You are here

International Consultant

UNFPA International consultant-building capacities of grass-roots leaders to use theater-based education (TBE)-2 positions

8 Novembar 2016
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
Apply now

Location: BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Application Deadline: 09-Nov-16 (Midnight New York, USA)
Type of Contract : Individual Contract
Post Level : International Consultant
Languages Required: English 
Duration of Initial Contract: 18 working days for each trainer, during November 2016 – March 2017

Background

The International consultant will work towards building capacities of grass-roots leaders to use theater-based education (TBE) in their work on raising community awareness on the sensitive issues of marginalized communities.

UNFPA and UNICEF envision hiring a team of two international consultants to develop and deliver a training program for building up BiH capacities in utilizing theatre-based education in dealing with seemingly controversial, but fundamental issues for local communities. This ToR describes the role of each consultant, as they are expected to work in parallel, with the same expected outputs.

Process will entail an approach in three phases – developing the training programme; delivering the capacitation trainings for grass-roots leaders, enabling them to replicate TBE skills within their own communities and/or organizations; and finally, supervising grass-roots implementation of TBE at the local levels.

Through the project implementation the consultant will be setting the grounds for a wider initiative that targets sensitive issues of marginalized communities - Sensitive issues include: sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), gender equality (special focus on survivors of conflict related sexual violence), , and the rights of girls and boys to be protected from all forms of violence and other sensitive topics.

The Consultant is the one that controls the play and directs it to overall objective and he/she will be in the role of facilitator. He/she is the one most responsible for drawing the learning point throughout the process. Just like the conductor is aware of every little detail in musical score for various instruments and controls “the flow” the facilitator is the one that watches the group and needs to know everything about the issue. It’s very important for that person to be present also in the moment where actors are receiving inputs from the audience during forum break. The facilitator watches over time and gives airtime to speakers and also reviews new objectives for actors after each forum break. Usually 3 to 4 actors are present on the stage together with facilitator.

Duties and Responsibilities

There is no story and no forum without an issue! It can be something that bothers your own community, your group, your own organization or even yourself. Through forum theatre we can influence decision makers and find out what people really think. It is an effective way to initiate discussion even between subjects that need a little push. Furthermore, we can give voice to those who have none or to those who need a safe environment.

Reproductive health and rights (SRHR), gender equality (with special focus on survivors of conflict related sexual violence), and rights of girls and boys to be protected from all forms of violence and other sensitive topics are often overlooked and treated as marginal due to the attached perception of controversy surrounding them. However, this perception does not change the importance of accessing these rights, especially for adolescents and youth. Even though seemingly modernizing, our society is facing a continuous re-traditionalization of societal norms, behavior patterns and attitudes which results in new generations of young people with whom additional efforts, time and resources are needed for empowerment in order for them to demand and access their basic human rights, including protection from harmful practices, such as violence and early marriage, basic access to youth friendly SRH services and others. This is particularly needed for key populations and those most vulnerable in the society, including Roma. With that in mind, additional work is needed in bringing down the prejudice through open dialogue and a constructive deliberation on what should be essentially basic, mundane, everyday issues.

In parallel, issues of conflict related sexual violence have far reaching, long-term consequences for survivors, their families and entire communities due to trans-generational transfer of trauma and associated stigma. The research on stigmatization of conflict-related sexual violence survivors showed that survivors face multiple levels of discrimination, exclusion and separation from the community. This stigma is so consistent, pervasive and durable with an often end-state of survivors internalizing it, ultimately resulting in their total self-exclusion from the communities.  There can be no improvement in survivors’ position in the society if they themselves are resigned to their position and unwilling to demand change. Moreover, research showed that psychosocial support is listed as the number one need and priority for the survivors in their efforts to heal and reclaim their lives.

This situation clearly points towards the need for public discussions on stigma, prejudices and discrimination survivors are facing in their everyday lives, coming from different sides – community, friends, acquaintances, even family. What is important to keep in mind is that often times all these attitudes come from a place of ignorance, lack of information or complete obliviousness for sensitivities of extremely marginalized groups – and this is something that can be addressed. The solution is not easy, but is relatively simple in its construct.

 

Specific Objectives:

  • Build the capacities and skills of participants in using theater based peer education to bring awareness on the issues of interest;

  • Propose ways of ensuring sustainability of forum theater education in Bosnia and Herzegovina on the topics of interest;

  • Facilitate the development of individuals/activists providing high quality TBE training and assistance;

  • Understand the basic problems within sexual and reproductive health and rights; protection of adolescents from all forms of violence and early marriage;  Gender equality and stigma associated with a status of survivor of violence and design ways to address them through theatre-based approaches;

  • Use and engage TBE techniques in addressing issues related to above mentioned topics;

  • Ensure further knowledge transfer and replicability of the concept by participants within their own communities.

