Background

Research

From 2015, there was a marked rise in the number of Asian men, women and children traveling to the Islamic State. In the aftermath of the Islamic State’s recent defeat on the battlefield, those men, women, children are now looking towards coming home. While the expected threat of foreign fighters has not manifested, attacks in the future by trained and battle-hardened combatants or aggrieved returnees cannot be ruled out. All returnees, whatever their reason for going home, will continue to pose some degree of risk. Governments have struggled to find a way to address the problem of returnees. Most are imprisoned, or disappear from view. Returnee women and children represent a particular problem for States, who are exploring how to best reintegrate these populations. A few hundred such returnees have been recorded in Asia and the Pacific[1], meaning that most people that went to join radical groups in the Middle East have either died, remain in the region or are off record.

Believing that understanding human impact is key to addressing violent extremism in the long-term, UNDP seeks to address the question of returnees by documenting and researching, through various media outlets, the ‘journey home’ of Asian men, women, and children who travelled to the Islamic State and other radical groups, and tracking their potential for reintegration. This initiative will also explore how people in the receiving (home) countries and communities respond to returnees coming home, and gather their views on how governments should respond to the issue.

Community Resilience

 In recent years, the internet has become a key platform for the dissemination of extremist messaging. Extremist organizations have proven adept at using social media to expand their following, increase their presence, and create knowledge for potential terrorists. Merely responding to the influence of extremist’s online falls short of addressing real issues ordinary people face in their lives.  Spaces such as Facebook and YouTube can offer powerful narratives and information to not only counter extremist content, but to create new ideas and solutions to the various challenges confronting societies today.

Given the localized drivers of extremism it is critical communities be given the opportunity to develop their own positive narratives to counter the influence of violent extremists. Over half a century of psychological research illustrates when communities lack opportunities to create positive identities, they are more likely to adopt identity frames that rely on discrimination and derogation of other groups.

The importance of bringing communities together to make positive contributions to the regions social, economic and political fabric will be critical in addressing radicalization and violent extremism. Technology companies such as Facebook and YouTube have changed the dynamics of how people connect, communicate and relate to each other. Both platforms are ideal for use by wide segments of the population and have a reach of influence not previously possible.

UNDP is partnering with Facebook and YouTube on two initiatives to not only counter extremist on-line content, but to create new ideas and solutions to the various challenges confronting societies today.

In 2017, UNDP and Facebook kicked off #ExtremeLives with 5 episodes uncovering the human impact of extremism.  The interview style series on the Facebook Live platform covered inside stories on radicalisation, life under ISIS, the impact of extremism on women, and the role ordinary people can play to prevent extremism.

These stories were told by former fighters, victims, the wives and mothers of jihadists and those working on the front line seeking to prevent violent extremism.  The series was broadcast from Indonesia and Singapore, reaching over 12 million people online and 4 million Facebook views. This illustrates that there is a demand for understanding real-life stories from the ground of people affected by extremism.

#ExtremeLives2018 will build on this momentum and expand the series to cover new and unexplored topics related to extremism and people’s stories. This approach to preventing violent extremism will not only reveal insights into how people are affected, but also can uncover innovative ‘bottom-up’ solutions based on the voices of those closest to its impacts.

The Creators for Change (C4C) initiative was developed by YouTube aiming to establish a network of ambassadors and fellows to make and use their voices and creativity to speak out against hate speech, xenophobia and extremism. In 2018 UNDP is partnering with YouTube to localize the initiative in the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Australia.

Creators for Change will find, showcase and stimulate credible and inspiring emerging content creators and young role models presenting alternatives to extremism and promoting tolerance and pluralism. C4C in Asia will: (1) Strengthen ties between YouTube’s existing creator Ambassador network and emerging creators; (2) Produce more high-quality content to provide positive narratives in the context of preventing extremism and hate speech and; (3) increase the evidence base of the effectiveness counter-narrative initiatives in PVE.

