UNDP Jobs - 34105- Memorialisation Specialist

Memorialisation Specialist

Location :

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

17-Dec-2012

Application Deadline :

01-Dec-12 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

45 working days (17 December 2012 – 15 March 2013)

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The purpose is to support development of specific transitional justice models in Brcko District based on people’s needs in the area of truth seeking and memorialisation, humanity values and good practices appropriate to the context of local community.

The objective is to develop, based on field research, consultations and comparative analysis, the standards, criteria and concept for establishment of site of conscience in the Brcko District and defining programme of activities for the site of conscience which will generate open and inclusive inter-ethnic and civic dialogue on human rights violations and war crimes that happened during 1992 – 1995 conflict and current issues related to the past with the aim to creating appropriate culture of memory and overcoming legacy of human rights violations and war crimes, so as conflict prevention.

The project "Access to Justice: Facing the Past and Building Confidence for the Future" consists of two key components related to transitional justice and increased public trust in BiH rule of law institutions. The goal of the project is to increase the accessibility of BiH legal institutions and services for standard court users and systematically address remaining access to justice challenges for victims of the 1992-95 conflict in the country.

During the first phase of the Project, the Project supported the establishment and functioning of the BiH Council of Ministers’ Expert Working Group which task was to create BiH Transitional Justice Strategy and Action Plan for its implementation. The Project also supported specific activities aimed at developing assessment and recommendation Reports in the area of Truth Seeking and Memorials to be used in the process of developing and communicating TJ strategic issues. Furthermore, the Project supported the capacity building of civil society organizations to provide better targeted interventions in the area of transitional justice.

During the second phase of the project the UNDP will focus on supporting local partners in leading the process of communicating strategic issues to all levels of governance and civil society, and contributing to the development of Truth Telling, Memorials, outreach and community-related initiatives with particular focus on development and implementation of local truth seeking and memorialisation pilot models.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under supervision of the Project Manager and in close cooperation with the International Transitional Justice Specialist, the International Memorialisation Specialist will be tasked to design the site of conscience in the Brcko District and to develop program of activities for the site of conscience which will generate open and inclusive inter-ethnic and civic dialogue on human rights violations and war crimes that happened during 1992 – 1995 conflict and current issues related to the past.

The result will be based on in-depth analysis of comparative practice of a range of the best practices, field work through which particular attention will be paid to victims’ and societal needs to protect memory on war related trauma, so as consultation with specialists in relevant fields, such as curators, museologists, artists, but also human rights activists, representatives of the Brcko District institutions etc. The result of the assignment will be presented to UNDP BiH, institutions of the Brcko District and to the public.

The engagement includes both, the necessary level of field presence as well as home-based research and analysis. It is for the candidate to propose the plan and methodology of specific tasks to be performed. The Consultant is responsible for ensuring the key deliverables are based on adequate analysis on people’s needs, local context and good practices appropriate to the specific local context, i e to design site of conscience (in terms of defining elements and usage of the site and not in terms of architectural design) and the plan of activities for the site of conscience.

Outline of the concept proposal (for designing of the site of conscious and developing programme of activities for the site of conscious):

Tentative and rough structure of the concept proposal may be as follows:

Executive Summary
Introduction with explanation of used methodology
“Body” of the concept proposal
- Theory and comparative analysis
- Theoretical approach to the memorialisation practice (in transitional justice framework)
- Comparative analysis and best practices
- BiH context
- Analysis of victims’ and societal needs to protect memory on 1992 – 1995 war related trauma
- How BiH specialists from the relevant fields (museology, art, human rights etc) understand remembrance and memorialisation work (based on consultation with them)
- Recommendations
- Design of standards and criteria for the site of conscious
- Developing programme of activities for the site of conscious

While designing concept proposal, International Memorialisation Specialist will provide necessary theoretical and methodological deliberations so as comparative analysis. However his/her particular and major focus will be needs of the local community (the Brcko District) where the site of conscience and programme of activities for the site of conscience will be developed.

Specific tasks:

The International Memorialisation Specialist will be expected to perform the following duties and responsibilities:

To conduct a comparative analysis of contexts (states) in which sites of conscience have been formed;
In cooperation with UNDP BiH and the Brcko District, to provide technical input, organize and moderate consultative meeting with museologists, curators, artists, victims’ associations, human rights activists, representatives of institutions of the Brcko District (if required);
To organize and conduct field research;
To identify the best practices that can be implemented as appropriate and functional for the Brcko District;
To develop concept proposal for designing site of conscious and programme of activities for the site of conscious;
To provide technical input, organize and moderate expert consultation meeting (one day meeting, if required);
To present developed concept proposal for designing of the site of conscience and programme of activities for the site of conscience to UNDP BiH, the Brcko District and the public.
To act upon comments made by International Transitional Justice Specialist, UNDP BiH and the Brcko District.
To ensure that gender issues are mainstreamed into all documents and recommendations.

Deliverables and timelines:

The International Memorialisation Specialist is responsible for the following deliverables that should be submitted in the given period:

Concept note of research and the research plan submitted; Developed and submitted the list of key points/issues to be gathered trough research and meetings. (25 December 2012)
Field research (including organization of interviews and all necessary logistics) conducted and analyzed; Expert consultation one-day meeting organized and moderated (creation of participation list and organization of the event with UNDP BiH support); Participation on project team meeting/s with relevant institutional representatives (at least one day meetings in Sarajevo and one day meetings in Brcko District). (10 February 2013)
Developed and submitted the first draft proposal for designing site of conscience (in terms of elements and use) and programme of activities for the site of conscience. (20 February 2013)
Final proposal for designing site of conscience and programme of activities for the site of conscience submitted; Final proposal presented to the UNDP and key partners (one day meeting, based on UNDP requirement). (10 March 2013)

Competencies

Substantive knowledge of transitional justice approaches employed around the world.
In-depth knowledge of memorialisation policies and practice employed around the world.
Deep knowledge of the history of the conflict in BiH and its aftermath, as well as a broader understanding of the Balkan region.
Ability to advise local TJ actors, UNDP BiH, Expert working group tasked to create BiH Transitional Justice Strategy and institutions of the Brcko District.
Excellent listening, oral and writing skills.
Excellent conceptual and analytical abilities.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Communicate ideas clearly and persuasively.
Ability to work easily as a member of the team.
Demonstrate a sense of self-assuredness combined with cultural and gender sensitivities.
Demonstrate/safeguard ethics and integrity;

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree in museology, history of art, social anthropology, or other social sciences commensurate with practical experience in transitional justice and implementation of memorialisation activities in the transitional justice context.

Experience:

At least 7 years of practical/academic experience in a competitive working environment related to transitional justice or memorialisation in the transitional justice context and museology.

Language Requirements:

Excellent knowledge of spoken and written English.
Knowledge (written and spoken) of Bosnian/ Serbian/Croatian languages is a considerable asset.

Award Criteria:

Lowest evaluated offer of technically qualified consultants.

Applicants are required to submit an application including:

Letter of interest/ Proposal;
Explaining why do you consider yourself the most suitable for the work
Provide a brief methodology and plan of tasks on how you will approach and conduct the work
UNDP Personal History Form (downloadable from http://www.undp.ba/index.aspx?PID=16)
Financial proposal indicating the lump sum fee.

All above mentioned documents should be submitted only online as one attachment.

Note:

For an assignment requiring travel, consultants of 62 years or more require full medical examination and statement of fitness to work to engage in the consultancy.
Due to large number of potential applicants, only competitively selected candidates will be contacted for remaining steps of the service procurement process.