TERMS OF REFERENCE-Consultant
Consultancy to develop a Protection Policy for Media Houses

About Us

Established in 1987, ARTICLE 19 works for a world where all people everywhere can freely express themselves and actively engage in public life without fear or discrimination. Our mission is to promote and defend the universal human rights of freedom of expression and information around the world, through international advocacy and legal analysis, and regional and national projects.

ARTICLE 19 is a global organisation, with a strong presence in the Global South, recruiting local staff and establishing strong and operationally autonomous national and regional offices. These offices have helped the organisation strengthen relationships with civil society, better understand regional and national challenges, and respond more swiftly to opportunities and crises. 

The Bangladesh and South Asia Regional Office of ARTICLE 19 is located in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Its International Office is located in London.

Project Summary

“Journalists with enhanced safety and security-JESS” is a 2-year project funded by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) to ensure the protection and safety of journalists, especially women journalists from both external and internal threats, harassment, abuse, and other forms of violence in Bangladesh. This project mainly addresses the safety of journalists to prevent discrimination, online-offline harassment, bullying, sexual harassment in media houses, and external threats. The JESS project also focuses on strengthening protection protocols and safety mechanisms in media houses ensuring safety of journalists. Firstly, -bolster the resilience of journalists, especially women and marginalized journalists. Secondly, make media houses safer workplaces and increase their protection mechanism for journalists to mitigate external threats. Thirdly, advocate with the Government of Bangladesh to comply with its responsibility of upholding the safety of journalists and media freedom.

Objective of the Consultancy

• To develop a protection policy with safety mechanisms for 5 media houses in line with International Human Rights standard. The policy will include a legal protection provision in the case of legal actions brought against journalists or physical injuries incurred while on the job.
• The protection policy will aim to address the external and internal threats to journalists and assist media houses to make their workplace safer.
• The protection policy is to include key recommendations for risk factors to be mitigated, and how to achieve a sustainable process for protection policies.
• The consultant is to provide guidance on how the protection policies will ensure safety in media houses and how this should be executed actively in a non-hierarchy, non-bias and non-patriarchy approach.

Scope of Work and deliverables

• The consultant is to deliver a Protection Policy which is in line with International Human Rights standards on safety of journalists including legal protection provision and indemnity policy in any case of legal actions.
• The consultant is to participate in meeting and discussions related to the development of protection policies.
• The consultant will provide technical support and advice to assist the selected media houses in developing their own redressal and safety system.
• The consultant is to develop a protocol that will include a set of key recommendations for the work of journalists that ensures the protection of journalists with Intersectional and gender lens, which should include:
• By type of protection action, Risk assessment and management, safety measurements, female journalists’ protection, safeguarding training etc.
• Protection support (material, financial, legal, emergency support), National protection mechanisms, Legal and policy impact and development, Advocacy.

The scope of work will be undertaken under the supervision the JESS project focal point in ARTICLE 19 Bangladesh and South Asia.

Deliverables:

• A work plan including proposed methodology for the delivery of the consultancy, at the beginning of the project.
• Working with media houses, the consultant is expected to develop a comprehensive protection policy document.   This document shall include the guidelines for physical safety, digital safety, risk assessment, emergency response mechanism, safeguarding reporting mechanism other relevant aspects.
• Part of this policy should be a protocol to register, measure, classify and recommend action for every incident.
• The consultant is required to design a safety mechanism framework which will provide a structured approach to implementing the protection policy. This framework can also include the procedure for training, awareness campaigns, safeguarding reporting channel and support system for journalists.
• The consultant is required to work with 5 media houses so they develop a redressal system which allows journalists to report safety concern, incidents and violations.
• The consultant is to report to the JESS Project Lead in ARTICLE 19 and with the JESS project team as appropriate.
  

Communication:

• The consultant is expected to work in close collaboration with the relevant teams with regards to the development of the protection policy and protocol and with the relevant media houses.
• The consultant is expected to hold meetings as necessary with the ARTICLE 19 team and media house.
• The consultant is to send periodical written progress report (Monthly) to the Senior Program Officer and take comments and feedbacks from JESS team.

Duration

This contract shall commence on 15st December 2023 and shall expire on the satisfactory completion of the services described above, but not later than April 2024 unless sooner terminated under the terms of this contract or unless agreed by both parties to the contract. (The consultant will work an average of 25 working days during the consultancy period).

