20 points
• Minimum of one (1) year of experience working on initiatives related to financial inclusion and/or entrepreneurship. – 25 points
• Relevant experience with a UN organization/agency. – 10 points

Only applicants who obtain a minimum of 70% at the desk review will be considered as technically-qualified and will be reviewed further for financial evaluation.

Step III: Financial Evaluation

The following formula will be used for evaluation of financial proposals:

Lowest priced proposal / Price of the proposal being evaluated x 30

Award Criteria

The contact shall be awarded to the applicant whose offer have been evaluated and determined as:

• Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
• Having received the highest combined score: Technical (desk review) 70% + Financial 30% = 100%.

Apply now

Added 3 years ago - Updated 3 years ago - Source: jobs.undp.org