COMMUNICATION CONSULTANCY

TERMS OF REFERENCE

UNRWA is the largest United Nations programme in the Middle East. It provides assistance and protection to Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, the Syrian Arab Republic and the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). It does so by offering to a population of some 5 million registered refugees a range of human development and humanitarian services in primary and vocational education, primary health care, social safety net, community support, camp improvement, and microfinance. UNRWA’s role also encompasses advocacy and actions to address the human rights and protection needs of Palestine refugees.

COMMUNICATION CONSULTANCY – West Bank

BACKGROUND UNRWA’s Relief and Social Services Department (RSSD) external review in 2010 recommended the adoption of a more comprehensive social protection framework to redefine the RSSP’s purpose. The changes recommended will bring a stronger identity to the work of RSS staff and may attract greater donor funds to the RSS. A guidance policy was developed by RSS HQ to guide the staff in the field. WBFO translated the policy guidance from HQ into its “social protection towards chronic poverty” approach.

One of the key and urgent activities to be implemented as part of the Social Protection reform is the Communication Strategy and Outreach. Due to global financial crisis resulting in funding limitations, part of RSS social protection interventions might have to change from direct service provision (food, cash, CFW, social services) towards referrals (either to MoSA or in the refugee camps to community directed services and NGOs).

Based on a recent poverty based targeting system to determine eligibility (Da’am), refugees will receive assistance based on their poverty level, rather than based on their status as refugees. The Special Hardship Cases (SHCs) programme will be reformed accordingly.

These and other reforms might lead to questions within the communities that the Agency serves. The need for a communication strategy at Field level has become urgent due to a limited number of staff dedicated to community outreach and a need for clear guidelines on the type of messages to send out.

The Consultant is expected to develop a communications strategy that will provide a framework within which staff can engage with the community and transmit the various messages linked to the reforms currently taking place in RSSD. It will be a roadmap for RSSD to use in its outreach and communications efforts.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES The Consultant will work for RSS in close consultation with other UNRWA departments, including Front Office, PIO (at both field and headquarter levels), and the Community Liaison Officer. Consultations with other UNRWA programme chiefs are essential. The objectives of the consultancy are to: • Support RSSD in developing a communication strategy. The strategy is expected to include several elements: a review of what has already been done in the past, the current programme and communications SMART objectives, the target audience, and key messages for the staff members to disseminate. It should propose a communication implementation plan that identifies the channels of communication to be used, with an execution timetable, spanned over a specific period of time. Finally the strategy should ensure that the right message is disseminated in the right context; • Develop tools, guidelines and procedures for community outreach; • Provide practical guidance on community participation and define domains and communities in need for focused communication and engagement; • Train RSSD staff on best ways implement the strategy; • Follow up on initial impact of community outreach after training is conducted; • Identify potential future partners among the refugees community; • Set appropriate, efficient, and practical evaluation tools for measuring the impact of the new communication strategy on the community.

MAIN TOPICS  Social Protection reform;  Poverty based targeting mechanism;  SHC transition;  Funding shortages;  Changes in type of emergency assistance (more cash);  Localities that will not receive UNRWA emergency assistance in 2012;  New cash transfer modality;  Referrals to other service providers;  MNR policy and guidelines;  Palestinian Statehood.

METHODOLOGY  Desk review;  Interviews;
 Focus group discussions;  Field visits;  Consultations with various stakeholders, both within UNRWA and external (community).

PROPOSED PLAN FOR IMPLEMENTATION AND TIMELINES This plan is flexible and can be adjusted in consultation with the Consultant and the RSS Chief.

PHASE ACTIVITY DURATION Research & Analysis Desk/Literature Review; Review of existing guidelines on messaging to the community 5 days

Internal Consultations Meet with UNRWA Staff 4 days External Consultations Meet with external stakeholders 2 days Field Visits Visits to West Bank Field 4 days Analysis Review of all information collected 3 days MILESTONE DRAFT COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGY 2 days Guidelines Support RSSD in developing tools and guidelines for community outreach and participation 3 days

Finalize guidelines Adapt and finalize guidelines 3 days MILESTONE GUIDELINES AND TOOLS DEVELOPED 2 days Training Provide training to all relevant UNRWA staff and stakeholders on ways to better engage the community for the aim of having a successful outreach strategy. 5 days Reporting Draft Report to RSSD 5 days Presentation of key findings to seniors 5 days MILESTONE FINAL REPORT 5 days Follow up Follow up on initial impact of community outreach after training is conducted (through consultations with all stakeholders) 5 days IMPACT EVALUATION 5 days

Total working time
3 months

EXPECTED OUTPUTS Refer to ‘Description of Duties and Responsibilities’.

DELIVERABLES  Identification of target audience, defining frames and guidelines for generic messages of RSSD, and assisting in shaping the right messages sent by RSSD to the community on programming matters;  Development of communication strategy, including any needed advocacy and public awareness campaign;  Guidelines and procedures for community outreach and participation;  Training of RSSD staff and monitoring initial feedback;  Submission of final report.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE • University Degree in Journalism, Communications, Public Relations or related field; • Preferably five years experience in communications or public relations, and in particular some experience in the design and implementation of communications strategies; • Excellent command of written and spoken English and Arabic.

COMPETENCIES  Knowledge of and experience in best practices in designing communications strategies and monitoring the results;  In-depth understanding of community outreach and participation;  Strong analytical and interpersonal skills;
 Effective cross-cultural communication and facilitation skills;  Gender awareness;  Experience and good understanding of the West Bank specific context.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Ability to travel to the West Bank is essential.

REMUNERATION The duration of the consultancy will be 3 months. Start date is as soon as possible.

APPLICATION PROCESS Applicants should submit a cover letter and CV or UN Personnel History Form, via unrwa-ahr@unrwa.org clearly indicating the title of vacancy “Communication Consultancy” in the subject line of the message. The deadline for the submission of applications is 4 December 2011.

Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. Due to a large amount of applications, only qualified applicants under serious consideration will be contacted. UNRWA is a non-smoking work environment.

How to apply:

APPLICATION PROCESS Applicants should submit a cover letter and CV or UN Personnel History Form, via unrwa-ahr@unrwa.org clearly indicating the title of vacancy “Communication Consultancy” in the subject line of the message. The deadline for the submission of applications is 4 December 2011.

Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. Due to a large amount of applications, only qualified applicants under serious consideration will be contacted. UNRWA is a non-smoking work environment.