Call for Proposals

Request to submit a written proposal for a work assignment with UNESCO
To enable you to prepare a proposal for this assignment, please find attached the Terms of Reference (ToR) (Attachment A) and the UNESCO’s contract for Individual Consultants, the contracting modality used for these assignments (Attachment B). Your written offer should comprise:

(a) Technical Proposal consisting of:

•  an up-to-date curriculum vitae including the contact details of three professional references, and
• an approach and methodology for the assignment, a workplan and comments on the Terms of Reference if any (max. 2 pages).

(b) The total amount to be charged for the assignment, which should be quoted in US dollars or in euros only and should indicate the consultant’s monthly rate.

Your proposal and any supporting documents must be in either English or French. Documents should be consolidated into a single document and all file names should include the family name of the applicant.

UNESCO places great emphasis on ensuring that the objectives of the work assignment, as described in the Terms of Reference, are met. Accordingly, in evaluating the proposals for the assignment, attention will focus first and foremost on the technical elements. From those proposals deemed suitable in terms of the criteria in the Terms of Reference, UNESCO shall select the proposal that offers the Organisation best value for money.

Your proposal should be submitted by e-mail to konstantina@iwlearn.org  no later than end of the day (23:59 CET) 10 March 2024. E-mail proposals should not exceed 5MB.

It is the individual’s responsibility to ensure that his/her proposal is received by the deadline.

Thank you for your interest in this UNESCO assignment; and we look forward to receiving your
proposal.

Attachment A
Terms of Reference

Individual Consultant to act as “Communications and Knowledge Management Specialist” for the GEF IW:LEARN project

1. BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE PROJECT AND ASSIGNMENT

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is the largest public funder of projects to improve the global environment. An independently operating financial organization, the GEF provides grants for projects related to biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, the ozone layer, and persistent organic pollutants. The GEF International Waters (IW) focal area targets transboundary water systems, such as river basins with water flowing from one country to another, groundwater resources shared by several countries, or marine ecosystems bounded by more than one nation. The GEF currently unites 183 member countries—in partnership with international institutions, civil society organizations, and the private sector—to address global environmental issues while supporting national sustainable development initiatives. Since the inception of the GEF in 1991, the IW portfolio (more than 470 projects with about US$2.8 billion of GEF grants and US$18.6 billion in co-finance invested in more than 170 GEF recipient countries) has delivered substantive results and replicable experiences to be scaled up and
mainstreamed globally.

GEF IW:LEARN is one of these projects, and its mandate is to promote experience sharing and learning among the GEF IW projects and the country officials, agencies, and partners working on them. IW:LEARN operates as a central hub of information and knowledge sharing and delivers a host of programmatic initiatives for the benefit of the GEF IW portfolio of projects. In pursuit of its global and regional objectives, IW:LEARN seeks to strengthen global portfolio experience sharing and learning, dialogue facilitation, targeted knowledge sharing and replication in order to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of GEF IW projects to deliver tangible results in partnership with other IW initiatives. IW:LEARN is currently in its fifth phase (IW:LEARN5, 2022- 2026).

More information about GEF IW:LEARN is available at www.iwlearn.net/abt_iwlearn . One of the main activities of IW:LEARN5 in 2024 is the organization of the 10th GEF International Waters Conference (IWC10) - the signature learning event of the GEF IW portfolio. The IWC objectives are to facilitate cross sectoral and portfolio-wide learning and experience sharing. Participants strive to solicit advice from the existing GEF IW portfolio on burning issues and to assist in building participant capacity in key management and technical areas. The IWC10 will take place on 23-26 September 2024 in Uruguay, with a preconference on 21-22 September 2024 in Montevideo, gathering 300-350 participants (from more than 100 GEF IW projects and 80 countries, and including government representatives, project managers, staff of international and non-governmental organizations, and the private sector.

2. OBJECTIVES OF THE CONSULTANCY

The consultant will act as IW:LEARN Communications and Knowledge Management Specialist to undertake activities in support of communications and knowledge management. The consultant will support the IW:LEARN Project Coordination Unit (PCU) in delivering the project functions and activities, as described as described in the Tasks below.

3. SPECIFIC TASKS
A. IW:LEARN Website upgrade and management:

In coordination with the Project Coordination Unit (PCU), the Consultant will work closely with the team of Web Developers on upgrading IW:LEARN website and improving user experience.
Furthermore, regular tasks include:

•  Lead the website upgrade in coordination with the PCU, create a focus group that will provide feedback on proposed and applied changes, provide guidance and recommendations on these, contribute and monitor test groups, propose enhancements of the features of iwlearn.net.
• Update and maintain iwlearn.net, including supporting the update of the project database (project information, contacts, organizations, project outputs, new projects), website archive, news, etc.
• Identify, evaluate and recommend new web-based tools and technology to increase public access to and engagement in IW:LEARN.
• Develop a Communications Hub under the IW:LEARN website, including relevant resources for the GEF IW Communications community.
• Oversee the development of other hubs (SIDs, Nexus, etc.), curate and manage content.

