GBV Strategic Communication Consultant

The United Nations Population Fund, Asia and the Pacific Regional Office in Bangkok, Thailand is looking for a qualified consultant for the GBV Strategic Communication Consultant. The consultancy requires 110 worked days from the consultant from the contract starting date (expected in June) to 31 December 2023.

Below is the detail of this consultancy.

1. Hiring Office: UNFPA Asia Pacific Regional Office (APRO)
2. Purpose of consultancy: The purpose of the International Consultancy is to support UNFPA APRO on the advocacy, knowledge management, content generation and information dissemination in support of the GBV portfolio.
3. Scope of work:

UNFPA APRO is strengthening programming and partnerships for addressing gender-based violence in the Asia-Pacific region. As part of this organizational initiative, public advocacy, knowledge-sharing, and strategic communications play a key role in raising awareness of the issue, building alliances, acknowledging partners, donors and stakeholders’ efforts, while ensuring that UNFPA communicates effectively its work to various audiences, with focus on 3 key programmatic and advocacy initiatives: 1) UNFPA APRO regional advocacy and communications campaign to end gender-based violence, 2) kNOwVAWdata initiative, and 3) partnership with Zonta to strengthen services for survivors of gender-based violence.

UNFPA APRO has launched a regional campaign in 2022 titled ‘Respect & Empower’ to raise awareness of the impact of gender-based violence while offering solutions for prevention and response across Asia and the Pacific region and beyond, including through stronger partnerships.. For the commemoration of the 16 days of activism against GBV in 2022, APRO partnered with 8 Country Offices to produce and disseminate a series of videos and digital content on GBV response through the work of frontline service providers. In 2023, the Regional Campaign will be expanded to showcase UNFPA’s programming and advocacy work in GBV more broadly building on the strong foundation of GBV programming, technical resources and strategic partnerships.

kNOwVAWdata is an ongoing initiative to support and strengthen regional and national capacity to measure violence against women in Asia and the Pacific, created in 2016 to respond to the increasing demand for more accurate, reliable and comparable VAW prevalence data. It is being implemented by UNFPA APRO in partnership with the University of Melbourne and Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS), and funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). The objective of kNOwVAWdata is to further increase the availability and enable utilisation of reliable and comparable national VAW prevalence data by strengthening capacity to measure, understand and use VAW data within the Asia-Pacific region. It will also contribute to, and advocate for, improved measurement of VAW prevalence in other regions and globally, as well as supporting and promoting the uptake and use of VAW data for policies and programmes that work to end VAW.

UNFPA Asia Pacific Regional Office and UNFPA Country Offices in Papua New Guinea and Timor Leste, with support from Zonta International, are implementing the project: ‘Strengthening Services for Survivors of Gender-based Violence in Papua New Guinea and Timor Leste’ that aims to enhance the quality of services available to women experiencing gender-based violence, with a specific focus on the health sector response to GBV, and at strengthening the coordination between service providers.

Building on these ongoing interventions, the GBV Strategic Communication Consultant will be expected to support the following:

The overall responsibilities of the strategic communications consultant are:

• Development of strategic communications plans for the 3 key initiatives listed above, based on the objectives of each programme/project, with the list of associated public advocacy and strategic communications products for the key target audiences
• Develop communication products including human interest stories, social media cards and captions, media engagement products such as press releases, Opinion Editorials, statements, press briefing packages, scripts for videos, outlines of multimedia products, etc.
• Work closely with UNFPA APRO’s communication team to align the above plans with the organization’s overall communications calendar, and social media campaigns
• Coordinate with country offices as well as external vendors as needed in the development of the communications materials
• Quality assurance of communications materials supplied by UNFPA’s partners and country offices, and getting them ready for publishing on APRO’s channels and communication networks, while ensuring organizational reviews and clearances as per agreed workflows.
• Collect communications materials as needed, by traveling to the field in close coordination with UNFPA country offices and implementing partners.

More specifically, the deliverables will focus on:

For the kNOwVAWdata initiative (70 days):

• Support development and implementation of the communication and public advocacy strategy for Phase II of kNOwVAwdata Initiative to promote greater uptake of data for policy and programming on VAW prevention and response
• Maintain kNOwVAWdata’s Asia-Pacific social media presence and UNFPA APRO’s kNOwVAWdata website in close coordination and under the oversight of UNFPA APRO’s communication team
• Support engagement of course participants and VAW practitioners in online discussions, webinars and networking opportunities, and contribute to the development of a global community of practice
• Support development of stories that bring a human face to VAW prevalence surveys – showing their impact to individuals, communities and society – and to document/inspire research to action/data utilisation
• Update branding guidance and maintain associated assets
• Support the development of new and updated knowledge products and data visualisations
• Identify external recognition opportunities and support preparation of communications and advocacy strategy for 2024

For the GBV Regional Campaign (30 days):

