UNDP Jobs - 61560- International Consultant to Provide Technical Supp

International Consultant to Provide Technical Support to Phase 1 of Community Radio Project- National Level Activities

Location :

Yangon and Home-based, MYANMAR

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-Dec-2015

Application Deadline :

19-Nov-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

55 working days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

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

UNDP in Myanmar, under Pillar 1 of the Country Programme Action Plan 2013-2017, is supporting institutions of Local Governance and Local Development, and within this programme Output 2 focuses on related civil society and media support. As identified through UNDP’s Local Governance Mapping with the Government of Myanmar, a significant challenge for the Government’s on-going efforts to develop institutions of democratic and participatory local governance and to achieve more inclusive and people-centered local development is citizens’ lack of knowledge, reliable information about governance processes and development plans at community level. A significant gender gap and youth gap has also been identified in access to information about and participation in local governance and development processes, with particular impact in rural areas where the most vulnerable women and children among Myanmar’s population live.

Myanmar’s new Broadcast Law opens new channels for addressing these information, communication and participation needs at community level by establishing the framework, among other things, for “community broadcast” licensing that is distinct and separate from either public or private broadcast licensing. Around the world, radio that is owned and operated by and for communities – “community radio” – provides space for civic engagement as well as community self-help at the local level. The experience of community radios demonstrates that a variety of social and economic benefits can result when ordinary people have access to timely information that is produced by and in their communities and that is relevant to them. Radio is a primary electronic medium of the poor as it transcends barriers of isolation and illiteracy, and it is one of the most affordable electronic media to broadcast and receive information. Under Myanmar’s 2014 Census data, 39% of rural households own a radio. “Community radio” relies on members of the community to participate in programming and production matters, thereby providing a participatory means to analyze local needs, develop a common understanding of the causes of development problems, and mobilize societal resources around common goals—all in the community’s own language(s). Healthy community radios are inclusive of “all the communities within a community” and have proven effective at reducing gender gaps and promoting women’s as well as youth empowerment and participation. At the same time, community broadcast also provides voice for information and experience from the community level outwards towards government development planning and policy-making.

The development of Myanmar’s community broadcast sector is aligned with the third wave of the Government of Myanmar’s Framework on Economic and Social Reforms (FESR), and in particular provides a practical mechanism for achieving people-centered development that is built on responsive institutions at national and local levels and a strong social contract between the state and its people. Community broadcast is, however, a wholly new institution in Myanmar; till now, only state radio and TV (MRTV), or private broadcasters with MOUs with MRTV, may legally broadcast in Myanmar. Independent broadcasting as experienced to date – both non-licensed and cross-border – has tended to be linked to international or ethnic political advocacy agendas. Thus, there has been limited experience or exposure for either government, media or civil society stakeholders to “what is community radio” or how to enable and safeguard its contribution to Myanmar’s goals for inclusive and democratic development.

To these ends UNDP’s programme in Myanmar, working in close coordination with international media support actors International Media Support (IMS), Deutsche Welle Akademie (DWA) and Fojo Media Institute (Fojo), is supporting the healthy development of Myanmar’s community broadcast sector. During Phase 1 of the project support, activities include (1) knowledge building and exposure to concept and practice of community media/community radio for key government, media and civil society stakeholders, and (2) groundwork with Myanmar civil society leaders to identify specific community radio pilot/demonstration project areas and provide initial community training and community mobilization support. Two national-level workshops on community radio have already been organized (July 2015 and October 2015) to share international experience and examples of community media/community radio from the region. Further exposure sessions on community radio have been integrated within the context of broader civil society conferences and workshops, such as South East CSOs Peacebuilding Conference (September 2015) and National Network of Rural Women workshop and convention (September and October 2015).

During the upcoming Fourth Myanmar Media Development Conference on December 10-11, 2015, UNDP with IMS will organize the panel session on ‘Community Voice and Community Media’. In addition, UNDP is developing plans for a study visit on community radio for Myanmar policymakers/regulatory stakeholders and emerging civil society champions of community radio. The study visit will feature community radios “in action” with opportunity to observe and discuss with counterparts at local and national level on the division of roles and responsibilities of community radio ownership, management and oversight as between communities themselves, government authorities and independent community regulatory boards. During late 2015 into early 2016, UNDP and other international media support actors in Myanmar will also implement work at community level with selected communities and local partners to support community mobilization and inclusive participatory planning for pilot community radio projects. UNDP’s partner communities for the pilot projects will be identified and supported in collaboration with the National Network of Rural Women and its local member groups, who have expressed a keen interest in the mobilizing community radios in their respective communities—variously as specific women-owned community radio collectives, and also as broader community radios with women as mobilizers and as equal participants in the community radio’s ownership, management and programming.

The services of a technical expert on community radio as Independent Contractor are needed during this period to provide national level support for the above activities through: conceptual development of ‘Community Radio start-up strategy’ for coherence and coordination among the cooperating partners (UNDP, IMS, DWA, Fojo) as well as with relevant government actors; related training and capacity development/coaching for Myanmar project partners and UNDP project staff to support community mobilization and community radio planning work; international experience-sharing and technical inputs for Myanmar Media Development Conference session on community media; and community radio study tour conceptual and preparatory planning.

The IC’s work will directly contribute to the following results: key stakeholders from government, media and civil society develop a good foundational understanding of the distinctive features and qualities of “community broadcast”; the National Network of Rural Women, UNDP staff and other community media civil society champions and project supporters will be equipped to engage identified pilot communities in a process for mobilization and community radio planning; relevant international and regional reference materials (articles, videos, policies, regulations, guidelines, etc) are identified for translation into Myanmar language; Myanmar stakeholders and UNDP and international media support partners will be supported to together clarify what issues should be further addressed for Myanmar context to assist with policy/regulatory, programming and civil society choices for community radio/community media development in Myanmar; emergent champions of community broadcast will be supported to develop their knowledge base and connect with each other for mutual support and as movers for a possible future civil society association of community broadcasters; and overall a strategy will be developed for bringing international/regional experience on community broadcast to Myanmar, for localizing that experience for Myanmar context, and for informing sound planning and coordinated international support. More details can be found at : http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=26599

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the UNDP Myanmar Programme Specialist- Civil Society and Media and overall guidance of the Local Governance Team Leader, and in coordination with international media support partners at IMS, DWA and Fojo, the international consultant will provide technical and implementation support for the following activities under Phase 1 of the Community Radio development project:

Drafting an initial Community Radio start-up strategy to ensure a coherent coordination and direction of the four cooperating international partners and government buy-in (November-December 2015, Yangon and partially home-based);
Developing and implementing initial training of community radio coaches, mobilizers and project staff (December 2015, in Yangon);
Panel session on ‘Community Voice and Community Media’ in the Fourth Myanmar Media Development Conference (December 2015, in Yangon);
Conceptual and preparatory planning for study visit on Community Radio (November-December 2015, partially home-based);
Coaching and capacity development of UNDP (and partners) project staff on community radio development (November 2015-March 2016, Yangon and partially home-based);
Developing and implementing follow-up training of community radio coaches, mobilizers and project staff (March 2016, Yangon)

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards and acts in accordance with the Standards of Conduct for international civil servants;
Advocates and 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 favouritism.

Functional Competencies:

Good knowledge of the natural resource management particularly lake and watershed management, the concept of sustainability and sustainable development in the region and developing countries;
Ability to quickly grasp and synthesize inputs from a range of disciplines related to sustainable financial mechanism for environmental conservation;
Ability to advocate and provide technical advice on the relevant sector/theme;
Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision;
Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture in the office;
Sensitivity to and responsiveness to all partners, respectful and helpful relations with all UN/UNDP staff;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Remains calm, in control and good humoured even under pressure;
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Masters Degree in relevant academic area such as Social Sciences or Communication.

Experience:

At least 15 years of in-depth experience with development of community radio concepts and approaches and implementation of bottom-up, community based support scheme in different parts of the world;
At least 15 years work experience with community development-focused communication programmes in developing countries. Proven results on effectively engaging vulnerable and marginalized segments of communities;
At least 10 years’ work experience with overcoming gender bias in community development work and the media, with experience and tools to effectively engage women and men in community media development;
Demonstrated ability to work effectively with high level national authorities, international development partners, as well as with national CSOs and rural audiences;
Demonstrated and recognized effective intercultural communication and innovative capacity building skills;
Experience with prior UNDP programming for Community Radio development is an added value
Knowledge of community communications needs and Community Radio legislative framework in Myanmar context is an advantage.

Language:

Fluent in English.