Communication Specialist

Background:

The Palestinian Liberation Organization has received a grant from the International Development Association (IDA) in the amount of USD 3.5 million for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority to finance the Public Financial Management (PFM) Improvement Project (the Project). This project will be implemented over 4 years by the Ministry of |Finance and Planning (MOFP), the High Council for Public Procurement Policies (HCPPP) and State Audit & Administrative Control Bureau (SAACB).

The Project’s development objective (PDO) is to enhance the expenditure controls, financial accountability and procurement management of the Palestinian Authority. To achieve this PDO, the project will mainly cover four components; the first component aims at improving Budget Expenditure Management and Control; the second component will work on improving the Financial Accountability of the PFM System; the third component aims at modernizing Public Procurement systems; while the fourth component will support the project implementation and management. 

The third component of the Project will support the implementation of key aspects of the Public Procurement Law No. 8 of year 2014 (PPL). This component will be implemented by the HCPPP, in coordination with the two central procuring entities; namely the Ministry of Public Works and Housing – Central Tendering Department (MOPWH-CTD) and the Ministry of Finance and Planning -General Supplies Department (MOFP-GSD) and other procuring entities at the central and local levels.

The PPL applies to procurement activity at both the central and municipal levels of government. It lays down an acceptable institutional and organizational set-up for public procurement; provides comprehensive provisions on procedural matters; sets out provisions on transparency and accountability; establishes a complaint/dispute review mechanism; and provides for routine dissemination of information on public procurement. The enactment of the PPL has brought substantial improvement to the legal framework for public procurement on aspects of efficiency, transparency, accountability and integrity. The PPL became effective on July 1, 2016, however, several of its aspects remain unimplemented.

HCPPP was established in September 2012, with representation from public and private sectors. Its creation is one of the most important building blocks in the construction of a modern, best-practice public procurement system that is an enabler of development. HCPPP is the entity mandated by the PPL for oversight of all public procurement activity, as well as for the development of the procurement system, including policy setting, institution building, procurement documentation, guidelines and manuals, training and public awareness campaigns. 

Through Bank support, the vision and mission statement, and the essential organizational structure, functions, and staffing of HCPPP were prepared. The organizational structure of HCPPP, which was approved by the Council of Ministers on November 25, 2014, consists of HCPPP board, supported by a Secretariat. The executive management of the Secretariat is conducted by the Executive Chairman of HCPPP, who is appointed by the Council of Ministers. HCPPP is in the process of hiring key staff for its Secretariat, which would include the following six departments: (i) Legal Affairs Department; (ii) Procurement Policy Department; (iii) Capacity Building Department; (iv) Monitoring and Analysis Department; (v) Information Technology Department; and (vi) Administrative and Financial Department. The project will provide consultants to support the operationalization of HCPPP and to build the capacity of its staff.

Through PFMI, HCPPP prepared in late 2020, a Communication Strategy to generate awareness around (1) the innovations and benefits brought in by the new PPL, (2) the HCPPP mandate and responsibilities, and (3) the single-portal official website for the public procurement system, amongst the public procuring entities, the Palestinian private sector companies, representing prospective bidders for procurement opportunities by public procurement entities, the public and other stakeholders. 

In May 2021, the HCPPP started the development the first phase of an e-Government Procurement (e-GP) System as part of the Digital West Bank & Gaza Project. This project is a 5-year project and will be implemented and overseen by the Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Technology (MTIT), while the HCPPP will be responsible for implementing sub-component 3.3 of the Project that will support the development of a first phase of an e-GP System.

Assignment Objective:

The main objective of this assignment is to hire a qualified Communications Specialist to plan and manage all HCPPP communication and media activities, including updating and supporting the implementing of HCPPP Communication Strategy. On the other hand, HCPPP will designate a Communications Officer to work closely with the Communications Specialist in undertaking the relevant tasks and to receive on-job training and gain knowledge to undertake the tasks independently by the end of the Communication Specialist's assignment.

