Technical Protection, Shelter Safety and Explosive-Ordnance Risk Awareness Specialist
DEMOCRATIC VOICE OF BURMA (DVB)
Consultancy Opportunity
Technical Protection, Shelter Safety and Explosive-Ordnance Risk Awareness Specialist
Project: KNOW BEFORE YOU NEED TO KNOW — Multimedia Civilian Safety, Early Warning and Emergency Preparedness Campaign in Myanmar
| Organisation | Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) |
| Consultancy Position | Technical Protection, Shelter Safety and Explosive-Ordnance Risk Awareness Specialist |
| Contract Type | Individual consultancy |
| Level of Engagement | Part-time, as needed |
| Expected Duration | Approximately 3 months during the project period |
| Project Period | November 2026–May 2027 |
| Duty Station | Chiang Mai, Thailand, with remote working arrangements subject to agreement |
| Application Deadline | 29 October 2026 |
| Application Email | [email protected] |
1. About DVB
The Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) is an independent media organisation committed to providing accurate, independent and impartial news and information to the people of Myanmar. DVB uses journalism, digital media and public-interest programming to inform audiences about developments affecting Myanmar and its people.
DVB is developing a multimedia civilian safety and emergency preparedness campaign to help communities access practical, reliable information during conflict-related and other emergencies.
2. About the Project
The campaign, KNOW BEFORE YOU NEED TO KNOW, will develop 10 core multimedia public-information products, including videos, podcasts/video podcasts and visual materials.
Relevant topics include safer shelter preparedness, understanding potential risks in emergency environments, and public awareness of unexploded ordnance (UXO) and other potentially explosive objects.
Because inaccurate or poorly communicated technical information can expose civilians to additional risk, DVB will seek specialist review of relevant materials before dissemination. The selected consultant will help ensure that messages remain within appropriate technical and protection boundaries and are suitable for public communication.
3. Purpose of the Consultancy
DVB seeks a specialist with relevant expertise in technical protection, shelter safety and/or explosive ordnance risk education (EORE) to advise on and review assigned campaign materials.
The consultant will focus on technical issues that require specialist knowledge beyond general emergency preparedness, particularly public-facing information on safer shelter considerations and awareness of UXO and other potentially explosive objects.
The consultant will help DVB communicate safety information responsibly, avoid unsupported technical claims and keep messages consistent with recognised specialist guidance.
The role is advisory and technical. The consultant will not be responsible for editorial decision-making, production management or independently approving final publication.
4. Scope of Work and Key Responsibilities
A. Technical Protection and Shelter Safety Review
- Provide technical advice on assigned civilian protection and shelter-safety topics relevant to the campaign.
- Review draft messages and visual materials addressing safer shelter considerations and potential hazards in emergency environments.
- Identify technical inaccuracies, oversimplifications, unsupported claims or messages that could be misunderstood by civilian audiences.
- Advise on the appropriate limits of general public-information guidance and identify issues that require context-specific assessment.
- Recommend credible technical references and guidance to support content development.
- Provide clear written feedback that can be incorporated by DVB's researchers, editors and production team.
B. UXO and Explosive-Ordnance Risk Awareness
- Review public-information content addressing UXO and other potentially explosive objects.
- Advise on appropriate risk-awareness messages, including recognising potential hazards, keeping away, avoiding contact and seeking safe reporting or referral channels where available.
- Help ensure that materials communicate the importance of not touching, moving, opening, disturbing or attempting to dispose of suspected explosive objects.
- Review proposed illustrations, animations, scenarios and wording to identify content that could inadvertently encourage unsafe behaviour.
- Ensure that the material does not include instructions for handling, moving, examining, disabling or disposing of explosive objects.
- Recommend appropriate language for communicating uncertainty and risk without encouraging people to approach suspected objects.
- Identify when additional specialist review is necessary before content can be finalised.
C. Review of Multimedia Products
- Review assigned scripts, storyboards, visual concepts, infographics, video content and podcast/video-podcast materials within the consultant's area of expertise.
- Provide clear, prioritised technical comments to the Project Lead and relevant production personnel.
- Assess whether technical explanations and visual representations are accurate, understandable and suitable for non-specialist audiences.
- Recommend revisions to reduce ambiguity, avoid potentially dangerous interpretations and improve clarity.
- Review revised materials where necessary to assess whether substantive technical concerns have been addressed.
D. Contextual and Protection-Sensitive Communication
- Advise on the potential risks of presenting technical safety messages as universally applicable when local circumstances may differ.
- Consider the information needs of civilians living in conflict-affected areas and communities with limited access to reliable safety information.
