NATIONAL CONSULTANT

Consultancy Services - Communications Strategy Workshops

Increase Saint Lucia’s Capacity to Monitor Multilateral Environmental Agreements Implementation and Sustainable Development Project

1.       BACKGROUND

Saint Lucia is signatory to a number of international agreements from which several benefits are derived and obligations created. These, in part, shape national policies and legislation, promoting adequate measures to address environmental issues, such as biodiversity loss, pollution of the marine environment, global warming and sea level rise, as well as sustainable livelihoods. These international agreements have facilitated opportunities for Saint Lucia to receive grants and technical expertise for projects related to biodiversity, climate change and land degradation.

In this regard, a grant has been received from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to address issues related to environmental information management under the ‘Increase Saint Lucia’s Capacity to Monitor Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEA) Implementation and Sustainable Development Project.’  This initiative aims to provide support to develop the country’s environmental information management system, improve coordination and sharing of existing knowledge, and generate new information on the state of the environment.

A National Environmental Information System (NEIS) has been developed and launched under the GEF financed project.  The NEIS includes a Common Data Storage Facility (CDSF), which serves seventeen (17) public and private agencies who have agreed, through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, to collaborate and co-ordinate institutional agreements for sharing environmental information and data in      Saint Lucia. 

The CDSF serves as a supporting and foundational tool for reporting on MEAs and the translation of data into useful and actionable information. This information will then be available for use in policy and decision-making. The NEIS was specifically developed for Saint Lucia and is designed to provide MEA Focal Point Ministries and other users with data and information for reporting on the state of the environment under the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD), United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and United Nations Convention to combat desertification (UNCCD).  The achievement of the goals and objectives related to the MEAs’ indicators will be based upon data and information managed through the NEIS.   Both public and private sector Data Collectors, Information Officers, Technical and Research officers will be trained during this period to utilize the NEIS.

In addition, environmental initiatives critical to the island’s sustainable development require increased public education, awareness and participation by Government agencies in order to better integrate environmental concerns, and the value of ecosystems, into Saint Lucia’s broader development frameworks. This means now, more than ever, there is an increasing demand and need for information, knowledge and participation that accommodates the current and future generations and the implementation of comprehensive communication campaigns and activities that are at the heart of sustainable development.  Such processes imply engaging people and institutions while using creative means to dialogue, plan and make effective impact to relevant and target audiences.

To this end, the Department of Sustainable Development is seeking a local Communication Consultant to assist the Project Management Unit (PMU) in finalizing the development of a Communication Strategy and Implementation Plan to engage major stakeholders on evidence-based reporting mechanisms and knowledge of this project and its support for Information and Communication Technology related initiatives in Saint Lucia.  This will help garner a high level of support for the NEIS, highlighting the value of the system in (1) supporting decision making for our policy makers and technical negotiating teams for MEAs; and (2) increasing outreach and awareness on the NEIS through all forms of media and the public.  The details of services are outlined in the Scope of Work (Item 4).

2.         CONTRACTING AUTHORITY

The Government of Saint Lucia, represented by the Department of Sustainable Development in the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Gender Relations and Sustainable Development (hereinafter referred to as the “Contracting Authority”), with address at Norman Francis Building, Balata, Castries, Saint Lucia, West Indies.

3. OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The objectives of the Communications Consultancy are to:

• Develop a Communication Strategy and Implementation Plan
• Plan, coordinate and implement three (3) communication training workshops based on finalized Communication Strategy & Implementation Plan  
• Provide expertise support to the Project Management Unit with engagement of the media, key stakeholders and project beneficiaries including communities

4. SCOPE OF SERVICES

The Communications Consultant will be required to carry out the following tasks:

Task 1 - Prepare Final Communication Strategy and Implementation Plan

1. Conduct an inception meeting with Contracting Authority upon commencement of the assignment
2. Conduct a meeting with key stakeholders upon commencement of the assignment to:
   1. receive stakeholder feedback on existing draft communication strategy
   2. determine how successful communication strategies and techniques within key stakeholder agencies can be integrated into Final Communication Strategy and Implementation Plan,
   3. discuss the basis on which this strategy will be implemented.
3. Submit draft Inception Report and Communication Strategy and Implementation Plan to the Contracting Authority no later than three (4) weeks from completion of inception meeting
4. Submit final Communication Strategy and Implementation Plan within 2 weeks of receipt of comments

Task 2 – Conduct three (3) communication training workshops based on finalized Communication Strategy and Implementation Plan in different sectors

1. Conduct three (3) communication training workshops with specific target audiences as finalized in the Communication Strategy and Implementation Plan
2. Workshops to address the following themes:
   1. Raising awareness on national policies, plans and legislation containing environmental education provisions
   2. Raising awareness on MEAs to which Saint Lucia is party, containing environmental education provisions
   3. Training in public awareness techniques, including group dynamics
   4. Training in delivery of public sensitization, education, awareness programmes in different sectors
3. Evaluate the training administered by assessment and verification of all workshop participants.
4. Submit draft Evaluation Report and Workshop Presentations to the Contracting Authority for review four (4) weeks after administration of the training sessions.

