Background

Building and Consolidating National Capacities for Conflict Prevention project, funded from EU’s Annual Action Programme for the Instrument Contributing to Stability and Peace, seeks to build and consolidate national capacities and initiatives for conflict prevention in conflict affected, fragile countries or countries undergoing transition, including through improved EU-UN cooperation. In order to fulfil the objective, the action involves a series of complementary and interlinked country-level, regional, and global efforts. At country level (BiH) the action aims to strengthen the ability of national stakeholders (including civil society) to implement and support internal dialogue and negotiation initiatives (insider mediation). For the duration of the entire project (June 2015 to June 2018) foreseen streams of activities are aiming to strengthen youth engagement and participation in policy-making, with a focus on intercultural and regional exchanges, to support to small-scale independent media outlets to strengthen alternative and critical voices, and to improve understanding of issues relevant for conflict prevention and preparedness in BiH.

The activity in question focuses on supporting independent small-scale media outlets and providers which have the potential to emerge as important contributors and forums for debates in BiH on issues related to intercultural (including interethnic and interreligious) understanding. The proposed grant scheme would target online media outlets which are orientated towards promoting freedom of expression and objective analysis on issues related to ethnicity, religion, tolerance and radicalisation in BiH. The overall objective is to strengthen voices, narratives and outreach in communities related to these issues as well as to raise awareness and encourage investigative journalism and objective analysis, which is rarely addressed by the mainstream media in BiH. As most of these outlets do not have many linkages with each other, strengthening networking and collaboration between them is also foreseen to nurture joint actions and synergies.  As a background analysis and in order to set a baseline of the activity, a mapping of the existing alternative and independent media outlets is needed.
 

Duties and Responsibilities

The entire activity supporting independent small-scale media outlets and providers is planned in three phases:

1. Mapping and identification of the existing outlets; brief analysis/overview of the independent media field with proposed list of participants for focus group meeting(s). Focus group(s) with potential applicants to understand their needs and capacities and better tailor the call’s focus and modalities for application.
2. Development, publication and promotion of the call for proposals for small grants awarding. Selection of the grantees.
3. Implementation of activities/mini-projects by selected grantees and follow-up activities.

The small-scale grant scheme would be seeking to award outlets and independent voices which are orientated towards promoting freedom of speech and expression, and objective analysis, thus strengthening and encouraging investigative journalism on issues of relevance often not address by the mainstream media.

The consultant would be hired to provide mapping and focus groups support during the first phase. Overall aim of the mapping is to identify new online media outlets orientated towards promoting freedom of expression, investigative journalism and objective reporting/analysis on issues related to ethnicity, religion and tolerance. Mapping will include a brief analysis of each identified media outlet as well as full database with list of identified media, in order to further on insure targeted outreach and small grants call for proposals.

Description of Responsibilities

Scope of work:

The consultant will be responsible for conducting the media mapping, with the final product of a database with a brief analysis covering each identified existing independent and alternative online outlets and voices, including:

• web-portals publishing essays/analysis on topical and pertinent issues related to ethnicity, religion, culture, democracy, tolerance, radicalization, and other topics of interest;
• web portals and web pages that produce and publish original video, photo, infographics, comic strips reportages and stories regarding intercultural understanding, interreligious dialogue and coexistence,
• any other outlets that use online-sharing mechanisms to raise awareness of said topics and stories. 

The database should provide wider overview of how (un)developed the sector is and serve to identify the participants (potential applicants for the grants call) for the focus group meeting.

The consultant will further on facilitate the focus group meeting which would give insight into existing capacities and enable development of a more targeted call for proposals (including application modalities). The consultant will work in cooperation and communication with the Peace and Development Unit of the RCO.

Deliverables and timelines

The consultant is responsible for the following deliverables:

Deliverables (outputs): No of expert days Timeline

• Deliverable 1: Mapping of the online alternative and independent outlets resulting in a database and brief analysis of the existing. The database should include portals and pages producing and publishing original essays/analysis, video, photo, infographics, comic strips reportages and stories, and any other outlets that use online-sharing mechanisms to raise awareness of topics and stories of interest, in consultation with the P&D Unit of the RCO. The PDU is responsible for endorsing the mapping report as final before clearing the task as delivered.  7 days
•  Deliverable 2: Preparation and facilitation of the focus group meeting with potential applicants of the small-grants competition, aiming to identify existing needs and capacities of the sector/field. Preparation and submission of a brief note/report from the meeting, capturing the identified needs and capacities.  3 days
•  Total days  10 expert days 

Competencies

a. Corporate Responsibility and Teamwork:

• Demonstrates commitment to UN’s mission, vision and values;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Plans, prioritizes and delivers tasks on time;
• Strives for and promotes excellence in performance continually;
• Participates effectively in a team-based, information-sharing environment, collaborating and cooperating with others;
• Generates ideas and seizes opportunities to support corporate strategic objectives.

b. Communication:

• Excellent communication skills, both orally and in writing, including the ability to convey complex concepts and recommendations in a clear and persuasive style tailored to match different audiences;
• Presents information in a clear and articulate manner;
• Shares information openly with co-workers and partners while using discretion to protect confidences.

c. Partnering and Networking:

• Communicates sensitively and effectively across different constituencies;
• Ability to establish and maintain productive partnerships with national partners and stakeholders;
• Ability to work as a member of a team as well as work autonomously. 

d.  Results-Orientation:

• Plans and procedures quality results to meet established goals.

e. Job Knowledge and Expertise:

• Strong and demonstrated knowledge and expertise in media – journalism, communication, and analytical research, focus on online media and online sharing mechanisms highly desirable;
• Strong and demonstrated research and analysis skills; prior work on state of the media analysis highly desirable;
• Strong and demonstrated  communication and presentation skills;
• Strong and demonstrated report writing and analytical skills;
• Demonstrates substantive and technical knowledge to meet responsibilities and requirements;
• Executes day-to-day tasks systematically and efficiently.

Required Skills and Experience

• University degree in journalism, communications, media studies, social studies and/or related field;
• Minimum of 3 years of progressive experience in journalism and media, and/ or research and analysis experience in closely-related field, preferably online media;
• Proven ability to moderate and facilitate focus groups;
• Excellent communication skills, oral and writing;
• B/C/S language;
• English language is an advantage. 

Application procedures

Qualified candidates are requested to apply online via this website. The application should contain:

• Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position and a brief methodology on how you will approach and conduct the work (if applicable). Please paste the letter into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application;
• Filled P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees (blank form can be downloaded from http://europeandcis.undp.org/files/hrforms/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc ); please upload the P11 instead of your CV.;
• Financial Proposal - specifying a total lump sum amount for the tasks specified in this announcement. The financial proposal shall include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (number of anticipated working days, travel, per diems and any other possible costs). Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant/contractor during the contract period (e.g. fee, health insurance and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services...). All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal.

 
Please scan all above mentioned documents and upload as one attachment only online through this website.Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials.

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.