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Local Consultant to support implementation of Focus Group Discussions (Only for Maldivian Nationals)

Male

  • Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
  • Location: Male
  • Grade: Consultancy - National Consultant - Locally recruited Contractors Agreement
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Governance and Peacebuilding
  • Closing Date: Closed

Background

Within the past decade, Maldives has made substantial progress on the economic front which is evidenced by its movement to the upper middle-income country status. At present, the country’s GDP growth is mainly driven by large infrastructure projects and construction of social housing. The ensuing voluntary migration to Greater Male’ has resulted in further disparity between the Male’ and the atolls. The 2014 Maldives Human Development Report shows that HDI index varies across country. While HDI is highest in Male’, Gaafu Alif and Gaafu Dhaal shows the lowest HDI index for the country.Additionally, the limited space and the high cost of living in Male’ has resulted in a surge of social issues including high crime rates and drug use across greater Male’ area. Moreover, remote islands with smaller populations have limited access to quality services and face greater isolation.

Youth represent nearly 47% of the population and the impact of this inequality affects the youth population the most. National assessments indicate that almost 20% of young men and 26% of young women are neither employed nor in school. Global studies indicate that without the means to pursue their career and earn an income and coupled with increasing conservative values, youth face a greater risk from getting disengaged from society and resorting to violence and drug related crimes. Therefore, strategies to mitigate the risk of violence need to address the societal issues faced by youth at present.

The Integrated Governance Program (IGP) has been working towards inclusive development and promotion of tolerance and respect in the public sphere. In this regard, UNDP through its Integrated Governance Programme (IGP) is conducting Focus Group Discussions with youth to discuss their perspective on peace and tolerance in terms of the country’s context for development by using art as a tool to express their concerns and priorities. As such, UNDP is seeking the service of a local consultant to support the implementation of these Focus Group Discussions.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the guidance of UNDP, the consultant will undertake the following tasks:

  • Coordinate and facilitate Youth Focus Group Discussions (FGD) in the atolls Ha, HDh, Sh, Ga, GDh, Fuvahmulah, Addu and Greater Male’.
  • Facilitate creation of art from the FGD participants followed by collection, organizing and exhibition of the art in the Greater Male’ area. Forms of art can vary according to the area of expertise of the consultant and FGD participants
  • Submit a report of the findings of the FGDs.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

The consultant will be responsible for the following deliverables;

  • Detailed work plan and methodology. The methodology includes the questionnaires for the FGD’s, identifying which form of art to use as a tool for dialogue, and how to effectively use the selected art form as a platform to voice out youth concerns and suggestions.
  • Support Youth FGDs in the selected islands and lead the art component of the FGD.
  • Collection, and organizing an exhibition to showcase the art projects.
  • Using the interactions and experiences gained from the FGDs to create one or more interpretive pieces of art of the consultant’s choosing. The consultant will be free to invite other artists or a group of artists to create interpretive art pieces based on the takeaways of the FGDs.
  • Final report which includes data collected and findings from the FGDs.

The following table shows an indication of the duration for the deliverables;

Deliverables/ Outputs

Estimated Duration to Complete

Detailed work plan and methodology

5 days

Coordinate and facilitate the FGDs

15 days

Organizing the exhibition

6 days

Final report

5 days

Institutional Arrangement

The consultant will work under the guidance of UNDP and will be accountable to the Programme Officer, IGP, for each deliverable as stipulated in the proposal. The consultant will work as part of a team comprising of UNDP Staff and other consultants for this project. Meetings with UNDP senior management will be held as and when needed.

Duty Station: Male’ with travel to selected islands

Competencies

  • Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
  • Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UN/UNDP;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
  • Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
  • Ability to conduct research and analysis and strong synthesis skills
  • Builds strong relationships with stakeholders, focuses on impact and result for the stakeholders and responds positively to critical feedback; consensus-oriented
  • Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
  • Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills;
  • Regional and National Knowledge is highly desirable
  • Ability to write reports particularly for International Funded project
  • Demonstrates ability to manage complexities and work under pressure, as well as conflict resolution

Required Skills and Experience

Education

  • Bachelor’s degree in Art, Dance, Theatre, or any artistic fields

Experience

  • Additional background in gender studies, law, anthropology, sociology, development studies or related social science is highly desirable.
  • Minimum 1 year experience in community engagement initiatives including conducting FGD
  • Minimum 1 year experience in leading and facilitating group activities for creating art, and organizing art exhibitions.
  • Familiarity with developmental issues in the Maldives will be highly desirable.

Language requirement

  • Fluent in Dhivehi and English.

Application Documents

  • The application must include a letter of interest to undertake this task, the CV, Personal History Form (P11), and a financial proposal (indicating the daily fee (in MVR) and other costs for the assignment).
  • Specification of expertise area(s) along with portfolio(s) of previous works
  • The applicant must also submit the reference letters from past supervisors/clients. To download P11, kindly please visit the link: http://www.mv.undp.org/content/maldives/en/home/operations/jobs
  • Please combine all the documents into one single file, as the system will allow for only one document to be uploaded.
  • We will only accept online applications
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.