 

Activities and outputs:

In simple terms, the envisioned process looks like this:

  • TBE program is developed, including all the learning tools and materials to be deployed at the training;

  • Participants are trained, empowered and educated on how to create their own forum-theatre plays in their local communities, while working and directly including youth in the delivery;

  • Mentoring participants during the three-month long (January – March 2017) period after the training, while they are designing their own theatre-plays to be implemented with youth volunteers they would be mobilizing in their communities. All participants of the training undertake responsibility to conduct theatre-based education activities in their communities with the support from UNFPA and UNICEF.

Programmatically, we envision the following steps:

  • Preparing all the necessary learning tools and materials for a successful training program. This entails developing a multi-module training sessions (each module would be delivered in the course of up to three days), with detailed methodological overview, guidance, including agenda for each training session, handouts and other learning materials. Apart from the technical elements, this section will also see basic information on sensitive issues such as sexual and reproductive health and rights; child marriages; all forms of violence against children, gender based violence and stigma associated with all these issues. This will serve as a thorough orientation tools for anyone taking part in this process and training programme.

  • Conducting a training of 15-20 participants on Theatre Based Education techniques. To ensure capacity building and sustainability of the Theatre Based Peer Education for marginalized communities, we will target grass-roots leaders from local communities across the country, as well as theatre institutions/organizations willing or currently engaged in educational projects. Selected participants are expected to work together and to get further involved in the upcoming project activities and be able to transmit the knowledge gained with the marginalized community. This section practically covers delivering all the training- sessions for 20 participants where they will learn and do the following:

Methodological and technical ways of using forum-based theatre in addressing sensitive local community issues (how to transform an issue into a low-scale theatre play, and how to use it as a platform for localized dialogue);

More in-depth understanding on the pressing issues mention above, as means of ensuring that they are being approached at the right angle using theatre-based education (we would strive to avoid controversy for the sake of publicity; mainstreaming the do-no-harm approach);

Support each participant in developing at least two theatre-based education sessions (2 forum-theatre plays), to be at the later stage implemented in their respective local communities.

  • Facilitating and Improving the Theatre Performance created on sensitive issues. As participants are expected to develop their own forum-theatre plays in the previous phase (2 per each), consultant will mentor them during the implementation of the plays (strategic and technical advice, suggestions for improvement and professional feedback). Participants will be responsible to form their own youth-volunteer teams in order to conduct plays successfully with support from UNFPA and UNICEF, based on the scripts they developed during the training. UNFPA and UNICEF monitor and evaluate performance prior to issuance of the training certificate.

Place: Country mission including home based delivery;

Duration: 18 working days for each trainer, during November 2016 – March 2017

Field mission in BiH and home based facilitation.

Phase I – development of training methodology + conducting of trainings: November – December 2016

Phase II – mentoring of trainees in their local community efforts: January – March 2017

Submitted, electronically, final report by end of March 2016;

In terms of reporting and progress control, consultant’s work will be continuously evaluated after each closed phase, and approved prior to commencing the next one.

Competencies

  • Conceptual and strategic analytical capacities;

  • Cultural sensitive, strong interpersonal and communication skills.

Required Skills and Experience

  • Post-graduate degree in social studies (psychology, social work or similar), medical studies (psychiatry) or performing arts;

  • Minimum of 5  years of professional experience working with national or international organizations active in the field of prevention of gender based violence, sexual and reproductive health and rights;

  • Minimum of 10 years of experience with psychosocial support services, initiatives and programs;

  • Thorough and proven track record in dealing with theatre-based learning, healing and psychosocial support (psycho-drama);

  • Proven track record in delivering capacitation trainings within above mentioned areas;

  • Excellent skills in English and local languages;

  • Proficiency in current office software applications

UNFPA will provide the consultant with all the data collected in additional field-work. Additionally, any other relevant document available to UNFPA will be shared with the consultant.

The contract terms will include the following

  • The contractor must observe UN Minimum Operational Security Standards (MOSS) as communicated by the United Nations for the location(s) visited;

  • Be willing to travel around Bosnia and Herzegovina;

  • Where the contractor fails to deliver the required quality of products, the rate payable will be reduced. UNFPA reserves the right to assess the quality of products. Contractor has obligation to finalise products/documents to the full UNFPA satisfaction;

  • Payment for contractor will not exceed average UNFPA rates for international consultants.