UNDP Jobs - 54077- International Consultant for Capacity Development

International Consultant for Capacity Development of Journalists in Reporting on Key Developmental and Governance Issues

Location :

Male', MALDIVES

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

16-Mar-2015

Application Deadline :

23-Mar-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

12 working days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

12 working days

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

Maldives had been undergoing a series of reform initiatives introduced by the Government since 2004, leading up to the amendment of the Constitution in 2008. The new Constitution includes a broad and comprehensive chapter on rights, which includes guarantees of freedom of expression (Article 27), of the media (Article 28) and to acquire and impart knowledge and information (Article 29). The constitutional amendments also opened the way for independent media, when a number of private broadcasters were licensed. While the number and types of media organizations are flourishing, there continues to be many challenges that limit the functioning of the sector to its full potential. The current capacity of media in terms of good practices of journalism, evidence based reporting, and facilitating constructive dialogue is extremely limited. Additionally, the polarization of the Maldivian communities had resulted in overtly partisan media that often further exacerbates conflict. The limited skills and time invested for research and evidence limits the viewpoints presented, and the types of issues covered through the media.

The Integrated Governance Programme (IGP) of UNDP Maldives aims to deepen democracy in the Maldives through strengthening institutions and empowering people. One of the envisioned results of the programme is to enhance the capacity of the media to contribute to democratic discourse. To this end, several initiatives have been introduced and carried out over the past couple of years. This includes a series of on-site trainings targeting key TV and print media organizations in the Maldives in 2013 which was followed by intensive trainings targeted at upcoming journalists and journalism students on strengthening their knowledge and understanding on the key developmental issues of Maldives. The trainings which were designed and delivered by an international expert also placed great emphasis on raising awareness on conflict and gender sensitive reporting.

In 2014, with the lessons learned from these trainings and upon identification of the need for concerted efforts towards encouraging responsible, issue-based journalism, UNDP commissioned the development of a Media Strategy. After consultations with relevant stakeholders and a thorough needs analysis, a Media Strategy was developed with the technical assistance of an international expert which UNDP plans to roll-out in 2015. Further capacity development of journalists, especially up and coming journalists from across the nation, is one of the main components of the strategy. With the rapidly growing community-based online news sites, the strategy also identified the need to strengthen engagement with community based journalists and strengthen their skills on reporting on developmental issues.

Against this background, UNDP is seeking the services of an international consultant to provide technical support for capacity development of journalists in reporting on key developmental and governance issues.

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant will:

Based on the Media Strategy, conduct a two-day workshop with two local consultants to finalize training topics/modules and methodology for the actual training with journalists;
Provide off-site support to the local trainers during the training period through real-time online connectivity and other means;
Coaching and mentoring – Liaise with the local consultants in coaching and mentoring of trainees (including those running online news-sites) in developing quality articles in good governance and developmental issues, for the next 5 months.

Expected Outputs/Deliverables:

Deliver a two-day ToT / workshop for two local trainers on conflict-sensitive and responsible journalism;
Provide off-site support to the local trainers during the training period through real-time online connectivity and other means;
Short monitoring and evaluation report of the training program against the logical framework outlined in the Media Strategy;
Coaching and mentoring atleast 5 trainees to produce stories on governance and development over the next 5 months.

Institutional arrangement:

The consultant will report to the Project Co-ordinator – Social Cohesion. Weekly briefing meetings will be held with ARR Governance. A briefing and debriefing meeting will be organized with UNDP senior management at the beginning and end of assignment.

Duration of the work:

The duration of this assignment will be 12 days, starting from the mid-week of March.

Duty station:

The duty station will be Male’ (for the first deliverable) and remote (for the rest).

Scope of the financial proposal and schedule of payment:

The consultancy fee will be in lump sum inclusive of DSA and most direct economy class ticket.

The fee will be paid in installments corresponding to the following deliverables:

30% upon completion of the two-day ToT/workshop for the local trainers;
70% upon end of the training for journalists and submission of the M&E report.

Scope of the financial proposal and schedule of payment:

The consultancy fee will be in a lump sum inclusive of travel and accommodation to be paid in installments corresponding to deliverables. You are required to submit a breakdown of the fees, DSA and Air ticket.

Required documents:

The application must include a letter of interest to undertake this task, P-11, and a proposal for fees. To download P11, kindly please visit the link http://www.mv.undp.org/content/maldives/en/home/operations/jobs/.

Please combine all the documents into one single file and upload as the system only allows to upload maximum one document.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Inter-personal skills;
Exceptional analytical skills, solution oriented program design skills;
Research and evaluation skills including ability to synthesize information;
Excellent oral, and effective presentation and report-writing skills;
Ability to work under with minimum supervision, while meeting deadlines;
Demonstrated ability of timely completion of assignments;
Excellent social and communication skills;
Strong facilitation skills;
Ability to work in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural settings;
Excellent computers skills required.

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

A minimum of Masters Degree in Communication, Journalism or related field.

Experience

A minimum of ten years of professional experience in the field Communication and Journalism and training;
Proven experience of training journalist on do no harm and conflict sensitive reporting will be must;
Experience in the region or similar context would be an asset.

Language Requirements

Fluent in written and spoken English.