Scope of Work:

Under the general supervision of the Executive Chairman of HCPPP, the Communication Specialist will be responsible for undertaking the following tasks in close coordination with concerned HCPPP staff, nevertheless, communications and awareness raising work related to e-GP shall be carried out in close coordination with the Project Implementation Team for e-GP:

The Project Communications Specialist will be responsible for updating and implementation of communications strategy/plan to ensure a proper communication with beneficiaries around project objectives and key interventions and to play an active role to demonstrate the overall project achievements to give visibility to the concerted efforts by HCPPP, development partners, and all relevant stakeholders. His/her specific responsibilities are the following:

• Design and implement a communications strategy/plan and relevant activities to increase awareness of the achievements of the project. 
• Ensure proper communication to reach out and communicate with target groups around project objectives and key interventions.
• Work closely with the HCPPP executive Chairman and staff, stakeholders, procuring entities, and donors to develop activities that highlight donor assistance.
• Monitor the effectiveness of the communications strategy/plan and the realization of its goals and objectives through the implementation of the strategy.
• Provide feedback to inform ongoing public relations activities.
• Organize and coordinate press events and follow up with media to ensure coverage of public events.
• Design, develop and disseminate all outreach materials and activities to advertise beneficiaries’ products to target audience and media, including outreach folders and fact sheets, newsletters, tweets, brochures, website, photo essays, videos and awareness campaigns for broadcast and print media.
• Develop internal outreach plan with all activities and related tools to establish a unified and common understanding of the HCPPP‘s development initiatives.
• Design, develop and disseminate all in-house outreach materials and activities including outreach folders and fact sheets, newsletters, tweets, brochures, website, photo essays, videos and awareness campaigns for broadcast and print media.
• Undertake drafting and development of all content for internal and external communications and media tools and/or products.
• Develop and consolidate strong media ties to confirm widespread outreach to stakeholders, public and communities.
• In-conjunction with the HCPPP relevant staff, manage and administer widespread public outreach/awareness campaigns.
• Draft TOR needed for any future media and communication activities, and manage the contracts with service providers on timely basis with all related approvals.
• Manage social Media tools (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) to demonstrate overall project achievements, all of which are important elements to give visibility to the concerted efforts by HCPPP, development partners, and all relevant stakeholders.  
• Travel to the field to get to know project achievements and impact, capture success stories for dissemination through website, outreach folders and to the media;
• Design, develop, publicize and maintain project social media webpage with full coordination with HCPPP relevant staff. 
• Assist in developing the Public Procurement Portal in terms of design and contents.
• Produce reports highlighting program developments, achievements and success stories; 
• Assess HCPPP needs to enhance their communications with the procuring entities, partners, and stakeholders, and provide technical support and training to relevant HCPPP’s staff to ensure they have the capacity to carry out their duties.
• Meeting with different departments and directorates to collect data (texts, pictures).
• Provide updated quarterly reports on all activities related to communications plan.

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Essential Required Qualifications, Skills, knowledge and Competencies:

• At least a bachelor’s degree in the field of Public Relations, communications or any related field from a credited university, master’s degree is a plus.
• A minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in the field of communications, public relations, involving similar tasks to the ones listed above.
• Applicant shall provide documentation for the minimum required years of experience.
• Capability and experience in drafting communications strategies.
• Capability and experience in developing mass media messages in various formats (press releases, websites, success stories, blog entries, tweets, etc.) targeting a variety of audiences.
• Thinks creative and have excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability in innovation and working effectively under pressure.
• Familiarity with dealing with public campaigns.
• Excellent written, oral and communication skills.
• Excellent Knowledge of Microsoft Office Software.
• Excellent knowledge of all Media application software and tools
• Familiar with website design and social media platforms is preferred.
• Proven ability to motivate, coach, support and train colleagues to develop their skills in line with professional standards and job responsibilities.
• Ability to foster teamwork and enhance performance and to coordinate with relevant stakeholders.
• Proficiency in Arabic and English (oral and written).

Time Frame and Contract: 

The duration for the assignment is 12 months on a full-time basis, with possible extension to 2 years, subject to satisfactory performance and need. The first six months shall be financed under PFMI project, while the second six months will be financed under Digital WB&G project. The expected start date of the position is Jan 01, 2022.

An individual Consultant shall be selected for the above-mentioned post in accordance with the World Bank's procedures as specified in the World Bank's Procurement Regulations for Borrowers under Investment Project Financing dated July 1, 2016 revised November 2017 and August 2018 (“Procurement Regulations").