Communication and Information Consultant – UNESCO

By Osama Elsheikh Last updated Mar 10, 2023

Job Description

Duration of Contract:	12 months
Remuneration:	USD 25,000
Expected working hours:	37.5 hours/week
Deadline of Submission:	20 March 2023, midnight 12:00 Local Sudan time
Title:	CI Senior National Consultant
Sector:	Communication and Information (CI)
Organizational Unit:	UNESCO Khartoum Office
Primary Location:	Khartoum

Background:

UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It contributes to peace and security by promoting international cooperation in education, sciences, culture, communication, and information. UNESCO promotes knowledge sharing and the free flow of ideas to accelerate mutual understanding and a more perfect knowledge of each other’s lives. UNESCO’s programmes contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals defined in the 2030 Agenda, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2015.

In the Sector of Communication and Information (CI), UNESCO protects and promotes freedom of expression, free, independent and pluralistic media, and the building of inclusive knowledge societies underpinned by universal access to information and the innovative use of digital technologies. By adopting a multi-disciplinary and inclusive approach, UNESCO works with both duty-bearers and rights-holders across the world to develop and implement targeted actions that are born out of local needs, which ensures a holistic and results-based approach.

As CI Sector programs are expected to increase in 2023, the need for a senior national consultant with expertise in freedom of expression and media freedom to work towards the success & implementation of these programs in the CI Sector is necessary to ensure the achievement of desired results.

This ToR is related to the Media Development Program and Media Reform for Sudan and comes under the project Media Laws Reform in Sudan.

Tasks:

Under the general authority of the Head of UNESCO Khartoum Office and the direct supervision of the Programme Officer, the consultant shall perform the following tasks:

Programme management: Manage the implementation of UNESCO’s mandate in the CI sector in Sudan including but not limited to enabling an environment for free, independent, and pluralistic media, strengthening the capacities of journalists, reinforcing media policies, promoting the safety of journalists, (promotion of the UN action plan for the safety of journalists), digital innovation, and countering hate speech and violent extremism.
Project implementation: In particular, lead the implementation of the UNESCO’s Media Reform Roadmap for Sudan, in consultation with and in cooperation with all relevant stakeholder, including policy-makers, the judiciary, law enforcement, media outlets, journalists’ associations, civil society and the UN system.
Technical support: Support journalist’s capacity building in Sudan, including through supporting the National Commission of UNESCO, civil society and journalists’ groups and NGOs.
Coordination: Maintain an up-to-date database and coordination with national NGOs and activists, online newspapers, newspaper editors, government senior officials of the media sector, media professionals in UN and other international agencies and embassies.
Visibility: Ensure the visibility of UNESCO in CI projects, current and future, in close collaboration with relevant national and international entities in Sudan and UNESCO’s HQ, Cairo Office & Beirut Office. In cooperation with the office communications officer work with national and international partners to promote the celebration of CI related days including but not limited to International Radio Day, International Day of Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, World Press Freedom Day, International Day for Access to Information.
Fundraising: Contribute to the development of the CI Sector issues in Sudan, based on identified needs, through the development of new projects and fund-raising activities especially among conventional and non-conventional donors in Sudan in coordination with the Head of Office.

Required Qualifications

Education:

Master’s degree in international relations, international development, journalism, mass communication or human rights law, with expertise in freedom of expression, or relevant experience of no less than five years in the field of journalism, media development, or related fields.

Required Experience:

Experience in project management, including project planning, task scheduling, procurement, budgeting, risk management.
Experience in organizing meetings, seminars, and training, including setting the agenda, coordinating with speakers and participants, ensuring logistics, preparing speaking notes, etc.
Worked in the freedom of expression, media development and/or media sector in Sudan or in another country for at least 5 years.
Have knowledge about the day-to-day journalism practice, media legislation, Freedom of Expression and Rule of Law, Countering Hate Speech and Violent Extremism, Safety of Journalists, and the UN action plan for the safety of journalists.

Desirable Experience:

Knowledge of the UN system, and in particular UNESCO.
Good experience in proposal writing and reporting.
Proven skills in leading training modules;
Knowledge of fundraising;
Knowledge of Digital Security tools.

Language:

Strong ability to speak and write in Arabic and English

Skills/Competencies:

Communication Skills (English & Arabic);
Excellent writing skills (English & Arabic);
Capacity to design and/or peer review and implement training modules;
Has the ability to work comfortably with national & international partners in the media community;
Has the ability to lead national groups of diverse backgrounds while focusing on the required objectives.

Deliverables:

Submit a detailed report by the end of each month on the completion of the above assigned; tasks to UNESCO Khartoum Office showing progress of work.
Workplan and timeline to deliver Media Reform Roadmap in Sudan.
Implementation of the workplan above.
Fund-raising strategy for CI.
Networking plan to reinforce relationship with key actors in the country.

How to Apply

To apply, please express your interest by sending all the following documents:
1) your CV in English
2) motivation letter with a statement indicating how your qualifications and experience make you suitable for the assignment
3) technical proposal (approach and methodology for the assignment)
each described according to the tasks stated, by email to: [email protected]

not later than 20 March 2023 by midnight (Sudan time).

Candidatures not including the three required documents will not be taken into account.