Consultant – Communication expert

Background

The Regional Programme on Local Democracy in the Western Balkans 2 (ReLOaD2[1]) is a continuation of the EU-UNDP partnership and previously supported initiative – ReLOaD1[2], implemented in the four-year period 2017 - 2020.

ReLOaD2 continues to strengthen participatory democracies and the EU integration process in the Western Balkans by empowering civil society and youth to actively take part in the decision making and by stimulating an enabling legal and financial environment for civil society. The programme is implemented in the following IPA beneficiaries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Kosovo*, Montenegro, and Serbia.

Working across the region, ReLOaD2 will enhance capacities of municipalities and civil society organizations (CSOs) to engage in productive partnerships and contribute to improved service delivery and realization of local priorities in line with development strategies.

ReLOaD2 in Albania works with 11[3] partner municipalities (six new partners and five partners form ReLOaD1) and two mentor partner municipalities[4] towards institutionalization of the interaction between these municipalities and the civil society. It will incite partner municipalities to mainstream public funding for CSOs in a transparent and development-oriented manner, recognizing local needs and embracing a project-based approach. Also, the Action will promote youth engagement and support implementation of youth initiatives and will work on improvement of their economic perspectives in all partner localities.

The total budget of the ReLOaD2 is EUR 12.63 million (USD 15.06 million), while the component for Albania totals EUR 1.2 million (USD 1.4 million). The Project duration is 48 months (2021 – 2024).

[1] https://www.undp.org/albania/projects/regional-local-democracy-programme-western-balkans-reload2

[2] https://www.undp.org/albania/projects/regional-programme-local-democracy-western-balkans-reload

* For the European Union, this designation is without prejudice to position on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence. For UNDP all references to Kosovo shall be understood in the context of the UN Resolution 1244/1999.

[3] Partner LGs of ReLOaD2 in Albania:

Six new partner municipalities - Kamëz, Kavajë, Kukës, Lushnje, Patos, Sarandë,

Five partner municipalities from ReLOaD1 - Elbasan, Korçë, Lezhë, Përmet Roskovec.

[4] Mentor partner municipalities of ReLOaD2 in Albania: Tirana and Shkodra.

Objective

The consultant will support the implementation of visibility and communication activities, ensuring effective and successful communication and promotion of activities including networking and knowledge sharing. The consultant will also provide support to partner LGs and CSOs for increasing their awareness about the communication and visibility importance in presenting projects results and in raising their capacities to secure smooth implementation of communication tools.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the ReLOaD2 Project Manager for Albania and in cooperation and under the guidance of UNDP-Albania Communications Specialist and in cooperation with the regional office/regional communications associate, the consultant will be responsible for supporting the team in implementation of the communications and visibility Plan and production of public information materials. Considering the Action’s engagement with 11 partner LGs, CSOs and youth, the consultant will also provide advice to partner LGs and CSOs on the production of visibility and communication materials.

More specifically the consultant will be responsible to:

Prepare six communications materials including three stories bringing the beneficiary perspective, press releases and/or other content. (7 days)
Conduct two training sessions dedicated to visibility for partner CSOs. These sessions will be part of training sessions organized by ReLOaD2 for selected partner CSOs on project implementation. The consultant will be responsible for the preparation of the training materials and delivery of two sessions on communications and visibility. (2 days)
Provide assistance to partner CSOs of ReLOaD2 in the implementation of Visibility and Communication Guidelines. The consultant is expected to check and approve proposed visibility materials including advice for improvement to partner CSOs that will implement projects under ReLOaD2. (6 days)
Produce one professional video and three videos for social media (such as vox pop, teaser videos), featuring project beneficiaries and highlighting project results. The beneficiaries and concrete interventions will be selected in close collaboration with ReLOaD2 staff and UNDP-Albania Communications Specialist. The consultant will be responsible for all aspects of the creation and production of videos. It may require following the activity in the field. The videos will be mostly utilised through social media platforms and final event. (14 days)
Preparation of 36 social media posts for ReLOaD2. Content will be posted on UNDP social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram etc. (5 days)
Preparation of a final report (1 day)

Deliverables and timelines

The consultant is responsible for the following deliverables:

Deliverables (outputs)

No. of days per task

Due date

Percentage

Preparation of three visibility materials (one story and other similar materials)

3 days

15 December 2022

9%

Conduct a training dedicated to visibility for representatives of partner CSOs working with Youth.

