Jordan: Contract for Individual Consultant - Support to Media in Jordan Project

UNESCO Amman Office – Support to Media in Jordan Project is inviting written proposals from individual consultants for the work assignment described in attachment A.

To enable you to prepare a proposal for this assignment, please find attached the following documents:

(a) Terms of Reference (attachment A);

(b) UNESCO’s contract template for Individual Consultants, the contracting modality used for these assignments (attachment B);

(c) CV template (P-11) (Attachment C)

(d) Vendor Registration Form (Attachment D)

(e) Financial Proposal Tables (Attachment E)

Your written proposal should comprise:

1) A Technical Proposal with:

a. A description of understanding for the main deliverables and milestones related to the assignment;

b. Comments on the Terms of Reference, if any (in brief);

c. A description of a proposed approach and methodology for undertaking the assignment;

d. A work plan with a detailed time frame, including information on the number of missions estimated and duration of each mission to Jordan;

e. An up-to-date curriculum vitae (according to the enclosed template – P11 form, attachment C);

f. Vendor Registration form (enclosed template, attachment D);

g. Up-to-date security training certificates (if any)

2) A Financial Proposal:

Applicant should provide a detailed financial proposal according to the tables specified under attachment (E).

The proposal and any supporting documents must be in English.

UNESCO places great emphasis on ensuring that the objectives of the work assignment, as described in the Terms of Reference, are met. Accordingly, in evaluating the proposals for the assignment, attention will focus first and foremost on the technical elements. From those proposals deemed suitable in terms of the criteria in the Terms of Reference, UNESCO shall select the proposal that offers the Organization best value for money.

NB. UNESCO will evaluate the proposed fee against its internal consultant rates.

*Terms of Reference

1. Background and general information about the Support to Media in Jordan Project

Since 2014, UNESCO implements the EU-funded three-year project “Support to Media in Jordan” aiming for increased freedom, independence and professionalism for the Jordanian media. The project initially built on a Media Strategy adopted by the Government of Jordan in 2011, and the related Action Plan.

The primary objective of the Project is to strengthen an enabling regulatory and institutional environment and to build the capacity for an independent, quality based media sector serving the entire population in close cooperation with the media community in Jordan, including state and non-state stakeholders. The project focuses on the media sector in Jordan as a platform for democratic dialogue and a crucial instrument to transparency and accountability in a democratic society. The project aims to address these areas following an inclusive and highly participatory approach. The project is based on a holistic, two-phase approach and is implemented in close cooperation with the media community in Jordan, including state and non-state stakeholders.

Phase I

Support to Media in Jordan has had two distinct phases. Phase one focused on the following outputs: Media study, stakeholder driven review of implementation of the media strategy and detailing of action plan. Activities of phase one included a thorough analysis of the media landscape on the basis of UNESCO’s Media Development Indicators (MDI; focusing on the economic sustainability of the media structures; the professional and technical capacity of private and public media; media and journalist associations; regulatory mechanisms; existing media legislation and international standards), a comparative analysis of relevant structures and models from 28 EU Member States, a review of the implementation of the media strategy and a detailed Action Plan, the update of detailing of the action plan and procedures for the implementation of the strategy. The review and action plan of the media strategy took place through a comprehensive stakeholder process with the media sector and the relevant government representatives discussing the implementation of the media strategy and the results of the analysis.

Phase II

In December 2015, the Action was slightly amended to reflect shared priority objectives. The project has entered the Phase II in November 2015, and addressed the findings as well as recommendations of the above-mentioned study. It will work in the following areas:

· Improvement of legal framework, closer in line with international standards

· Entry-level journalism education

· Systematic quality training for media professionals

· Independent self-regulatory mechanism

· Media and information literacy (MIL)

· Diversity and pluralism in the media

· Strengthening community media

The Project will end by 31 October 2017.

The Project is implemented through several implementing partners, both national and international. UNESCO also chose to implement directly more project components than initially foreseen while maintaining active partnership relations with all implementing partners and the monitoring of the implementation.

