National Consultant

Result of ServiceOutput 1 by 5 July 2024: • Supported the successful launch event for the project in Freetown, ensuring that the project’s logistical, communications, media exposure and substantive written content needs are met; • Documented project activities with photography, and video where possible; • Set up photo repository for the project and digitized and filed necessary media release forms in project folders; • Provided support with the translation of evaluation forms from English into Krio, where applicable, for use in project activities; • Coordinated the development and dissemination of visual assets and project-related documents in English and Krio (e.g. project flyer or brochure); • Drafted a country-relevant communications and media strategy; • Supported the drafting of a press release for the project launch event as well as reaching out to local media outlets; • Drafted specific social media and other digital content aimed at stakeholder and beneficiary mobilization, and project visibility in both English and Krio; • Supplemented project’s monthly reporting with beneficiary testimonials or web stories; • First draft of project’s visual assets (e.g. flyer, digital cards, animated carousels, etc) submitted to in-country and HQ project teams for review and feedback. Output 2 by 2 August 2024, and for the period: • Supported the development of a report mapping out relevant traditional and digital media mobilization outlets for districts targeted by the project; • Presented country-relevant communications and media strategy to in-country and HQ project teams; • Compiled and organized evaluation forms for each project activity, ensuring that all information has been digitized, is available in English; • Finalized and submitted a list of interview questions in English and Krio for use in the development of web stories and beneficiary testimonials, incorporating all feedback in-country and HQ project teams; Supplemented project’s monthly reporting with beneficiary testimonials or success stories; • Drafted specific social media and other digital content aimed at stakeholder and beneficiary mobilization, and project visibility in both English and Krio; • Submitted finalized draft of project’s visual assets (e.g. flyer, digital cards, animated carousels, etc) submitted to in-country and HQ project teams for review and feedback. Output 3 by 30 August 2024, and for the period: • Conducted at least two interviews with project beneficiaries and drafted at least two Success Stories; • Supplemented project’s monthly reporting with beneficiary testimonials or web stories; • Prepared a one-page highlight of project achievements for the first three months of implementation; • Drafted specific social media and other digital content aimed at stakeholder and beneficiary mobilization, and project visibility in both English and Krio. Work LocationHome-Based in Freetown, Sierra Leone, with possibility of local travel Expected duration10.06.2024 – 30.08.2024 Duties and ResponsibilitiesBACKGROUND: The International Trade Centre (ITC) is a joint agency of the United Nations and World Trade Organization based in Geneva. ITC’s mission is to enable small business export success in developing and transition- economy countries, by providing, with partners, sustainable and inclusive development solutions to the private sector, trade support institutions (TSIs) and policymakers. Having worked with SMEs for 60 years, ITC is familiar with the unique needs of SMEs, including youth and women-led enterprises, and has vast experience in improving their international competitiveness and connecting them with markets: • ITC’s Youth & Trade Initiative takes a market-led approach to address gaps in skills and enhance the competitiveness of young entrepreneurs. The programme works with ecosystem actors to strengthen the business environment for youth-led companies and provide pathways to youth employment in key value chains. ITC manages a global community supporting young entrepreneurs – Ye! Community, which connects youth entrepreneurs and key ecosystem actors to provide access to resources, tools, opportunities, and networks, to enhance their entrepreneurial capacities. • ITC ecomConnect has developed a well-practiced methodology accompanies SMEs on their digital journey through its training programme, research, and facilitation of innovative solutions, collaborative structures, partnerships, and digital tools and technologies. In addition, the ecomConnect programme works closely with a wide range of local stakeholders and partner agencies, especially BSOs, and provides them with capacity building and knowledge on online trade and exports. • ITC’s Tech Sector Development team supports the internationalization of African tech start-ups. ITC has implemented projects in Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali, Senegal and Uganda focused on supporting local tech companies and digital freelancers, as well as the local innovation ecosystems. In 2019, ITC launched the #FastTrackTech initiative. FastTrackTech provides targeted coaching, matchmaking with potential clients and investors to digital entrepreneurs who aspire to international growth in Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Mali, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zambia. • ITC SheTrades Initiative aims to create an ecosystem of integrated solutions that empower women economically through greater integration in trade and investment. The Initiative ensures that the right capacities and conditions are present for women to trade and that they are supported by an ecosystem of market partners and effective support organizations. At the same time, SheTrades works to remove inequalities in the trade policy space that hinder women’s participation. • ITC Institutions and Ecosystems section is dedicated to support and enhance the performance of business support organizations (BSOs). The support to BSOs is structured in three key pillars: assess, improve, and connect organizations. The end goal of the support is to ensure that MSMEs and startups receive targeted and well-structured support from efficient and professional organizations. • The ITC Trade Policy and Investment Facilitation (TPIF) Unit supports trade and investment policy formulation and implementation by working with policymakers to review and update policies and regulatory frameworks and informing and advising trade and investment negotiators. TPIF also assists chambers of commerce and other business support organizations (BSOs) to articulate MSMEs views effectively to ensure that policies, regulatory reforms, and negotiations all reflect a well-informed business perspective. Unemployment and underemployment are key drivers of poverty in Sierra Leone. At 10.1%, the youth unemployment rate is over double the national average, and 60-70% of the working population are classified as working poor. The digital economy provides opportunities for more and better paid jobs, and digitalization has the potential to drive SME competitiveness and growth. However, Sierra Leonean youth, especially young women, lack awareness of opportunities available in the digital economy as well as the relevant knowledge and skills