Communication Specialist for support of the Environmental Impact Assessment Registry launch

Background

The implementation of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement and the full roll-out of Agenda 2030 in Ukraine brings environmental issues to the forefront of the policy implementation agenda. According to Article 363 of the Association Agreement (‘AA’), Ukraine should gradually approximate its legislation to EU law and policy on environment in accordance with Annex No. 30 to the AA, inter alia, Directive 2011/92/EU of the European Parliament and the Council of 13 December 2011 on the Assessment of the Effects of Certain Public and Private Projects on the Environment (Codification) (‘the EU Directive’).

The latter introduces a special environmental impact assessment (‘EIA’) procedure for the projects likely to have significant effects on the environment. To comply with the EU acquis communautaire, the Law of Ukraine “On Environmental Impact Assessment” No. 2059-VIII (‘the Law of Ukraine on EIA’) has been adopted on May 23, 2017 to be effective as of December 18, 2017.

The Law of Ukraine on EIA introduces an EIA procedure as prescribed by the EU Directive. It envisages preparation of the EIA report by the developer; carrying out of public consultations; examination by the competent authority of the information presented in the EIA report and any supplementary information; the issuance of a reasoned conclusion by the competent authority on the significant effects of the project on the environment; and integration thereof into a respective decision.

The implementation of the EIA procedure in Ukraine requires the development of an effective automated electronic system that enables the smooth and transparent transmission of EIA documents from a developer to a competent authority and back, enables easy and free public access to the respective environmental information, and promotes public participation in consultations and decision-making. The Law sets the EIA procedure in a way that ensures full transparency of the new projects and creates mechanisms, which prevent corruption.

Article 4 of the Law mandates the competent central authority to develop and maintain the Unified National Environmental Impact Assessment Registry. The Registry shall provide open, free access to its information to all interested parties via the internet. The procedure for maintaining the Unified National Environmental Impact Assessment Registry shall be established by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. This is envisaged by the draft of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine Decree “On adoption of the Procedure of Transmission of Documents for Obtaining of the EIA Conclusion and the Maintenance of the Unified Registry of EIA”.

The ultimate goal of the project is to enable the Government of Ukraine to launch a well-functioning Unified National Environmental Impact Assessment Registry congruent with the appropriate EU standards. The key result of the project is a fully functional web-based Registry software provided to the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine (MENR), as well as technical assistance and communication support for the initial period of entering cases in to the Registry.

This project is a preparatory phase of the process of EIA Law implementation in Ukraine. UNDP has a considerable experience in developing the Registry for E-Declarations, which drew important lessons, that the Registry itself will not achieve the intended anticorruption and transparency goal without a more comprehensive support of the reform process.

Considering the importance of the proper communication about the EIA process, a communication specialist is required to assist the project and the Ministry of Environment of Ukraine to properly inform the community about the first IEA projects submitted to the EAI Registry.

Administrative arrangements: Individual consultant will work in close collaboration with the Project Team under the supervision of Project Manager.

Duties and Responsibilities

Main Objectives of the Assignment

The purpose of the respective Contract is to provide communication support for the initial period of entering cases into the EIA Registry as well as support the Project Team, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine (MENR) and Departments of Ecology and Natural Resources of the respective oblasts administrations, where the first cases are registered in addressing the media requests and properly inform the community about the Registry, first IEA projects submitted to the EAI Registry and the EIA Law.

Scope of Work

The Communication Specialist will perform the following activities for the successful completion of the assignment: 

• Develop and implement the Project’s communication strategy and plans in line with the UNDP Ukraine Communications Strategy and project stakeholders’ communication, branding and visibility requirements.
• Help plan and design communication activities across multiple channels to achieve the Project objectives.
• Provide communication support for the initial period of entering cases into the Registry, as well as for the process of addressing media requests about the Registry and the EIA Law.
• Help produce and oversee production of media- and public-oriented communication products (press releases, media advisories, photo stories, videos, infographics, factsheets etc.) in English and Ukrainian and ensure their effective delivery to target audiences in accordance with the latest communications techniques, including data visualization and new media trends.
• Plan and conduct the advocacy and awareness-raising campaigns.

• Support the organization and act as a facilitator of public events, media trainings, press conferences, workshops etc., including the development of related communication materials (press releases, brochures, leaflets etc.).

• Identify and develop storylines for publications and articles to be published on UNDP and other stakeholders’ communication channels.
• Develop audience-centric messages.
• Coordinate preparation of content for UNDP website and social media channels.
• Support management of UNDP social media and other online communication tools.
• Ensure that media and communication activities contribute to the promotion of gender equality by reaching, involving and benefitting both women and men (gender mainstreaming).
• Translate and adapt materials as well as perform other relevant duties as may be required under provision of communication support for project implementation.

The Communications Specialist will ensure that the communication is in full compliance with the Law of Ukraine “On Environmental Impact Assessment” No. 2059-VIII and the Decree by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine Decree “On adoption of the Procedure of Transmission of Documents for Obtaining of the EIA Conclusion and the Maintenance of the Unified Registry of EIA”.

The Communication expert will be working closely with the UNDP communication unit and the EIA Department of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources with the office space allocated in the Ministry building on 35 Vasyl Lypkivsky Street, Kyiv. Public communication materials with the use of the UNDP logo will require clearance of the UNDP.

