Purpose of consultancy:

The UNFPA Moldova Country Office is looking to contract a National Consultant to provide communication assistance for  Sexual and Reproductive Health Programme. The Programme is implemented as part of UNFPA Moldova Country Programme 2023-2027 within the humanitarian-development-peace nexus approach.

UNFPA is the lead UN Agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.  UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030.

Since 1995 UNFPA has been active in the Republic of Moldova, being the lead UN Agency in supporting the national Government’s efforts in developing and implementing policies and programs on sexual and reproductive health and rights, including cervical cancer prevention, family planning, STIs and HIV prevention, sexual violence prevention and response to the needs of survivors of violence, safe motherhood, including in crises/emergencies context. Currently UNFPA Moldova is actively involved in the humanitarian refugee response to the Ukrainian crises, supporting the women and girls’ refugees to access quality sexual and reproductive health services, as needed.

All programmatic Sexual and Reproductive Health related interventions have specific communication activities that require relevant expertise to ensure that the messages are well communicated and presented to the public in a user-friendly way. Therefore, UNFPA is seeking an Individual National Consultant to be contracted for providing communication assistance on Sexual and Reproductive Health programme within the humanitarian-development-peace nexus approach.

The Individual National Consultant will support the UNFPA Moldova Humanitarian Programme Analyst on Sexual Reproductive Health and the Communications Analyst in various communication activities of the Sexual and Reproductive Health programme, including developing press releases, writing articles, creating social media content and outreach messages tailored to the target audience, and providing branded materials for visibility. The consultant will also document the information and communication campaigns in Sexual and Reproductive Health area – through photo and video, secure media coverage by arranging TV and media appearances, produce human-interest stories, manage events, and ensure the visibility of donors and partners — all to strengthen UNFPA’s mandate and raise awareness on Sexual and Reproductive Health topics. UNFPA is looking for candidates who inspire, transform, and deliver high-impact, sustainable results.
Scope of work:

Under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the UNFPA Moldova Humanitarian Programme Analyst on SRH – the National Consultant will provide communication consultancy in the implementation of Sexual and Reproductive Health – related communication interventions, media projects, advocacy activities with government institutions, ensuring donor visibility, as well as digital assets management, including:

Content Development: Develop and edit communication materials, including the press release for the Sexual and Reproductive Health  campaigns, prepare articles, human stories, social media content, and other information materials and outreach messages tailored to the target audience; support preparation of background communication and promotional materials for briefings and visits of journalists, donors, and other groups in the context of field trips that are foreseen to be conducted at the national and subnational level, as needed.

1. Event Management and Coordination: participate within coordination meetings of  UNFPA Moldova Communication Team; maintain close collaboration with UNFPA Moldova Programme Team for identifying key results and strategic information and communicate it to external audience, in the best suited format; support coordination and implementation of awareness raising campaigns on sexual and reproductive health; support organize special events, such as equipment donation and other similar events, collaborate with the partners, donors and experts to align communication efforts with all requirements and standards.
2. Storytelling: oversee and coordinate the documentation of Sexual and Reproductive Health programme through impact stories, high-quality photos and videos. Write human-interest stories and work with a photographer/videographer to produce engaging visual content for social media and media outlets.
3. Media Engagement: establish close collaboration with traditional media, arrange and coordinate TV and media appearances to highlight specific activities and messages of the sexual and reproductive health programme, maintain relationships with journalists and media representatives to maximize the visibility.
4. Monitoring and Reporting: track the reach and impact of activities related to sexual and reproductive health programme, prepare a final report summarizing the outcomes of communication efforts, including media coverage and social media engagement metrics.
5. Other related communication duties, as required by the UNFPA Moldova Humanitarian Programme Analyst on SRH.

Duration and working schedule:

The work is expected to commence on 13th January 2025 and end on 30^th June 2025.

The volume of consultancy has been estimated at 14 full working days per month.

Note: The mentioned number of working days has been estimated as being sufficient/ feasible for the envisaged volume of work to be completed successfully and cannot be used as criteria for completion of work/assignment. The provision of envisaged deliverables approved by UNFPA would be the only criteria for the Contractor’s work being considered completed and eligible for payment/s.

Place where services are to be delivered:

The work will be performed by the Individual National Consultant at the UNFPA Moldova Country Office in Chisinau, and also during the field trips that are foreseen to be conducted at the national and subnational level, as needed.

Required expertise, qualifications and competencies, including language requirements: 

The UNFPA Moldova Country Office is looking for an Individual National Consultant who has the following educational background, qualifications and expertise:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Social Sciences, or another related field.
• At least 2 years of professional experience in communication, public relations, media engagement, or a related field.

Experience:

• Proven experience in developing and implementing communication strategies and campaigns, preferably in social and health areas.
• Experience in writing and editing high-quality content for various platforms, including press releases, articles, and social media.
• Knowledge of events management, organization of media briefings, and coordination of media outreach.

Skills and Competencies:

• Fluency in English and Romanian is required.
• Working knowledge of one or more additional languages relevant for Moldova, including Russian, Bulgarian, Gagauzian, Romani, Ukrainian or sign language would be an asset.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a strong ability to tailor messages for diverse audiences.
• Proficiency in managing social media platforms and creating engaging content.

Other relevant information:

Selection process: a suitable candidate shall be selected through an open call in line with UNFPA Policy and Procedures for Contracting Individual Consultants.

Basis of payment: Payment will be conducted in 6 instalments, on a monthly basis, based on the number of working days in each month of reference and subject to timely submission and approval of timesheet with de facto number of days worked in the month of reference,  as well as of Brief Monthly Narrative Activity Report, stipulated in the current Terms of Reference, in the agreed format and due quality, and certification by the UNFPA Humanitarian Programme Analyst on SRH of the successful performance of the Individual National Consultant

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA’s workforce – click here to learn more.
Disclaimer:

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance and other administrative requirements.

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants’ bank accounts.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements