UNDP Jobs - 13531- Consultant: Webinar Coordinator

Consultant: Webinar Coordinator

Location :

Home duty station with International travel

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

03-Jan-2010

Application Deadline :

01-Dec-09 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

Arabic English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

11 months

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 use of Information Communication Technologies to build the institutional capacity — as well as the reach — of institutions of higher learning is taking place around the world at a rapid pace. Scholars have rightly posited that the modern university is the factory of the Information Society, producing growth within a region and determining the direction of that growth. (Rogers, 1986) Capitalizing on the plethora of technologies that can enable growth requires a programme that creates partnerships and networks of scholars, academics, practitioners, as well as the general public, that can contribute to the growing knowledge economy within a region.

Such a programme does not currently exist within the Middle East and North Africa. The growth of Internet penetration in the region has renewed interest in the development of Web-based initiatives that can tie institutions to their respective publics. Formulating a programme that combines the use of these technologies in order to promote an open-exchange of information requires a “mobilization of resources to build up institutions in order to absorb imported technology, as well as create local innovations.”(UNCTD, 2008)

Objectives:

The Contractor will design a series of online seminars for UNDP geared toward media development, in order to build institutional capacity of the region’s hubs of higher learning by connecting them through a set video/chat/audio colloquia that engage audiences from non-governmental organizations, the United Nations, Annenberg School for Communication, Center for Global Communication Studies, University of Pennsylvania, Oxford University Stanhope Centre for Communication Policy Research, and the Center for Communication and Media Studies, Central European University, as well as various publics and the global blogshpere.

Focused on conflict and post-conflict societies, the seminars will draw on international and regional academic research as well as the accounts of civil society organizations and media development practitioners familiar. The webinar series will be inaugurated out of Iraq under the tentative title “Understanding Media and Conflict: A Global Conversation.” Seven topics have been identified as of interest to local and international partners. The following are a list of topics (topics may be drawn down or expanded depending on timeframe):

Introduction: Conflict and Media (Iraq)
Legal Challenges of Media during Conflict/Post-Conflict (Lebanon, Iraq, Palestinian Territories)
The Press and Political Elites: Jockeying for Power in Conflict (Lebanon, Iraq, Palestinian Territories)
International Dimensions of Media and Conflict (Lebanon, Iraq, Palestinian Territories)
Political Ideologies of Pre-Conflict/Conflict/Post-Conflict Media (Lebanon, Iraq, Palestinian Territories)
Conflict and New Media: War and Web 2.0 (Lebanon, Iraq, Palestinian Territories)
Gender, Media and Conflict: Women and War (Lebanon, Iraq, Palestinian Territories)

These topics are by no means exhaustive, and most can be expanded to become webinar series stand-alones. Depending on the institutional commitment of partners, the series could be extended once the initial set of seminars is completed. The Program Coordinator will develop surveys, using a number of online instruments. The Coordinator will use these results in order to determine the impact and the interest of topics covered during the first round of seminars. The conclusions from the first set of webinars will provide a framework that could lead to a round of pointed seminars.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of work and expected output:

The Programme Coordinator will organize webinars (online seminars) designed to engage local scholars and academics, media practitioners, and international academics focused on media development. The Programme Coordinator will liaise with policymakers, media professionals, academics and the institutions that shape media environments in the region.

The Programme Coordinator will coordinate efforts with a network of scholars and practitioners through the University of Pennsylvania, Center for Global Communication Studies, and UNDP. The Coordinator will have to work with a number of academics both regionally and internationally, which will necessitate access to an exhaustive network of scholars available to a number of institutions, and namely the Annenberg School of Communication, University of Pennsylvania.

Over a period of one year, the Programme Coordinator will visit local regional sites to determine technological capacity, as well as develop webinars that can adapt to the environments of host institutions. Theses institutions would become strategic Arabic-speaking centers that are linked to partners such as Annenberg, Westminster, Oxford, and the Central European University.

The Coordinator would be based out of Cairo/Philadelphia. The Coordinator will require travel in order to broker partnerships with all of the institutions working toward building this expansive network of scholars and practitioners for the purpose of hosting and providing intellectual content for the webinars.

Deliverables for year one (January-December 2010):

Plan, promote and produce seven webinars on media development, and similar topics. Utilize ICT platforms such as CoverItLive, DimDim, Skype, UStream, Twitter for development.
Develop training needs assessments.
Creating a website for the network of scholars, institutions and civil society organizations for depositing completed webinars and video content. The site could be password protected. Utilizing an open-source model for the website and the content provided.
Prepare a learning plan as well as training needs assessment that identifies means to bolster staff and institutional capacity to sustain such activities.
Assist and advise staff at institutions regionally and internationally in regards to project/programme management.
Coordinating Internet-based plenary meetings.
Advise staff of technological capacity and software-based solutions that utilize Web 2.0 technologies to deliver a series of webinars to build regional institutional capacity of strategic Arabic-speaking centers. Communicate strategies for promotion, dissemination and platforms for said webinars.
Create guidelines for staff in order to create sustainable development. Creating a handbook that outlines the guidelines for such activities
Gather data as well as assist in writing of a UNDP report on the implementation of webinars within the region and evaluation of the programme.
Work within the MENA region to assist in production and promotion of the webinars.

Competencies

Ethic and Values
Organizational Awareness
Developing and Empowering People / Coaching and Mentoring
Working in Teams
Communicating Information and Ideas
Self-Management and Emotional intelligence
Conflict Management / Negotiating and resolving Disagreements
Knowledge Sharing / Continuous Learning
Appropriate and Transparent Decision Making

Functional Competencies:

Professionalism:

Sound translation/interpreting skills and drafting ability;
general vocabulary of a level and range appropriate to the contents and intended use of the text in hand;
ability to use all sources of reference, consultation and information relevant to text at hand;
ability to maintain a reasonable speed and volume and output relative to the difficulty of the text and the specified deadline;
high level of concentration;
split-second accuracy;
clear delivery;
ability to work under pressure.

Communication:

Good communication skills with ability to speak and write clearly and effectively;
correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately;
asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two way communication;
tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience.

Teamwork:

Sound interpersonal skills, including ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries;
ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

Planning & Organizing:

Willingness to constantly improve linguistic skills and monitor own work;
good documentary and terminological preparation for meetings.

Operational Effectiveness

Ability to produce accurate and well documented records conforming to the required standard;
Ability to handle a large volume of work possibly under time constraints;
Strong IT skills.
Planning, organizing and multi-tasking
Focuses on result and responds positively to feedback
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities

Required Skills and Experience

At least five years journalism experience
Fluency in Arabic and English
At least two years experience with academic faculties working on media development
Proven knowledge and understanding of media development theories and practice