Procurement Notices

Project Title: Promotion of Low Carbon Urban Transport Systems in the Philippines (LCUTS) Project.

Project Description

In the Philippines, the transportation sector accounts for almost 37% of total national energy consumption, where road transport typically consumes about 80% of this share. More alarmingly, transportation is one of the fastest growing consumer of fossil fuels and the fastest growing sources of CO2 emissions. With rapid urbanization, energy consumption and CO2 emissions by urban transport are increasing rapidly. In the past decades, transport planning model adopted by the Philippines, as other Asian countries, prioritized the movement of cars and motorized vehicles to facilitate the growing demand for mobility of passengers and goods. So not surprisingly, urban and inter-regional transport is dependent primarily on road-based transportation such as buses, cars, motorcycles and tricycles, jeepneys and utility vehicles. The number of utility vehicles and cars, in particular, are increasing significantly with over 50% of the registered vehicles located in Metro Manila and adjacent regions. As such, there has been an increasing preference for private fossil fuel based motorized travel and less investments have been made for sustainable public transport and non-motorized transport like walking and cycling. With the exception of the use of Auto-LPG in taxis, there has been a marginal increase in the share of cleaner vehicles using alternative fuels such as CNG buses, Auto-LPG jeepneys, electric vehicles (jeepneys, tricycles in selected cities). There is still more work to be done to increase the efficiency of the urban public transport system considering the increase in number of people commuting regularly between Metro Manila and adjacent provinces. The expansion of rail-based mass transit systems has been at a slower pace and inter-modal transportation facilities such as integrated provincial bus terminals are still lacking where provincial buses are found to be mixed with city buses competing for road space in major arterial roads.

The Promotion of Low Carbon Urban Transport Systems in the Philippines (LCT) Project, implemented by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and supported by the Global Environment Facility, aims to create an enabling environment for the commercialization of low carbon urban transport systems (e.g. electric, hybrid vehicles and AGT systems) in the Philippines. The proposed project targets mass public transport vehicles such as electric and hybrid buses, e-jeepneys, etc. It does not include support to private cars.

The three components are as follows:

Component 1: Policy support for the promotion of low carbon modes of transport

Component 2: Awareness and institutional capacity development

Component 3: Investment in low carbon transport systems in the country

Institutional Arrangement

The Communication Officer will directly report to both Project Manager and National Project Director. At different points during the contract, the Communication Officer is expected to liaise/interact/collaborate/meet with the UNDP, DOTr and project stakeholders. As needed, the DOTr staff shall provide administrative and logistical assistance to the Consultant in order for her/him to accomplish enumerated outputs. The position may also require possible travel to support the Project Management Unit in its meetings, presentations, workshops, data gathering and related events, whenever necessary.

Duration of Work

The expected duration of work is estimated to be working for 120 days spread over 12 months commencing upon signing of the contract and will be valid until all outputs have been delivered and accepted. The target date for the start of work is within November 2020 and the expected completion date is within October 2021.

Duty Station

The Communication Officer shall report to the Project Office in Manila. Official travel shall be approved by the Project Manager. The IC is required to report subject to the necessity of his/her services as determined by the Project Manager and the Implementing Partner.

Scope of Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments

Duties and Responsibilities

General Function

The Communication Officer for Low Carbon Urban Transport Systems Project shall provide overall guidance on communication-related work under all the components of the project.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Communication Officer shall:

• Develop, improve and finalize the Project’s communication, branding, and behavioral change communication plan for the target stakeholders in support of achieving the project objectives;
• Manage consistent and impact-driven communication online campaign by creating and managing content, including writing/editing of LCT impact stories, that can be regularly disseminated through various communication channels (i.e. social media, website and e-mail) and in coordination with the communication platforms of DOTr and/or UNDP;
• Translate project materials and data into communicable and relevant pieces of information in the form of infographics, infomercials, motion graphics, and ensure that project results are profiled and communicated;
• Document, consolidate and package key reports into a standard form (basic layout for mass production of IEC) on a monthly basis or as necessary in the project duration;
• Undertake and prepare the needed communication for project activities/events including preparation of minutes of the meeting, background notes, information materials, media relations, photos/videos, speechwriting/talking points, project updates, monitoring reports, invitations, and press releases;
• Establish a media directory for journalists and influencers with specialized coverage on topics related to the project;
• Create and manage an online repository of multimedia materials and communications assets;
• Implement the communications strategies and ensure extensive multimedia outreach and information campaign to local and national government agencies;
• Closely liaise with the CO Communications Unit for clearance of communication materials to ensure allegiance to UNDP branding guidelines; and
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by UNDP and DOTr.

Competencies

Corporate competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN's values and ethical standards
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality, and age sensitivity and adaptability
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism

Functional and technical competencies

• Ability to work in a diverse and multi-cultural environment
• Self-motivated and ability to work under pressure and to meet strict and competing deadlines
• Displays analytical judgment and demonstrated ability to handle confidential and politically sensitive issues in a responsible and mature manner
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities

Required Skills and Experience

Recommended Presentation of Offer

For purposes of generating Offers whose contents are uniformly presented and to facilitate their comparative analysis, it is best to recommend the preferred contents and presentation of the Offer to be submitted, as well as the format/sequencing of their presentation. The following documents may be requested:

1. Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP;
2. Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experiences from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references;
3. Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment, and a methodology, if applicable, on how they will approach and complete the assignment. A methodology is recommended for intellectual services, but may be omitted for support services [Note: this is optional for support services];
4. Creative portfolio including sample works from past projects;
5. Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided. If an Offeror is employed by an organization/company/institution, and he/she expects his/her employer to charge a management fee in the process of releasing him/her to UNDP under Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), the Offeror must indicate at this point, and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP. 

Criteria for Selection of the Best Offer

The combined scoring method where the qualifications and methodology will be weighted a maximum of 70% and combined with the price offer which will be weighted a max of 30% shall be adopted.

Interested applicants to note that personal Medical/health insurance (to be purchased by the individual at his/her own expense) is mandatory for the issuance of contracts. Upon award of the contract, the consultant must be ready to submit proof of insurance valid during the contract duration.

They must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications at the given link https://jobs.undp.org/cj_view_job.cfm?cur_job_id=94989. Please group them into one (1) single PDF document as the application only allows to upload maximum one document. 

In view of the volume of applications, UNDP receives, only shortlisted offerors will be notified.