Jordan: Call for Proposals from Individual Consultants Support to Media in Jordan Project: Media and Information Literacy in Jordan

Call for Proposals from Individual Consultants

Support to Media in Jordan Project: Media and Information Literacy in Jordan

Reference: STMJO/MIL/2017/15

Closing Date: 10 October 2017 (by 18hr00 Amman local time)

Duty Station: Amman, Jordan

Type of Contract: Individual Consultancy (IC) Contract

Contract Duration: 6 months (subject to availability of funds).

Contract Start Date: 22 October 2017

Date: 10 September 2017

UNESCO Amman Office is inviting written proposals from Individual Consultants for the work assignment described in (Annex A).

Your proposal and any supporting documents must be in English.

Your written proposal should include the following parts:

1) A Technical Proposal (maximum of 5 pages excluding the CV – P.11) should consist of:

a) A description of your proposed approach and methodology for undertaking the assignment;

b) Description of the main deliverables and milestones related to the assignment;

c) A work plan with a detailed time frame, including information on expected number of missions estimated and duration of each mission to Jordan;

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

e) An up-to-date curriculum vitae based on P11 form (Annex B);

2) A completed vendor’s form (Annex C)

3) A lump sum amount to be charged for the assignment (excluding travel, accommodation and subsistence costs), which should be quoted in United States Dollars or in Euros. Please fill in the price schedule (Annex D)

Applicants must indicate clearly number of working days (home-based) and number of working days (field-based).

N.B. Applicants must copy the following script in their proposal and must sign underneath:

“I, the submitting individual, fully understands that this work assignment that I am applying to does not constitute an offer from UNESCO for recruitment or employment or any long-term commitment imposed on UNESCO. I agree that UNESCO will pay me against quality and timely delivery of outputs and deliverables indicated in the TOR and UNESCO has the right at its own discretion to cancel the contract should the performance be unsatisfactory or UNESCO opts to stop activities related to this work assignment by notifying me its decision in writing or by email at least by one month from the expected date of contract cancelation.

-UNESCO's Contract template for individual consultants(Annex E)

Note on Travel Costs:

UNESCO Amman Office will cover all the travel cost including airline tickets (at economy class), and daily substance allowance covering costs of accommodation, meals and internal transportation in Jordan according to UNESCO’s established rules and regulations.

Applicant must indicate the estimated cost of airway ticket from home country to Amman, Jordan (round ticket/ economy class).

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 Organisation best value for money.

NB. UNESCO will evaluate the proposed fee against its standard international consultant rates for similar assignments.

*Terms of Reference

1. Background and Objective

Since 2014, UNESCO Amman Office has been implementing the “Support to Media in Jordan” project, funded by the European Union, in close collaboration with the Ministry of State for Media Affairs and the media community in Jordan. The Support to Media in Jordan project aims to help Jordan’s efforts in advancing the Jordanian media to further increase its freedom, independence and professionalism. During the first phase of the project, UNESCO developed a comprehensive study of the Jordanian media landscape on the basis of UNESCO’s Media Development Indicators (MDI). In the second phase of the project, UNESCO has been implementing activities based on the MDI report recommendations.

UNESCO Office in Amman, active since more than a decade in the field of media-development in Jordan, implements the project in close cooperation with the Jordanian stakeholders.

The project is now in Phase Two, which addresses the findings as well as recommendations of the above-mentioned study 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.

The funding for this project is provided by the European Union (EU), within the framework of an agreement signed between UNESCO and EU. For more information on the project, please visit: www.stmjo.com/en.

Media and Information Literacy (MIL) is a key component of the Support to Media in Jordan project, with a specific outcome dedicated to the increased understanding of the concept of media and information literacy (MIL) in Jordan, with two specific areas;

Output 5.1.: Key educational policy makers supported to further develop MIL in Jordan

Output 5.2.: Teacher’s training colleges supported to include MIL in their curriculum

UNESCO initiated a dialougue with key senior education specialists to further develop MIL in Jordan, supported teacher training colleges to include MIL in their curriculum and support the Ministry of Education to introduce MIL for grades 7-9 through the creation of pilot MIL clubs.

In reference to UNESCO Policy and Strategy guidelines and the UNESCO MIL curricular for teachers and in partnership with Jordan Media Institute, a paper investigating needs and opportunities for MIL in Jordan was drafted, with the aim at providing general information and knowledge framework for experts, professionals and researchers who wish to engage in dialogue around MIL in Jordan. The project carried out training of 24 teachers in eight public schools, where “MIL clubs” were piloted and provided the course.

To achieve output 5.2, a thorough analysis of curriclum at two local universities as a baseline to integrate MIL concepts at entry-level educational sciences curriculum. This phase resulted in a outline of a MIL course for entry-level education and draft MIL textbook in Arabic. The project also carried out capacity building acitivties for more than 100 professors and teachers and 289 students at Al Hussein Bin Talal and Al AlBayt universities.

