UNDP Jobs - 60696- National Consultant to Conduct a SOGIE and Interse

National Consultant to Conduct a SOGIE and Intersex in the Media Study in Thailand (Open to Thai Nationals Only)

Location :

Home Based with no Travel Required, THAILAND

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

30-Oct-2015

Application Deadline :

20-Oct-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

4 months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

During October 2015 to January 2016 with maximum of 53 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

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) identities are still vastly underrepresented in news media and when represented are often represented inaccurately, stereotypically, harmfully or without a clear understanding of sexual orientation or gender identity and expression (SOGIE) or intersex status.

How issues are portrayed in the media and dominant social rhetoric are closely interconnected and negative media representations of LGBTI people and SOGIE and intersex issues currently play a role in the perpetuation and legitimization of widespread stigma and discrimination against LGBTI people in the Asia Pacific region. Heterosexist and cissexist narratives, negative portrayals, harmful stereotypes and lack of representation in media as well as explicit or implicit discriminatory speech add to the climate of stigmatization. Considering the pervasive nature of modern media LGBTI discriminatory content is widely accessible and often difficult to avoid. Such negative and ill-informed portrayals feed into a larger discriminatory ‘Grand Narrative’ that subliminally reinforces pervasive discriminatory associations and stigma of what it means to be LGBTI. This reinforcement further entrenches stigma and discrimination within the wider societal context. Additionally, LGBTI persons may be assaulted by negative representations and hate speech on a regular basis which can have a profound effect on their psychological and emotional wellbeing affecting their ability to integrate and belong resulting in increased social exclusion, self-stigma and marginalization.

The way in which media presents an issue helps shape public perspective and opinions. The media plays a prominent role in ‘setting the agenda’ of what we think about but also how we think about it. The salience of an issue in the media increases the likelihood of an issue entering public consciousness and how it is dealt with is fundamentally linked with the formation of a dominant opinion among the audience. Through this agenda setting link negative and harmful representations can be effectively combatted by increasing positive visibility and engagement by media with LGBTI populations and SOGIE and intersex issues. Thus, media can become one of the most powerful tools in tackling stigma and discrimination and a fundamental contributor to the creation of an enabling environment.

One of the key objectives of Phase 2 of the Being LGBTI in Asia (BLIA-2) programme is the reduction of stigma, discrimination and harmful practices against LGBTI people. In order to achieve this aim it is vital that the programmatic strategy of BLIA-2 include activities to address media coverage of LGBTI identities and issues as well as to strengthen the capacity of media actors to engage and advocate on SOGIE and intersex issues.

One of such activities is to conduct a SOGIE and intersex in the Media Study which will analyze news media coverage of SOGIE and intersex issues and LGBTI identities across media platforms. While coverage of LGBTI identities has steadily increased over the last decade little research has been undertaken to analyse the extent to which or impact of how LGBTI people are portrayed in media across the Asia-Pacific region. Therefore, conducting the study will help address this research gap. Another activity is organizing a 1-day National Media Roundtable and SOGIE and intersex dialogue that will be co-convened with a major national media outlet or academic institution in Thailand. The national dialogue will include up to 30 participants from various areas of media, including: traditional print media, television, new media, and bloggers. This event will also serve as an opportunity to build a network journalistic and media allies.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objective of assignment and Scope of Work

Objective 1: Conduct comprehensive SOGIE and intersex in the Media Study in Thailand:

Demonstrate the role of media in reflecting and perpetuating stigma and discrimination against LGBTI people;
Identify key trends and patterns of reporting and representations of LGBTI people including volume of media articles,format, placement (i.e. within Crime section, Lifestyle section of print and online media), content and representation;
Analyze key issues and challenges in LGBTI media portrayals;
Provide recommendations for strengthening the role of media advocacy in creating an enabling environment for discussion of LGBTI Human Rights and issues of stigma and discrimination.

