INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANT – Communication and Information

Call for Consultancy

INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANT – Communication and Information

Terms of Reference - Date Issued: 30 December 2020

Organizational unit: UNESCO Myanmar Project Office

Duty Station: Yangon, Myanmar

Title: International Consultant – Communication and Information (Senior Level)

Duration of the contract: 11 Months (tentatively)

Application deadline: 13 January 2021

Start Date: 1 February 2021

I. Background:

Along with the overall development of Myanmar in recent years, the country’s media sector is developing at a fast pace. The expansion of traditional media that are adopting online platforms to distribute their content, and the increasing number of social media users are drawing a very different media landscape. Despite the pervasive use of social media, the Myanmar Audience Study concluded that the level of Media and Information Literacy (MIL) in Myanmar remains low, with many finding it difficult to decipher media content and grasp the role and purpose of media and news.

These issues are analyzed in detail in UNESCO’s 2016 publication Assessment of Media Development in Myanmar. In this report, UNESCO also issues policy recommendations and lays out a high-level action plan to address these challenges. Since then, the UNESCO Myanmar Office has continued to work as a catalyst and supporter of media reform and development in the country. Also, Myanmar’s national government is concerned about the harm that hate speech and disinformation can cause, and has, on several occasions, publicly condemned the use of hate speech. Together with UNDP, UNESCO is implementing the project “Preventing Hate Speech and Promoting Peaceful Society through Media and Information Literacy” in collaboration with the Ministry of Information. UNESCO supports to strengthen the capacity of the community centers and libraries through which the public will consume media and share information in a critical way.

UNESCO’s other activities focused on peace communication, media policies, journalism education, and media and information literacy. A key component of this work are activities carried out under the Special Account of the Multi Donor Programme on Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists[1]. Out of the Special Account’s four major outcomes, UNESCO Myanmar is directly working on two outcomes: Outcome 1, pertaining to actions by member states to strengthen Freedom of Expression, including press freedom and the right to access information, and the safety of journalists. Outcome 2, aiming at increasing diverse media contributions and at empowering societies through media and information literacy programmes.

This consultancy shall provide technical assistance for the implementation of Communication and Information (CI) activities in Myanmar and facilitate resource mobilization efforts through cooperation and partnerships in 2021.

II. Work Assignment:

1.Provide technical assistance in drafting concept notes or terms of reference or press releases regarding the activities under the Multi-Donor Programme for Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists (MDP) and Preventing hate speech and promoting peaceful society through Media and Information Literacy project

1.1. Dialogues, meetings, workshops, trainings and other activities to strengthen the safety of journalists;

1.2. Dialogues, meetings, workshops and other activities to support the Myanmar Press Council and key stakeholders;

1.3. Dialogues, meetings, workshops, trainings and other activities related to development and sustainability of community media;

1.4. Dialogues, meetings, workshops, trainings and other activities related to Media and Information Literacy (MIL), information disorder and hate speech;

1.5. Consultation meetings with the MIL Awareness Promotion Committee within the Ministry of Information and development of an action plan/strategy for the promotion of MIL for the Ministry and ToT trainings on MIL to the staff of Ministry of Information;

1.6. Commemoration of the World Press Freedom Day (WPFD), International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI), World Radio Day (WRD) and Global MIL Week

2.Provide technical assistance and support in organizing the following activities, and develop monitoring tools based on the M&E Plan and Guidance

2.1 Provide technical advice and assistance for quality control of project partner’s deliverables regarding the safety of journalists;

2.2 Provide technical expertise and share knowledge at Editors’ Forum on Safety of Journalists. The presentation will focus on specific laws and regulations relevant to journalists’ safety in Myanmar and methods to ensure journalists’ safety in daily practice;

2.3 Provide technical expertise and facilitate at dialogues on the role of media and Press Council with Myanmar Press Council and key stakeholders;

2.4 Provide technical expertise and share knowledge regarding the development and sustainability of community media, including at the workshops on community media with duty bearers. The presentation will focus on the role of community radio in development within the context of Myanmar and the provisions in the Broadcasting Law (2015) and its By-Law (2020) for community media;

2.5 Provide technical advice in formation of Community Media Support Network in Myanmar and review the advocacy and action plan of the network;

2.6 Review and provide technical advice to the MIL module of Year-3 ICT Curriculum of pre-service teacher education colleges;

2.7 Review and provide technical advice on the research to support an action plan/strategy for the promotion of MIL for the Ministry of Information, as well as to provide technical expertise to develop the action plan/strategy to promote MIL in collaboration with MIL Awareness Promotion Committee of the Ministry;

2.8 Provide technical expertise and share knowledge at the seminars on Countering Information Disorder and Hate Speech through MIL to be organized with government ministries;

2.9 Provide technical expertise in drafting the Guidelines for Cultural Sensitivity in Intercultural Communication with Ministry of Ethnic Affairs

