National Education and Skills Strengthening Project (ESSP) Communication Officer 407 views

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(INDIVIDUAL CONSULTING SERVICES)

Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI)

Education and Skills Strengthening Project

Grant no.: IDA-D7600

Assignment Title: National ESSP Communications Officer

Reference No.: MH-MOE-304063-CS-INDV

The Government of the Republic of Marshall Islands has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Education and Skills Strengthening Project (ESSP) and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

The consulting services (“the Services”) will assist the Project Manager and the RMI National Training Council to effectively implement the World Bank-funded project.

The assignment will focus on supporting ESSP project activities related to the sound design and successful implementation of public communication activities, including dissemination in line with project’ timelines and objectives across components. This consulting assignment is a long-term position (24 months) to be located in Majuro, RMI.

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment is indicated in the attached Terms of Reference (ToR).

The National Training Council now invites eligible individuals (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services (attach a Cover Letter of no more than four (4) pages addressing the mandatory experience and qualification requirements curriculum vitae with description of experience in similar assignments, similar conditions, etc.). Firms’ staff may express interest through the employing firm for the assignment and, under such situation, only the experience and qualifications of individuals shall be considered in the selection process. The criteria for electing the Consultant are:

1. Mandatory Qualification and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in communications, journalism, public relations, or any other related field.
• At least five (5) years of relevant experience in developing, designing, production and publishing/dissemination/airing of communication products using various media, and organizing, and producing major events of regional or international nature;
• Relevant experience in working for governments and/or international organizations on similar assignments, especially in strategic communications planning;
• At least 5 years’ experience in planning, management and sustaining an up-to-date project website and digital communication platforms;
• Fluent in both Marshallese and English languages.

1. Desirable Qualification and Experience

• Proven experience working professionally with diverse stakeholders
• Proven ability to conceptualize, plan, and manage multi-channel or multi-component programs or interventions with a team of diverse stakeholders
• Knowledge of media landscape on RMI, specifically as it relates to the target audiences of the ESSP activities
• A solid understanding of communication principles and approaches
• Capability and proven experience in crafting messages in various formats (press releases, websites, success stories, blog entries, tweets, etc.) targeting a variety of audiences
• Experience in social media management
• Computer/software training would be an asset;

The attention of interested Consultants (including firms) is drawn to paragraph 3.14, 3.16 and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” July 2016 revised November 2017 “Procurement Regulations”, setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours; 0900 to 1700 hours local time.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by e-mail) by 5:00pm, 30 August, 2022. The subject line should state: “National ESSP Communications Officer– full name of the candidate”.

Julius Lucky
Director

National Training Council
ntcdr@ntcinfo.org : mel_manager@ntcinfo.org
Phone: 692 625-4521

Cc:

Malie Tarbwillin

Assistant Secretary,
Division of International Development Assistance
didadirector@gmail.com : filipesefeti@gmail.com

Phone: 692 625 5968

Susan Kommwa

Project Manager, ESSP

suekommwa@gmail.com

Phone: +265 999 521 818

 Republic of the Marshall Islands

Ministry of Education, Sports and Training

Terms of Reference

 Individual Specialist

1. BACKGROUND

The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) is one of the world’s smallest, most isolated, and vulnerable nations. The country consists of 29 atolls and five individual islands (24 out of these 34 atolls and islands are inhabited). It covers an area of 1.9 million square km (around the size of Mexico) but has just 181 square km in land area (around the size of Washington, DC). The population was estimated at 58,413 in 2018, of which around 28,000 (53 percent) reside in Majuro (the country’s capital) and 10,000 (18 percent) in Ebeye, the two largest urban centers. Its low elevation makes the country highly vulnerable to natural and climate related disasters threatening the physical viability of some areas of the main and more remote outer islands (OI).

Project summary

ESSP aims to increase access to and quality of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) opportunities and improve labor market outcome for Marshallese beneficiaries in RMI and abroad.

The key institutional agencies include the Ministry of Education, Sports and Training (MOEST), Public-School System (PSS), the National Training Council (NTC), and the Ministry of Finance, Banking and Postal Services, Division of International Development Assistance (DIDA).

This project will support the following:

1. Improvement in the general secondary education to increase acquisition of foundational skills (Math and English)
2. Expansion and improvements in the supply of technical and vocational training programs, specialization tracks within secondary schools, accredited college-level programs in post-secondary institutions, and shorter programs by governmental and non-governmental organizations.
3. Strengthening of the labor market intermediation services in the country such as workforce planning, counseling and career guidance, employment center, recognition of prior learning, work placement program, etc.
4. Project management and monitoring and evaluation. Financed M&E activities would complement existing M&E systems in collecting relevant data for monitoring the project, inform needed course-correction, and evaluate outcomes of activities. As part of building MOEST capacity, the component would finance assessments, the development of a roadmap and action to prepare for (including make efficiency gains where possible) and navigate any changes in the level of, or access to, resources or services and ways of working which may alter as a result of the Compact renegotiations process.

NTC and PSS are the technical leads for their component(s). Each Agency has assigned one staff to manage the activities for about 30 percent of their work program. Project Implementation Unit is  composed of two coordinators, one for NTC and one for PSS, one administrative assistant, and one project manager. Additional staff will include 1 coordinator for Eyebe, communication Officer and 1 M&E specialist. To maximize coordination and efficiency, the PIU is located within the NTC’s office.

1. OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The government of RMI is looking for a Communications Officer to support ESSP project activities related to the sound design and successful implementation of public communication activities, including dissemination in line with project’ timelines and objectives across components.

III. SCOPE OF SERVICES

The Communications Officer will support the project to generate awareness and ensure the timely dissemination of information among all key stakeholders regarding the objective, principles, strategies, and lessons learnt in the course of its implementation

Specifically, the communications officer will lead in the execution of ESSP knowledge management and visibility which will include, inter alia:

1. Develop the ESSP multi-stakeholder/multi-channel communication strategy
2. Conduct a communication campaign targeting multiple stakeholders (through radio and television talk shows, press releases, brochures, newsletters, billboards, posters, and other promotion materials), that will enhance effectiveness and visibility of ESSP project;
3. Proactively provide accurate information and respond to enquiries packaged in a way suitable to the various types of project stakeholders.
4. Identify possible target audiences for different media messages and develop applicable strategies to disseminate the messages

1. INSTITUTIONAL AND ORGANIZATION ARRANGEMENTS

The Communications Officer will report to the ESSP Project Manager.

The Government of RMI will provide the Financing Agreements, WB Guidelines, and all the existing reports and materials related to the Project. Government of RMI will provide office space, general office supplies and office equipment.

1. DURATION, LOCATION, CONDITIONS

The position is a full-time position to be located in Majuro, RMI.  The duration of the contract will be for 24 months with the opportunity to extend based on satisfactory performance and budget availability. The position would be subject to a probationary period of three (3) months.

1. OUTPUTS/DELIVERABLES

The deliverables of the Communication Officer will include, but not be limited to, the following:

• ESSP communication strategy
• Up to date social media platforms
• Awareness raising/campaign reports
• Well packaged project messages for media coverage
• Audience mapping report

VII. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

1. Mandatory Qualification and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in communications, journalism, public relations, or any other related field.
• At least five (5) years of relevant experience in developing, designing, production and publishing/dissemination/airing of communication products using various media, and organizing, and producing major events of regional or international nature;
• Relevant experience in working for governments and/or international organizations on similar assignments, especially in strategic communications planning;
• At least 5 years’ experience in planning, management and sustaining an up-to-date project website and digital communication platforms;
• Fluent in both Marshallese and English language.

1. Desirable Qualification and Experience

• Proven experience working professionally with diverse stakeholders
• Proven ability to conceptualize, plan, and manage multi-channel or multi-component programs or interventions with a team of diverse stakeholders
• Knowledge of media landscape on RMI, specifically as it relates to the target audiences of the ESSP activities
• A solid understanding of communication principles and approaches
• Capability and proven experience in crafting messages in various formats (press releases, websites, success stories, blog entries, tweets, etc.) targeting a variety of audiences
• Significant experience in social media management
• Computer/software training would be an asset;