Non-Staff Service Contract

Project Lead, Media and Election, UNESCO Dhaka Office  

OVERVIEW

Parent Sector : Communications and Information (CI)

Duty Station: Dhaka (with possible missions outside the capital) 

Job Family: Communications and Information (CI)

Type of contract : Service Contract (non-staff)

Level : SC-8 /SC-9 (equivalent to NO-A or NO-B) 

Duration of contract : 12 Months 

Recruitment open to : Internal and External candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Duty Station Time) : 6 July 2025

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

Only nationals of Bangladesh can apply for this position

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

As Bangladesh moves towards national election, inclusive and credible elections are key to ensuring long-term peace, strengthening democratic institutions and maintaining stability. The BALLOT Project is designed to strengthen the institutional capacity of the Bangladesh Election Commission (BEC), promote voter education and civic engagement, support legal and electoral reforms, and enhance safeguards against misinformation and electoral violence. With the BALLOT Project, the UN (UNDP, UNESCO, UN Women) is technically supporting Bangladesh in advancing democratic governance. This initiative is a platform for strengthening institutions, empowering voters, and building trust in the electoral process. 

UNESCO Dhaka is looking for a dynamic Project Lead to support its media and election component of BALLOT project to strengthen the integrity of electoral information. To address and mitigate hate speech and electoral violence, the support will include comprehensive training to journalists providing voters with information on the elections specifics including on gender-sensitive reporting, peace promotion, media and information literacy and electoral-related conflict-prevention and strengthening fact-checking mechanisms.

Long Description

The incumbent will work within the framework of UNESCO's global development agenda. UNESCO defends and promotes freedom of expression, media independence, and pluralism. At the heart of its constitutional mandate, UNESCO endeavours to improve mutual knowledge and understanding among people by championing 'the free flow of ideas through word and image’. UNESCO strives for gender equality in media and culture, fosters freedom of expression and particularly in advancing SDG 16.10. UNESCO stands out as the only UN agency dedicated to this purpose. Through capacity-building, policy advice, international cooperation, monitoring and foresight UNESCO empower member states and key actors with a view to ensuring fundamental freedoms and rights. UNESCO’s Communication and Information (CI) Sector works to uphold information as a public good, advancing universal access, digital inclusion and freedom of expression. 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 for sustainable change. It works towards creating inclusive knowledge societies. 

The work requires the regular provision of project management support to the BALLOT project in alignment with UNESCO’s global development agenda as well as support Head of the UNESCO Dhaka Office and CI team members (nationally and globally) in the planning, implementation and monitoring of project activities and priorities, which includes coordination, research and knowledge management, and exploring new activities and partnerships as guided by the UNESCO Dhaka Office. The work requires an awareness of the media sector and election dynamics in Bangladesh, government donor and partner dynamics, while providing coordination support in alignment with UNDP and BEC.  

The Project Lead will work under the Head of Office and the UNESCO representative to Bangladesh. The role involves close cooperation with the UNESCO Dhaka Office, particularly supervision by the Head of the CI sector, as well as collaboration with UNDP, UN Women and BEC.

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Project Lead will work towards the achievement of UNESCO’s objective to address issues related to freedom of expression, media and elections, and the safety of journalists, related to expected results and performance indicators.

Support the implementation of the ‘Media and Election’ component of the BALLOT project in its work on Freedom of Expression work in  support of free, plural and fair elections in times of disinformation, notably by: 

I. Strengthening democratic institutions and electoral integrity, by fostering freedom of expression, press freedom, and access to information in the context of the new digital era and enhancing understanding of the root causes, scale, and impact of potentially harmful content all along the electoral cycle and provide guidance and tools to address this challenge.

II. Curbing of the impact of potentially harmful content through electoral tailored responses designed to protect voters and the integrity and credibility of elections, through measures that detect, track, and counter disinformation that spreads throughout the electoral cycle.

III. Ensuring freedom of expression and access to information as well as the safety of journalists, and particularly women journalists, throughout electoral processes.

        In particular, the incumbent shall: 

1. Capacity Building and Training Leadership:

• Leading the design and implementation of comprehensive capacity-building programs for journalists, electoral management bodies, security forces (police) and civil society organisations on issues such as freedom of expression, peace promotion during elections, disinformation, access to information, Media and Information Literacy (MIL), media ethics, Conflict-Sensitive Reporting and Journalists' Safety and election reporting.
• Conducting advanced training sessions and workshops for professionals, providing expert guidance on countering disinformation and enhancing the quality of media coverage during elections.
• Organise and manage the missions to Bangladesh for International Experts and UNESCO headquarters colleagues to facilitate and contribute to the capacity-building initiatives.
• Providing technical advice and institutional capacities for electoral management bodies and NGOs on international standards on freedom of expression in relation to media and elections
• Production of training materials and advocacy tools, including videos, publications, newsletters, and brochures to support efforts aimed at enhancing awareness of electoral stakeholders ensuring they are tailored to diverse cultural contexts and languages.

 2. Media Literacy and Citizen Engagement:

• Developing innovative media literacy programs aimed at empowering citizens to critically assess information during elections and make informed decisions.
• Utilizing digital platforms and social media to engage the public in constructive dialogue and encourage civic participation in electoral processes.
• Deliver engaging Public information campaigns and media and information literacy (MIL) initiatives to strengthen voters' ability to think critically, with an emphasis on youth and first-time voters. The initiatives aim to tackle disinformation, misinformation, malinformation and hate speech all along the electoral cycle, and empower youth to protect themselves against digital risk
• Provide specialized media and information literacy training with a human rights focus freedom of expression and access to Information, enabling youth to proactively identify and counteract harmful narratives, navigate new technologies like Artificial Intelligence, combat mis- and disinformation related to elections and promote civic education.
• Supporting the development of a Toolkit for Security Forces on Freedom of Expression and the Safety of Journalists, and an Issue Brief on the role of security forces in public demonstrations, riots and election periods.
• Supporting fact-checking initiatives and networks at national and regional levels, in the context of the Section’s work on elections and media;
• Evaluating the impact of media literacy initiatives and recommending strategies for their continuous improvement.

