UNDP Ukraine invites applications from highly qualified and experienced Ukrainian professionals for the post of the Expert on Development of VRU Communication Digital Channels.

I. Background Information on the Project:

The EU-UNDP Parliamentary Reform Project (PRP) is aimed at strengthening the functioning of the Ukrainian Parliament, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, its working bodies, MPs and Secretariat (VRU), to become a progressively more effective, accountable and transparent institution in carrying out its constitutional responsibilities of legislation, oversight, and representation with positive influence on the overall process of EU-Ukraine Association Agreement implementation. The project strategy is aligned with the priorities of the EU’s Single Support Framework for Ukraine 2018 – 2020, the Government of Ukraine – UN Partnership Framework 2018–2022, and the UNDP Country Programme Document 2018 – 2022. It is built on achievements and lessons learnt of the EU-UNDP Rada for Europe project (2016-2018) and will continue to support parliamentary reform, including through promoting the implementation of the recommendations of the 2016 Needs Assessment Mission (NAM). For the continuation of parliamentary reform, top level leadership and political ownership is key, which will be assured through continuous high-level consultations with relevant stakeholders and full transparency of project implementation.

The project is an EU-funded initiative strongly connected to UNDP’s Democratic Governance Programme and comprises of three components. Component One, #Rada4Reforms, will focus on fostering the parliament’s role in the overall reform process with a particular emphasis on improvement of the legislative process and parliamentary oversight, by providing comprehensive expert support to the implementation of the VRU Roadmap for Internal Reform and Capacity Building, improving the quality draft law expertise and impact assessment, and enhancing parliamentary monitoring.

Component Two, #RadaPro, will support the professional modernization of the parliamentary Secretariat, through the finalisation and implementation of its strategic development plan and comprehensive human resource development, including in the Committee Secretariats, along the lines of broader public administration reform (PAR) and the law “On Civil Service”.

Component Three, #Transparent&Service-OrientedRada, by making use of new technologies for communications, civic education and participation in coherence will build stronger transparency and accountability links between parliament and citizens with special focus of increasing public trust to the Ukrainian Parliament.

To provide more targeted support to parliamentary reforms the Parliamentary Reform Office (PRO) is established within the EU-UNDP Parliamentary Reform Project, serving as an advisory group to the Leadership and Secretariat of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (VRU) under the general supervision of the VRU Chairperson. PRO operates based on the Resolution of the Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine “On Parliamentary Reform Office” and provides support to parliamentary reforms aimed at strengthening the functioning of the Ukrainian Parliament, including its Secretariat , as a progressively more effective, accountable and transparent institution in carrying out its constitutional responsibilities of legislation, oversight, and representation with positive influence on the overall process of EU-Ukraine Association Agreement implementation.

In this context, the United Nations Development Programme in Ukraine is recruiting an Expert on Development of VRU Communication Digital Channels with relevant experience and track record.  

The Expert on Development of VRU Communication Digital Channels will support the Verkhovna Rada in communications through digital channels based on tasks and principles of the Verkhovna Rada Communication Strategy.

II. Duties and Responsibilities:

Under the coordination of PRO Head and operational supervision of the E-Governance and Transparency Specialist, as well as in close cooperation with appointed officials of the VRU Secretariat, the incumbent will perform the following functions:

• Design, approve and manage on the daily basis the implementation of the SMM strategy for the VRU (FB page of the VRU; FB page of the Educational Centre under the VRU; twitter account of the VRU in Ukrainian and English, Instagram and Telegram accounts of the VRU);
• Develop capacities of the responsible staff of the Informational Department of the VRU, Press service of the VRU, Secretariat of the Chairperson of the VRU on delivering proper communication products based on the SMM strategy;
• In close cooperation with the Informational Department of the VRU, Press service of the VRU, Secretariat of the Chairperson of the VRU develop and ensure the implementation of the monthly/weekly SMM Media Plan (SMM content) for the VRU;
• Develop and ensure the implementation of the SMM Media Plan for the Parliamentary Reform;
• Coordinate development of the VRU Brand book and VRU branding strategy based on the VRU Communication Strategy and ensure proper communication with different target audiences about new branding of the VRU at each step of its the development and implementation,
• Develop content visualization for SMM (infographics and other visual products);
• Contribute to the preparation of the project’s progress reports and related monitoring meetings.

III. Measurable outputs of the work assignment:

PRO deliverables on development and implementation of VRU communications strategy in digital channels are timely achieved, with an emphasis on measurable results and quality, and properly reported, namely:

• SMM strategy for VRU developed and approved – December 2019;
• Methodological and expert support to the VRU Secretariat on implementation of the SMM Strategy provided – January – October 2020;
• Training materials for the VRU Secretariat based on the SMM strategy developed, at least 6 trainings delivered – January – July 2020;
• Monthly SMM media plan for the VRU developed and agreed with the VRU stakeholders – January-October 2020;
• Expert support to implementation of the SMM media plan for the VRU provided - January-October 2020;
• SMM media plan for promotion of Parliamentary Reform developed and agreed with the VRU stakeholders – December 2019;
• VRU Brand Book and Branding strategy developed and discussed with the VRU stakeholders – April 2020;
• VRU Brand Book and Branding strategy launched and supported through SMM – May-October 2020.

