FACILITATION OF A SEMINAR AND PREPARATION OF A PAPER ON DEVELOPMENT REPORTING FOR EDITORS AND SUB EDITORS IN BOTSWANA’S MEDIA INDUSTRY
Location : Gaborone, BOTSWANA
Application Deadline : 10-Apr-12
Type of Contract : Individual Contract
Post Level : International Consultant
Languages Required : English
Starting Date :(date when the selected candidate is expected to start) 01-May-2012
Background
The Government of Botswana (GoB), the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) and the United Nations (UN) in Botswana, require the service of an International Media Expect to facilitate, as a resource person, a seminar targeting editors and sub-editors from Botswana’s print and electronic media houses. The main objective of the meeting will be to exchange views and share experiences on development reporting.
In 2000, 189 heads of state and government committed to the achievement of the eight time-bound goals which have come to be known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. This commitment was reaffirmed at the High Level Summits (HLS) held in September 2005 and 2010. During the 2010 HLS, it was observed that though tremendous progress has been made on the MDGs since 2000, it has been uneven among countries. Thus, there is need to accelerate progress on the lagging MDGs by way of investigating the bottlenecks and implementing innovative solutions to ensure the achievement of the MDGs by 2015.
With less than five years remaining to achieve the MDGs on time, it is imperative for Botswana to scale up MDG advocacy, not only to highlight progress already made on some goals but also to promote interventions that are crucial to the acceleration of progress on off-track MDGs.
The media is a strategic partner in supporting the achievement of the MDGs. Television, Radio, and Newspapers are powerful mediums for information dissemination , community sensitisation and social dialogue. Used effectively, they could add needed impetus to Botswana’s quest to achieve the MDGS by 2015, especially in respect of the mobilisation of popular action in priority areas such as poverty and areas where Botswana is lagging behind. However, experience to date is that development issues, in particular the MDGs, are not adequately reported and articulated in Botswana’s mainstream media.
It is against this background, that the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme and MISA Botswana, are proposing a Breakfast Seminar on Developing Reporting for Editors and Sub Editors to sensitize them on the imperatives for development reporting, securing their views on the state of development reporting in Botswana and in the Southern African Region, as well as what could be done to improve it.
Duties and Responsibilities
Key Deliverables
• A short conceptual paper on development reporting, with particular emphasis on the Millennium Development Goals
• Power point presentation on Development Reporting
• Effective facilitation of the Development reporting Seminar on 29 May 2012.
Individuals interested in the assignment should submit the following documents to UNDP:
Technical proposal demonstrating the candidate’s suitability for the assignment. The proposal
should, amongst others, include the following:
• An outline/programme of a half day seminar on development reporting for editors. The programme shall include a one (1) hour slot (presentation and discussion) on a situational analysis of development reporting in Botswana undertaken by a local consultant.
• Profile of the consultant and an outline of recent experience on assignments of a similar nature.
Comments and/or suggestions on the TORs and demonstration of understanding of the assignment: objectives, tasks and deliverables.
• Clear and succinct description of the methodology and work plan that the consultants proposes to execute the assignment
• Financial Proposal listing all costs associated with the assignment. In particular, the financial proposal shall items the following
• The consulting rate in US$/Per full person day and the number of person days anticipated to complete the assignment
• Travel costs, including in country costs
• Per Diem, including food and accommodation
• A personal CV detailing past experience on similar assignments and at least three client references.
The International Media Expert is expected to co-facilitate the training, with specific responsibility to:
• Prepare and present a short conceptual and analytical paper (4-6 pages) on Development Reporting from
an international perspective, with particular emphasis on the Millennium Development Goals.
• Provide an operational definition of development reporting and its rationale, taking care to make a
distinction between good and bad development reporting and the principles that drive good development
reporting.
• Explain the role of development reporting in the development process .
• Discuss, in both normative and positive terms, the role of the media in the development process, taking care to share principles, best practices and bad practices. Reflect on the state of development reporting internationally and within the Southern African region, with particular focus on its evolution, achievements, gaps, constraints and opportunities.
• Share international best practice on how development institutions – the government, multilateral and bilateral development partners, non-state actors etc., could facilitate good development reporting within the local media. Exchange views and share experiences on development reporting with the local media practitioners and academics
• Based on the above, make a presentation (power point) on development reporting to leaders of the Botswana media on 29th May, 2012.
• Contribute to workshop deliberations as an external expect and respond to questions and
comments from participants.
• Make recommendations regarding how stakeholders in development reporting in Botswana – media houses
and development organisations, may improve the quality of development reporting in Botswana
Offers shall be evaluated based on the “Lowest price and technically compliant offer” approach as follows:
• An offer is responsive/compliant/acceptable if it scores a minimum of 70% on the criteria outlined below and fully meets the qualifications and language requirements outlined below and fully meets the qualifications and language requirements
• Yes/No Relevant qualifications
Yes/No English language competency
30% Understanding of the Assignment
20% Media or Journalistic experience
30% Development Reporting Experience (Teaching and/or practice)
20% Facilitation Experience
100% Total
• The assignment will require eight (8) days. The assignment will culminate with a power-point
presentation (followed by discussions) made at the breakfast seminar on 29 May 2012 from 0800 to
13h00 hrs in Gaborone.
Competencies
• Analytical skills, communications abilities, teamwork
• Excellent appreciation of contemporary development issues, especially those that fall within the millennium development goals
• Excellent public speaking , facilitation and presentation skills
• Excellent writing, editing, and oral communication skills in English
• Excellent people skills
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
• Minimum Master’s degree in a relevant discipline, preferably media studies or journalism.
• Bachelor’s degree would be accepted provided the candidate has more than 10 years of professional experience, five of which should have been at a leadership level e.g. subject editor or above.
Experience:
• Minimum of seven years of substantive professional experience as a practicing journalist, a media academic or media entrepreneur, coupled with a good track record of work within the field of development journalism.
Language:
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
Click Here to Apply
Closing Date: Tuesday, 10 April 2012
