TERMS OF REFERENCE

BACKGROUND

Three decades after ASEAN was established, ASEAN Leaders recognised that: there remained inadequate shared prosperity, ASEAN awareness, and contact among people of ASEAN.

It was of this concern that ASEAN Leaders established the ASEAN Foundation during ASEAN’s 30th Anniversary Commemorative Summit in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia on 15 December 1997. After its establishment, the ASEAN Foundation has been tasked to support ASEAN’s community building efforts by promoting greater awareness of the ASEAN identity, human resource development, people-to-people interaction, and close collaboration among the business sector, civil society, academia, and other stakeholders in ASEAN.

Through close collaboration with stakeholders from the public and private sectors, we actively implement regional initiatives, providing youth with the opportunity to develop their skills and build connection with people from all around ASEAN and beyond. We work in four thematic areas of Arts and Culture, Community Building, Education and Media.

JUSTIFICATION

We seek experienced and capable Communications Consultant to support one of the ASEAN Foundation’s programmes under Art and Culture pillar: KONNECT ASEAN.

KONNECT ASEAN is a development project supported by the ASEAN-Republic of Korea Cooperation Fund and will serve as the ASEAN Foundation’s core arts and cultural programme. KONNECT ASEAN signals both an eagerness by ASEAN to revitalise its once integral role in contemporary visual arts and South Korea’s sincerity in establishing closer ties with ASEAN.

The project will celebrate Southeast Asian arts using different platforms e.g. exhibitions, educational outreach, community arts workshops and exhibits, and printed and digital documentation, and in the process explore and discuss social, political, economic, and environmental issues in the region. The artists' works and activities will engage and strengthen the public's understanding of ASEAN. Furthermore, the project intends to connect with the three major stakeholder groups of government, business, and civil society to achieve the vision of an ASEAN Community. Outcomes will provide permanent resources recording why ASEAN matters and its ongoing contribution to the region's growth, prosperity, and stability.

Futhermore, KONNECT ASEAN addresses the Strategic Plan for Culture and Arts 2016-2025 of the Senior Officials Meeting on Culture and Arts by contributing to realise strategic priority no. 4.1 which is to encourage a multi-stakeholder approach in promoting an ASEAN mind-set and identity to increase the appreciation for ASEAN’s histories, arts, traditions and values. At the same time, the KONNECT ASEAN addresses the work plan of ASEAN-Republic of Korea Plan of Action, 2016-2020 by promoting cooperation in the area of culture and arts.

To effectively promote the programme to its target audience, a regional communications campaign will be implemented by harnessing combined interventions of digital communications and media relations. For this reason, a Communications Consultant with extensive experience in running regional campaigns is needed.

POSITION SUMMARY

Working closely with the Communications Team and KONNECT ASEAN Project Director and Project Coordinator, the Communications Consultant will be responsible for implementing a high-impact regional campaign that aims to contribute in achieving the goals of the programme.

The duration of the consultancy is 12 months from the hiring date.

PROGRAMME OBJECTIVE

The Communications Consultant is expected to develop and implement a successful regional campaign that achieves the following objectives:

• Deepening understanding between ASEAN cultures leading to a stronger ASEAN identity in the region, through:
  • Increased awareness & understanding of ASEAN and Korean contemporary art from the general public
  • Increased availability of documentation related to contemporary ASEAN arts
• Promoting the donor and ASEAN Foundation as thought leaders in Art and Culture space among governments, private sector, media and civil society

In order to successfully achieve the aforementioned objectives, below are the programme’s key requirements that must be met:

• Development of comprehensive communications work plan
• Development of clear branding guidance
• Formulation and implementation of a solid social media plan
• Creation and implementation of impactful media relations strategy
• Creation and dissemination of impactful stories on the programme’s beneficiaries
• Organisation and promotion of key events of the programme
• Creation of Innovative communication and knowledge management products
• Establishment of campaign monitoring system

SCOPE OF WORK

Key Performance Indicators

• Timely and quality deliverables for communication, visibility and publicity
• Adherence to ASEAN Foundation’s standards and rules
• Timely organisation of events
• Number of communication materials, products, posts developed and disseminated

WORKFLOW OF THE CONSULTANT

The Communications Consultant will work directly with the Project Coordinator under the supervision of the Project Director and Head of Communications of ASEAN Foundation and the guidance from the Executive Director of ASEAN Foundation. The Consultant will be given access to the resources of the Communications Teams, such as in-house designer and relevant digital online platforms.

QUALIFICATIONS 

ASEAN or ROK nationals who hold the below qualifications:

Education

• At least a Bachelor’s Degree, preferably in communication, marketing, social science, journalism, or other related fields

Skills and Experience

• A minimum of 5 years of experience in the communications field
• Possess extensive experience in developing and leading impactful, large-scale communications campaigns, particularly in the dynamic sector through social media platforms
• Familiar with project management
• Familiarity with art and culture in ASEAN is preferable
• Strong media relations network and digital communications savvy
• An eye for design and photography and ability to do basic photo and video editing
• Strong communication skills: fluent written and verbal English both inter-personally and in the business setting
• Excellent experience in producing human interest stories
• Prior experience in website administration
• Strong presentation skills
• Proactive, highly agile, adaptable and calm under pressure

DUTY STATION 

The consultancy work will be conducted online.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY 

All information pertaining to this initiative (photographs and video documentation) belonging to the ASEAN Foundation, which the consultant may come into contact with in the performance of his/her, duties under this assignment shall remain the property of the ASEAN Foundation who shall have exclusive rights over their use. Except for purposes of this assignment, the information shall not be disclosed to the public nor used in whatever without written permission of the ASEAN Foundation in line with the national and International Copyright Laws applicable. Furthermore, all communications materials developed on behalf of the programme and the organisation will also belong to ASEAN Foundation.

REMUNERATION & SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS

The price proposal should indicate a “lump sum amount” which is “all-inclusive” for the tasks specified in the terms of reference. Monthly payments will be transferred to the Consultant following submission of the timesheet as well as an output report with the approval from the Head of Communications. Without submission and approval of deliverables, the Consultant shall not receive any payment if s/he invest time for this assignment. 

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested and suitably qualified candidates should send their applications to [email protected] with [email protected] in Cc, with email subject of COMMS_KA22. The applications must consist of the following documents:

• CV (in PDF, maximum 2 pages)
• Cover letter (in PDF), stating which position you are applying for, why you are applying, and how you may qualify for the position
• Portfolio (in PDF), showing your previous and current communication works

No other supporting documents, such as copies of letters, certificates, publications, or writing samples should be submitted, as they will not be considered as part of the application process.

Deadline for Application: 4 February 2022