Senior Consultant

Job Description

Title: Senior Consultant

Company Name: ARTICLE 19, Bangladesh South Asia

Vacancy: Not specific

Job Location: Anywhere in Bangladesh

Employment Status: Contractual

Educational Requirements:
∎ An advanced university degree (preferably MA) in development studies and other related social sciences

Experience Requirements:
∎ 5 to 10 year(s)

Job Context:
∎ ARTICLE19 Bangladesh and South Asia, is a British human rights organization with a specific mandate and focus on the defense and promotion of freedom of expression and freedom of information worldwide and having its South Asia Regional Office based in Dhaka, Bangladesh, is seeking a senior consultant to provide the conceptual and technical assistance to the Regional Director in developing new project proposals, including Logical Framework Analysis, Budget development together with program and finance team and Risk Management Plan to secure new funding to carry out activities with respect to Freedom of Expression (FoE) and Right to Information (RTI) both in Bangladesh, South Asia regional and global inter-regional levels.
∎ Background: As any other countries in the world, Bangladesh is also going through a critical period due to Covid-19 pandemic. This unprecedented context has posed new crises and challenges to freedom of expression and the right to information in the socio-economic and political perspective of Bangladesh, South Asia and around the world. Conversely, it has created additional responsibilities for ARTICLE 19, as a leading organization in the concerned area, to make timely contributions/interventions through various programs/activities in response.
∎ The Overall Purpose of the Consultancy: The consultant will work closely with the Regional Director to provide strategic direction to ensure business development and proper documentation in a sustainable manner and respond to emergencies effectively in coordination with the respective technical resource persons of the team.
∎ The consultant will take the lead in developing a) required number of compelling, evidence-based concept notes in accordance with request for proposal guidelines for submission to the concerned funders; and - if the concept notes are selected, b) full proposals.
∎ The consultant will bring to the project design process her/his previous experience from developing and writing successful integrated, multi-sectoral, proposals involving several stakeholders for institutional funders. It is desirable that the consultant also brings a good understanding of issues relating to FoE, RTI, and media freedom, safety of journalists, digital rights, civic space, gender, law and policy, transparency, livelihoods, and/or protection sectors and over all human rights sector.
∎ will require scoping, reviewing, analyzing, and integrating existing plans/strategy (XPA, SAS TOPs 20202021) projects, and areas of expertise within ARTICLE 19, as well as additional technical/research areas (to be determined).
∎ The consultant will explore the range of options for building capacities of journalists, social media communicators, marginalized groups and minorities in accordance with the local needs/demands following the standards set by UN/international bodies that Bangladesh government are committed to comply with. This will include consideration of the risks and vulnerabilities of target communities/groups and analysis of the current gaps of relevant stakeholders to ensure that the projects address unmet needs.
∎ Duration: Up to December 31, 2020 with possibility of extension

Job Responsibilities:
∎ Scope of Work/Specific tasks/responsibilities to be performed: The individual consultant will consider the following issues:
∎ Work closely with the Regional Director and programme team to develop proposals based on ARTICLE 19's goals and strategies;
∎ Review relevant literature and documents for the preparation and identify information gaps blocking proposals completion and secure the necessary information to complete;
∎ Develop project proposals to produce a cohesive, credible and coordinated set of activities according to the XPA, TOPs 2020/2021 and other strategies;
∎ Define the implementation framework and preparation arrangements including the technical coordination of each component/activity as appropriate;
∎ Define the project activities under each component incorporating all technical comments as they arise;
∎ Define the baseline and targets, and monitoring mechanisms for indicators, referring to the data/information gathered.
∎ Based on the information/input gathered from potential institutional funders (Embassies/DPs/UN bodies), design projects, including logical framework, budget, and narrative concept note and proposal funding application, as well as Risk Management Plan
∎ Provide the Regional Director with draft copies of the proposal before final proposal/s is/are submitted.
∎ Expected Deliverables: The principal delivery of this consultancy will be determined by mutual negotiation between the Regional Director and the Consultant. The deliverables may be at least a finalized proposal with a work plan, LFA, Risk Management Plan, Budget.
∎ Other deliverables may include:
∎ An inception report, inclusive of a detailed work plan for the consultancy, at the start of the contract period;
∎ An implementation framework or Project Operational Manual;
∎ Develop business case; i.e. narrative concept note;
∎ Prepare Logical framework matrix as per donor requirement;
∎ Proposal funding applications; and
∎ Final presentation of project to ARTICLE 19 team
∎ Translate the approved proposal in to a Project Implementation Plan with deadline, milestones, assigned team members in consultation with the team;
∎ Provide advise and technical assistance to the team in developing FD6 and other required documentations as per the compliance obligations of the government.
∎ Note: The above-mentioned tasks to be performed are intended as a guide and should not be viewed as an inflexible specification as it may be modified following discussion with the selected consultant.

Additional Requirements:
∎ Proven success history on monitoring and evaluation skills. Knowledge in social sciences, governance, NGO management. media system, UN function, rights and, humanitarian affairs, political science, Information Technology and Information Systems.
∎ Minimum of 5-10 years' experience in proposal development, execution and/or management in FoE, RTI, protection of Human Rights Defenders and/or program development in Bangladesh and South Asia region.
∎ Strong Programme/Project design skills, including capacity to prepare logical, coherent, and consistent documents including log frames and budgets.
∎ Familiarity with requirements of the key funder partners including FCO, DFID, DFATD, the EU and others.
∎ Prior demonstrated experience of developing proposals for institutional funders, in particular those funding FoE and RTI programs.
∎ Clear knowledge of Results Based Management, gender and Do no Harm principles.
∎ Ability to integrate different experiences, methodologies, and approaches from a diverse range of stakeholders, organizations, and technical experts from multiple sectors.
∎ Flexibility to adapt to any subsequent changes in the terms of reference.
∎ Excellent English speaking/writing skills required.
∎ Must be a team player with ability to work individually without intensive supervision.

Salary:
∎ Negotiable, based on skills, experience and previous fees received from other agencies.

Application Deadline: June 15, 2020

Company Information:
∎ ARTICLE 19, Bangladesh & South Asia

Category: NGO/Development