Organization: UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs
Country: United States of America
Closing date: 23 Sep 2015
Terms of Reference
Individual contractor to implement outreach recommendations
Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA)
Background
The Communication Section of the Strategic Planning and Communications Services (CS/SPCS) of DESA provides online communication services to the Department, including website stories, newsletters, social media outreach and video productions. It publishes over 130 website stories in 6 UN languages a year, issues a monthly external and a weekly internal newsletter and has daily postings on Facebook and Twitter. It also produces more than 30 videos per year with high-profile personalities and events.
The Communication Section has evaluated the effectiveness of these online services and drafted detailed recommendations. The individual contractor should assist in the implementation of these recommendations, in particular to implement the redesign of DESA’s newsletters, enhance communication procedures within DESA and better align communication services with the objective, activities and events of the post-2015 process.
The individual contractor will be located in CS/SPCS of DESA and will work in close collaboration with substantive divisions and offices of the Department.
Duration of contract
The contract is for two and a half months from 15 October – 31 December 2015.
Duty Station
The contractor will work during regular working hours at UNHQ in New York.
Tasks
The individual contractor will perform the following tasks during the duration of the contract:
Month 1: 15 October – 14 November 2015
- In close consultation with SPCS and based on the evaluation results, suggest a new title, design and structure for DESA’s newsletter DESA News with a more appealing design and larger images (email and online version);
- In close consultation with SPCS and based on the evaluation results, make the final recommendation on the DESA News mailing list platform and assist with the transfer and implementation;
- Prepare a first draft of online communication request forms (videos, social media events and campaigns etc.) for DESA divisions to complete for review and validation by SPCS;
- Advise SPCS colleagues how to strengthen the monitoring of DESA’s website traffic with the current Webtrends tool. Upon decision of SPCS, draft a workplan to implement alternative/additional tools (eg. Google Analytics).
Month 2: 15 November – 14 December 2015
- Implement the new structure and design for DESA News (email and website) and launch the new newsletter by latest 1 January 2016;
- Review the quarterly DESA website and social media reports and provide suggestions how the quarterly report can be further strengthened;
- In close consultation with SPCS and based upon conclusions of the evaluation, draft guidelines to monitor/draft DESA’s Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn content and provide suggestions for additional social media monitoring tools;
- In close consultation with SPCS, prepare a new layout for DESAlert along the new DESA News graphic line, clearly indicating it is an internal newsletter;
Month 2.5: 15 – 31 December 2015
- Implement the new layout for DESAlert to launch the new newsletter in January 2016;
- Provide advice on the preparation of the 2016 DESA Communication Planner focusing on the distribution of tasks and new procedures among outreach producers (SPCS, DPI, divisional focal points) and needs of DESA’s audience and planning of capacity-building activities with focal points;
- Once DESA News is launched, give advice on a communication campaign for further promotion of the new newsletter;
- Finalize any outstanding tasks that have not been completed as part of this TOR.
Qualifications
- Advanced university degree in communication, media, journalism, public relations, website design or related field required;
- At least five years working experience in public information, journalism, international relations, communication or related field;
- Expertise in newsletter design and implementation desirable;
- Knowledge of newsletter and mailing list software like Lyris or MailChimp desirable;
- Knowledge of content management system WordPress and programming in PHP desirable;
- Experience in social media outreach desirable;
- Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN language is an advantage;
Performance indicators
- Deliverables produced and handed in on time according to the monthly tasks;
- Layout, structure and platform recommendations for DESA News and DESAlert have been implemented and the new newsletters have been launched;
- Guidelines on social media have been drafted and additional monitoring tools recommended;
- Communication request forms have been implemented and used by focal points;
- 2016 DESA Communications Planner has been drafted.
Remuneration
A total amount of $ 17,500 is payable as follows:
- $ 7,000 will be issued upon satisfactory completion of requested tasks for month 1;
- $ 7,000 will be issued upon satisfactory completion of requested tasks for month 2;
- $ 3,500 will be issued upon satisfactory completion of all tasks of contract.
The contractor will be responsible for travel and accommodation expenses.
Officer-in-Charge of the Project
The individual contractor will work under the overall supervision of Mr. Guenther Gross, Chief of CS/SPCS, DESA (Room S-2644; 212-963-3176; gross1@un.org). The contractor will be instructed that all correspondence with colleagues outside of SPCS has to be cleared by the officer-in-charge before distribution, including draft documents and designs. The contractor will copy the officer-in-charge on all correspondence.
How to apply:
Interested candidates should send a cover letter and CV to gross1@un.org by latest 21 September 2015.
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