Germany: Junior Researcher/Writer consultant
Country: Germany
Closing date: 07 Aug 2013
Post title: Junior Researcher/Writer consultant
Category: Communication/Reporting
Type of contract: Individual Contract (Local)
Duration: 65 working days
Starting date: 15 September 2013
Location: Bonn, Germany (on-site)
Bureau/Office: UNV Communications and Partnerships Division, Communications Section
Advertised on: 25 July 2013
Application deadline: 7 August 2013
- BACKGROUND
The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is the UN organization that contributes to peace and development through volunteerism worldwide. Volunteerism is a powerful means of engaging people in tackling development challenges, and it can transform the pace and nature of development. Volunteerism benefits both society at large and the individual volunteer by strengthening trust, solidarity and reciprocity among citizens, and by purposefully creating opportunities for participation. UNV contributes to peace and development by advocating for recognition of volunteers, working with partners to integrate volunteerism into development programming, and mobilizing an increasing number and diversity of volunteers, including experienced UN Volunteers, throughout the world. UNV embraces volunteerism as universal and inclusive, and recognizes volunteerism in its diversity as well as the values that sustain it: free will, commitment, engagement and solidarity.
UNV engaged 7,303 UN Volunteers in 2011, on a total of 7,708 assignments. With an average age of 38 years and the requisite professional skills and qualifications of some 5 to 10 years relevant experience, UN Volunteers served in 132 countries in 2011 and came themselves from 162. The majority – 81 per cent – come from developing countries themselves. One third of UN Volunteers served in their own countries, with the others carrying out international assignments. The financial equivalent of programme activities exceeds US$235 million annually.
UNV is headquartered in Bonn, Germany and has approximately 150 staff positions – with the majority in Bonn and some positions with different UN peacekeeping and political missions, and in other Headquarters locations (e.g. New York and Tokyo). The major organizational groups within UNV are the:
• Office of the Executive Coordinator (OEC) comprising the Evaluation Unit (EU) and the Corporate Planning and Performance Unit (CPPU);
• Volunteer Programming and Management Group (VPMG) comprising the Peace Division (PD) and the Development Division (DD), Volunteer Recruitment Resources Section (VRRS), Quality Assurance Unit (QAU), Volunteer Knowledge and Innovation Section (VKIS);
• Partnerships and Communications Division (PCD) comprising the Partnerships Section (PS) and the Communications Section (CS);
• Management Services Division (MSD) comprising the Information and Communication Technology Section (ICTS), Finance Section (FS), Human Resources Section (HRS), and the Administration Unit (AU). Additionally the Common Services Unit (CSU) provides support to the UN presence in Bonn.
- ORGANIZATIONAL SETTING:
The Communications Section focuses on clear and effective messaging to increase the visibility and impact of UNV. It documents the status of volunteerism and its contribution to development, raises awareness of volunteerism and its contribution to development among UNV stakeholders, encourages support of volunteerism for development, including observation of IVD, and produces and promotes materials (websites, annual reports, videos, etc.) to highlight UNV’s support for volunteerism for development and its contribution to partners’ development and programming objectives.The Section will be publishing a multi-year report on the UNV Special Voluntary Fund to cover the years 2009-2012. This report will be in the range of 7,000 words and will comprise foreword, introduction, reporting of case studies against programme strategy areas and global impact, infographics and statistical and financial information.
- SCOPE OF WORK, RESPONSIBILITIES AND DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED ANALYTICAL WORK
The overarching objective of UNV is to promote the role of volunteerism in contributing to peace and development (as defined in UNV’s Corporate Plan and Programme Strategy). We do this by enhancing opportunities for voluntary participation by all peoples. UNV fosters conditions in which volunteerism can flourish through three main activities: advocacy, integration and mobilization. All UNV communications are directed at supporting these objectives. The essential message we are sending is that volunteerism benefits society at large and the individual volunteer by strengthening solidarity and reciprocity among citizens. It can transform the pace and nature of development and peace initiatives. This is inspiration in action.
