Background:

Gender-based violence (GBV) constitutes one of the most widespread human rights abuses and public health problems in the world today, with devastating long term consequences for victims’ physical and mental health. Similarly, this problem is increasingly becoming one of the most serious health and development challenges in Lesotho. For instance, research points out that GBV is one of the factors that lead to HIV as women and girls largely engage in risky sexual relationships because of unequal gender relations inherent in our society. In most cases, it is these unequal power relations which give rise to physical and other forms of violence perpetrated against women and girls. It is against this background that UNFPA and UNDP have developed a joint project known as Measures to Counteract Violence Against Women to support the Government of Lesotho in its efforts to prevent and manage GBV. The project is implemented through the Ministry of Gender and Youth Sports and Recreation.

Since violence against women presents particular challenges to all walks of life, and having realized the importance of media in informing and changing people's perceptions on a variety of issues, the project identified media as one of the most important stakeholders.  It is for this reason that the project intends to enhance the role of media in the gender sensitive reporting.  In particular, the project aims at working closely with the media to ensure that GBV cases are reported accurately with the sensitivity they deserve in order to inform the public while at the same time protecting the fundamental human rights of the survivors.

While the project recognizes and respects the ability and credibility of the media fraternity in reporting accurately, there is still a need to enhance the capacity of media in gender sensitive reporting. As a result, a rapid assessment will be conducted with the purpose to determine the capacity of the media in gender sensitive reporting, with the following specific objectives:

• Assess the socio-economic, political, cultural and legal environment and context within which media practitioners operate
• Conduct a Capacity Assessment of media houses operating in the Lesotho in terms of those that have been exposed to training on gender and / or gender mainstreaming and related concepts
• Based on the Capacity Assessment, in collaboration with the media and partners, identify and develop  realistic, feasible and time-bound  Capacity Development Strategy(ies) that can be implemented to strengthen the capacity of the media on gender sensitive reporting in Lesotho
• Present and Document Lessons Learned during the course of undertaking the assignment

Description of Responsibilities:

1. Undertake skills assessment on gender issues among media practitioners to determine the current capacity, related needs, gaps (weaknesses) and issues in gender sensitive reporting
2. Map out media houses to collect appropriate information for the development and implementation of an appropriate training needs assessment
3. Identify media personnel who have been trained on gender issues
4. Identify Media houses that have gender desks or of gender reporters, gender policies or plans to inform their media work
5. Prepare and submit findings with recommendations to strengthen gender sensitive reporting in Lesotho

 Methodology and Approach of Work:

• Facilitate the active engagement of media houses and their personnel in the assessment
• Adopt a combination of participatory tools and methodologies (e.g. desk research, self-assessment, SWOT, to promote participation and buy-in
• Coordinate and work closely with the Ministry of Gender and Youth, Sports and Recreation, UNDP  and UNFPA throughout the entire capacity assessment process

Qualifications:

Advanced university degree in Journalism and/or media studies, mass Communication, or any relevant field.

Required Skills and Competencies:

• Knowledge and understanding of gender issues in the context of the media
• Demonstrable, excellent data collection, analysis and report writing skills
• Fluency in spoken and written English
• Excellent writing and communication skills
• Good interpersonal skills
• Experience working with the media and other related stakeholders
• Expertise and experience in institutional assessments

Deadline for receipt of application:  10 November, 2010

All applications should include a comprehensive CV / profile with names and contact details of three referees. Please clearly mark your application “A Rapid Gender Capacity Assessment for the Media” and send it to registry.ls@undp.org. OR hand deliver to:

UNDP, 3^rd Floor UN House,

United Nations Road

Maseru, Lesotho

• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.