B. Content Creation and Management:

• Produce high-quality written and visual content for various platforms, including press releases, articles, interviews, event communications, social media posts, newsletters, and website updates, including by designing visuals, editing videos, etc., coordinating with colleagues and suppliers and ensuring timely dissemination and amplification.
• Issue the monthly IW:LEARN portfolio bulletin.
• Ensure that all communication materials align with the project's goals and objectives and comply with the guidelines of IOC/UNESCO and the GEF.

C. Knowledge Management:

•  Curate and organize publications, ensuring accessibility and relevance.
• Facilitate the exchange of knowledge and best practices within the IW portfolio.

D. Communication Strategy and support for GEF IW portfolio communications:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive communication strategy aligned with IW:LEARN’s project objectives and organizational goals.
• Create a detailed communications plan, outlining key messages, target audiences, and channels.
• Provide guidance to portfolio projects on digital activities (website creation toolkit and archiving, geospatial data, communications, event management), build capacity through trainings and webinars, and backstop project pages built through the IW:LEARN Toolkit.

E. Digital and Social Media Management:

• Manage social media accounts and digital platforms to amplify project visibility.
• Monitor online conversations, respond to inquiries, and manage online reputation.

F. Stakeholder and Media Relations:

• Engage with stakeholders, including local communities, NGOs, government agencies, and project partners.
• Establish and maintain relationships with media outlets, journalists, and influencers for the major events planned in 2024.
• Coordinate and facilitate media interviews, press conferences, and other media-related activities at LME23 and IWC10.

G. Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Implement metrics and tools to measure the effectiveness of communication strategies.
• Monitor website usage statistics and log files and produce reports on user and web site behavior and make recommendation on how to improve web services.
• Analyze and report on key performance indicators, providing insights for continuous improvement.

4. Duration of the Consultancy
The consultancy will last for 9 months (April 2024 to December 2024), on a full-time basis (100%) or part time, (60-80% time).

5. Deliverables
The consultant will produce work products associated with the Specific Tasks outlined above and participate in IW:LEARN PCU and regular meetings as well as provide regular updates on progress and monthly activity reports. All deliverables are to be submitted in English.

6. Qualifications and Experience

EDUCATION

Master’s degree in media/communication studies, public relations or other related social sciences with competence to design and develop communication products and multimedia materials, curate and manage knowledge and maintain and manage project website.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience, of which at least 1 year at international level, in public relations, communications or advocacy, preferably in environmental or sustainability issues or at least 2 years in project communication.

SKILLS/COMPETENCIES

•  Demonstrated experience in implementing project and/or institutional communications in a multilanguage context.
• Demonstrated ability project website management and/or knowledge management platform management.
• Demonstrated ability in curating and managing knowledge, preferably in environmental/water management/ocean/sustainability.
• Demonstrated ability in graphic design, publication design, multimedia products development, video editing, basic web design (minor use of HTML), web content, etc.
• Excellent attention to detail and precision in work undertaken.
• Ability to work under tight deadlines, and with a certain degree of autonomy following the directions and guidance of the supervisor.
• Communicates sensitively and effectively across different audiences.
• Excellent communication and writing skills in English and in additional UN language(s).
• Demonstrated ability to conceptualize issues and analyze data to compile and synthesize information in coherent and succinct formats.
• Ability to work efficiently in a multi-cultural environment and team spirit.

Desired qualifications:

• Experience managing knowledge management platforms.
• Familiarity with the GEF and GEF International Waters portfolio

7. Supervisory arrangements

The IW:LEARN Project Coordinator has the overall supervision of the PCU and relevant consultants. At no point should the Consultant make representations or act on behalf of IOC/UNESCO, any of the project partners, or IW:LEARN beyond the assigned tasks.

8. Facilities to be provided by UNESCO

UNESCO will provide the Consultant with all required access to working files, UNESCO network, knowledge-management systems (including institutional email and Microsoft TEAMS accounts), and temporary office space if needed on occasional presence at UNESCO Headquarters.

9. Taxes

UNESCO will not reimburse any taxes, duties or other contributions for which individuals may be liable in respect of any payments made to them under the terms of their contract.

10. Insurance

Individuals issued with a contract for individual consultants or other specialists are covered by UNESCO’s insurance policy for work-related illness, injury, accidents or death whilst performing their official duties or travelling on behalf of the Organization. The insurance premium for the coverage, as determined by Pension and Insurance Section (HRM/SPI), must be included in the financial commitment for the contract.

11. Social Benefits

Individual consultants and other specialists shall be responsible for arranging, at their own expense, any medical insurance that they consider necessary during the contract period. Unless they are affiliated by virtue of their status as former staff members, they cannot be enrolled in the UNESCO’s Medical Benefit Fund or United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund. Individual consultants and other specialists are not entitled to paid annual or sick leave.

More information: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fZq7j7MAWa6mB37b_Txm5ypEKX2bBvWk/view