By continuing to browse this site, you agree to our use of cookies. Read our privacy policy

SLE/IC/2017/045 International Technical Consultant to the CSO- Media Situation Room

Freetown

  • Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
  • Location: Freetown
  • Grade: Consultancy - International Consultant - Internationally recruited Contractors Agreement
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Communication and Public Information
    • Civil Society and Local governance
    • Population matters (trends and census)
    • Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction
  • Closing Date: Closed

Background

Sierra Leone, in the past one and half decades, has made significant strides in democratic governance by holding three peaceful and successful elections in the post war period in May 2002, August 2007 and November 2012. 

In 2014, the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone (UNIPSIL) was withdrawn from Sierra dictating Sierra Leone is gradually consolidating peace and making relative progress to deepen democracy. The UNDP significantly contributed to these achievements, investing in the improvement of democratic institutions, supporting security sector reforms, access to justice and rule of law. Despite these achievements, Sierra Leone’s peace and sustainable development remains fragile and the United Nations Security Council, noted that “important work remained to further embed peace and to secure equitable prosperity in Sierra Leone”.

In March 2018, Sierra Leone will conduct Presidential, Parliamentary, and Local Council elections.  It will be the first time the country goes through an electoral cycle without a Security Council mandate since 2002. As the lead agency on Democratic Governance, UNDP is supporting key governmental institutions especially the Election Management Bodies (EMBs) to ensure that preparations and conduct of these elections are peaceful and credible. In the context of Sierra Leone recognized fragility and high-stake nature of the coming elections in which the incumbent will not be contesting, the UNDP recognizes the need for Conflict Prevention and Mitigation in the Electoral Process to complement the support to the National Electoral Commission.  In this regard, the UNDP developed a Conflict Prevention and Mitigation (CPM) project funded by the United Nations Peacebuilding Funds and UKAid.  The project aims to enhance political dialogue, peace advocacy and violence prevention, and Public security during the electoral process. 

The CPM project will achieve this aim through a range of initiatives, one of which is to increase the capacity of journalists, editor and other media practitioners on conflict sensitive reporting, support the setting up of a Media Situations Room (MSR) and ensure coordination of media assistance. 

In this context, UNDP Sierra Leone is looking for an Individual Consultant (International) as a Technical Advisor to work with the selected Civil Society Organizations (CSO) in ensuring that international best practices and standards are followed in the overall management of the MSR.  The International Technical Consultant will be guided by the objectives and deliverables below.

Duties and Responsibilities

  • To support media institutions in ensuring that their processes, procedures and activities promote free speech, freedom of the press and does not infringe on the rights of people to participate in the electoral process;
  • Ensure that selected Media institutions and CSOs abide by international standards and best practices on responsible reporting and does not promote hate speech or any form of incitement; and
  • To ensure close coordination with relevant institutions especially the Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC, Office of National Security (ONS), the National Commission for Democracy on mediation, dialogue processes, and nonviolence awareness raising through the media.

Scope of Task and Deliverables

The Consultant will deliver three main tasks

  • Setting up the Media Situation Room
  • Develop Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs) for the Situation Room;
  • Develop Protocol for the Media Situation Room (MSR); which will include establishment of data collection, analysis and management systems.

Coordination and Technical Assistance

  • High Level Technical advice/assistance to the selected CSO on day-to-day management of the MSR
  • Provide coordination support with Integrated Election Strategic Planning Committee (IESPC) at the Office of the National Security (ONS)
  • Submit weekly update and final comprehensive report at the end of the assignment 
  • Support to Training
  • Support to Implementing Partners in develop training manual (on Conflict Sensitive Reporting) in line international best practices and standards;
  • Providing quality assurance to Implementing Partners on the training of journalists, editors and other media practitioners on Conflict Sensitive Reporting

Delivery Schedule:

This assignment will be for six months starting from 1 November 2017 until April 2018. The entire consultancy services will require the continuous presence of the consultant at the CSO and Media Situation Room or travels within Sierra Leone associated with this TOR.

Competencies

Competencies                  

  • Highly motivated, with drive and commitment; 
  • Professionalism and integrity;
  • Promotes knowledge sharing and learning;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
  • Builds strong relationships with partners, focus on impact and results for the partner and responds positively to feedback;
  • Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
  • Ability to work with recipient counterparts in building individual and institutional capacity.

Functional Competencies            

  • Training and facilitation;
  • Excellent presentation and speaking skills;
  • Excellent reporting skills;
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills required in dealing with diverse group.       

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Advanced University Degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Communication, Public Information, Conflict Management, Information and Data Management or any other relevant degrees.

Experience:

  • Minimum 7 years of professional experience as a Communication, Media or Public Information Practitioner, Information Communication and Technology,
  • Previous experience in establishing and managing Media Situation Room (MSR) for Elections is required, 
  • Knowledge and experience in developing SOPs and Protocols required
  • Training and capacity building skills required
  • Experience setting up MSR in Africa and particularly in West Africa is desired. 
  • Experience working in conflict prone context is highly desirable,
  • Full command of Microsoft applications (word, excel, PowerPoint) and common Internet applications will be required.

Language Requirement:

  • Excellent facilitation and oral communication skills in English.
  • Proficiency in Creole or Pidgin English is an added advantage for understanding of local participants and for quick assimilation

Application procedure:

Applications may be submitted to procure.sle@undp.org or http://jobs-admin.undp.org/ . If submitted through the jobs-admin they must be uploaded as one set of documents.

Applications without Technical and Financial Proposals will not be considered. Please Note this is a procurement process and will be evaluated as such.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
This vacancy is now closed.
However, we have found similar vacancies for you: