Song Writer/Producer

Song Writer/Producer for the MDG-F Culture and Development Programme

Organization: UN Women
Type of Contract: SSA Contract
Level: Consultant
Number of vacant posts: 1
Starting date: November 30, 2011
Application deadline: November 20, 2011
Contract duration: 3 months
Duty station: Jerusalem and Ramallah
Languages Required: Arabic and English

Background
As part of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and within the framework of the MDG-F Joint Programme (JP) on Culture and Development in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), visibility of the MDGs and the JP objectives are necessary elements for promoting the JP’s objectives and attaining the its expected results. The JP on Culture and Development aims to promote Palestinian cultural diversity as a means to foster social cohesion and economic growth by providing Palestinians institutions, organizations and professionals concerned with the skills and tools necessary to better understand, access, enjoy, protect and profitably manage their rich and diverse cultural heritage. This Program is a joint initiative between the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO); and Palestinian Authority institutions, in particular the Ministry of Planning (MoP), the Ministry of Culture (MoC), the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (MoTA), the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), the Ministry of Women’s Affairs (MoWA), Ministry of Local Government (MoLG), Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE) and the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MoYS); as well as local authorities, community based organisations, universities and research institutes, private sector and civil society at large.
The Joint Programme (JP) is framed in the context of UN’s normative principles, as underscored by the September 2000 Millennium Declaration1, the 1995 UNESCO Report of the World Commission on Culture and Development (Our Creative Diversity), the 1998 Stockholm Conference on Cultural Policies for Development, and the 2004 UNDP Human Development Report, and relevant UNESCO conventions such as: the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, and the 1972 Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.
This activity aims to support the creation of innovative and gender sensitive media products fostering the role of social cohesion and disseminating the inclusive economic opportunities entrenched in cultural diversity. The Global Platform for Action, adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women (Beijing, 1995) requests Governments and other actors to mainstream a gender perspective into all policies and programmes, so that, before decisions are taken, analysis is made on the effects on women and men respectively. For the purpose of ensuring that the JP will contribute to promote equality between women and men, all the activities planned will consider Gender impact assessment at all stages of the implementation as a tool for realising the Beijing 1995 recommendations.
The UN Women office in the oPt as part of the MDG-F Culture and Development Joint Programme Media Action Plan will launch a song designed as an innovative advocacy initiative, through the production, promotion and wide dissemination of a brand-new song with a renowned Palestinian band. The song will be an exclusive collaboration between UN Women and the Palestinian band and will be used as background music for two video spots being produced for the JP.


Duties and Responsibilities
Within this framework, and under its supervision, UN Women wishes to enter into a contract with a song writer/producer, for the production and editing of a high quality song. The below are to be carried out under the direct supervision of the MDG Culture and Development Program Manager and in direct coordination with the JP Media Consultant and Program Media Committee:
-Develop a work plan for the writing, production and editing of the song;
-Development with a band the song script and concept, and receive approval from UN Women;
-Development with a band and the HD Vision contact person implementing the video spots, background music based on the song rhythm and music, and receive approval from UN Women;
-Based on the above mentioned script and concept, production (including hiring and management of professional song recording crew and equipment) and audio editing, including special effects of a 3-5 minutes song, and receive approval from UN Women;
-Provide UN Women with still photographs of the recording process, for posters and publicity needs;
-Provide UN Women with one original master CD copy of the song and 20 additional copies.

In relation to the above mentioned work assignment:
-The MDG-F Culture and Development Program in the oPt, as the contracting party (through a UN Women contract), has full ownership and copyright of the song produced. The contracted company/individual will have no legal right to exhibit the song, fully or parts of it, following final approval and submission to UN Women (on behalf of the MDG-F Culture and Development Program);
-The MDG-F Culture and Development Programme has the right to compile parts of the song for the purpose of any of its activities;
-The MDG-F Culture and Development Programme has the full right and authority to use still photographs of the recording process for posters and publicity needs.
Conditions to the financial contribution of UN Women to the music video are set in the SSA contract related to these Terms of Reference.

Timeframe: 3 months.
Song contents:
-The key messages and objectives of the JP (such as women’s economic empowerment)
-Promoting the beauty of Palestine including its nature, culture and tourism
-Palestine and the MDGs
-The partnership between the different UN agencies and the PA
-The expected outcomes of the JP (such as enhancing innovativeness in crafts and design, and promoting tourism)

Key Deliverables:
1)Work plan for the writing, production and editing of the song;
2)The final version approved by UN Women of a 3-5 song on one master CD and 20 CD copies;
3)Still photographs of the recording process, suitable for posters and publicity needs.

Competencies
Corporate Competencies:
-Integrity: Demonstrating consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UN Women in actions and decisions, in line with the UN Code of Conduct;
-Cultural sensitivity/valuing diversity: Demonstrating an appreciation of the multicultural nature of the organization and the diversity of its staff. Demonstrating an international outlook, appreciating differences in values and learning from cultural diversity. Displaying cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
-Ethics and values: Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity;
-Working in teams: Acting as a team player and facilitating team work;
-Communicating information and ideas: Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively;
-Self-management and emotional intelligence: Creating synergies through self-control;
-Conflict management/negotiating and resolving disagreements;
-Knowledge sharing/continuous learning: Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others.

Functional Competencies:
-Excellent technical capacities to ensure high quality production;
-Demonstrated experience in song production (focus on cultural, social and economic matters a plus);
-Understanding of the Palestinian cultural context;
-Demonstrated strong coordination and facilitation skills;
-Strong communication skills in Arabic and English (oral and written);
-Results oriented, flexible and problem solving skills.

Specific Competencies:
-Excellent technical capacities to ensure smooth and high-quality production;
-Ability to meet deadlines;
-Able to work well under pressure and capable of coordinating multiple tasks at once;
-Excellent planning, management and organizational skills;
-Excellent communications skills.

Required Skills and Experience
Education:
Secondary education with specialized training in media production.

Experience and qualifications:
-Minimum of 5 years of experience in producing songs (focus on cultural, social and economic matters a plus);
-Proven experience in the production and development of gender-sensitive songs;
-Ability to interact with governmental institutions, UN agencies and civil society;
-Excellent interpersonal skills and organizational proficiency;
-Previous experience in working with hip-hop bands a plus.

Language(s) required:
-Fluent spoken and written Arabic and excellent English.

Submission of application:
Interested candidates must submit a complete CV and sample of work to [email protected] by the 20th of November 2011