Back Middle Level Consultant - Safety of Women Journalists and Crisis Contexts

OVERVIEW

Parent Sector : Communication and Information Sector (CI)

Duty Station: Paris

Job Family: Communication and Information

Type of contract : Non Staff

Duration of contract : From 7 to 11 months

Recruitment open to : External candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 28-JAN-2025

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

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

The Communication and Information Sector’s mission is to promote freedom of expression, media development and media literate societies, and to build knowledge societies through fostering universal access to information, innovation for sustainable development and the preservation of documentary heritage. (The role of this vacant position does not include responsibility for UNESCO's wider external communications, which is managed by the Division for Communications and Public Engagement.

Long Description

Under the direct authority of the Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information and the direct supervision of the Chief of the Section for Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists, and of the relevant Programme Specialist(s);

In line with the UNESCO Major Programme V's Main Line of Action I and in line with the Multi-Donor Programme’s Outcome 1 (corresponding to Programme V/MLA1/ER 1 in the 41/C5), namely “Member States are enhancing norms and policies related to freedom of expression, including press freedom and the right to access information, online and offline, and are reinforcing the safety of journalists by implementing the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity”, the Individual Consultant shall provide assistance on projects related to CI/FEJ’s work on the UNPoA, with a particular focus on its programming Afghanistan and on crisis more broadly as well as its initiatives on the safety of women journalists and gender-responsive projects.

The role of this vacant position does not include responsibility for UNESCO's wider external communications, which is managed by the Division for Communications and Public Engagement.

Long Description

Background

Aiming to create a free and safe environment for journalists and media workers, thus strengthening peace, democracy and sustainable development worldwide, the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity addresses the fundamental aspects of prevention, protection, and prosecution.

The Plan is calling for a coalition-based and holistic approach to its implementation. It includes six areas: raising awareness; standard setting and policy making; monitoring and reporting; capacity building and research.

UNESCO cooperate with governments, media houses, professional associations, NGOs and other stakeholders to create a safer and more enabling environment for media workers. UNESCO is the co-coordinator of the UN Plan of Action and the UN agency mandated to defend freedom of expression and safety of journalists. It is co-custodian of the SDG indicator 16.10.1.

Under the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, UNESCO is implementing different initiatives to promote the safety of journalists in crisis-affected countries, such as Afghanistan, Gaza, Haiti, Sudan and Ukraine. It has continuously also expanded its portfolio of gender-responsive projects, particularly on the safety of women journalists.

Long Description

Scope of work

1. To support UNESCO’s work on crisis-projects the Individual Consultant shall, under the supervision of the relevant Programme Specialist:
   • Develop relevant concept notes or project documents related to UNESCO CI/FEJ work in crisis-contexts (such as Afghanistan, Gaza, Lebanon, Haiti, Sudan, Ukraine and Bangladesh) on the safety of journalists and providing substantial inputs to reports, concept notes, briefings and other institutional documents;
     • Conducting monitoring and reporting on UNESCO’s projects in crisis-affected countries,
       • Provide backstopping, in coordination with the relevant Programme Specialist, to UNESCO CI/FEJ work in crisis-contexts (such as Afghanistan, Gaza, Lebanon, Haiti, Sudan, Ukraine and Bangladesh. Specific focus will be placed in providing expertise on the work on safety of women journalists and collaboration with women-led organizations.
         • Undertake other specific duties as instructed by the Chief of Section or the Supervisor on UNESCO’s projects in crisis-affected countries, including drafting and editing of information material, concept notes, speeches, correspondence, briefings, project proposals, policy guidelines, agreements and other documents related to the implementation of the projects and in the areas relating to freedom of expression and safety of journalists.

           2. To support UNESCO’s work on gender-sensitive programmes and the safety of women journalists, the Individual Consultant shall:

           • Finalize the development of an internal guide on gender-responsive programming on the safety of women journalists, based on lessons-learned from UNESCO’s programming through i.e. the Multi-Donor Programme on Freedom of Expression and the Safety of Journalists or the Global Media Defence Fund and its projects in crisis-affected countries. The resource will draw on relevant internal documents, including guidance by the Gender Division and serve as an internal guide to design gender-responsive programmes on freedom of expression.
           • Supporting the integration of a gender perspective into the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Global Media Defence Fund. Tasks include supporting the development of the Terms of Reference for a thematic Call for Partnerships on the Safety of Women Journalists, the review and assessment of partnership proposals against established criteria, and ensuring gender-responsiveness as a cross-cutting priority in projects funded under the GMDF.
           • Support monitoring and reporting on UNESCO’s activities on the safety of women journalists.
             • Managing the partnership between UNESCO and the International Women’s Media Foundation to develop gender-sensitive safety protocols for 23 newsrooms and training-of-trainers workshops in at least four project countries. The Individual Consultant will:
               • • Provide technical advice, review of relevant documents, and expertise for training of newsrooms in consultation with IWMF and relevant Programme Specialists
                 • Ensuring that relevant UNESCO and other documents are used to design and integrated into trainings for newsrooms
                 • Ensure reporting and monitoring on activities implemented under the Partnership
                 • Support the coordination with relevant field-offices to ensure timely implementation of activities, including training of psychologists
                   • Support UNESCO CI/FEJ’s work on gender-responsive projects, including updating the Beijing+30 Declaration, especially the Chapter J on Women in Media by:
                   • • Coordinating the drafting of a Policy Brief on Chapter J with a Senior Consultant, including through providing substantial inputs, coordinating UNESCO feedback and ensuring alignment of the Policy Brief with UNESCO priorities
                     • • Support the organization of relevant conferences, consultations and expert-meetings on women journalists at gatherings such as World Press Freedom Day or the Committee on the Status of Women.
                       • Tasks include coordinating/liaising with colleagues and stakeholders involved; producing concept notes and agendas; identifying participants; arranging travel, accommodation and logistics; monitoring and reporting on the activities implemented;
                       • nsuring visibility of project activities, through drafting articles, newsletters, supporting the development of awareness-raising campaigns on the safety of women journalists and women in the media and contributing to the global communication strategy of the Section on these issues;
                       • Other tasks within the field of CI/FEJ’s work, as requested by the Responsible Programme Officer or Chief of Section