1. BACKGROUND

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is a unique global platform established to respond to climate change by investing in low-emission and climate-resilient development. GCF was established to limit or reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in developing countries, and to help vulnerable societies adapt to the unavoidable impacts of climate change. Given the urgency and seriousness of this challenge, the Fund is mandated to make an ambitious contribution to the united global response to climate change.

Belize, like many other Small Island Developing States (SIDS), is particularly susceptible to the impacts of climate change. The country’s low-lying coastline and sectoral vulnerabilities to climate risk coupled with limited access to national financial, technological, and technical resources to build the country’s resilience, led to a ranking of #9 on the Climate Change Vulnerability Index for the Latin American and Caribbean Region.

Taking a proactive approach to building climate resilience, the Government of Belize has prioritized the capacity building of national institutions which can access climate finance and implement bankable projects and programmes. International funding agencies such as the Green Climate Fund (GCF) offer support to developing countries who are working to achieve climate adaptation and mitigation in accordance with their Nationally Determined Contributions to the Paris Agreement. GCF’s Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme supports country-driven initiatives by developing countries to strengthen their institutional capacities, governance mechanisms, and planning and programming frameworks towards a transformational long-term climate action agenda.

The development of Belize is depending on mitigating changes that are beyond our control and adapting to those that are projected to affect our population in the short and long-term. To achieve the latter, Belize must address barriers that may limit implementation of interventions and their impacts. Some of these barriers include the non-existence of climate smart development plans for human settlements and infrastructure. With almost half of the population in urban areas (45%), and rural to urban migration increasing over the last decade, lack of urban planning has become evident, with its associated challenges.

Standardized demographic features of human settlements need to be established to ensure that categorization and services are based on population size and demands. There is also limited recognition of the role of human settlements and urban land management in reducing energy consumption and GHG emissions, considering that urban areas generate approximately 80 percent of global energy and emit 50 to 60 per cent of the world’s GHG emissions.

This Readiness will address key areas to improve human settlements and infrastructure to make them climate resilient, while building the capacity of regulatory agencies in the public and private sectors. It will also equip municipalities with resources to improve urban planning and monitoring. Barriers to an enabling environment will be addressed by improving the relevant frameworks to support resilient human settlement urban planning and improving coordination and collaboration between regulating and service providing agencies and institutions. Increasing knowledge sharing will improve public buy-in and awareness on the importance of climate impacts, mitigation and adaptation and their relationship to protecting investments in human settlements and infrastructures.

One of the key activities of the GCF Readiness10 Program is to conduct a 1-day National Summit with an estimated 110 participants, to showcase best practices, project knowledge products developed under the Program, municipality envisaged projects/application of training sessions and panel discussions on climate resilient infrastructure and sustainable urban development with emphasis on the deliverables of the GCF Readiness10 Program. 

2. GENERAL OBJECTIVES OF THIS CONSULTANCY

The general objective of this consultancy is for the design and delivery of a comprehensive strategic communication strategy and plan for the national summit in accordance with the requirements of the GCF Readiness 10 Project.  The individual consultant will execute the communications plan, organize and coordinate the national summit on Resilient Human Settlement & Infrastructure Priority Areas with the objective of showcasing the deliverables and results achieved under the Program.  The consultant is to work in collaboration with the Belize Association of Professional Planners and the Protected Areas Conservation Trust to achieve this objective.  In addition, the consultant will support the Belize Association of Professional Planners to develop strategic communication products that will contribute to sustaining the benefits achieved under the Readiness 10 Project. 

3. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES OF THIS CONSULTANCY

 The specific objectives of the consultancy will be as follows:

3.1 Design and delivery of a comprehensive strategic communication strategy and plan for the national summit on Resilient Human Settlement & Infrastructure.  The National Summit strategy and plan must include the face-to-face component and a virtual component for 110 participants under the GCF Readiness 10 Project.

3.2 Execute the communications plan, organize and coordinate the national summit on Resilient Human Settlement & Infrastructure Priority Areas to be consistent with the theme identified in the Communications Strategy, including the virtual component.  This must be done with close collaboration of the Belize Association of Professional Planners for technical input and the Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT) as all logistics resulting from the National Summit will be financed by the GCF Readiness Project and procurement process must follow the procedures established by PACT.

4. SCOPE OF WORKS/MAIN ACTIVITIES

The selected consultant will carry out the following main tasks:

4.1 Comprehensive Strategic Communication Strategy and Action Plan

4.1.1 Gather technical input, concerns, and recommendations from the Belize Association of Professional Planners and other key stakeholders such as the Ministry of Economic Transformation, Ministry of Infrastructure Development & Housing and the Ministry of Natural Resources, among others to be included in the Comprehensive Strategic Communication Strategy and Action Plan

4.1.2 Key components of the Strategic Communications Strategy must include a situation analysis, event objective and event theme, target audiences, core messages with associated communication channels, media kit, communication scripts and designs of audio visual materials including a project video for use at the National Summit.

4.1.3 The associated Action Plan must include detailed activities for the coordination and execution of the event including activities associated with municipality booth displays, with time-lines for each activity to be completed.

4.2 Event Preparation and Delivery

4.2.1 In line with approved Comprehensive Communications Strategy, the consultant will execute the activities of the action plan for successful execution of the National Summit.

4.2.2 Develop the communications and media kit for the event.

4.2.3 Develop the draft agenda, draft invitations and scripts for all speakers of the event including development of 4 plenaries thematic areas and questions.