to take advantage of them. Consequently, many youths are not employable in technology-related jobs. Youth entrepreneurship is key to reduce unemployment in Sierra Leone, yet most youth-led MSMEs, especially those led by young women, lack skills to adopt digital technologies in their businesses, maximize e-commerce opportunities, and secure financing. Young people and young entrepreneurs lack an effective and coordinated voice to influence policymaking processes related to the digital economy to ensure that their needs are met. At the business ecosystem level, entrepreneurship support provided by the government, development agencies, and NGOs rarely offer a combination of sector, digital, and entrepreneurship-oriented programmes. There is a lack of coordination among BSOs, tech service providers, and market partners. Business and digital support services are insufficient and not adapted to the needs of young people and young entrepreneurs. BSOs and tech hubs do not provide sufficient digital entrepreneurship support to youth-led MSMEs, and financial institutions have limited service offerings to support young women entrepreneurs to contribute to the digital economy. Implemented over a four-year period from June 2024 to 2028, the ‘Sierra Leone: Empowering youth through digital technologies’ project has the overall objective of contributing to economic growth and job creation in Sierra Leone by enhancing the participation of youth in the digital economy. To achieve this, the project will: • Increase the capacity of youth to use digital technologies for work, entrepreneurship and social inclusion; • Enhance the competitiveness of young entrepreneurs through the adoption of digital technologies; • Improve youth-specific service offerings of business support organizations and tech hubs; • Strengthen the inclusive national strategies and policies related to the digital economy. DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES: The Consultant will work for ITC’s Women and Trade Programme (SheTrades Initiative) under the direct supervision of the SheTrades Associate Economic Affairs Officer and Head of Communications, and is expected to perform the following duties: • Work alongside the in-country National Coordinator for the launch of the project in Sierra Leone, including supporting in identifying and mobilizing key stakeholders and engagement of communications and media-relevant service providers for the launch event. • Travel alongside the National Coordinator to project locations within Freetown and in other targeted districts for meetings with relevant stakeholders and beneficiaries, with a view of collecting insights on project specific communications and visibility opportunities, as well as on best assessment and monitoring approaches, to be shared with HQ project team as inputs for strategic planning. • Responsible for documenting project activities with photography and video where possible, and upload images/videos to project’s photo inventory (currently on Flickr platform). • Responsible for preparing media release forms in English and/or Krio languages and ensure that forms are collected from participants, scanned and filed appropriately in the project’s digital database. • Provide support with the drafting of a press release, including collection and validation of quotes from KOICA Nigeria and key implementing partners as well as connections with media networks in Sierra Leone. • In coordination with HQ and in-country project teams, provide support with the drafting of a beneficiary registration form in both English and Krio languages; disseminate the forms in both digital and physical formats to potential beneficiaries and ensure completion of all fields; digitize physical forms and ensure all data is captured in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. • Develop, draft content and propose design concepts) for project-related documents (e.g. flyers or project factsheets) in English and Krio languages, for dissemination and engagement of beneficiaries. • Identify suitable potential printing, video, graphic design, and other communications and media-related vendors and submit to HQ for review and approval. • Conduct research to assess effective traditional and digital media mobilization strategies for targeted districts under the project. • In coordination with HQ and in-country project teams, provided inputs to monthly, quarterly and semestrial reporting of project results. This includes providing support with data collection and analysis as well as alignment with all monitoring and evaluation specifications required by the project. • Coordinated the development of the project’s visual identity using ITC’s branding guidelines and in close consultation with in-country and HQ project team. The Consultant will be required to work closely with a graphic designer and will expected to provide editing support using graphic design software, Canva, or similar. • Conduct in -depth interviews with beneficiaries to capture project interventions (e.g. activities, impact, partnerships) and draft web stories based on established guidelines shared by the HQ project team. The consultant is obliged to provide full access to ITC external and internal auditors to documents and information. In addition, the contractor shall comply with any audit undertaken in line with the financial regulations and rules of the United Nations. Copyright Clause: The Consultant has to ensure that s/he has obtained the necessary permissions with regard to intellectual property rights required to perform his/her services under this consultancy contract and for the subsequent dissemination by ITC in any form. Documentary proof is to be submitted to ITC. Should any license fee be due for the use of copyrighted materials of third parties, the Consultant shall request prior written permission from ITC. S/he has further to ensure to obtain accreditation to event(s), if required. ITC champions workforce diversity, inclusion, gender equality and gender parity and considers all qualified persons - of all genders - equally, including those with disabilities, without discrimination or prejudice of any kind. Qualifications/special skillsPostgraduate degree (MA/MSc/MBA or other) or PHD. Advanced university degree in media studies, journalism, corporate communications, business administration, technology-related fields, social sciences, or a closely related field. Extensive relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the university degree. At least 3 years of experience in journalism, communications, and experience in monitoring and evaluation roles in a development context. Strong visual acumen, graphic design awareness, and photography skills. Strong communications skills (i.e. writing, journalism, media relations, publications, etc). Knowledge of monitoring and evaluation processes with strong qualitative research and analysis skills. Excellent communication and technical report writing skills. Intermediate to advanced proficiency in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel. LanguagesAdvanced English and Krio are required, written and spoken. Additional InformationNot available. No FeeTHE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.