Service Center Page, Jobs

A2J4D/ National Communication and Outreach Consultant.

Vacancy Number: Qu23/02846

Location:	Chisinau, Moldova
Application Deadline:	25 Oct 2023, 16:30 (GMT+2:00)
Application Extended deadline:	08 Nov 2023, 16:30 (GMT+2:00)
Type of Contract:	Individual Contract
Starting date:	06 Nov 2023
Reference to the project:	Enhancing Access to Justice for Living in Dignity
Expected Duration of Assignment:	November 2023 – June 2024 (115 working days)
Submission Instructions: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is currently implementing a project Enhancing access to justice for living in dignity (A2J4Dignity) that requires the services of an individual to support the outreach and visibility of activities and interventions under A2J4Dignity Project components, as well as A2J4Dignity Project achievements and result. In consideration of your qualifications, we are hereby inviting you to submit an offer for this particular assignment. To assist you in understanding the requirements of this assignment, we have attached hereto the following :  The Terms of Reference for the assignment described above; The standard Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability, which you must accomplish and submit to UNDP; The Individual Contract and its General Terms and Conditions, which you would be expected to sign in the event you are the selected Offeror in this procurement process.   Should you be interested and decide to submit an offer for this assignment, kindly submit directly in the online supplier portal no later than the deadline indicated in the system. Offers must be submitted directly in the Quantum Supplier Portal following this link: http://supplier.quantum.partneragencies.org  using the profile you may have in the portal (please log in using your username and password). Follow the instructions in the user guide to search for the competition using search filters, namely Negotiation ID: UNDP-MDA-00315 and subscribe to the competition in order to get notifications in case of amendments of the competition document and requirements. In case you have never registered before, follow this link to register a profile: https://estm.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/fscmUI/faces/PrcPosRegisterSupplier?prcBuId=300000127714247 based on the instructions in guides available in UNDP website: https://www.undp.org/procurement/business/resources-for-bidders. Please note that the access link to the registered profile is sent from Oracle within up to 24 hours. Please make sure your computer does not have any firewall that blocks oracle or undp.org extension. Do not create a new profile if you already have one. Use the forgotten password feature in case you do not remember the password or the username from previous registration. Should you require further clarifications on the application through the Quantum online portal, kindly contact the Procurement Unit at sc.md@undp.org. Please pay attention that the proposal shall be submitted online through the Quantum system and any proposal sent to the above email shall be disqualified. Should you require further clarifications on the Notice, Terms of Reference or other requirements, kindly communicate using the messaging functionality in the portal. Deadline for Submission of Offers (Date and Time), which is visible in the online supplier portal will be final. The portal will not accept submission of any offer after that date and time. It is the responsibility of the applicant to make sure that the offer is submitted prior to this deadline for submission. Applicants are advised to upload offer documents and to submit their offer a day prior or well before the date and time indicated under the deadline for submission of Offers. Do not wait until last minute. If Applicant faces any issue during submitting offers at the last minutes prior to the deadline for submission, UNDP may not be able to assist on such a short notice and will not be held liable in such instance. UNDP will not accept any offer that is not submitted directly through the System. If any discrepancy between deadline in the system and in deadline indicated elsewhere, deadline in the system prevails. We look forward to your favourable response and thank you in advance for your interest in working with UNDP.
Supporting Documents: 35684619_Terms of Reference UN_Supplier_Negotiation_UNDP-MDA-00315_English 35683330_Offerors Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability 35683331_Self-registration guide for ICs 35683333_UNDP General Terms and Conditions for Individual Contractors 35683334_UNDP Quantum - User Guide for Suppliers - English 35683338_UNDP Quantum - User Guide for Suppliers - Russian 35683340_IC_Statement of Health_Individual Contractors

Ms. Victoria Muntean.

Background

The UNDP Project “Enhancing access to justice for living in dignity” (A2J4Dignity) is a short-term project designed to enhance the resilience of the rule of law system from the Republic of Moldova and strengthen its capacities to deliver effective remedies and provide access to public services. It is intended to address the multifaceted and interconnected challenges of the current poly crises through strengthening institutions, empowering vulnerable groups to access legal services, and unlocking the potential of digital transformation in support of better access to justice.

This project aims at providing rule of law institutions and other relevant actors (such as CSOs) with the adequate tools and knowledge to work across the humanitarian-development-peace nexus and to improve access of refugees, displaced populations and host communities to inclusive justice services, safety and security, and protection systems. At the same time, this intervention will seek to empower justice seekers to claim their rights and access legal services while seeking remedies for their grievances.