4.2.4 Develop an estimated event budget in accordance with allotted project funds.

4.2.5 Provide assistance in obtaining quotations from product and service providers for delivery of associated equipment or material required for the Event.

4.2.6 Provide Master/Mistress of Ceremonies duties on the day of the event, including moderation of 4 plenaries on Resilient Human Settlement & Infrastructure Priority Areas.

4.3 Post-Event Summative Report

4.4 Develop a comprehensive report including photographs, videos sign-in sheets of up to 110 relevant government officials and stakeholders with gender disaggregated.

4.5 Medium-term Strategic Communication Products

4.5.1 Review relevant literature on the Belize Association of Professional Planners including its mission, vision, goals, organizational structure and strategy of the organization including the new planning and development bill and the Belize Climate Resilient and Sustainable Planning Concept Note, National Resilient Settlement, Infrastructure and Urban Development Policy, developed under the GCF Readiness10 Project, among other relevant documents.

4.5.2 Through appropriate consultation with BAPP Board and membership, identify operational focus areas/strategic objectives based on its strategic priorities and update its strategic plan. This should include a broad assessment of the non-governmental organization’s institutional capacity, organizational programs and activities, administrative resources and financial system, to sustain the benefits of the project and continue to provide support in urban planning to municipalities. The assessment should also compare and contrast the current institution to similar regional/international urban planning entities.

4.5.3 Based on updated strategic plan develop strategic communication products including updated logo design, media kit including an audio-visual/promotional video on the NGO, its role in resilient infrastructure and human settlements.

4.5.4 Based on the updated strategic plan, update BAPP’s website to include the strategic communication products and deliverables completed under the RS10 Project.

5. SCHEDULE OF EXPECTED RESULTS/PRODUCTS

Work must be carried out within 40 working days over a period of 3.5 months upon signing of the contract. The following products will be provided by the consultant:

5.1 Inception report including a detailed stakeholder mapping (digital copies in PDF and Microsoft Word format), delivered within 1 week after contract signature.

5.2 National Summit Communications Strategy and Action Plan with accompanying event theme, suggested multi-media content, audio-visual content design, draft invitations for up to 110 stakeholders, submitted within 1 month after contract signature.

5.3 Submission and Approval of a Summative Event Report with gender disaggregated submitted seven (7) days after the execution of the event. Summative Report should include sign-in sheets, photographs and video content of the event, feedback comments and recommendations.

5.4 Updated Strategic Plan and strategic communication products for the Belize Association of Professional Planners (digital copies in editable format) delivered within 3 months after contract signature.

6. QUALIFICATION OF CONSULTANT

The consultant should possess the following qualifications:

Academic Qualification:

1. 1. Master’s degree in communication, public relations, journalism, marketing or related field; with a minimum of 5 years professional working experience in communications, stakeholders management or a related field.)
   2. Experience working on at least 3 similar strategic communications projects in urban planning, urban development, environmental science, natural resource management, environmental management and sustainability, public policy and governance, or related fields.
   3. Experience in Project Management which demonstrates capacity for planning, coordination and execution capabilities. Project Management certification would be considered an asset.

General and specific experience of the individual consultant:

• • • Demonstrate experience with developing strategic communication material reconciling strategic objectives with technical requirements for effective transmission of messages to various audiences.
    • Demonstrate experience with design and development of visual assets including graphics, videos and other digital content.
    • Familiarity with the local context, development projects and urban development challenges.
    • Demonstrate experience in role of master/mistress of ceremonies for a formal event.

Overall skills, knowledge, abilities:

The selected consultant will need to have or show:

• • • Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement on complex concepts to diverse audiences.
    • Able to communicate effectively both verbally and in written English.
    • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
    • Presentation and facilitation skills.
    • Familiarity with multi-media platforms including digital media.
    • Flexibility and adaptability.

7. COORDINATION

The technical focal point and main counterpart for this consultancy is the Belize Association of Professional Planners. The administrative focal point for this consultancy is the Project Manager of the GCF Readiness 10.

8. LEVEL OF EFFORT, LENGTH OF CONTRACT, OTHER CONTRACT DETAILS

Level of effort:  The successful consultant will be employed on a contractual basis. The level of effort required to carry out this assignment is estimated at a maximum period of 40 days over a period of three and a half (3.5) calendar months.

Primary Stakeholders:  Belize Association of Professional Planners; Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing; Ministry of Economic Transformation; Ministry of Natural Resources; Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change & Solid Waste Management; Ministry of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labour & Local Government; Municipalities; Regulatory Agencies and Populace of Belize.

Confidentiality: The consultant is expected to maintain the confidentiality of all information obtained during the consultancy.

Format of Reports:  All report must be in hard and digital copies and in Microsoft office format.

Duration of contract:  All consultant services should be completed within 40 days within a period of 3.5 calendar months of the signature of the contract.

Type of contract:  Lump sum.

Budget:  US$11,600.00/BZ$23,200.00

PAYMENT SCHEDULE FOR DELIVERABLES

* All costs related to the venue rental, catering, or material for the summit will be covered by the GCF Readiness 10 Project, therefore all related requirements should be requested by the consultant in accordance with the procurement and financial requirements of PACT.

10. CRITERIA for SELECTION

The consultant will be selected in accordance with the National Competitive process based on the consultants’ Qualifications in relation to the Terms of Reference.