Deliverables:

The Communication Specialist is expected to perform activities within the scope of work:

#	Deliverables	Deadline
1	The Project’s Communication Strategy developed Posts for UNDP social network accounts prepared and published At least 1 press release for website prepared and published The news about project’s activities for UNDP website drafted and published Project page on UNDP website created and regularly updated	March 9th, 2018
2	At least 4 Facebook and Twitter posts prepared and published via UNDP social network accounts At least 2 press releases for website prepared and published The news about project’s activities for UNDP website drafted and published Project page on UNDP website regularly updated The awareness-raising activities and campaigns planned	April 20th, 2018
3	At least 1 article/op-ed and 1 press release prepared and published At least 1 media event organized (with media-kit prepared) At least 3 Facebook and Twitter posts prepared and published via UNDP social network accounts At least 1 high quality communication product produced The news about project’s activities for UNDP website drafted and published Project page on UNDP website regularly updated	June 1st, 2018
4	At least 1 press release/article prepared and published At least 1 media event organized (with media-kit prepared) At least 3 Facebook and Twitter posts prepared and published via UNDP social network accounts At least 1 awareness-raising campaign organized The news about project’s activities for UNDP website drafted and published Project page on UNDP website regularly updated	July 13th, 2018
5	At least 1 press release/op-ed prepared and published At least 4 Facebook and Twitter posts prepared and published via UNDP social network accounts Project page on UNDP website regularly updated Project’s Communication Strategy fully implemented Number of high quality communication products produced Number of communication and media events organized and supported	August 31st, 2018

Reporting Requirements:

The Communication Specialist will work under overall supervision of the Environment Programme Analyst and in close cooperation with the UNDP Communication Unit, MENR and other project stakeholders’ communication teams.

UNDP will be the final authority to control the quality and evaluate the work. No reports, documents, communications should be published or distributed to third parties without prior approval of UNDP.

Contractors will receive the necessary guidance, clarifications, information/materials that may be needed for this task. Contractor shall be responsible and ensure timely performance hereunder, logistics, its human resources and expenditures related hereto as well as the quality of works in close consultation with the UNDP Ukraine. 

Payment for Services:

The Consultant will receive payments from UNDP in instalments upon provision of deliverables duly accepted and certified by UNDP. The schedule of payments is to be proposed

Responsibility for Expenses and their Reimbursement:

This is a lump sum assignment. The Consultant will be responsible for all personal administrative expenses associated with undertaking this assignment including office accommodation, printing, stationary, telephone and electronic communications, and report copies incurred in this assignment. If the assignment will happen to require travel, the expenses will be covered by UNDP according to the established rules and regulations. Any travel undertaken in relation to this assignment, where the traveler requires reimbursement of travel expenses from UNDP, should be approved by UNDP prior to the mission. 

Competencies

Competencies:

• Computer proficiency.
• Excellent communication and networking skills.
• Good English writing skills.
• Strong analytical and research skills.
• Excellent coordination skills and result oriented collaboration with partners.
• Strong interpersonal skills.

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.
• Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Required Skills and Experience

Required Skills and Experience:

• University degree (at least Master’s level or equivalent) in PR and Communications, Journalism or any other relevant field.
• At least five years of relevant experience in PR/ communication/ media/ journalism area.
• Demonstrated skills with using multimedia, social media, infographics and new design techniques to produce compelling and engaging contents suitable for multiple channels and audiences.
• Experience with researching, collecting and synthesizing data into coherent narratives, print reports and data visualization materials.
• Previous experience with international organizations (will be an asset).
• Proven communication experience working with the environmental topics
• Native Ukrainian/Russian, working level of English.

Application Procedure:

The application should contain:

Filled CV/P11 form including past experience in similar projects, a portfolio of samples of communication products (including indication of role of the applicant in their development, dates and employer/client) and contact details of referees.

Financial Proposal* - specifying a total lump sum amount for the tasks specified in this announcement. The financial proposal shall include a breakdown of this lump sum amount by deliverables.  

Financial proposal:

Lump sum contract:

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount. Payments are output based i.e. upon satisfactory delivery of the agreed products and services as specified in the Terms of Reference for individual consultant. 

The Consultant will be responsible for all personal administrative expenses associated with undertaking this assignment including office accommodation, printing, stationary, telephone and electronic communications, and report copies incurred in this assignment.

Evaluation of Applicants:

PR and Communications, Journalism or any other relevant field	Master’s level or equivalent – 5 points; relevant additional trainings, PhD – 10 points; (10 points max)
At least 5 years of relevant experience in PR/ communication/ media/ journalism	5 years – 5 points; 7 years – 7; 10 and more – 10 points (10 points max)
Demonstrated skills with using multimedia, social media, infographics and new design techniques to produce compelling and engaging contents suitable for multiple channels and audiences	1 relevant, high quality portfolio example – 5 points; 2-4 relevant, high quality examples – 10 points; 5 or more relevant, high quality examples: 15 points (15 points max)
Experience with researching, collecting and synthesizing data into coherent narratives, print reports and data visualization materials	Experience with research – 5 points; experience with drafting reports – 5 points; experience with data visualization – 5 points (15 points max)
Proven communication experience working with the environmental topics	1 relevant, high quality portfolio example – 3 points; 2-4 relevant, high quality examples – 7 points; 5 or more relevant, high quality examples: 10 points (10 points max)
Native Ukrainian/Russian, working level of English.	4 points for native knowledge of 1 language and working knowledge of the other 2 (among Ukrainian, Russian and English); 3 additional points for fluency (at C1 level or above) in each of the other 2 languages  (10 points max)

Maximum available technical score – 70 points.

Selection method: Desk review with validation interview.

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.

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.