Communication Officer

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 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.

Assignment Objective:

The main objective of this assignment is to hire a Communication Officer to support HCPPP in implementing its Communication Strategy.

Scope of Work:

The Communication Officer will be responsible for undertaking the following tasks in close coordination with concerned HCPPP staff, under the under the supervision of the Communication Specialist and will receive on-job training from the latter:

• Assist in conceptualizing campaigns and building creative ideas to raise awareness
• Assist in planning and managing media events including concept, budget, logistics, catering, branding, invitations, etc.
• Build and maintain contact lists of local and regional media, and key stakeholders. 
• Collect and prepare content for social media and website (mainly news and campaign posts).
• Coordinating for all logistical arrangements, printings, and production of promotional items.
• Following up on communication activities e.g. providing stakeholders with needed leaflets, educational material, etc. 
• Reporting on all communication activities of the department to the Executive Chairman of HCPPP

جميع الحقوق محفوظة لموقع جوبس.

Minimum Required Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, or a related field.
• Job experience: Minimum 2 years of relevant experience including working in media, journalism, advocacy, or communications and marketing, or in closely related external relations contexts.
• Very good technical affinity for media contexts including knowledge of a wide range of multimedia, web and digital tools.
• News-writing and editing skills.
• Social media skills.
• Developed understanding of needs of media and public audiences.
• Languages: Native Arabic and proficiency in English is required, Knowledge of any other languages will be considered as a plus.

Time Frame and Contract: 

The duration for the assignment is 6 months on a full-time basis.  The expected start date for 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").