In the context of implementation of specific Project components UNDP, implementing partner under the A2J4Dignity Project, established partnerships with NGO Law Center of Advocates (CDA), through signature of Responsible Party Agreements (RPA) and applying the Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfer (HACT) for cash transfer, reporting and quality assurance procedures. Under the RPA, CDA is engaged by UNDP as Responsible Parties to carry out substantive development activities assigned under the Project in line with the approved workplan and budget. CDA oversees the strengthening the capacities of local civil society and local authorities to respond to the needs of the displaced persons and mainstream the related processes and procedures, as well enforce the judicial and administrative system’s capacity to respond to the actual needs and future developments, enhancing at the same time the awareness of displaced persons in relation to their rights and obligations but also to assess the operationalisation of temporary protection. In addition to this CDA, through the on-granting modality provides institutional development grants to 5 local NGOs to strengthen their institutional and expertise capacities to engage in provision of support in access to services and legal remedies for displaced people and host communities on their path to solving grievances they face, including in the context of the temporary protection mechanism.

Additionally, UNDP engaged a national NGO Alliance INFONET through the low-value grants modality (LVGs), to assess the accessibility of the justice system in the process of interaction with people with disabilities. The interventions will generate findings on the root causes of the identified key gaps in ensuring access to justice (infrastructural, informational, procedural) aiming to find solutions to ensure accessibility of justice which are to be further transposed either in policies (primary and secondary normative framework) or in changes to processes and procedures.

In this context, the A2J4Dignity Project is seeking to hire a national consultant to support the outreach and visibility of activities and interventions under A2J4Dignity Project components, as well as A2J4Dignity Project achievements and result. The consultant shall also lead the coordination of communications and outreach activities of Project Responsible Party and Low Value Grant Recipient Organizations.

Scope of work

The expected output for the national consultant’s assignment is to provide support to awareness raising and communication on the A2J4Dignity Project work in full compliance with the applicable visibility guidelines and rules, including via implementation of the Project’s Communication Strategy and Activity Plan, development and dissemination of information, promotion materials and handouts, as well as working with project’s beneficiaries, Responsible Party (NGO CDA) and NGOs engaged in the institutional development activities, as well as Low Value Grant Recipient Organizations  to ensure synergy in communication about the achieved results of the Project. Additionally, the consultant is expected to significantly contribute to building the communication capacities of the NGOs engaged in the institutional development activities lead by CDA to interact with the public, professional groups and development partners, applying innovative communication approaches via social media platforms, as well as support the delivery of outreach and visibility activities and campaigns initiated by the Project Team, Project Responsible Party and/or beneficiary institutions, contributing to achievement of A2J4Dignity Project expected results.

In order to achieve the stated objective, the Consultant will have the following responsibilities:

1. Provide communication and visibility support to all Project’s activities where necessary;
   • Lead the implementation of the Project’s Communication Strategy and Visibility Plan in close partnership with the Project Team and UNDP Communications Analyst;
   • Ensure and maintain cooperation/liaison with donor’s and national counterparts’ communications officers;
   • Identify and maintain close cooperation and communication with both print and electronic media, and other media outlets, e.g., web portals;
   • Maintain the Project’s events calendar and insert regularly updates into UNDP and UN event calendar;
   • Draft, summarize and edit communications pieces of varying length for different internal and external audiences in close cooperation with the Project team and UNDP Communications Analyst;
   • Prepare information about the Project’s most important achievements to be disseminated through the national media, as well as local and/or regional communications channels and outlets;
   • Maintain and update when needed the Project’s profile on UNDP website and map of projects;
   • Ensure compliance with all corporate rules and regulations of UNDP and the Donor organization in the field of communication and visibility promotion and reporting;
   • Contribute to successful conceptualization, organization and delivery of Project outreach and visibility activities and campaigns in close partnership with the Project Team and UNDP Communications Analyst. Throughout the process the consultant shall ensure compliance with the expected results under the A2J4Dignity Project and use of human rights-based approach;
   • Contribute to development, design and layout of A2J4Dignity Project materials, communication packages (e.g. reports, posters, infographics, facto-graphics, handouts, images, dynamic presentations, etc.) for internal and external audiences, for presentation, print, online and media outlets use;
   • Monitor and ensure compliant use by Project team of the Project Communication Guidelines and technical specifications for branded items;
   • Coordinate and oversee, in line with UNDP and Donor editorial and visual guidelines, printing of materials/products produced within the project, advising on print solutions, coordinating with printing houses and ensuring delivery of final error-free agreed materials;
   • Support the process of attracting additional consultancy support and/or services in the area of communications and visibility, necessary for A2J4Dignity Project implementation;
   • Provide inputs and contribution to the ToRs developed for contracting communication/PR companies for the delivery of specific communication services and products focusing on vulnerable groups, as well as participate in the evaluation of offers submitted in the context of launched competitions for procurement of above mentioned;
   • Respond to requests for inputs from UNDP from the beneficiary institutions, with respect to communication and visibility aspects of the Project;
2. Contribute to successful conceptualization, organization and delivery of Project Responsible Party, NGOs’ engaged in the institutional development activities lead by CDA, Low Value Grant Recipient Organizations’ outreach and visibility activities and campaigns in close partnership with the Project Team and UNDP Communications Analyst. Throughout the process the consultant shall ensure compliance with the expected results under the A2J4Dignity Project and use of human rights-based approach;
3. Monitor and ensure compliant use by Project Responsible Parties, NGOs engaged in the institutional development activities lead by CDA, Low Value Grant Recipient Organizations of the Project Communication Guidelines and technical specifications for branded items;
4. Provide advice and assistance to developing the communication capacities of the NGOs engaged in the institutional development activities lead by CDA;
5. Develop progress reports on the performed activity and carried out tasks as well as recommendations for further interventions and or adjustments in approach.

