UNESCO is looking for Project Lead, Media and Election 2025 in Dhaka

UNESCO is looking for Project Lead, Media and Election 2025 in Dhaka

Job Responsibilities:

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 about 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.

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.

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.

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.