Search for major creative partner to help conceive and deliver key aspects of the UN LDC5 Confer ...

I. Background. 1.1. UN-OHRLLS United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS) is the office of the United Nations that assists the world’s most vulnerable countries. UN-OHRLLS works with least developed, small islands, and landlocked developing countries by directing the world’s attention to issues that concern them most, including climate change, economic growth and poverty reduction. The office assists 91 countries with a combined population of 1.2 billion. 1.2. Least Developed Countries The 46 Least Developed Countries (LDCs) represent the poorest and most vulnerable segment of the world’s population. LDCs are low-income countries confronting severe structural impediments to sustainable development. They are highly vulnerable to economic and environmental shocks and the COVID-19 pandemic is demonstrating that vulnerability across many factors, affecting their populations out of all proportion to other countries. The LDCs are: Afghanistan; Angola; Bangladesh; Benin; Bhutan; Burkina Faso; Burundi; Cambodia; Central African Republic; Chad; Comoros; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Djibouti; Eritrea; Ethiopia; Gambia; Guinea; Guinea-Bissau; Haiti; Kiribati; Lao People’s Democratic Republic; Lesotho; Liberia; Madagascar; Malawi; Mali; Mauritania; Mozambique; Myanmar; Nepal; Niger; Rwanda; Sao Tome and Principe; Senegal; Sierra Leone; Solomon Islands; Somalia; South Sudan; Sudan; Timor-Leste; Togo; Tuvalu; Uganda; United Republic of Tanzania; Yemen and Zambia. 1.3 The Fifth Conference on Least Developed Countries (LDC5) On January 23-27, 2022, world leaders will meet in Doha to agree on a new and urgent programme of action for the world’s Least Developed Countries. LDC5 will be one of the biggest gatherings of world leaders in 2022. This UN Conference will inspire greater international cooperation and action on supporting LDCs to ultimately graduate from the category. At the Conference, the international community will address LDCs’ special needs and mobilise additional international support and action to help them meet their targets. The Conference will adopt a new ten-year programme of action for LDCs at a critical time, as LDCs battle to recover from COVID-19, tackle climate change and handle the post-pandemic economic disaster. It will also coincide with the last decade of implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a universal set of goals, targets and indicators that UN member states use to frame their agendas and political policies on issues like poverty, climate and development until 2030. In a world that will undoubtedly still be grappling with the pandemic and its consequences, with so much having been put on hold, it is vital that this Conference stands out. Technology, storytelling and innovation will be at the heart of LDC5 to better convey the needs of the citizens of LDC5, to connect the Conference to those citizens, and to demonstrate the possibility and potential of LDCs themselves. 1.4. Communications Objectives for LDC5 and preparatory process 1. Mobilize global leadership so they demonstrate increased action for and with LDCs to help them meet their development goals. 2. Establish consensus that LDCs are most vulnerable of all countries to effects of COVID-19 and its economic aftermath, and on the need for them to be at core of global recovery efforts. 3. Build the case for partnerships for sustainable development – including with private sector, technology, infrastructure development, financing, debt sustainability, trade preferences, regional integration, etc… 4. Amplify LDC perspectives, lived experiences and solutions for specific issues including: COVID-19 Digital Equity Resilience, Climate change, Development Finance, Gender Equality, Youth, Poverty Reduction, Inequality, Graduation, Global Partnerships, Structural Transformation 5. Celebrate success stories and solutions, including human-interest stories, best practices and innovative initiatives, to inspire more individual and collective action. 6. Highlight outcomes of the Conference and provide a public accountability mechanism for sticking to commitments made there. 