Requirements for experience

Academic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher degree in public relations, communication, journalism, social science or related areas relevant for the current assignment. Additional training and certification in communication/new media is an asset.

Experience and knowledge:

• At least 5 years of demonstrated experience in working with mass-media or public relations agencies;

• At least 3 years of work experience in developing and implementing media/communications, visibility and awareness raising campaigns, drafting communication and awareness raising materials, writing articles, press releases, interviews and other communication products;
• Proven experience (at least 2 proven previous assignments) in implementing media/communications, visibility and awareness raising campaigns;
• Proven experience with the government institutions, NGOs and donors working in the area, mass-media outlets, and PR agencies (at least 2 proven previous assignments implying engagement with these stakeholders);
• Experience in similar assignments in UN or other international organisation is an advantage.

Competencies:

• Knowledge of the government institutions, NGOs and donors working in the area, mass-media outlets and PR agencies;
• Excellent written communication skills, with analytic capacity and ability to synthesize project outputs and relevant findings for the preparation of analytical documents;
• Ability to think creatively, to develop and implement innovative solutions for traditional issues;
• Capacity to build strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and to respond positively to feedback;
• Fluency in Romanian and Russian languages. Knowledge of English is an asset.

Proven commitment to the core values of the United Nations, in particular, respecting differences of culture, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, language, age, HIV status, disability, and sexual orientation, or other status.

UNDP Moldova is committed to workforce diversity. Women, persons with disabilities, Roma and other ethnic or religious minorities, persons living with HIV, as well as refugees and other non-citizens legally entitled to work in the Republic of Moldova, are particularly encouraged to apply.

Documents to be included

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/ information to demonstrate their qualifications:

• Offeror’s letter to UNDP confirming interest and availability for the individual contractor (IC) assignment, incorporating Financial proposal in Annex 2

Upload the signed version of the filled in Offeror’s letter to UNDP confirming interest and availability for the individual contractor (IC) assignment. Annex 2 to the Offeror's letter, incorporating the Financial Proposal, shall be filled in mandatorily and includes the detailed breakdown of costs supporting the all-inclusive financial proposal.

The Financial Proposal shall be additionally submitted directly in the system. Please ensure there are no mathematical errors and that amounts from Offeror's Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability match with your offer in the system.

• Proposal (Motivation Letter) explaining why they are the most suitable for the work including previous experience in similar Projects (please provide brief information on each of the above qualifications, item by item, including information, links/copies of documents to support the required work experience and competences );
• Technical proposal (incl. brief description of experience, approach, and methodology for the completion of the assignment);
• Duly completed and updated personal CV with at least 3 references.

Important notice: The applicants who have the statute of Government Official / Public Servant prior to appointment will be asked to submit the following documentation:

• a no-objection letter in respect of the applicant received from the Government, and;
• the applicant is certified in writing by the Government to be on official leave without pay for the entire duration of the Individual Contract.

Financial proposal

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e., whether payments fall in instalments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e., upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals the financial proposal shall include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including fee, taxes, communication costs and number of anticipated working days).