1. Purpose of the Assignment

Under the authority of the Head of UNESCO office in Amman, and in close collaboration with the project team, the CI Senior Advisor is responsible for the effective and timely coordination of the various project activities under implementation in accordance with the EU-UNESCO project document “Support to Media in Jordan”.

The CI Senior Advisor prime responsibility is to ensure that the project produces the results specified in the Project document and Work Plan, to the required standard of quality and within the specified time frame and budget provided within the agreement between UNESCO and EU.

1. Duties/Tasks and Expected Output:

a) Prepare, based on inputs from the project teams and other sources of information, the quarterly narrative reports to the EU (two or three), as well as Annual and Final Project Reports (APR) to UNESCO and EU. 15 days.

b) Be responsible, based on the project team inputs, to prepare the substantive progress reports at the SC meetings. For this it is envisaged that the consultant will come to Amman two times (approximately in third week of April, first week of July) for at least four days (including travel) to prepare for and attend the SC meetings, to meet with the senior state and Non-state stakeholders as well as the donors, to ensure collective endorsement on the issues to be discussed by the SC. 15 days, travel inclusive.

c) Provide substantive strategic inputs –from distance- into the preparation of the project document for the continuation of the project, which will focus on key priority components. 5 days.

d) Provide strategic guidance to the staff -from distance- on programmatic matters, particularly to assess the quality of the deliverables of ongoing components. 10 days.

1. Timetable and Deliverables

· Duration: 6 months (subject to availability of funds)

· Remuneration will be paid in different instalments, according to the work plan agreed upon and upon submission of a progress report by the consultant and its acceptance by the head of the Office.

· When the consultant will be on mission, the consultancy will be based at the UNESCO Office premises located in Abdoun.

1. Qualifications

Education

· Masters Degree in media, or one of the relevant social or political sciences in addition to related experience and training.

Work Experience

· At least 10 years of extensive, progressive and relevant experience in media development in countries in transition (including in Jordan), media training program design and management, public broadcasting, journalistic education, adequate understanding of democratic governance, human rights, gender in media, media regulation;

· Experience in the creation of media strategies and action plans for media development;

· Experience in facilitating inter-institutional cooperation, stakeholder involvement and working with teams;

· Familiarity with international standards and trends regarding freedom of expression, access to information, democratic institutions, human rights, media self-regulation;

Skills/Competencies

· Knowledge of the UN mandate in the area of Democratic Governance, Press Freedom, Access to Information, as well as commitment to the promotion of UN human rights principles;

· Excellent communication, team-work and diplomatic skills;

· Results driven, ability to work under pressure and to meet required deadlines;

· A sensitive, respectful and facilitative approach to working within a cultural context different from his/her own and in a multi-racial team setting;

· Proved time management and organizational skills, able to multitask and handle various responsibilities, and capable of operating independently with minimal direction.

Languages

· Excellent oral and written communication skills, proficiency in spoken and written English.

1. Previous working experience in an Arab country and within a UNESCO project will be an asset.

2. Supervisory arrangements: Immediate Supervisor, Head of Office for UNESCO Amman *

Please see link for annex dowload: http://www.unesco.org/new/en/amman/about-this-office/vacancies/

Your proposal should be submitted by e-mail no later than close of business (15:00 Amman time) on 24 February 2017. Email proposals should not exceed 5MB.

Please send your technical and financial proposal to the following email addresses:

amman.proc@unesco.org, h.najim@unesco.org and r.arafeh@unesco.org

To ease the email tracing and facilitate quick processing, kindly use the following script “Submission of Proposal: Senior Consultant for “Support to Media” as the email subject.

It is the individual’s responsibility to ensure that his/her proposal is received by the deadline.

Potential experts contacted should not treat this letter in any way as an offer.

For any requests for clarification, please contact: Mrs Costanza Farina, Representative of UNESCO to Jordan c.farina@unesco.org and copy: amman.proc@unesco.org

Submissions will be acknowledged by email upon receipt but ONLY selected expert will receive further notification and correspondences.

Thank you for your eventual interest in this UNESCO assignment. We look forward to receiving your proposal in due time.

Please see link for annex dowload: http://www.unesco.org/new/en/amman/about-this-office/vacancies/