The Commission for International Justice and Accountability (CIJA) is seeking to contract an experienced communications expert/firm to assist the Resonant Voices campaign team with the design of the campaign strategy to reduce the risk of extremist radicalisation and violence and with the assessment of the campaign’s performance and impact. 

 The purpose of this Terms of Reference is to solicit competitive proposals for the consultancy advertised. 

 Background 

The Resonant Voices Initiative in the EU (RVI EU) is an online campaign intended to counter the radicalisation and polarisation among the Western Balkans diaspora communities living in the European Union. 

It is implemented by the Commission for International Justice and Accountability (CIJA), Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN), and Propulsion Fund (PF), as part of the Civil Society Empowerment Program under the EU Internet Forum, with funding from the European Union’s Internal Security Fund – Police. 

 Scope of Work 

The Resonant Voices campaign aims to counteract radicalising influences through the deployment of strategic communication. The main purpose of this consultancy is to assist the campaign team with the identification of entry points and the timing of intervention – based on both historical data and emerging trends; and to suggest strategies to steer the conversation away from the toxic and divisive to reduce the likelihood of further polarisation, radicalisation and violence. Using data collected through the lifecycle of the project by the RVI assessment team, the consultant will examine the effects the counternarrative campaign on the target audience and the impact on their vulnerability or resilience to extremist radicalisation and violence. 

Specific tasks, deliverables and timelines

1. Analyse baseline data collected in target communities by RVI assessment team – July 2019, 5 days 

2. Participate in RVI campaign retreat and provide input and feedback in the collaborative process of campaign strategy development (in Belgrade, tbc) – July/August 2019, 5 days 

3. Suggest metrics and data collection tools for monitoring the campaign’s performance and impact with the RVI assessment team – August 2019, 5 days 

4. Analyse pilot campaign’s performance and impact data and prepare written recommendations for the campaign design adjustments – November 2019, 10 days 

5. Analyse overall campaign’s performance and impact data and prepare written inputs for the project final evaluation report – September 2020, 10 days 

Terms and conditions 

This is a short-term assignment estimated at 35 working days over the period of 15 months in the period from July 2019 to September 2020. 

Skills and Qualification 

The proposals must demonstrate that the applicant possesses the following skills and experience (key selection criteria): 

● Experience conducting or advising communication campaigns aiming to reduce community tensions and the likelihood of violence; 

● Familiarity with issues, narratives, and dynamics of extremist radicalisation and violence in the Western Balkans and in the EU; 

● Experience working on campaigns related to the Western Balkans or the Western Balkans diaspora will be considered a distinct advantage; 

● Track record of applying innovative evidence-driven approaches to strategic communication. 

Applications 

All applications must include: 

1. Technical proposal not exceeding three pages describing the proposed approach, including an operational work plan with timelines; 

2. Itemised budget specifying anticipated personnel costs, travel and other direct costs; 

3. CV or CVs of key team members, including their responsibilities in the project; 

4. Examples of previous work (if publicly available); alternatively a short description of similar services performed in the past. 

Contact details: The applications should be submitted via email to hr@cijaus.org by 21 June 2019, midnight CET

All inquiries should be sent to the same address. 

Privacy notice 

The personal data contained in your application will be collected by Stichting “The Commission for International Justice and Accountability” (the “Controller”). Your personal data will be processed for the purposes of managing the Controller’s recruitment related activities, which includes but is not limited to setting up and conducting interviews (and, where applicable, tests for applicants), evaluating and assessing the results thereto, and other activities otherwise needed in the consultancy service procurement process. 

The Controller may collect a range of information about you. This includes: your name, address and contact details (including email address and telephone number), details of your qualifications, skills, experience and employment history, information about your current level of remuneration, whether or not you have a disability for which the organization needs to make reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, and information about your entitlement to work in specific countries. 

In addition, the Controller may also collect personal data about you from third parties, such as references supplied by former employers. The Controller will seek information from third parties only once a job offer to you has been made and will inform you that we are doing so. Data will be stored in a range of different places, including on your application record, in HR management systems and on other IT systems (including email). 

The Controller processes your personal data pursuant to several legal bases, depending on the type of data and purpose of the processing. Under most circumstances, the Controller’s processing of your personal data in the recruitment context is based on your request in the anticipation of entering into a consulting services agreement with the Controller. The Controller will also process this information where required to comply with legal obligations to which it is subject, such as governmental reporting obligations. In some circumstances, the Controller will process your personal data pursuant to its own legitimate interests in operating its business, including conducting the above described activities for internal administrative purposes and ensuring network and information security. A different legal basis may be provided at the point where your personal data is collected. 

If your selection as a service provider is unsuccessful, the Controller will, whenever necessary and subject to any statutory or audit requirements, delete and/or anonymize your data that is no longer needed. If your selection as a service provider is successful, personal data gathered during the recruitment process will be transferred to an HR file (electronic and paper based) and retained during your contract period with the Controller. 

Your information may be shared internally within the organization for the purposes of the service procurement process. This includes members of the HR team, interviewers and other consultants or officers of the Controller that are otherwise involved in the recruitment process. The Controller will not share your data with third parties, unless your services are retained and an offer of contract is made. 

Under the GDPR, you have the right to request access to your personal data, to request that your personal data be rectified or erased, and to request that processing of your personal data be restricted. You also have the right to data portability. In addition, you may lodge a complaint with an EU supervisory authority. 

You can contact the Controller’s HR contact person at hpm@cijaonline.org for more information or concerns.