Announcement

Women’s Media Centre of Cambodia (WMC) Announces Consultancy Opportunity to Develop Safety and Security Plan and Deliver Training for Staff and Female Journalists

WMC is pleased to announce an opportunity for experienced consultants to support us in enhancing the safety and security of our staff, with a particular focus on female journalists. The selected consultant will be tasked with developing a comprehensive Physical Safety and Security Plan and providing training to staff members and female journalists.

This consultancy is critical to ensuring the well-being of our team members, empowering them with the tools and knowledge needed to mitigate risks and manage security challenges effectively.

Key Areas of Focus:

• Development of a robust safety and security plan for all staff including a comprehensive risk assessment and mitigation strategies
• Specialized training to enhance awareness and preparedness, with a focus on female journalists

We invite qualified consultants to submit their proposals, including a detailed approach, timeline, and budget. For full details on the Terms of Reference and application process, please visit:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QpbRcDWRMFGoqpyJlzEME5D5L9-z4C3T/view?usp=sharing

Application Deadline: All consultants interested in applying should submit your application, including methodology, budget, and work plan, to WMC via [email protected] by 4^th May 2025

Note: A shortlist of qualified consultants will be prepared based on the submitted proposals. Shortlisted consultants will be interviewed, and the final selection will be made based on qualifications, experience, and proposed methodology.

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Terms of Reference (ToR) for Consultancy to

Develop Physical Safety and Security Plan, and Training for

Staffs and Female Journalists

1. Background

The Women’s Media Centre of Cambodia is a non-government and non-profit media organization. Since 1995, WMC has been one of the key institutions in Cambodia working to change social attitudes by promoting gender equity and democracy.

Today, we are one of the few remaining independent media organizations in Cambodia, due to our focus on women’s issues and our ability to strategically navigate political issues.

WMC’s vision is for women and men to have equal freedom and dignity to jointly develop our society. Our three goals are:

• To empower women and prevent all forms of violence against women and girls.
• To provide people in Cambodia access to accurate information
• To uphold democracy and promote public participation by raising awareness.

We produce high quality radio, video and digital material to educate, raise awareness and advocate for women and minorities. Every day we reach over 2 million people across Cambodia through our radio, social media, and digital channels.

Outside the major cities, limited access to the internet means radio continues to be an important source of daily news and information for a substantial part of Cambodia’s population. For the last 28 years Women’s Radio has been consistently in the top 3 most listened to stations in the nation, including in Phnom Penh.

The WMC, supported by IMS, is excited to announce the development of Physical Safety and Security Plan, and Training for Staffs and Female Journalists. The consultant will be expected to conduct a thorough risk assessment, devise a risk mitigation strategy, and provide a training program to enhance the security awareness of staff members, with a particular focus on female journalists who may face unique challenges in their work.

2. Objectives

The primary objectives of this consultancy are:

• Development of a Physical Safety and Security Plan:focuses on developing a Physical Safety and Security Plan to protect staff, especially female journalists, from security risks. It involves assessing current physical security vulnerabilities, identifying internal and external threats, and creating a risk mitigation strategy with preventative and responsive measures.
• Training Program:Deliver customized training for all staff, with a focus on female journalists, to build their capacity to respond to potential safety and security threats.

3. Scope of Work

The consultant will be required to undertake the following tasks:

o The consultant will conduct an initial assessment by consulting with key stakeholders,  including staff and female journalists, to gain insights into the context and security    concerns. This will involve reviewing existing security protocols, policies, and past incidents of security breaches to understand the current landscape.

o Develop a detailed safety and security plan that addresses both organizational premises     and fieldwork locations, as well as remote working conditions. The plan will include contingency measures for emergency response, crisis communication, and first aid, while also identifying potential risks—such as physical, cyber, psychological, and other contextual threats—to the safety and security of staff and female journalists. Risks will be categorized based on severity and likelihood, with corresponding recommendations for mitigation. Both short-term and long-term security solutions will be proposed, alongside  strategies for preventing and managing identified risks.

o Design and deliver a comprehensive training program focused on physical safety,  cybersecurity, risk assessment, and crisis management. It will include gender-specific modules to address the unique challenges faced by female journalists, such as  harassment, violence, and online threats.

o Submit a final Physical Safety and Security Plan both Khmer and English

4. Deliverables

• A comprehensive Physical Safety and Security Plan including a risk assessment and its’ mitigation plan
• A Training Program for staff and female journalists

5. Timeline

A detailed timeline for each deliverable will be developed and agreed upon during the inception phase.

6. Qualifications of the Consultant

The consultant should have the following qualifications:

• Master’s Degree or Higher in Journalism, Media Studies, Communication, International Relations, Human Rights, or a related field. Proven expertise in security management, risk assessment, and mitigation strategies, especially in media environments.
• At least 5 years of experience working in journalism, media, or communication fields, with a strong focus on press freedom and the role of the media in society.
• Proven experience in designing and delivering training programs or workshops for journalists, particularly focusing on media ethics, press freedom, and the safety of journalists
• Specific experience or demonstrated understanding of gender inequality issues, particularly those affecting female journalists, including gender-based violence, harassment, and discrimination in the workplace.
• In-depth knowledge and experience working in the Cambodian media landscape or similar contexts within Southeast Asia, with a clear understanding of the local cultural, social, and political environment.
• Ability to engage and facilitate meetings and training sessions effectively, ensuring clear and impactful communication of complex concepts.
• Demonstrated experience in developing training curricula, session plans, and educational materials, preferably in the field of media, press freedom, and journalist safety.
• Familiarity with international standards and frameworks related to press freedom, human rights, and the protection of journalists, including those specific to female journalists.
• A deep understanding of cultural norms and gender dynamics in Cambodia, with the ability to address sensitive issues related to gender and media in a respectful and effective manner.
• Proficiency in English is essential, and knowledge of the Khmer language is highly desirable.
• Experience working with non-governmental organizations, media houses, or advocacy groups focused on media freedom and journalist safety.
• Ability to conduct research and analysis on media trends, press freedom issues, and the status of female journalists in Cambodia or similar contexts.
• Experience in advocating for media freedom and influencing media policies, particularly those aimed at improving the safety and working conditions of female journalists.

7. Estimation Budget:Up to $2,600 (including 15% withholding tax) (Consultant/s are required to submit a detailed budget proposal as part of their submission).
8. Application Deadline:All consultants interested in applying should submit your application, including methodology, budget, and work plan, to WMC via [email protected]by 4th May 2025

Note: A shortlist of qualified consultants will be prepared based on the submitted proposals. Shortlisted consultants will be interviewed, and the final selection will be made based on qualifications, experience, and proposed methodology.