Project objectives:

1. Promote evidence-based policies on returnees by conducting research on, and promoting stories of returning fighters and groups from conflict zones in Syria and Iraq
2. Promote stories on violent extremism through UNDP’s #ExtremeLives Facebook live video series in partnership with Facebook.
3. Develop and promote positive narratives and empower youth roles in PVE through the YouTube Creators for Change programme in partnership with Google

[1] http://thesoufancenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Beyond-the-Caliphate-Foreign-Fighters-and-the-Threat-of-Returnees-TSC-Report-October-2017.pdf

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work

Under the overall of the Governance and Peace Building Advisor at the UNDP Asia Pacific Regional Hub, the Consultant is expected to:

• Supporting the implementation of the Regional Preventing Violent Extremism Research Agenda
• Lead the development of UNDP’s ‘Journeys Home: Stories of Returnees’ initiative
• Coordinate and implement UNDP’s #ExtremeLives2018 video series
• Coordinate and implement UNDP’s role in the YouTube Creators for Change Asia-Pacific programme in partnership with Google and Love Frankie
• Provide Programmatic Support to the Conflict Prevention Team on ongoing initiatives

Management and organization:

• It is foreseen that the work should be undertaken at UNDPs Bangkok Regional Hub with travel required for #ExtremeLives and Creators for Change.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

The key deliverable is:

Institutional Arrangement

The Junior Consultant will work under the overall guidance of the Asia-Pacific Governance and Peace Building Advisor, UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub.

Duration of the Work: 23 May– 21 September 2018 (up to 80 working days).

Duty Station: Bangkok, Thailand with possible travel.

Competencies

• Excellent communications and writing skills;
• Excellent analytical writing skills.
• Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
• Ability to plan, organize, implement and report on work;
• Outstanding communication, project management and organizational skills;
• Excellent presentation and facilitation skills.
• Demonstrates integrity and ethical standards;
• Positive, constructive attitude to work;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s Degree, preferably in conflict studies, political science, international development or other relevant social science studies.

Experience:

• At least 3 years of progressive experience working in conflict prevention or counter extremism field;
• Experience of working on youth and peacebuilding/preventing violent extremism;
• Experience working on online content related to preventing violent extremism;
• Excellent knowledge of the political, economic, social and security situation for Asia;
• Ablility to produce conflict and peacebuilding research, policy papers and training materials conflict dynamics and peace and security capacities;
• Excellent writing and communications skills.

Language requirement:

• Fluency in written and spoken English.

Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments

The contract will be based on Lump Sum

Consultant must send a financial proposal based on Lump Sum Amount. The total amount quoted shall be all-inclusive and include all costs components required to perform the deliverables identified in the TOR, including professional fee, travel costs, living allowance (if any work is to be done outside the IC´s duty station) and any other applicable cost to be incurred by the IC in completing the assignment. The contract price will be fixed output-based price regardless of extension of the herein specified duration. Payments will be done upon completion of the deliverables/outputs and as per below percentages:

• Deliverable 1: 10% of total contract amount (upon a submission of Output 1)
• Deliverable 2: 30 % of total contract amount (upon a submission of Output 2)
• Deliverable 3: 30%  of total contract amount (upon a submission of Output 3)
• Deliverable 4: 30%  of total contract amount (upon a submission of Output 4)

In general, UNDP shall not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources

In the event of unforeseeable travel not anticipated in this TOR, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and the Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

Travel costs shall be reimbursed at actual but not exceeding the quotation from UNDP approved travel agent.  The provided living allowance will not be exceeding UNDP DSA rates. Repatriation travel cost from home to duty station in Bangkok and return shall not be covered by UNDP.

Evaluation Method and Criteria

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology;

Cumulative analysis

The award of the contract shall 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 set of weighted technical criteria (70%). and financial criteria (30%). Financial score shall be computed as a ratio of the proposal being evaluated and the lowest priced proposal received by UNDP for the assignment.

Technical Criteria for Evaluation (Maximum 100 points)

• Criteria 1: Relevance of the education-  Max 10 points;
• Criteria 2: Experience working on conflict prevention and violent extremism- Max 30 points;
• Criteria 3: Knowledge and experience working in Asia- Max 30 points;
• Criteria 4: Previous experience working with social media companies on public policy issues- Max 20 points;
• Criteria 5: Excellent writing and communication skills- Max 20 points.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Documentation required

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications. Please group them into one (1) single PDF document as the application only allows to upload maximum one document:

• Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided in Annex II.
• Personal CV or P11, 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.
• Financial proposal, as per template provided in Annex II. Note: National consultant must quote price in U.S. Dollar.

Incomplete proposals may not be considered. The shortlisted candidates may be contacted and the successful candidate will be notified.