• Support the implementation of the GBV Regional Campaign by conceptualizing and implementing a content plan in collaboration with both the UNFPA APRO GBV and communications teams– and lead on the development of the relevant communication material as per the agreed campaign concept and plan, including but not limited to key messages, briefing notes for COs to guide them on content development, press materials, multimedia content, web articles, etc.
• Coordination with UNFPA Country Offices as well as vendors, as necessary, for the collection of the communication stories and materials;
• Lead on the packaging of the communication products as necessary as well as quality assurance (including development of the social media cards and captions, the compilation of multimedia products, tailoring the various contents for the different key audiences including media, the public, partners/donors/stakeholders, etc)

For Zonta GBV project (10 days):

• Support the development of a communication plan for Zonta funded programme (Phase II)
• Develop human interest stories and social media content to reflect the learnings from the programme
• Support layout of knowledge products, reports, infographics etc and coordination with design firm for specific products.

1. Duration of work and schedule: The total duration of the consultancy will be up to 110 working days between June and December 2023. The selected consultant will develop an agreed monthly work plan in consultation with the APRO GBV team and and meet regularly to discuss progress.
2. Place where services are to be delivered: The consultancy is home-based with possible travel to Country Offices to support communication activities as part of the deliverables.
3. Delivery dates and how work will be delivered (e.g. electronic, hard copy, etc.): Basis of payment: Daily rate, to be paid in three installments (35 work days, 35 work days, 40 workdays) based on reports of working days completed towards the deliverables specified below and acceptance by UNFPA APRO.

Expected deliverables include (not exhaustive):

• A strategy and associated action plan for communication and advocacy activities for kNOwVAWdata Asia-Pacific during 2023
• Social media content and coverage of key events where kNOwVAWdata Asia-Pacific is represented
• Monthly update and maintenance of UNFPA kNOwVAWdata Asia-Pacific website
• Promote and support engagement in the kNOwVAWdata community of practice and activities
• Development of at least five human interest stories on VAW prevalence studies
• Update of at least five kNOwVAWdata Asia-Pacific resources
• Update guidance on branding, maintain brand assets and support the kNOwVAWdata Asia-Pacific team to use them
• Report on achievements and develop a proposal for communication and advocacy activities during 2024
• Content plan for UNFPA APRO’s regional campaign on ending GBV with the associated products as per the plan including but not limited to 1) Oped 2) Press release or statement 3) at least 3 web articles/ human interest stories 4) multimedia products including photo stories and videos 5) briefs with key messages to guide Country Office in joining the campaign 6) social media captions and graphics
• Communication plan for Zonta project Phase II
• Social media content and human interest stories showcasing the learning from Zonta Phase II

1. Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements, periodicity format and deadline:

While some of the deliverables are identified in advance, others are on an as needed basis. A work plan/delivery monitoring schedules will be agreed between APRO and the consultant at the outset of the consultancy. A tracking sheet will be used to note progress against the TOR deliverables and deadlines.

1. Supervisory arrangements: APRO GBV teams’ Technical Lead on VAW Data and Research will be the primary supervisor. The consultant will closely coordinate the APRO GBV team and Communication team on workplan development and delivery.

2. Expected travel: Possibility of limited travel within the Asia-Pacific region

3. Required expertise, qualifications, and competencies, including language requirements: The consultant should have:

   • Post-graduate degree in behaviour change, strategic communications, media and journalism, marketing, public relations, international affairs/development, social work or a related field.
   • At least 7 years of professional experience relevant to this consultancy particularly in strategic communications, campaign development and execution is a must
   • Proven experience in GBV / VAW-related communications, data advocacy and use and knowledge management is a plus.
   • Demonstrated experience in development and editing of engaging public advocacy packages, including social media assets and feature articles on measurement of VAW prevalence, GBV prevention and response and harmful practices against women and girls.
   • Sound editorial judgment and sensitivity to UNFPA priority issues, including significant awareness of international standards/guidelines on ethical and responsible representation of GBV and harmful practices.
   • Ability to work under demanding deadlines within a fast-paced environment and adjust priorities to meet evolving deadlines.
   • Skills in basic graphic design, including web-based tools and Adobe Creative Suite (especially, Illustrator and InDesign) is a plus
   • Demonstrated knowledge in digital communications, including web content management systems and social media platforms, multimedia content creation and media relations.
   • Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively.
   • Project management and coordination skills is required.
   • Commitment to the values and goals of the United Nations and UN Charter.
   • Experience in the UN system and/or UNFPA, and knowledge of the Asia Pacific region

4. Inputs / services to be provided by UNFPA or implementing partner (e.g. support services, office space, equipment), if applicable: UNFPA APRO will link the consultant to UNFPA Country Office Gender focal points where necessary.

5. Other relevant information or special conditions, if any: Consultant is expected to provide all necessary equipment to produce deliverables; editorial review and UNFPA brand guidelines will be provided by UNFPA APRO.