IV. Performance Indicators for evaluation of results:

• PRO deliverables on development and implementation of VRU communications strategy in digital channels are timely achieved, with an emphasis on measurable results and quality, and properly reported;
• Number of posts, visual materials in social media on Parliamentary reform and VRU activities developed with the relevant VRU Secretariat Staff in order to improve the quality of messages in social media;
• Coverage of produced and released posts and visuals; increase in number of subscribers in VRU and Parliamentary Reform social media channels;
• Neutral to positive perception of the new VRU branding by citizens;
• Timely submission of the regular performance reports.

V.  Monitoring / reporting requirements:

Work-progress reporting/monitoring meetings will be held with the consultant on a regular basis. UNDP will be the final authority to control the quality and evaluate the work. No reports or documents should be published or distributed to third parties without approval of UNDP.

The consultant will work under the overall supervision of the E-Governance and Transparency Specialist.

The consultant will interact with UNDP Programme Coordinator and CO staff to receive any clarifications and guidance that may be needed. He/she will also receive all necessary informational and logistical support from UNDP Country Office and the Project. On a day-to-day basis, consultant’s work will be supervised by the E-Governance and Transparency Specialist.

The satisfactory completion of each of the deliverables shall be subject to endorsement of the Programme Coordinator.

The Consultant will duly inform UNDP of any problems, issues or delays arising in the course of implementation of assignment and take necessary steps to address them.

All reports and results are to be submitted to the UNDP in electronic form (*.docx, *.xlsx, *.pptx, and *.pdf or other formats accepted by UNDP).

VI. Experience and qualification requirements

Education

• Master’s / Specialist’s degree in journalism, political science, public administration, law, international relations, social sciences or related field;

Experience

• A minimum of five years of professional work experience in public/government relations and/or SMM;
• A minimum of three years of experience in developing visual products;
• Experience in launching new branding for organisation/company/government institution would be an asset.

Languages

• Fluency in Ukrainian and working level of English is required

Skills

• Excellent writing, communication and organization skills;
• Strong organizational and time management skills;
• Ability to work in team;
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.

Corporate competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling 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 favouritism;
• Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

VII. Documents to be included when submitting the proposals

Applicants shall submit the following documents:

VIII. Financial proposal

 Contracts based on daily fee

The financial proposal will specify the daily fee and payments will be made to the Individual Consultant based on the number of days worked.

Travel costs

Should any travel be necessary in connection to this TOR, UNDP will reimburse the expenses based on the duly authorized travel details, including travel and per diems.  In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.

In the case of 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.

IX. Evaluation criteria

-          Educational background – 10 points max

{10 pts – PhD degree in the relevant field; 8 pts – Master’s/Specialist’s degree in the relevant field};

-          Relevant professional experience (A minimum of five years of professional work experience in public/government relations and/or SMM) – 35 points max

{35 pts – 9 years and more; 32 pts – 7-8 years; 28 pts – 5-6 years);

-          Relevant expertise (A minimum of three years of experience in developing visual products) – 16 points max

{16 pts – 7 years, 13 pts – 5-6 years, 9 pts – 3-4 years};

-          Prior experience in launching new branding for organisation/company/government institution – 3 points max

{3 pts - 1 year and more, 0 pts – less than 1 year};

-          Language Skills – 4 points max

-          {6 pts – Fluency in English and Ukrainian, 4 pts – fluency in Ukrainian and working level of English};

Maximum available technical score - 70 points.

X. Evaluation method

 Cumulative analysis

Contract award shall be made to the incumbent whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and

b) having received the cumulative highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

* Technical Criteria weight: 70%

* Financial Criteria weight: 30%

Only candidates obtaining a minimum 70% from the maximum available technical score (49 points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation

The maximum number of points assigned to the financial proposal is allocated to the lowest price proposal and will equal to 30. All other price proposals will be evaluated and assigned points, as per below formula:

30 points [max points available for financial part] x [lowest of all evaluated offered prices among responsive offers] / [evaluated price].

The proposal obtaining the overall cumulatively highest score after adding the score of the technical proposal and the financial proposal will be considered as the most compliant offer and will be awarded a contract.

Additional requirements for recommended contractor:

Recommended contractors aged 62 and older shall undergo a full medical examination, including x-ray, and obtain medical clearance from the UN-approved doctor prior to taking up their assignment. The medical examination shall be paid by the consultant.

The Basic Security in the Field II and Advanced Security in the Field courses must be successfully completed prior to commencement of contract.

This is a locally recruited position and no expatriation benefits will apply.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS 15 October 2019.

If you wish to apply for this or other positions with UNDP, please visit UNDP in Ukraine website, section Jobs and apply online:

https://jobs.undp.org/cj_view_job.cfm?cur_job_id=87833

UNDP will use a transparent and competitive screening process, though will only contact those applicants in whom there is further interest. Applications may only be submitted for specific vacancy. Qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.