Form AM 10-7 (October 2012)
FORM AM 10-7:
Procurement Notice/Advertisement
Open International Competition (OIC)
Country of Destination: France
Reference Number: RFP/CI/FMD/IPDC/2025/01
Description: External Evaluation of the International Programme for the Development
of Communication (IPDC)
Deadline for Submission of Sealed Tenders: 29 May 2025 at 23:59 CEST (GMT
+2)
Posting Date: 17 April 2025
United Nations Educational, Science and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) hereby
invite qualified companies to submit sealed tenders as follows:
As an initiative funded by voluntary contributions with a budget larger than USD 1.5
million, The International Programme for the Development of Communication
(hereinafter “the IPDC”) is subject to a mandatory external independent evaluation as
per UNESCO Evaluation Policy 2022-2029.
The main purpose of this evaluation would be to assess the relevance, efficiency and
results of the IPDC, and generate recommendations for the future to inform
governance and implementation of the IPDC. It would also be the occasion to see the
extent to which the IPDC, through its grant making mechanism and activities, is
aligned with the Principles for Effective Support to the Media and Information
Environment, and whether its contribution to their implementation could be
strengthened.
The last evaluation of the IPDC covered the years 2011 to 2017. Therefore,
UNESCO is requesting for proposals for an external evaluation of the IPDC to cover
the period between 2018 and May 2025.
This evaluation should be conducted in accordance with the UNESCO evaluation
procedures, assessing relevance, coherence and effectiveness, efficiency, impact and
sustainability of the IPDC and its interventions. The evaluation recommendations are
expected to inform the future management of its Special Accounts, and the IPDC
Secretariat’s efforts to monitor and support the implementation of the funded projects.
It should examine progress made towards achieving the expected results, lessons
learned and present recommendations regarding the IPDC’s design and delivery, as
well as on potential follow-up actions.
The findings of the evaluation will be used by UNESCO, IPDC Members and donors
to assess the achievement of the programme results and to:
• Enhance the relevance, effectiveness, organizational efficiency, sustainability,
coherence, and impact of the programme and (where appropriate) similar
actions, as well as shape the features of follow-up initiatives and projects;
• Demonstrate the IPDC’s achievements and challenges;
Issued: October 2012 BFM/FPC
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• Identify lessons learned, best practices, and possible areas for adjustment or
still to be covered;
• Provide actionable recommendations to improve the design and/or
implementation of the Programme;
The evaluation will adopt a retrospective (summative) and forward-looking perspective
with action-oriented recommendations to inform future endeavours. The evaluation
will focus on key dimensions of project performance, namely the standard evaluation
criteria of relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, sustainability, coherence, and impact.
There are two main deliverables: an inception report, and an evaluation report (first in
draft, then a final version). These deliverables are the responsibility of the external
evaluation team, and will be reviewed by the ERG and IOS.
The evaluation team is required to present to UNESCO the following
reports/deliverables:
- Draft and final Inception Report: including the methodology, evaluation matrix,
refined evaluation questions, work plan (including a detailed activity
schedule), and timeline by 31 July 2025.
- Draft Reports:
o A draft report on preliminary findings is to be submitted to UNESCO
by 31 October 2025.
o A first draft evaluation report is to be submitted to UNESCO by 1
December 2025.
o A second draft evaluation report, reflecting the ERG and IOS’s
comments on the first draft, is to be submitted to UNESCO by 31
December 2025
o A final draft evaluation report, reflecting the ERG and IOS’s
comments on the second draft, is to be submitted to UNESCO by
15 January 2026.
- Final Report: including annexes, by 30 January 2026.
The purpose of this notice is to provide general information on the requirements for
the procurement process and to inform interested suppliers how to obtain a copy of
the Solicitation Documents.
Interested companies who wish to participate in the OIC must request for a
complete set of Solicitation Documents, available free of charge, from UNESCO
contact person at the address shown below.
The electronic offers comprising of a technical proposal and a financial proposal,
must be delivered through two separate emails no later than 29 May 2025 at 23:59
CEST (GMT +2), as follows and in strict compliance with the instructions as
stipulated in the Solicitation Documents:
The technical proposal should be sent to the following email, with the mention
“Technical Proposal – RFP/CI/FMD/IPDC/2025/01 – name of the bidder” in subject:
ci-procurement@[Link]
The financial proposal should be sent the following email, with the mention
“Financial Proposal – RFP/CI/FMD/IPDC/2025/01 – name of the bidder” in subject:
ci-procurement@[Link]
-3-
Offers addressed to any other email accounts will be disqualified. It should also be
noted that all files together should not exceed 10 Mo per email.
UNESCO reserves the right to amend the documents at any time during the
solicitation process. Any amendments or clarifications will be communicated directly
to all Bidders who have requested for a complete set of solicitation documents and
officially confirmed their intention to submit a sealed tender. No remuneration will be
made to companies for preparation and submission of their tenders.
UNESCO Contact Information (including for the purposes of requesting the
full tender):
Section for Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists, Division for Freedom of
Expression, Media Development and Information Literacy Communication and
Information Sector
E-mail: ci-procurement@[Link]
