Consultant on Media and Elections (CI/FEJ)

Parent Sector : Communication and Information Sector (CI)

Duty Station: Paris

Job Family: Programme Coordination

Type of contract : Non Staff

Duration of contract : From 7 to 11 months

Recruitment open to : Internal and external candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 29-JUL-2022

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

Under the overall authority of the Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, the authority of the Director of Division for Partnerships and Operational Programme Monitoring, and the direct supervision of the Chief of the Section for Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists and the relevant Programme Specialist in charge, the Consultant will work towards the achievement of UNESCO’s objective to address issues related to freedom of expression, media and elections, and the safety of journalists, along the 41 C/5 Programme and Budget, related Expected Results and Performance Indicators.
 

In particular, the Consultant shall:

• Assist the Section in its work of guaranteeing free, plural and fair elections in times of disinformation, notably by:
  • Supporting fact-checking initiatives and networks at national and regional levels, in the context of the Section’s work on elections and media;
  • Providing technical advice and institutional capacities for electoral management bodies and NGOs on international standards on freedom of expression in relation to media and elections;
  • Supporting training for journalists on countering disinformation online and supporting ethical and professional reporting in the context of elections;
  • Liaising with internet platforms, electoral bodies and regulatory authorities to foster co-regulation and promote transparency in the oversight of online content moderation and political advertisements;
  • Coordinating project activities with UN agencies, electoral management bodies, audiovisual regulatory bodies, press councils, internet platforms, electoral observers and practitioners, media and civil society organizations;

• • Monitoring contemporary challenges of the internet age in the context of elections, such as internet shutdowns, targeted blocking of websites and/or webpages, and their impact on online news media;
  • Providing support and expertise on -
    1. Micro-targeting of voters and political advertising on social media platforms;
    2. Online content regulation and management, in coordination with election regulation bodies;
    3. Breaches of election laws and privacy of citizens during election events, liaising with data protection or ombudsman offices;
    4. Adherence to a code of practice among social media companies in election periods, to safeguard freedom of expression for citizens and political parties. 
  • Providing expertise on the role of disinformation and misinformation in the context of elections and on issues related to threats to the media, particularly women journalists;
  • Assisting in ensuring the visibility of the Section’s work on media and elections, notably by drafting press releases and developing a specific webpage related to these activities.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Coordinate the production, dissemination and management of a global massive open online course (MOOC) on Media and Elections issues for journalists and members of electoral management bodies and electoral experts, notably by:
  • Ensuring the proper delivery of the course, notably by managing the forum of discussion and ensuring that participants have proper access to the course;
  • Coordinating the work of assistant-trainers in other languages;
  • Coordinating the work with the implementing partner, including the production of a final report and evaluation of the MOOC;
  • Adapting the course to a self-pace version, potentially in all UN languages, and coordinating the proposal for potential follow-up activities

• Assist the Section in fundraising efforts to develop programmes related to media and elections at the national, regional and international level, notably by:
  • Developing strategies for fundraising on media and elections’ related issues, including peacebuilding funds;
  • Assisting Field Offices in their fundraising efforts on projects related to media and elections.

• Contribute to the project of training security forces on freedom of expression in the context of elections, specifically by:
  • Liaising with relevant partners to implement training workshops at national and regional level particularly focusing on the component of sensitizing law enforcement officers to journalists’ safety issues, and maintaining public order in electoral periods while respecting human rights and freedom of expression; assist in fundraising efforts for follow-up activities related to the project; providing inputs to concept notes, project documents and reports for potential donors; and assisting in ensuring visibility of the project through drafting press releases and disseminating these materials amongst partners.

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

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REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education 

• Advanced university degree (Master's or higher) in political sciences, social sciences including history and law, or other relevant fields.

Work Experience

• At least 5 years of relevant work experience in international development, communication and/or information.
• Relevant work experience in the areas of human rights and/or freedom of expression and media and elections.
• Proven experience in drafting and editing (e.g. reports, articles, publications, speeches, briefings etc. ).

Skills/Competencies

• Excellent analytical, technical assessment, and writing skills;
• Excellent understanding of UNESCO's work to promote freedom of expression, safety of journalists and media freedom during elections; 
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and ability to exchange information on complex issues;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships in a complex and multicultural environment;
• Excellent organization and planning skills, including the ability to organize own work priorities and deadlines;
• Discretion and maturity of judgement are required;
• Ability to work under pressure and to organize and coordinate multiple tasks;
• Solid computer skills including advanced knowledge of office software such as Word and Excel.

Languages

• Fluency in written and oral English.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Work Experience

• Experience with UNESCO and/or the United Nations System and understanding of their functioning and procedures would be an asset.

Languages

• Fluency in written and oral French.

APPLICATION PROCESS/PROCEDURE

Interested candidates should complete the on-line application, download and complete the Employment History form (Word file). At the end of the Word file, insert extra pages with the following required information:

Part I:

• A letter indicating how their qualifications and experience make them suitable for the assignment (500 words max)
• A CV;

Part II:

• A competitive fee for the assignment, which should be quoted in USD and expressed on a monthly basis (with maximum amount of USD 5,800 per month).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Consultancy contract duration is for 11 months.  Consultancy work by remote.
• Estimated contract dates from September 2022 to August 2023.

ASSESSMENT

• Only applications providing the complete information requested in the application procedure will be considered. 
• Evaluation of qualified applicants may include an assessment exercise and a competency-based interview.

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