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National Communications consultant to develop a comprehensive and evidence-informed communications strategy and action plan along with a social media package based on an in-depth social media analysis.

 

Background:

Pakistan faces challenges in achieving universal access to sexual and reproductive health, including gaps in delivering accelerated voluntary family planning and maternal health services. This is coupled with the large spectre of gender inequality. The unmet need for family planning is high at 17 % and the contraceptive prevalence rate for modern methods is 25 %, significantly lower than other South Asian and Muslim-majority countries. The maternal mortality ratio has fallen from 178 per 100,000 live births to 140 per 100,000 live births[1], but approximately 8300 women still die every year from childbirth and the complications of pregnancy. According to the World Economic Forum, Pakistan ranks 151 out of 153 countries on the Global Gender Gap Index (2019). In accordance with the 2017-18 Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey, 29 percent of women were married before 18 years of age. 32 percent of ever-married women aged 15-49 have experienced physical violence.

The evolving COVID-19 outbreak in Pakistan has the potential to further aggravate the sexual and reproductive health indicators and to worsen the existing gender inequalities and vulnerabilities.

Moreover, since the onset of the ninth country programme of assistance to the Government of Pakistan in 2018, there have been significant changes in the development and humanitarian landscape, including a renewed national commitment at the Nairobi Summit on the 25th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development and the ongoing endeavors towards bringing the development and humanitarian spheres together.

Against this background, UNFPA Pakistan needs to redefine and further enhance the way the Country Office communicates, internally – between and among staff – and externally – with key decision-makers, donors, stakeholders, opinion-formers, supporters, enablers and general public. This is transform UNFPA Pakistan into a strongly communicating organizational entity and positioning it as a thought leader and catalyst for advancing sexual and reproductive health and addressing gender-based violence. Such a transformation requires creating and strengthening a communications culture across UNFPA Pakistan via compelling and consistent storytelling with a human face, backed by data and evidence.

Therefore, UNFPA seeks the services of a consultant to develop a comprehensive and evidence-informed communications strategy and action plan along with a social media package based on an in-depth social media analysis.

 

This also consultancy offers an opportunity of creating a synergy between programme advocacy strategies and the Country Office communications priorities, including family planning advocacy endeavors and the roll out of a communications strategy in support of using the findings of the Women's Economic and Social Wellbeing Survey in Punjab in policy making and programming.

 

Purpose of Consultancy:

To develop a comprehensive and evidence-informed communications strategy and action plan along with a social media package, including robust communications objectives, metrics and milestones, audiences and partnership platforms.

 

Scope of Work and Key Responsibilities

1. Conduct a social media analysis and develop a social media package with tailored key messages;

2. Conduct a stakeholder analysis with the main focus on decision and policy makers, gate keepers, opinion makers, donors, youth and general public;

3. Analyze programme advocacy endeavors and recommend actions for synergizing the Country Office and programme communications efforts so that they are mutually reinforcing;

4. Draft a communications strategy and action plan for UNFPA Pakistan for 2020-21 through an inclusive consultative process internally and externally, followed by an in-house review and validation exercise to ensure alignment with the corporate and regional communications strategies;

5. Prepare a social media package as an annex to the communications strategy;

6. Provide support to the rollout of the Communications Strategy and Implementation Plan of the Punjab Women's Economic and Social Wellbeing Survey as follows:

6.1 Facilitate media and stakeholder engagement;

6.2 Develop feature stories and key messages for further dissemination among target audiences; 6.3 Help disseminate products through channels identified in the strategy;

6.4 Help develop content and design of thematic products including infographics, leaflets, presentations and reports;

6.5 Help utilize digital space for dissemination with wider audiences, including technical support for the portal interface and content;

7. Provide technical advice and substantive support to documenting and developing communication materials and social media content on sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence in the COVID-19 response and the role of UNFPA Pakistan.

8. Create a synergy between programme advocacy strategies and the Country Office communications priorities, including family planning advocacy endeavors;

9. Provide support to the roll out of a communications strategy in support of using the findings of the Women's Economic and Social Wellbeing Survey in Punjab in policy making and programming;

10. Carry out any other duties as may be requested by UNFPA Representative.

 

Supervisory Arrangements:

The consultant will report to UNFPA Deputy Representative. S/he will be supported by and work in close coordination with programme team of the Country Office.

Education: Advance university degree in social sciences, communications or media studies.

Knowledge and experience

- Good understanding of gender issues in Pakistan.

- Ability to contextualize and develop engendered communication strategy for complex situations/ subjects like disaster. COVID-19 and present out of box yet indigenous solution to the issue.

- Fluency in both English and Urdu is essential; fluency in other languages spoken in Pakistan is an asset.

• Minimum Seven (07) years of experience of working in development focusing Governance government departments and policy makers and demonstrated familiarity of the gender dynamics in Pakistan., public administration & Communication in development
• Minimum Five (05) years of demonstrable communication for development experience of working with media and social/digital media in Pakistan.
• Strong research, interpersonal, communication and advocacy skills to advise a team of senior officials on effective media management strategies.
• Ability to work with, and review data and develop relevant communication approaches/tools to present findings in user friendly manner.
• Demonstrated analytical, presentation and writing skills with reference to communication planning. Awareness on current issues and understanding of how media/social media networks operate in Pakistan (essential) and internationally (desirable).
• Experience of working with UN and/or international development-oriented organization on communication and development advocacy