Consultant’s requirements from ARTICLE 19


ARTICLE 19 will provide the following support to the consultant during the assignment period:

• Provide relevant information and documents to complete the assignment to the consultant (as needed).
• Hold meetings every two weeks for discussion of consultancy progress and receive feedback.
• The consultant will work independently to complete the assignment and in complying with the period and the above-mentioned scope of works.
• The consultant will share the plan of action, developments, reports and reviews as consultancy work progresses and will receive feedback and guidance as appropriate.
• Outputs and drafts will be reviewed with verbal and written comments and guidance that will be expected to be addressed and incorporated into various drafts of outputs including the final deliverables.

Timeline:
Total 25 working days from 20th December 2023 to 30th April 2024.

Consultancy Fees:

A consultancy fee of not exceeding BDT 4,25,000 (In word: Taka Four lakh twenty-five thousand, including all VAT and Tax) for this assignment during contract period will be payable to the selected consultant. The deliverables must be collated with the invoices before collecting the final payments.

Payment Procedure:

As full consideration for the services performed by the consultant under the terms of this agreement ARTICLE 19 shall pay the fee stated in the consultant invoices, upon certification that the services have been performed properly and that the deliverables have been approved by ARTICLE 19. VAT and TAX will be deducted at source as per government policy.

Payment will be made through A/C Payee cheque/ EFT within 15 (fifteen) working days upon satisfactorily services received/completion of work and submission of invoice collated with relevant documents. The report and all documents will be in English.

Payment Mode:
First payment – 10%, after signing of the consultancy contract and submission of a work plan
2nd payment – 20% - development and submission of  the draft for the delivery of the consultancy
3rd payment – 10% Satisfactory completion of a comprehensive protection policy document that outlines the measure and protocols to ensure the safety of journalists
4rd payment – 20% - satisfactory completion of 5 meetings with media houses through ARTICLE19 on sharing the adaptation process of this policy in media houses.
5th payment – 10% satisfactory submission of progress report on adaptation processes by media houses.
6th and final payment – balance 30%, after submission of final work reports

Requirements
Education and Experience:

• This consultancy is offered to the Bangladesh nationals only. The consultancy firms interested in sending proposals must be registered under the regulations of the Government of Bangladesh.
• An advanced university degree in Media and Journalism, (preferably at Master’s level) Mass/Media Communication, Law, or other related social sciences’ subject
• Extensive knowledge and proven work experience working on policy development and safety mechanisms
• Extensive experience working in media houses, preferably as a journalist
• Having comprehensive knowledge of issues related to journalist’s safety in the context of Bangladesh
• Excellent Bangla and English writing skills. The deliverables will be presented in English and Bangla.

Knowledge

• The candidate requires to have extensive knowledge on the Bangladesh cultural context, international human rights standards in context with on freedom of expression, protection of journalists – especially female journalists, international human rights mechanisms,  transparency and accountability
• Knowledge and/or experience working with human rights organizations.

Language Skills

• Fluent in English both in writing and verbal communication.
• Ability to write contents (both in Bangla and English) for communication materials and tools.

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to work effectively under pressure, and to respond positively to challenges and time pressures.
• Commitment to excellence and attention to detail.
• Attitude and practice towards diversity.

Other Requirements

• Experience of working in a multi-cultural environment and a commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity for all.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Willingness to work outside normal working hours including weekends and evenings when necessary.

Confidentiality, Data Protection and Policies

• Any document, data or information entrusted to or produced by the consultant in connection with this assignment shall be strictly confidential and cannot be used by the consultant for any other purpose. This provision shall remain valid even after the completion of the assignment.
• Other terms and conditions will be governed by the policies of ARTICLE 19 Bangladesh and South Asia Regional Office as stated time to time.

How to Apply

Persons/firms wishing to be considered for this consultancy are invited to submit:

• technical and financial proposal along with a cover letter
• resume/portfolio stating relevant working experience, and qualifications
• a two pager of your understanding of the assignment requirements
• copy of a previous relevant consultancy report (it can be anonymised) for ARTICLE 19 selection committee to assess the quality and depth of the applicants reports. (if any)
• consultancy firms must submit the relevant legal entitlements, such as copy of trade license, copy of BIN certificate or VAT registration and TIN Certificate.

Please submit all documents to the email address below;

“jannatulferdous@article19.org” by 5 PM Bangladesh time by 15^th December 2023. Please mention “Consultant to develop a Protection Policy & Safety Mechanisms for Media Houses” in the Email Subject line.

Recruitment Policy

ARTICLE 19 is striving to be an equal opportunities employer. This policy aims to ensure that no job applicant or employee receives less favorable treatment on grounds such as race, colour, ethnic or national origins, religion, sex or gender identity, marital status, age, disability, or health status, sexual orientation or is disadvantaged by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justified. We actively encourage applications from all sections of the community.

More Information

Due to limited resources and high volume of applications, only short-listed candidates will be contacted and any kind of lobbying or personal contact over phone call is discouraged.