Objective 2: Organize a national media roundtable discussion:

Develop agenda and identify participants for the national media roundtable discussion;
Provide sensitization to participant journalists and other media professional on SOGIE and intersex issues;
Help establish a network of media professionals receptive to positively engaging with and advocating on SOGIE and intersex issues;
Develop and finalize Thailand country specific Terms of Reference for the SOGIE and Intersex Media Fellowship;
Introduce the ongoing national analysis of news media coverage of SOGIE and intersex issues.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Strong understanding of human rights issues, including LGBTI in Thailand;
Past research work related to SOGIE and intersex issues will be an added advantage;
Previous work experience with the UN and other international development partners.

Client Orientation:

Contributing to positive outcomes for the client;
Anticipates client needs;
Works towards creating an enabling environment for a smooth relationship between the clients and service provider;
Demonstrates understanding of client’s perspective.

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing:
Developing tools and mechanisms

Makes the case for innovative ideas documenting successes and building them into the design of new approaches;
Identifies new approaches and strategies that promote the use of tools and mechanisms.

Core Competencies:

Promoting ethics and integrity, creating organizational precedents;
Building support and political acumen;
Building staff competence, creating an environment of creativity and innovation;
Building and promoting effective teams;
Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication;
Creating an emotionally intelligent organization;
Leveraging conflict in the interests of UNDP & setting standards;
Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning;
Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member;
Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-taking.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Thai National only with Advanced degree in Journalism, Communications, Public Affairs, or any other related field.

Experience:

At least 10 years of experience in conducting comprehensive research related to gender, sexuality or the media.

Language:

Excellent communications skills in English and Thai.

Final Products:

The Consultant is expected to deliver the following outputs:

1 comprehensive study on SOGIE and intersex in the Media produced, in both English and Thai, which provides a critical analyses of media coverage of LGBTI and SOGIE and intersex issues in Thailand;
1 Peer reviewed journal article on findings submitted;
1 PowerPoint presentation prepared summarizing key findings of the study.

Provision of Monitoring and Progress Control:

The national consultant will report directly to and work closely with the UNDP Thailand National Project Officer on Governance, Human Rights and LGBT, with support and guidance of the Policy Advisor on HIV, Health and Development Practice at the UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub.

The Policy Advisor, HIV, Health and Development Team based in the UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub, together with the National Project Officer on Governance, Human Rights and LGBT in the UNDP Thailand Country Office, will review progress and quality of agreement prior to issuance of final payment.

For detailed information, please refer to Annex I: Term of Reference (TOR)

Documents to be included when submitting the proposals:

Interested individuals must submit the following documents /infor:mation to demonstrate their qualification, experience and suitability to undertake the assignment.

All below supporting documents must be part of the detailed CV and uploaded as one document:

Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP;
Personal CV or P.11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references;
Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment;
Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided. If an Offeror is employed by an organization/company/institution, and he/she expects his/her employer to charge a management fee in the process of releasing him/her to UNDP under Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), the Offeror must indicate at this point, and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP.

Financial Proposal

The contract will be based on lump sum payment including Professional Fee. The financial proposal will specify the lump sum professional fee (with breakdown of daily fee x number of working days). The payments will be made to the Individual Consultant based on the completion of the deliverables indicated in the TOR. To submit Financial Proposal, please use Template of Submission of Financial Proposal Template provided in Annex IV.

Any required travel related to the assignment will be agreed with UNDP separately and compensated according to UNDP rules and regulations. UNDP may arrange air ticket or the Individual Contractor may need to arrange air ticket by his/her own and the Economy Air Ticket Cost shall be reimbursed at actual but not exceed the price quoted by UNDP’s travel agent. The Individual Contractor shall receive living allowance and Terminal Expenses in locations as assigned according to UNDP Rules and regulations. The living allowance rate in locations shall be agreed prior to travel.

Evaluation:

The award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

a) Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
b) Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation;
Technical Criteria weight - 70%;
Financial Criteria weight - 30%.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 350 technical points would be considered for the Financial Evaluation

UNDP P.11 Form can be downloaded from http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/corporate/Careers/P11_Personal_history_form.doc

Please find more details on website: http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=25791