1.5. Target Audiences Primary Heads of State/Governments – LDCs and development partners ● Strengthen their commitment to the development of the LDCs. ● Invest in common solutions to help address issues facing LDCs. International System – UN, OECD, International Financial Institutions & other multilaterals ● Prioritize LDCs and their issues in development planning. ● Engage with innovation and partnerships in the pursuit of sustainable development in LDCs. Civil Society ● Hold governments and the private sector accountable to their commitments. ● Mobilise solutions-based initiatives and drive action from grassroots up. Private Sector ● Invest in the latest science, technology, innovation to develop scalable solutions. ● Set up and step-up initiatives influencing consumer/ public behaviour. Youth ● Engage with the conference preparation process and ensure their voices and demands are heard by leaders. Secondary Media ● Boost awareness of the Conference and build pressure on government leaders to attend and make commitments commensurate with need. ● Raise awareness of LDCs as a specific category of countries with special needs. ● Cover the Conference and its issues in thoughtful, engaging ways and amplify commitments made. ● Hold leaders to account after the Conference. Multipliers (Media, Influencers, Campaigners) ● Create, share and amplify content to ‘unpack’ LDC issues, build knowledge and empathy, inspire action and change. ● Tell people’s stories – their lived experiences, cultures, hopes for a better future. ● Highlight solutions-based impact-driven stories, emphasizing the LDCs as ground zero for the world’s development targets. II. Potential UN requirements OHRLLS seeks to understand market availability to help conceive and deliver key aspects of the LDC5 Conference. OHRLLS is especially interested to understand potential service providers’ global footprint, multidisciplinary staffing and extensive global partnerships that potential vendors are willing to bring on board in the following four areas: 1) Media & Marketing It is imperative that decision makers – heads of state, cabinet members and other high-level officials – feel compelled to attend the Conference and bring with them the energy and political will to deliver on a bold new programme of action. To do that, they need to be clear on the Conference aims, where they can contribute, and feel inspired that those contributions can deliver on a truly transformative agenda for the world’s most vulnerable communities. Possible activities • A targeted media and marketing campaign in key countries (especially LDCs and development partners) designed to raise the profile of this Conference as a make-or-break moment for global development. • Creative concept (to be agreed in collaboration with OHRLLS) and production of key assets. • Media strategy and story/interview placement. • Content production and distribution (media, digital and above the line) in key markets. • Plans for “look and feel” of LDC5 Conference space, including screens, signage, media zone, etc. 2) Youth Campaign & Engagement To ensure young people's perspectives, ideas and solutions are reflected in the inter-governmental negotiation process, a major international social media campaign is envisaged. This campaign will target young people in Least Developed Countries with the aim of empowering, enabling, listening to and amplifying youth voices from the 46 countries. The campaign will use social media to elicit stories from young people in LDCs to share their lived experiences of life through the lens of the key themes of LDC5 – climate, poverty, gender inequality, etc. One winner may be selected from each country to attend LDC5 where they will take full part in proceedings, as well as a series of dedicated youth events. Submissions from the youth and all entries may be conceptualized as a digital storytelling installation in the Conference space and used as an engagement tool and backdrop for other events. Possible activities • Creative concept (to be conceptualised in collaboration with OHRLLS) and production of key assets for campaign. • Major partnership(s) to deliver campaign on social platform(s) - but also a set up for young people who may not be digitally connected to take part. • A promotional campaign to drive engagement. • Creative conception and delivery of digital installation/youth pavilion at LDC5. 3) Digital Outreach OHRLLS and the UN system can be deployed in ambitious and innovative ways to tell the story of this unique moment and the international community’s obligations to step up. Possible Activities • Social Media strategy for LDC5 and run-up, with focus on youth campaign and high-level engagement, and support/content to deliver on those goals. • Digital partnerships from social media companies. • Content support for LDC5 website and production of agreed content (graphics, text, interactives, etc.) 4) Film & Photography One objective of this Conference is to build empathy between policymakers with people in the LDCs and building respect for their cultures will be a key to doing that. Possible activities • Curated, licensed and hung photography exhibitions at UNHQ and LDC5 with website and social media integration. • High-end opening and closing films for LDC5 and social media use (using UN archival footage or externally sourced.) • Creative and technical partnerships where appropriate to deliver on these concepts.