1. Purpose of the Assignment

In view of providing well-informed facilitation of MIL development in Jordan (Outcome 5.1. and 2), the overall purpose of this consultancy assignment is to provide action-oriented technical assistance to enable the development of a position paper on Media and Information Literacy strategy in Jordan; to catalyse all relevant stakeholders involvement in the integration of MIL curriculum of Jordanian universities, building on previous attempts, reviews and best international and regional practices in line with the GoJ efforts;

1. Duties/Tasks and Expected Output

The consultant is expected to provide tasks into three main areas;

a. Elaborate a position paper on Media and Information Literacy strategy in Jordan

b. Design the action plan to operationalize the position paper

c. Finalize the MIL curriculum in universities

The specific tasks and deliverables under this assignment are:

1) Milestone 1: Elaborate a position paper on Media and Information Literacy strategy in Jordan, building on the paper investigating needs and opportunities for MIL I Jordan developed under this project.

1.1 Assess the current situation and efforts in the field of MIL in Jordan based on a desk review of existing policy and strategy documents including relevant research, best international practices, UNESCO’s MIL policy and strategy guidelines, in addition to any other relevant publication;

1.2 Provide substantial input to the planning of multi-stakeholder and nationwide consultations on MIL that will be organized jointly with the relevant institutions. Multi-stakeholder refers to a wide range of interest groups, including senior education specialists, teachers, associations, teachers colleges, educational institutions, libraries, media etc.

1.3 Facilitate a multi-stakeholder and nationwide consultations on MIL, where the position paper on Media and Information Literacy strategy will be presented to the MoE and other relevant public authorities;

1.4 Integrate feedback and input into the same;

1.5 On the basis of the results of the consultations, update the position paper and facilitate a second round of round tables to present the final document, leading to the approval of the above.

Milestone 2: Design the action plan to operationalize the position paper

2.1 Provide substantial input to the planning of key priorities resulting from the position paper

2.2 Design action plan for each priority identified

2.3 Present and share to relevant stakeholders

Milestone 3: Finalize the MIL curriculum in universities

3.1 Provide substantial input to the planning of expert roundtable discussions, organized jointly with Ministry of Higher Education and other relevant higher education institutions to discuss integration of MIL curriculum in the study plans of universities;

3.2 Provide substantial input to further develop the draft curriculum, namely outline and textbook, resulting from the first phase;

3.3 Facilitate the roundtable discussions and present the MIL curriculum; On the basis of the recommendations of the roundtable, update the draft MIL curriculum and develop of a training module for teachers/professors.

1. Timetable and Deliverables

This assignment is expected to cover 6 months (subject to availability of funds), with regular presence in Amman, especially during the consultations. The expected start date of the contract is 22 October 2017.

Deliverables:

a. Participation in consultation sessions and roundtable discussions (December 2017, January 2018 and March 2018)

b. Final position paper for MIL in Jordan approved by stakeholders (February 2018)

c. Action plan (February 2018)

d. Final MIL curriculum for universities (April 2018)

1. Qualifications

(a) Advanced University degree (preferably PhD) in Media, Journalism, Education, or other related field, with demonstrated relevant expertise at national, regional and international levels in Media Information Literacy (MIL), MIL policies and strategies development, operationalization and implementation.

(b) Minimum of 5 years’ hands-on professional experience with MIL in different countries contexts

(c) Fluency in Arabic and English

(d) Ability to conceptualize and design actionable policy recommendations

(e) Past experience in drafting high quality well-documented reports and actionable recommendations in the field of Education and/or Media Information Literacy

(f) Ability to lead dialogue with senior Government officials, senior civil servants, educational experts and CSOs

(g) Past experience in working with universities curriculum and teaching methodologies.

(h) Demonstrated exposure to different socio-cultural environments.

(i) Previous work in Jordan or in Arab States is an asset.

1. Facilities to be provided by UNESCO (if any)

UNESCO will be responsible for the logistical organisation and will provide facilities for all above-mentioned consultations.

7.Any relevant background information/documents

UNESCO MIL Policy and Strategy guidelines:

http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0022/002256/225606e.pdf

UNESCO MIL Curriculum for teachers: http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0019/001929/192971e.pdf

UNESCO Media Development Indicators report for Jordan:

http://stmjo.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/JordanMDI_EN_small.pdf

Opportunities for Media and Information Literacy in the Middle East and North Africa

https://www.unaoc.org/wp-content/uploads/Opportunities-For-Media-and-Information-Literacy-in-the-Middle-East-and-North-Africa-1.pdf *

READ MORE: 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 on or before 10 October 2017 (18:00 Amman local time) at the following email addresses ONLY:

Rasha Arafeh r.arafeh@unesco.org and Cedric Neri: c.neri@unesco.org

Email proposals should not exceed 10MB.

To ease the email tracing and facilitate quick processing, kindly use the following script “Submission of Consultancy Proposal: Media & Information Literacy” in 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. However, their proposal may form the basis for an eventual contract with UNESCO.

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.