1 day

10 December 2022

3%

Provide assistance to 20 partner CSOs of ReLOaD2 project on implementation of Visibility and Communication Guidelines.

3 days

15 December 2022

9%

Produce two videos for social media (vox pop / teaser video), featuring project beneficiaries and highlighting project results.

4 days

4 December 2022

11%

Prepare 15 social media posts

2 days

15 December 2022

5%

Preparation of three visibility materials (two stories and other similar materials)

4 days

20 June 2023

11%

Conduct a training dedicated to visibility for representatives of partner CSOs.

1 day

10 June 2023

3%

Provide assistance to 15 partner CSOs of ReLOaD2 project on implementation of Visibility and Communication Guidelines.

3 days

20 June 2023

9%

Produce one professional video and one video for social media (vox pop / teaser video), featuring project beneficiaries and highlighting project results

10 days

25 June 2023

28%

Prepare 21 social media posts

3 days

20 June 2023

9%

Final report

1 day

30 June 2023

3%

Total

35 days

100%

Competencies

a. Corporate Responsibility and Teamwork:

Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values.
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
Plans, prioritizes and delivers tasks on time;
Strives for and promotes excellence in performance continually;
Participates effectively in a team-based, information-sharing environment, collaborating and cooperating with others;
Generates ideas and seizes opportunities to support corporate strategic objectives.

b. People Skills:

Demonstrated ability to work harmoniously with persons of different national and cultural backgrounds;
Recognizes and responds appropriately to the ideas, interests, and concerns of others;
Builds trust and engenders morale by displaying open, transparent and credible behavior;
Respects individual/cultural differences; utilizes diversity to foster teamwork;
Ensures others’ understanding of, involvement in, and adaptation to a change process.

c. Partnering and Networking:

Communicates sensitively and effectively across different constituencies;
Ability to work as a member of a team as well as work autonomously.

d. Results-Orientation:

Plans and ensures quality results to meet established goals.

e. Communication:

Formulates written information clearly and persuasively;
Shares information openly with co-workers and partners while using discretion to protect confidences;
Presents information in a clear and articulate manner.

f. Job Knowledge and Expertise:

Strong analytical skills;
Advanced writing skills,
Proven skills in conducting researches, interviews, and reporting,
Conceptual and practical knowledge of policy development, with specific focus on public budgets,
Ability to review data, identify and adjust discrepancies,
Good knowledge of administrative rules and regulations regarding civil society sector,
Executes day-to-day tasks systematically and efficiently,
Initiative and sound judgment.

Required Skills and Experience

Education degree in media and/or communications or related fields.

Experience

Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in similar assignments.
At least 5 years of experience in developing communication materials, targeting variety of audiences.
Experience of producing videos, stories and documentaries of social nature.
Experience in graphic design of visibility materials
Ability to work in a pressured environment with strict deadlines.
Previous experience/familiarity with UNDP and / or other UN agencies particularly in EU-Funded projects is an asset.

Language Requirements

• Fluency in written and spoken English and Albanian

Evaluation Procedure

UNDP applies a fair and transparent selection process that would take into account both the technical qualification of Individual Consultants as well as their financial proposals. The contract will be awarded to the candidate whose offer:

Is deemed technically responsive / compliant / acceptable (only technically responsive applications / candidates will be considered for the financial evaluation)
And has obtained the highest combined technical and financial scores.

Technical Criteria - 70% of total evaluation – max points: 70

Criteria A: Minimum of 5 years of professional experience. At least 5 years of experience in developing communication materials. Experience in graphic design and designing videos, diaries, social documentaries– max points: 50

Criteria B: Educational background: Educational background– max points: 20

Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation – max points: 30