- Identify content that could inadvertently expose civilians to risk or encourage actions beyond their competence.
- Recommend ways to communicate technical uncertainty and the limits of available guidance.
- Coordinate with the Emergency Response, Preparedness and Civilian Protection Specialist, where relevant, so that advice is complementary and consistent.
E. Coordination and Knowledge Transfer
- Participate in agreed technical consultations with DVB's Project Lead, Programme Researcher and production team.
- Explain the rationale behind significant technical recommendations and identify the sources or guidance supporting them.
- Provide concise written review notes that DVB can use during content revisions and quality assurance.
- Identify outstanding technical issues and advise whether they should be resolved before publication.
- Maintain the confidentiality of non-public materials and any sensitive information encountered during the assignment.
5. Expected Deliverables
The consultant will be expected to provide:
- Technical guidance and references: Relevant technical sources and recommendations for assigned shelter-safety, protection and/or explosive-ordnance risk-awareness topics.
- Written content reviews: Technical comments on assigned scripts, visual concepts and multimedia products.
- Risk and accuracy feedback: Identification of technical inaccuracies, unsafe implications, unsupported claims and issues requiring specialist attention.
- Revision review: Follow-up review of revised materials where required.
- Final technical review summary: A concise record of the materials reviewed, key recommendations, outstanding concerns and relevant technical limitations.
The exact number of products and review rounds will be agreed with the selected consultant based on the production schedule and scope of work.
6. Required Qualifications and Experience
- Relevant qualifications or professional training in technical protection, shelter safety, explosive ordnance risk education, humanitarian protection, mine action or another closely related field.
- Demonstrated technical experience in at least one of the principal areas covered by this consultancy.
- For assignments involving UXO and explosive-ordnance risk awareness, relevant professional experience in EORE, mine action or a closely related specialist field is strongly preferred.
- Experience reviewing technical guidance, developing risk-awareness materials or communicating safety information to non-specialist audiences.
- Ability to identify technical inaccuracies and explain complex safety issues in clear, practical language.
- Strong written communication, analytical and review skills.
- Understanding of Myanmar's conflict and humanitarian context is an advantage.
- Experience working with media organisations, public-information campaigns or multimedia production teams is desirable.
Applicants should clearly identify their specific technical expertise. DVB may consider candidates whose experience covers only one of the specialist areas, provided that their expertise matches the assigned scope of work.
7. Professional Competencies and Technical Boundaries
The consultant must demonstrate sound technical judgement, attention to evidence, clear communication and a strong commitment to civilian safety.
The consultancy is limited to responsible public-information and risk-awareness work. It does not require or authorise the consultant to provide operational instructions for handling, moving, examining, disabling or disposing of explosive objects.
The consultant will not be expected to conduct field inspections, make site-specific safety determinations or provide technical advice beyond their qualifications and agreed scope of work.
8. Working Arrangements and Reporting
The consultant will report to the designated DVB Project Lead and coordinate with the Programme Researcher, production personnel and other relevant technical specialists.
The engagement is expected to last approximately three months, on a part-time, as-needed basis, during the campaign's content-development and production period. Specific assignments, review deadlines, meetings and deliverables will be agreed with DVB.
The consultant is expected to provide timely written feedback and clearly identify any technical issues that remain unresolved.
9. Application Requirements
Interested candidates should submit:
- An updated CV outlining relevant qualifications and technical experience.
- A cover letter explaining their suitability for the consultancy and specifying the technical areas in which they can provide advice.
- Examples of relevant technical guidance, risk-awareness materials, publications or reviews, where available and appropriate.
- An indication of availability during the expected consultancy period and a proposed daily consultancy fee (in USD).
Please email applications to [email protected] with the subject line:
Application — Technical Protection, Shelter Safety and Explosive-Ordnance Risk Awareness Specialist
Application deadline: 29 October 2026
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. DVB may request additional information, references or examples of relevant work during the selection process.
10. Consultancy and Funding Notice
This consultancy is proposed under a project subject to funding availability and approval. Selection, contracting and commencement of the assignment will be conditional upon confirmation of the necessary funding.
The consultancy does not constitute an offer of permanent employment. The scope, schedule and level of engagement will be agreed through the consultancy contract.
DVB reserves the right to amend, suspend or withdraw this announcement, or decide not to proceed with an appointment. Issuing this announcement or receiving applications does not constitute a commitment to engage a consultant.
DVB is committed to fair and inclusive recruitment and welcomes applications from qualified candidates with diverse backgrounds and experiences.
