National Consultancy – Developing Human Rights Training on Freedom of Expression and Media Freedom

Background

NOTE

Application procedure:

Application with a CV must be submitted online via this website. Please click on “Apply Now” Tab and complete required fields and upload CV. Please note that website accepts  one document therefore, if you would like to upload more than one document, please make sure to combine it into a single one.

Financial offer (for national consultants only in BAM) in a form of completed and Signed Offeror’s Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and availability –   – Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability.docx – to be sent to e mail  with Subject: Job ID 115841.

In 2022, within the framework of the Global Drive project for Media Freedom, Access to Information and the Safety of Journalists – a global project funded by the Netherlands and implemented by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) – OHCHR in Bosnia and Herzegovina conducted an assessment on media freedom, the safety of journalists and access to information in Bosnia and Herzegovina and published a report on the subject, together with the United Nations in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The report highlighted various challenges faced by journalists and other media workers in Bosnia and Herzegovina to exercise their profession safely and freely. Through engagement with relevant stakeholders since 2022, including for the development of the report, OHCHR in Bosnia and Herzegovina identified a need for academic and professional training of relevant professionals (media workers, judicial officers, lawyers) on freedom of expression, including media freedom and hate speech, notably on applicable international human rights standards and jurisprudence.

The purpose of this consultancy is to design human rights training modules on freedom of expression targeting students in communications and law (e.g. students of faculties of political sciences and other faculties) on the one hand, and media workers, judicial office-holders and lawyers on the other hand. The training will be developed in consultation with the Centres for the Training of Judges and Prosecutors, staff/departments at relevant faculties, lawyers, media professionals, the Human Rights Ombudsman institution of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and other relevant actors. The consultancy will pay due attention to gender aspects.

The human rights training developed through the consultancy would serve universities, civil society actors (including organizations, media, journalists, associations of journalists, academics), lawyers, the judiciary, and other actors interested in benefiting from human rights education based on relevant international human rights standards and good practices.

The project will contribute to supporting implementation, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, of the United Nations Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists. Launched by the United Nations Secretary-General in 2013, this plan aims at fostering a free and safe environment for journalists and media workers. It calls for a coalition-based and holistic approach and includes six areas: awareness raising, standard setting and policy making, monitoring and reporting, capacity building, and research. The proposed project will contribute to awareness raising, monitoring and reporting, capacity building and research.

In 2019, in the context of its third Universal Periodic Review (UPR), Bosnia and Herzegovina received recommendations to intensify human rights education and organize awareness-raising campaigns. The project will contribute to the implementation of these UPR recommendations and to Sustainable Development Goal 16 (to promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies), target 10 (to ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreement).

https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/brochures-and-leaflets/global-drive-media-freedom-access-information-safety-journalists

Duties and Responsibilities

Objectives of the assignment: The objective of this assignment is to develop a course module on the right to freedom of expression for law students, students of faculties of political sciences, lawyers and judicial office–holders.

The module will provide comprehensive and up to date information and analysis of relevant international human rights norms and standards, including relevant jurisprudence and best practices.  

This work aims at providing the basis for solid and continuous training and at ultimately enhancing, through education, the protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression as guaranteed by international human rights law, as well as media freedom and the protection of journalists.  

Job content: The consultant will be responsible for designing a human rights module on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, including up to date international standards, with specific reflections on media freedom and hate speech. The training aims at ensuring and / or enhancing the knowledge and skills of future and current media professionals, lawyers and judicial office-holders to equip them to adequately protect freedom of expression and journalists through their future work. This work could be incorporated into human rights education and training at relevant faculties and within the judiciary.

In the conduct of this work, the consultant will be expected to consult relevant stakeholders, including the Centres for the Training of Judges and Prosecutors, staff/departments at relevant faculties, media professionals, and relevant institutions. The consultant will also work in coordination with OHCHR Headquarters.

Expected results: Under the supervision of the Senior Human Rights Adviser within the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the consultant is expected to deliver the following products:

1. A course module for law students and students of faculties of political sciences and other faculties forming future media workers on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, including description and analysis of international standards and jurisprudence, with analyses on media freedom and hate speech.
2. A course module for lawyers and judicial officers on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, including description and analysis of international standards and jurisprudence, with analyses on media freedom and hate speech.

The final products will be delivered in English and translated into B/C/S.

The final products would be translated and publicly presented to the United Nations, relevant faculties, journalists’ associations, media organizations, academics, other civil society actors, the judiciary, and other relevant actors.

Timing and reporting: The consultant will be recruited for a total of 40 consultancy days, between 24 April 2024 and 24 June 2024. The consultant will be responsible to prepare the following products within the following deadlines:

• Research, consultations (17 May 2024)
• Draft curricula and course modules (5 June 2024)
• Incorporation of comments and production of a final product (24 June 2024).

Competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the United Nations values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of the United Nations;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Excellent communication skills, facility in working with teams and capacity to compose clear and readable narrative reports;
• Demonstrates ability to manage complexities and work under pressure, as well as conflict resolution skills;
• Excellent organizational and time management skills;
• Ability to perform a variety of standard tasks related to Results Management;
• Ability to work independently and in a team.

Required Skills and Experience

Education: 

• Advanced degree in Media, Social, Political Science, Law or other relevant field.
• Bachelor’s degree with additional two years of relevant working experience will be given due consideration in lieu of Master’s degree.

Experience:

• Minimum of seven years (with Master’s degree) working experience related to human rights ;
  Solid knowledge of international human rights norms and standards,;
• Proven experience in conducting in-depth analysis and developing modules for human rights training, including on freedom of expression and media freedom;
• Experience in teaching or conducting human rights training, including media professionals, judges, prosecutors and lawyers.

Languages:

• Fluency in oral and written B/C/S and English.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE 

Interested candidated must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

• Explaining why they are the most suitable for the work;
• Personal CV/P11, including past experience in similar projects and at least 3 references.

Please scan all above mentioned documents and upload as one attachment only online through this website.

Additional Financial offer (for national consultants only in BAM) in a form of completed and Signed Offeror’s Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and availability –   – Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability.docx – to be sent to e mail  with Subject: Job ID 115841.

Note:

• For an assignment requiring travel, consultants of 65 years or more require full medical examination and statement of fitness to work to engage in the consultancy.
• Due to large number of potential applicants, only competitively selected candidates will be contacted for remaining steps of the service procurement process.