National Consultant on Media and Information Literacy (MIL) and Countering Hate Speech

Job Posting Organization:
UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, was established in 1945 with the mission to contribute to peace and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security by promoting international collaboration through educational, scientific, and cultural reforms. The organization operates in over 190 countries and has a workforce of approximately 2,000 employees. UNESCO's core values include commitment to the organization, integrity, respect for diversity, and professionalism. The Sudan office is focused on implementing projects that support humanitarian efforts and community resilience, particularly in crisis-affected areas.

Job Overview:
The National Consultant on Media and Information Literacy (MIL) and Countering Hate Speech will play a crucial role in the project titled 'Humanitarian Support through Job Creation for Youth and Communities in Crisis-Affected Sudan.' This project aims to enhance the resilience and employability of youth through skills development and community engagement. The consultant will be responsible for designing and facilitating an interactive training course in Arabic that integrates Media and Information Literacy and Countering Hate Speech into the project's capacity-building activities. The training will equip youth with essential skills to recognize and respond to hate speech and misinformation, fostering critical thinking and responsible digital citizenship. The consultant will utilize UNESCO's Facticity educational board game as a key experiential learning tool, ensuring that participants gain both theoretical knowledge and practical competencies through engaging methodologies.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will undertake several key responsibilities, including:

• Course Design: Develop a comprehensive Arabic-language training syllabus based on UNESCO's guidelines, covering topics such as Media and Information Literacy, the impact of hate speech, recognizing misinformation, responsible online engagement, and humanitarian communication.
• Training Delivery: Facilitate 10 interactive training sessions for 250 youth, ensuring each session includes introductory lectures, gameplay of the Facticity Board Game, group discussions, and reflection exercises.
• Interactive Learning Methodology: Employ participatory learning techniques to enhance engagement and retention of knowledge among participants.
• Assessment and Reporting: Design assessment tools, collect feedback, document learning outcomes, and produce a comprehensive report summarizing the training's effectiveness and participant reflections.
• Collaboration: Work closely with the Head of UNESCO Office in Sudan and the Communication and Information Programme Specialist to align training objectives with project goals.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in Media, Journalism, Communication, Education, Social Sciences, or a related field. Additionally, a minimum of 5 years of demonstrated experience in designing and delivering training programs is required. Proven expertise in Media and Information Literacy, Countering Hate Speech, digital literacy, and youth engagement is essential. Candidates should also have experience in facilitating participatory learning methodologies and familiarity with UNESCO's Media and Information Literacy framework. Excellent facilitation skills are a must.

Educational Background:
The position requires an advanced university degree in relevant fields such as Media, Journalism, Communication, Education, or Social Sciences. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of media literacy and the societal impacts of hate speech, as well as for developing effective training materials and methodologies.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience, particularly in designing and delivering training programs focused on Media and Information Literacy and Countering Hate Speech. Experience in facilitating participatory learning methodologies is highly valued, as is familiarity with UNESCO's frameworks and guidelines. Proven expertise in engaging youth and promoting digital literacy is also essential for this role.

Languages:
Fluency in written and spoken Arabic is mandatory, as the training will be conducted in Arabic. A good command of English is also required, as it may be necessary for communication with international stakeholders and for accessing relevant resources and literature.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is a short-term contract lasting approximately 1 month, with the expectation that the consultant will deliver training sessions on-site in Khartoum. The position is open to external candidates, and the application process requires submission of a CV and a statement of qualifications. The selection process may include interviews and assessments, and candidates will be informed of the outcome of their applications. This role is critical for enhancing the capacity of youth in Sudan to engage with media responsibly and to counter hate speech effectively.