The SVF multi-year report is a new reporting tool that will be geared to our external audiences. External audiences are made up of our partners including programming partners (UN agencies, the private sector, programme country governments) and donor partners (governments, private sector companies and philanthropic trusts), civil society organizations (including Volunteer Involving Organizations), traditional media (broadcast and print publications), new media (bloggers and interactive online communities) and potential and former UN Volunteers. The report will provide a snapshot of UNV delivery against peace and development projects funded by SVF at a global, regional and national level. The report will report against the UNV programme strategy and provide case studies of programme activities and development impact from 2009-2012.
Duration: 3 months (65 working days)
Start date: 15 September 2013
Activities:
Under the supervision of the Communications Project Manager, and in close liaison with relevant headquarters colleagues and portfolio managers,
• Research UNV projects and activities for coverage in the SVF multi-year report, using projects documents, mid-term and mission reports, evaluations, project fact sheets and country strategic profiles.
• Write text and case studies, using a template that covers primarily the development context, key objectives of the engagement, activities, results, also indicating the magnitude of the activity and its lasting impact (based on partners, budget, duration, UN Volunteers, other volunteers, engaged communities etc)
• Liaise with relevant colleagues at headquarters and field levels to verify information, fact-check stories and data and obtain clearances for their respective case studies.
• Edit and proofread text laid out in SVF report design.
• Ensure filing of working and cleared documents on the internal UNV portal.
Deliverables:
The consultancy will have the following deliverables and deadlines:
No Description Due date
1 Analyse preliminary input from UNV staff and identified documentation – along with collecting additional needed information – with the output being a complete inventory with detailed documentation references and contacts in an Excel sheet with attached Word documents for each story for all potential stories for the Annual Report 1 October 2013
2 Write body of text of SVF multi-year report, including case studies, and select statistical information for highlighting in infographics. 15 October 2013
3 Write preface and introduction and prepare annex with relevant links to reporting and evaluation documents. Ensure fact-checking, follow-up on missing information and relevant clearances of text. Proofread the full text of the report in design layout. 15 November 2013
4 Finalize reporting, draft reporting concept note for future reports (annually) 15 December 2013
- REQUIREMENTS FOR EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
a. Competencies
o Proven track record in research/editing similar publications in English;
o Research and evaluation skills including ability to synthesize information;
o Good analytical, communication and consolidation skills;
o Knowledge and experience of volunteerism in its diverse manifestations and cultural settings would be an advantage;
o Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
b. Qualifications:
o Advanced university degree in communications, development, international relations or other relevant discipline;
o Minimum 3 years relevant work experience;
o Experience and background in communications, specifically in writing and editing;
o Excellent research and writing/editing skills in English;
o Working knowledge of French and/or Spanish an asset;
o Experience in the UN would be an advantage.
How to apply:
c. How to apply
Applications should be submitted via e-mail procurement@unv.org no later than 7 August (17:00 local Bonn time). Attention to Andra Brige , with “Junior Researcher/Writer Consultancy – 40961” in the subject line.
Mandatory information required
- Please supply at least three references from previous clients that we can contact. Name, address, e-mail and telephone details are required.
- A cover letter, including your contact details with a brief presentation of you as an individual consultant (explaining why you are the most suitable candidate);
- A brief methodology on how you will approach and conduct the work(1000 words or under);
- Detailed list of services and specific areas of expertise that your institution (or you as an individual) may provide;
- Curriculum vitae (CV).
Optional information required:
- Proof of any previous relevant work carried out (1000 words or under);
- Detailed list of services and specific areas of expertise that you may provide (500 words or under).If you submit an application, UNV expects that you have read and agree with the TOR and the UNV Terms and Conditions, available online:
http://www.unv.org/fileadmin/docdb/pdf/2011/procurement/UNV-IC_Terms%20%...
Requests for further information must be sent in writing to the e-mail indicated above.
The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in instalments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including travel, per diems, and number of anticipated working days).
The contract shall be awarded to the consultant who is the most technically qualified and provides the best value for money. The consultancy will be offered to the candidate with the highest combined score (technical 80% and financial 20%).