Task 3 – Provide expertise and technical support to the Project Management Unit in the engagement of media, key stakeholders and project beneficiaries, including communities

1. Conduct media training session with Permanent Secretaries, Heads of Departments and Divisions[1].  Training to include the following themes:
   1. Media engagement strategies
   2. Conducting interviews with media personnel.
   3. Initiating dialogue with the media on matters of national interest
   4. Contracting Authority rules and regulations regarding media engagement
2. Develop Media Engagement Strategy (ies) Report, including feedback from media training sessions undertaken in (a).
3. Submit draft Report to the Contracting Authority within three (3) weeks of completion of training session.

Task 4 - Closeout Report

The Consultant is required to submit to the Contracting Authority a Closeout Report.  This report will be prepared to highlight the full gamut of work undertaken, noting the level of success and constraints in the methodologies used, the nature and quality of stakeholder participation, limitations in the scope of the consultations and meetings, any potential constraints which are anticipated in the effective application of the deliverables and any other lessons learnt during the process.

5. DELIVERABLES

All deliverables shall be reviewed by Contracting Authority and Project Steering Committee, who shall provide feedback to the Consultant. The deliverables should be developed, presented and adopted based on the following:

6. DURATION OF CONTRACT

The period of execution of this contract is five (5) months, beginning on the date of signature of the contract. 

The Contracting Authority will:

1. Provide a list of stakeholders for consultative purposes
2. Provide a soft copy of available reference documents.
3. Assist with logistics for meetings, training workshops, and provide list of relevant stakeholders with recommendations to the consultant.
4. Ensure timely review of reports submitted by the consultant and facilitate the provision of feedback
5. Initiate the consultation and co-operation of other agencies and consultants required to provide support to the consultant for realization of the relevant aspects of the assignment.
6. Provide access to relevant existing information.

Consultant’s Responsibilities

i.Declare any conflict of interest where such may arise.

ii.Execute the duties and tasks outlined in Scope of Services with due diligence and efficiency and in accordance with the highest standards of professional competence, ethics and integrity.

iii. Be responsible for the collection and analysis of all data and information required for the compilation of all reports.

4. The Consultant will undertake his/her own logistics ensure that they are adequately supported and equipped in terms of personal technical equipment (transportation, laptop, software and field tools).

7. VALUE OF CONTRACT

The contract will be a lump sum contract payable based on the schedule proposed in the agreed contract between the Government of Saint Lucia and the Consultant. The value of the contract is to cover costs associated with the deliverables of the consultancy. 

8. QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

The Consultant should have at least five (5) years of overall consulting experience; including:

• Post graduate degree in the discipline of Communication or Mass Communication

• At least 8 years of working experience in projects related to communications and training

• At least 5 years of experience in facilitating training workshops with Government Agencies
• Excellent command of written and spoken English
• Experience in undertaking projects relating to developing communication strategies with national agencies, NGOs in Saint Lucia or the Caribbean region

Key Competencies

The successful consultant should demonstrate:

• competence in report writing, presenting information, consulting with stakeholders at all levels including public awareness strategies;
• flexibility in the event that adjustments are required, based on the findings, both at the organizational and technical levels, for successful implementation of the consultancy; 
• a solid understanding of the institutional arrangements and resources required to carry out the scope of works.
• Advanced use of Microsoft Office Suite including PowerPoint Presentation and other Information Technology related programs

9. SUBMISSIONS

Technical and Financial Proposals are invited from local and regional consultants. In submitting proposal, the consultant must:

• Carefully review and comment on the Terms of Reference, recommending potential refinements where necessary.
• Submit a detailed methodology and work-plan including a time schedule
• Proposals should be submitted in a sealed envelope marked CONFIDENTIAL. This outer envelope should contain two separate sealed envelopes; one containing the technical proposal and marked ‘Technical Proposal’, the other containing the financial proposal and marked ‘Financial Proposal’.
• Both the Technical and Financial Proposals must be signed by the tendering party(ies). All submissions should be received by the deadline date and time of 4:00pm on Monday 17^th December 2018.  Envelopes with proposals should be clearly marked “Consultancy Services - Communications Strategy Workshops for the Increase Saint Lucia’s Capacity to Monitor Multilateral Environmental Agreements Implementation and Sustainable Development Project and addressed to:

            The Departmental Tenders Board

Department of Sustainable Development

Norman Francis Building

Balata

CASTRIES, Saint Lucia