3. Conflict-Sensitive Reporting and Journalists' Safety:

• Spearheading efforts, including dialogue with relevant stakeholders to enhance understanding on Freedom of expression, enhance safety measures for journalists operating in conflict-prone areas during electoral periods.
• Development of media guidelines for the BEC and standards for media owners and editors.
• Designing initiatives to raise awareness about the critical role of women journalists in elections and implementing measures to address gender-specific challenges they encounter.
• Collaborating with relevant authorities and international bodies to advocate for better protection and legal support for journalists facing threats and violence.
• Promote and explain UNESCO’s electoral support projects and support the in its interaction with donors

4. Coordination, Monitoring and Team Leadership:

• Coordinating the activities of multidisciplinary teams working on media and elections projects, ensuring efficient communication and collaboration.
• Providing mentorship and guidance to junior staff, fostering a supportive and empowering work environment.
• Facilitating knowledge-sharing within UNESCO and with external partners to strengthen collective expertise in media and elections.
• Coordinating project activities with UN agencies, electoral management bodies, audiovisual regulatory bodies, internet platforms, electoral observers and practitioners, media and civil society organisations and promoting transparency in the oversight of online content moderation and political advertisements;
• Liaising with internet platforms, electoral bodies and regulatory authorities to foster co-regulation
• Prepare timely work plans, budgets, reports and other documents for the management of electoral support projects in coordination with UN agencies as required  and ensure reports are provided to donors according to UN’s contractual obligations.
• Monitor the overall progress and performance of electoral support projects by ensuring proper planning, benchmarking and target setting
• Monitor and evaluate activities implemented by national and international consultants,  partners and vendors.
• Monitoring contemporary challenges of the internet age in the context of elections, such as internet shutdowns, targeted blocking of websites and/or webpages, and their impact on online news media; 

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EXCEPTED RESULTS

The following results and outputs are expected from the Project Lead role:

• Successful Project Management:
• • • Timely Completion: All assigned projects are completed on schedule, meeting established milestones and deliverables.
    • Effective Monitoring: Project and activities are regularly monitored, with any deviations or issues promptly addressed and reported to the supervisor.
    • Impactful Workshops and Events: Consultative and training workshops, discussion sessions, and related events are well-organized and effectively contribute to the goals of the CI interventions.
    • Partnerships Established: Strong partnerships are developed with UN agencies, development partners, and the private sector, enhancing resource mobilization efforts.

• Enhanced Visibility and Advocacy:
• Effective Communication Materials: High-quality speeches, briefs, highlights, and website materials are prepared, effectively promoting the CI sector of the UNESCO Dhaka through this BALLOT project.
• Increased Awareness: Successful implementation of advocacy strategies raises awareness of UNESCO’s freedom of expression mandate, leading to increased engagement and support.

• Support and Collaboration Effectiveness:

• Efficient Project Implementation: Effective support is provided for the implementation of CI projects and activities, contributing to the overall success of UNESCO Dhaka’s initiatives.
• Strong Team Collaboration: Productive collaboration with team members, stakeholders, and partners enhances project effectiveness and impact.

• Performance and Development:

• Regular Feedback Integration: Continuous improvement and development are demonstrated through active participation in feedback sessions and performance evaluations.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Academic Requirements (level of education, relevant major)

•  Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Media, Democracy, and Human Rights or Political Communication and Media or Media and Communication or Mass Communication and Journalism or International Communication and Law/Media Studies or Development Studies or similar discipline.  

General Professional Experience

• Minimum 5 years of working experience in the area of media development and communication, and journalism

Specific Professional Experience

• • Minimum 5 years of working experience in the field of journalism/media monitoring and criticism/and public interest
  • At least 5 years of experience in advocacy and policy engagement with government officials etc.
  • At least 5 years of experience in activities and/or projects that involved the understanding of managing, planning projects and mobilizing resources.
  • At least 4 years’ experience in applying techniques related to project development. 

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Previous experience working on elections 

KEY COMPETENCIES

• Good organisational and project management skills.
• Good sense of understanding critical negotiation with government officials and policy makers
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to draft and produce a variety of written material in a clear and concise manner.
• Ability to work effectively in a team and maintain good working relations within a multi-cultural environment.
• Teamwork, adaptability and commitment to assigned tasks.
• Excellent digital and visualization skills that are required for the workplace. 
• Good computer and IT skills as well as digital and visualization skills that are required at the workplace.
• Able to multitask under tight deadlines.
• Meticulous attention to detail.

Languages
•    Excellent knowledge of English and Bangla (oral and written).

APPLICATION PROCESS

Candidates should click on “Apply Now” and upload the following documents as a single PDF document in place of the Employment History Form. 

Before uploading the file, please order the documents in following order: 

• A cover letter indicating how your qualifications and experience make you suitable for the assignment.
• UNESCO Employment History Form
• CV (max. 3 page)

UNESCO’s salaries consist of a basic salary and other benefits which may include, if applicable: 2.5 days annual leave per month, 2 days certified sick leave etc.

Salary is negotiable between BDT 408,553 – 570,000 per month based on qualifications and expertise. This is including 15% social security with 10% representing Pension and 5% representing Medical.  

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

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UNESCO applies a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of harassment. Furthermore, UNESCO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups and indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality. 

UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.

Please note that UNESCO is a non-smoking Organization.