| Overview : BACKGROUND The Biodiversity Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources is currently implementing several UNDP Projects on biodiversity conservation namely: Biodiversity Financing Initiative (BIOFIN), the Small Grants Programme (SGP), and the Strengthening Marine Protected Areas to Conserve Marine Key Biodiversity Areas (MKBA). Common to these projects is the plan to effectively communicate the importance of biodiversity conservation, including its economic benefits to different stakeholders, both duty-bearers and claim holders. Similarly, the DENR-BMB’s Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, the government’s road map to biodiversity conservation, has identified the lack of and low awareness as an underlying cause of biodiversity loss, hence, communicating biodiversity and its benefits to humans is essential in order to stem its further degradation. Unfortunately it is not sufficient to simply tell people about biodiversity and what is happening so that they can correct what they do. The changes required of people will not come about by rational individual choice alone. Biodiversity planners need to think differently about using communication, education and public awareness rather than just as a way to make scientific information available to the public. (IUCN, 2007) A strategy needs to be developed and for it to be successful, inputs from various stakeholders will be needed and a baseline needs to be established. A tight and formidable case on the concrete benefits that we derive from biodiversity needs to be formulated and communicated effectively to all sectors of society to gain support for biodiversity conservation in the form of increased investments and behavioral change. RESPONSIBILITIES The IECA Expert/Specialist will carry out the following tasks: Communication Strategy - Assist the different projects in formulating cross-cutting key messages which the individual project will carry out throughout their project implementation
- Formulate a 3- year integrated IEC Plan of all UNDP Projects implemented by the DENR-BMB which should be contributing to or complementing the BMB’s communication plan; the plan should include the budget and how the projects will share the costs. The strategy and work plan should include an environmental and stakeholder assessment; objectives; target audiences; messages and media mix; resources; specific actions, activities and products; monitoring and evaluation of impact; success and opportunity for improvement; ongoing refinement of the strategy, as necessary.
- Spearhead the implementation of at least 5 key IEC activities covering key/major environmental events (eg. Earth Day, International Day of Biodiversity, Month of the Ocean, Environment Day, etc.) with which the projects can jointly implement.
- Ensure project’s visibility and clarity of communication messaging to public.
Media Relations - Ensure that the Project has a well maintained and continually developed contact list of journalists and media outlets covering all media – print, TV, radio, web etc. – and a successful process of communicating and maintaining regular contact and close collaboration with the media to communicate the stories of the different projects to a wider audience. This includes the preparation of press releases and the documentation of the Project’s selected activities;
- Ensure coordination with the DENR-BMB and UNDP Philippines for all releases to media;
Monitoring and Evaluation - Ensure that communication baselines are established against which the achievement of objectives of the IEC strategy are regularly evaluated; analysis is undertaken to continuously improve the effectiveness of communication strategy, approach and activities; results and reports are prepared and shared on a timely basis.
EXPECTED OUTPUTS AND DELIVERIES - Inception Report
- Integrated IEC Plan and Strategy
- At least 5 press releases covering major environment-related events
- (eg. Earth Day, Oceans Day, Intl Day of Biodiversity, Environment Day, Intl Day of DRR, etc.)
- At least 4 IEC materials (carrying the agreed major key messages) developed and disseminated to stakeholders
INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS A core team composed of Communication or IEC staff of all UNDP Projects will be constituted to work with the IECA Expert/Specialist. Outputs of the consultant will be subjected for review and endorsement of this team. At different points of this engagement, the IECA Expert is expected to liaise/interact/collaborate/meet with the Project Managers and/or Communication Staff. As needed, the project staff shall provide assistance to the IECA Expert/Specialist in order for her/him to accomplish logistical and other requirements. DURATION OF THE WORK The expected duration of work is estimated at 100 days spread over 11 months (February – December 2016). The target date for the start of work is 15 February 2016 and the completion date is 15 December 2016. DUTY OF STATION The IECA Expert is not expected to report on a daily basis to the UNDP-BMB’s Project Management Offices of these projects but shall be available on an on-call basis. QUALIFICATIONS OF THE SUCCESSFUL INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTOR Education: - Master’s degree in communication arts, journalism, advertising, public relations or related fields or an undergraduate degree plus at least 5 years of demonstrated professional experience in the field of journalism, communications, external relations, public affairs, public relations or corporate communications
Experience: - With extensive knowledge and experience in communicating advocacies preferably biodiversity and its conservation;
- Familiar and up-to-date with national and local programs, projects and initiatives on biodiversity conservation and related areas
- Experience in organizing special events and the like;
- With experience in working with media outfits and networks
Skills: - Good communications and interpersonal skills;
- Good analytical and organizational skills
Language requirements: - Very good command of oral and written English
SCOPE OF PRICE PROPOSAL AND SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS The financial proposals from possible candidates should be expressed in lump sum amount inclusive of all financial costs related to this engagement (i.e. transportation/travel to and from residence-Manila and/or within Metro Manila, supplies & materials, reproduction, communications including internet). However, travel costs (eg. fares and DSAs) to sites outside of Metro will follow NIM prescribed rates. Charging to specific project will depend on the nature of the travel. - 1st payment - 15% - upon submission and acceptance of Inception Report
- 2nd payment - 25% - upon submission and acceptance of a 3-year Integrated IEC Plan
- 3rd payment - 30% - upon acceptance and submission of at least 3 press releases; and 2 Integrated IEC material;
- 4th payment - 30% - upon submission and acceptance of 2 press releases; 2 integrated IEC material;
CRITERIA FOR SELECTION PROCESS The offer will evaluated based on the Combined Scoring method – where the qualifications and methodology will be weighted a max. of 70%, and combined with the price offer which will be weighted a max of 30%. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS - Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP;
- Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references;
Application requirements should be emailed to procurement.ph@undp.org and registry.ph@undp.org on or before 14 February 2016. |