2.10 Provide technical assistance in organization of World Press Freedom Day (WPFD), International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI), World Radio Day (WRD) and Global MIL Week

3.Work closely with CI team to design and prepare work plans for next stages of the Multi Donor Programme and facilitate resource mobilization efforts through cooperation and partnerships

3.1 An action plan describing the concrete activities that will undertake in 2022. These activities shall include advocacy efforts vis-à-vis duty bearers concerning the role of journalists and the importance of the media on the road to democracy. Further, the action plan shall include activities to mobilize peer journalists and gather their support for the issue of journalists’ safety;

3.2 The next stages to enhance the role of media and strengthen media self-regulation related to freedom of expression online and offline;

3.3 The next stages to focus on the legislative environment and key regulation for the establishment of sustainable community media. It shall be based on regulation currently in place and include recommendations for regulatory change integrating the advocacy and action plan of the community media support network;

3.4 The next stages to promote Media and Information Literacy in Myanmar.

Note: Due to the fast-evolving COVID-19 situation, a degree of flexibility is needed to allow for amendment of the contract deliverables, travel and requisite payment. The participation at the consultation meetings, dialogues, trainings may be in person or through virtual conferencing depending on the COVID-19 situation in Myanmar and the availability of the Individual Specialist.

III. Deliverables and timeline:

The Individual Specialist is required to provide, in addition to PDF files, the source documents and the editable version (such as Microsoft Word editable files) of the deliverables to UNESCO, who is the owner of all the deliverables.

1.Monthly progress reports outlining activities undertaken and achievements related to the work assignments by the last working day of each month between February and December 2021 including:

a. Progress made in activities-1, along with the final concept notes or terms of reference or press releases drafted;

b. Progress made in activities-2, along with the documents related to technical expertise and support;

c. Progress made in activities-3, along with the proposed work plans for next stages of the Multi Donor Programme.

2.A final report summarizing the activities carried out, achievements and lessons learnt during the contract period by 31 December 2021.

3.A mission report, indicating the purpose of the mission, main activities including what was done during the mission, persons met and main points discussed, outcomes of the mission and follow up action points, is required to be submitted within two weeks after the end of each mission. All supporting travel documents (such as original boarding passes, original visa fee receipts, UNDSS security clearance) of official travel undertaken for reimbursement after each approved mission.

IV. Location and travel:

1. The Individual Specialist will be provided with a round-trip economy class air ticket between his/her place of origin and Yangon (Myanmar); and round-trip economy class air ticket between Yangon, Myanmar, and Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar if there is any mission to Nay Pyi Taw; in addition to the terminal fares as per UNESCO rules and regulations.

2. During the contract period, the Individual Specialist's necessary visa and stay permit fees will be reimbursed by UNESCO.

3. For all missions, airfares, daily subsistence allowance (DSA) and terminal fares within the context of the assignments will be reimbursed by UNESCO as per UNESCO rules and regulations.

4. The Individual Specialist is responsible for obtaining UNDSS security clearance prior to each approved mission.

5. After each approved mission is undertaken, the Individual Specialist will submit the necessary supporting documents such as UNDSS security clearance, original boarding passes bearing the name of the Individual Specialist and flight ticket receipts for reimbursement.

In line with UNESCO's overall gender mainstreaming strategy, the Individual Specialist is expected to integrate a gender perspective in all activities and apply gender analysis and mainstreaming concepts whenever feasible.

V. Duration of contract

From 1 February to 31 December 2021.

VI. Requirements

• Strong ability and prior experience working in media development in the Asia-Pacific Region, in particular in the development and support of media initiatives related to freedom of expression, right to information, journalists’ safety, community media and media and information literacy.

• Track record in facilitating workshops, dialogues and seminars focused on freedom of expression, right to information, journalists’ safety, community media and media and information literacy.

• Familiar with Myanmar’s media landscape, including knowledge on the existing media houses and journalists’ associations and organizations.

• Strong expertise and demonstrated experience in developing action plans and advocacy strategies aimed at mobilizing donor support for media development initiatives.

[1] https://en.unesco.org/themes/fostering-freedom-expression/mdp/foesoj

For detail of the consultancy post, please refer to this link https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aFPzlhLwO2NMqM-r8zKhOWmNMgBDNhMc/view?usp=sharing

How to apply:

Interested applicants are invited to submit in writing to UNESCO Myanmar Project Office:

1. A cover letter in English clearly referencing “International Consultant – Communication and Information”, indicating how your qualifications and experience make you suitable for the assignment;

2. The methodology and approaches to be adopted to carry out the assignment and expected fee;

3. A writing sample in English, ideally a sample action plan or advocacy strategy related to media development. An up-to-date CV, with contact details including telephone numbers and email address;

4. Contact details including telephone numbers and email addresses of three referees.

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.

Your application should reach yangon@unesco.org no later than 17:00 (Yangon time) on 13 January 2021.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.