Gender-Based Violence and Media Consultancy

Purpose and Objectives

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the UNFPA office in Lebanon, the purpose of the consultancy is twofold:  

• First, to sensitize/train media professionals on the need to provide safe and ethical coverage of SGBV related topics and turn them into allies to increase public awareness, tackle stereotypes, raise level of intolerance and contribute to change negative social norms through  safe and ethical reporting on gender/SGBV and reproductive rights related issues, with special attention to the humanitarian context and most vulnerable groups  - including Syrian refugees;
• Second, to build the capacity and skills of trained youth leaders on interpreting and disseminating key messages and achievements related to gender equality and GBV prevention through adequate drafting and documenting on social media as well as alternative innovative ways to disseminate information.

The specific objectives of the consultancy are:

• To outreach media professionals from the 4 medias outlets (press, TV, audio, digital) and social media platforms;
• To carry out sensitization events/roundtables with senior media professionals on the issue of gender equality/SGBV ethical and safe reporting in crisis;
• To develop guiding tools to support ethical and safe reporting;
• To train journalists on SGBV safe and ethical reporting (theory and practice);
• To engage sensitized media professionals in specific SGBV-related events;
• To develop the capacity of youth leaders on drafting and documenting skills mainly through social media.

Tasks and Deliverables

Under UNFPA supervision and guidance, the consultant will be entrusted with the following tasks:

Preparatory Actions:

• Familiarize with the existing UNFPA material and resources on Gender and Media.
• Outreach 60-80 media professionals from the 4 media (press, TV, digital and audio) and social media who are dealing with Gender-SGBV issues, based on the already established network of UNFPA, and introduce the interventions.
• Identify and engage “champions” (i.e. senior/renowned journalists) who are willing to support, participate and promote the initiatives.
• Meet with the UNFPA implementing partners (IPs) and the trained youth peer leaders to introduce/discuss the initiative.

Deliverables for Preparatory Actions

• 8-month detailed consultancy workplan and timeline approved by UNFPA;
• List of Senior Media Professionals engaged and supportive. 

Estimated Duration for Preparatory Actions

5 days (March-April)

Outcome 1: 4 Roundtables held and Tip-Sheets developed

• Develop the agenda/outcomes of the roundtables in collaboration with UNFPA and the gender expert, and finalize all necessary preparatory actions (invitations, confirmation of attendance etc).

• Carry out 4 round tables with a wide range of media professionals to address issues related to SGBV 2.
• Develop 4 tip-sheets including SGBV principles and approaches in the displacement context (such as the implementation of the “do-not-harm principle”, a generic Code of Conduct etc).
• Pilot the tip-sheets with journalists/media outlets in country and advocate for the adoption of basic Code of Conduct.

Deliverables for Outcome 1

• Detailed agenda for each of the four roundtables + expected outcomes.
• Minutes of 4 roundtables with media professionals + participation list.
• 4 tip-sheets + list of entities piloting.
• Short Progress report (underlining achievements, good practices, challenges, lessons learned, recommendations).

Estimated Duration for Outcome 1

12 days (May-October)

Outcome 2: Training (Theory and Practice) for Journalists and Contest

• Develop training material (2-day theory/2-day practice) based on the existing UNFPA training material.
• Finalize all necessary preparatory actions (invitations, confirmation of attendance etc).
• Carry out the training for at least 20 journalists.
• Launch the contest for the participants in collaboration with UNFPA.
• Organize an advocacy final event (e.g. exhibition with all products) to choose the context winner, in presence of the Snr. Media Professionals/Minister of Information/Senior UN.
• Produce a short (3-4 minutes) documentary on the outcome of the initiative.

Deliverables for Outcome 2

• Training Material
• Training report, including participation
• Short concept note for the advocacy event/closure ceremony of contest.
• Short Progress report (underlining achievements, good practices, challenges, lessons learned, recommendations)

Estimated Duration for Outcome 2

15 days (June-November)

Outcome 3: Field Training and Coaching of Youth Peer Leaders

• Develop training/coaching material based on the inputs of the UNFPA implementing partners and trained youth leaders.
• Develop a Capacity Development Plan including 4 field trainings + 4 coaching sessions.
• Finalize all necessary preparatory actions (agenda, invitations, confirmation of attendance).
• Carry out the training and the sessions.
• Ensure remote monitoring of the products and support for the IPs.

Deliverables for Outcome 3

• Capacity Development Plan developed in collaboration with the IPs and approved by UNFPA.
• Training/Coaching Material.
• Short Progress report (underlining achievements, good practices, challenges, lessons learned, recommendations)

Estimated Duration for Outcome 3

16 Days (May-August)

Final Actions:

• Draft a final statement of achievements (i.e. short final report summarizing achievements).

Deliverables for Final Actions

A final statement of achievements upon completion, including recommendations.

Estimated Duration for Final Actions

One day

Time Frame

The consultancy will be carried out within a period of 8 months, for a total of 49 working days.

Support to be Provided by UNFPA

UNFPA will support the consultancy through:

• Providing relevant background documentation;
• Share contacts of relevant implementing partners and stakeholders, including Gender/GBV experts to provide technical support throughout the implementation;
• Provide all logistics support, such as organize for meeting facilities, catering etc;
• Review and support the development of M&E tools;
• Review and provide technical comments/inputs on reports.

Qualifications

The Consultant must meet the following qualifications:

• Advanced Degree in Journalism, Communication, Social Sciences or related field with knowledge in development, gender issues, youth issues, and human rights.
• Minimum 8-10 year experience in media and gender.  
• Experience/knowledge in humanitarian contexts and familiarity with humanitarian related resources and material is an asset.
• Excellent coordination and planning skills.
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills in Arabic and English.
• Knowledge in UNFPA’s mandate and work is an asset.

(1)http://data.unhcr.org/syrianrefugees/country.php?id=122

(2)In order to prepare the topics and content of the roundtables, the UNFPA Handbook on Reporting on GBV in the Syria Crisis and the UNFPA Best Practice Book will be used as resources. UNFPA, “Reporting on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in the Syria Crisis”, 2015, available at http://www.unfpa.org/resources/reporting-gender-based-violence-syria-crisis-journalists-handbook and UNFPA, “Reporting on Gender-Based Violence in the Syria Crisis: Good Practices in the Media”, 2016, available at http://www.unfpa.org/publications/reporting-gender-based-violence-syria-crisis-good-practices-media/