Media Mapping and Assessment

Background

The Civil Society Support Program Phase 2 (CSSP2) is a capacity development programme designed to support the development of Ethiopia’s civil society to “contribute to inclusive and accountable governance; and an improved environment for the promotion and protection of the human rights of all Ethiopians”. To achieve this grand objective, the programme has identified three thematic areas (gender transformation, young people and citizen-state engagement) and has taken a human rights-based approach as its key strategic approach. In addition to funding local CSOs, the programme provides technical and capacity development support through various means. CSSP2 also works with relevant government stakeholders to build their capacity and create space and platforms for effective civic engagement and learnings.

CSSP2 is funded by the people of United Kingdom, Ireland, Sweden, and Norway. The programme is managed by the British Council, in consortium with Pact UK and Social Development Direct. The pogramme has established five regional Hubs -at Dessie, Dire Dawa, Assosa, Hawassa and Addis Ababa-reporting to the secretariat in Addis Ababa so as to provide closer support to CSOs. 

Engagement is one of the key work streams of the programme which aims to facilitate the creation and deepening of an enabling environment for the CSO sector, enhance collaboration between government and CSOs, and strengthen engagement platforms between citizens and state for access to equitable services, and the protection and promotion of human rights. Accordingly, CSSP2 adopts multidimensional, multitiered, contextualized, gendered , inclusive and adaptive strategic approaches. Among others, its media engagement approach is anchored on the realization that media plays a vital role in making positive contributions to fostering accountable and transparent governance, and thus, it’s imperative that constructive relationship is built and strengthened between the media and CSOs. As such, the programme aims to map, assess and analyze capacity of various forms of media establishments at community, national, regional, and virtual spaces; nature and scope of relationship with CSOs and their networks, and the role being played by media in the promotion and protection of human rights, and inclusive, accountable and transparent governance.  

Purpose of Mapping and Assessment

The purpose of the call is to invite interested consulting firms/individuals/service providers with relevant qualification and experience to do a mapping and assessment of various types of media establishments at community, national, regional, and virtual spaces; nature and scope of relationship with CSOs and their networks, and the role they play in the promotion and protection of human rights, and inclusive, accountable and transparent governance. The outcomes of this undertaking is expected to inform the program’s understanding of the media landscape, inform the programme’s media engagement and communication strategy; enrich its capacity development interventions

targeting media and CSOs, and the overall Programme implementation mechanism. Among others, the mapping and assessment will provide insight in to the following issues-

• A politico-legal analysis of the operational context within which media operates
• Maps mainstream and alternative media outlets at community, national, and regional level including virtual platforms
• Profile of media establishments with higher audience along with disaggregated data/information on audience demography, including variables attributing their influence/higher influence
• Analysis of media and citizen engagement in Ethiopia on governance and human rights issues including its inclusivity vis-à-vis gender equality, disability and social inclusion matters
• Analysis of relationship between media and CSOs providing insights on areas of strong collaboration, and gaps which require strengthening 
• An analysis of the role of mainstream and alternative media in Ethiopia in the promotion and protection of human rights 
• Disaggregated (national and regional) media stakeholder analysis and engagement framework
• Risk management analysis based on the media stakeholder analysis and engagement framework

The findings of the mapping and assessment analysis are expected to concurrently identify and make recommendations for CSSP2’s capacity development and engagement works vis-à-vis citizen-state engagement initiatives and the program’s overall result areas. 

Role and Specific Tasks Of the Service Provider

The service provider(s) will have the following roles and specific tasks.

• Take part in inception meeting organized by CSSP2 management team
• Develop an inception report including conceptual framework, gendered methodological approach, and data collection tools with detailed and time bound action plan within 5 days of contract singing 
• Incorporate feedback provided by the Programme on inception report, data collection and analysis instruments, and action plan
• Conduct mapping and assessment which covers all regions and the two city administrations and the federal level
• Conduct SWOT analysis of potential media entities in light of CSSP2 priorities
• Conduct stakeholder analysis and develop a stakeholder engagement framework along with risk management plan 
• Prepare draft report, recommendations, and action plan and submit to CSSP2 for feedback
• Conduct debrief and input collection meeting with CSSP2 and key stakeholders
• Prepare and submit final report, recommendations, and action plan including inputs from CSSP2 and key stakeholders
• Observe and adhere to CSSP2’s safeguarding protocols and procedures 

Technical proposal 

The technical proposal should be sound with clear objectives, conceptual framework, methodological approach (including sampling methods, data collection tools, and analytical approach), stakeholder mapping and analysis framework; brief literature review and a work plan. The technical proposal should also have an indicative work plan that shows all days planned including travel dates and timeline for the different components of the work. 

Cost of the assignment (financial proposal/offer). 

This will account for 30% of the total selection criteria. The cost should be in Birr inclusive of all costs.

Deliverables

The consulting firms/service providers are expected to prepare and submit the following: 

1. Inception report with data collection instruments and detail workplan 
2. Draft mapping and assessment report with recommendations
3. SMART Action plan for the recommendations identified through the assessment
4. SWOT analysis, and Stakeholder mapping, analysis and management report
5. Risk management framework 
6. Power Point presentations for the debriefing session
7. Final report, recommendations and action plans incorporating all comments from CSSP2

Note: the assessment report will be the property of CSSP2. 

Place and Duration of The Assessment 

Consulting firms/service providers can work from home when preparing the assessment plan and the draft and final reports. The debrief meeting will be in CSSP2 office or at a place designated by the CSSP2. The consultants are expected to travel and the regions to collect data and meeting with CSO, government and non-state actors. The service providers are expected to complete the task within 25 days between Nov 2020 and Dec 2020. 

Conflict of Interest

In order to ensure the impartiality of service providers, the consulting firms/ service providers should be independent from the institutional structure of the Programme (CSSP2), CSOs getting support and other parties involved. Each service provider will be required to sign a declaration of conflict of interest. The selected consulting firm/service provider must demonstrate appropriate ethical conduct and must respect the confidentiality of the information and documents to which they will have access in the CSOs and CSSP2.

Safeguarding is one of the high priority topic for CSSP2 and it has zero tolerance for abuse of safeguarding. CSSP2 believes that is everyone’s responsibility to ensure that children, girls, women and adults at risk are safeguarded from any form of violence or abuse. Consultants are expected to sign safeguarding code of conduct. 

Coordination, Reporting and Liaison 

The consulting firms/service providers will be directly working with and reporting to the engagement and influence lead/DTL, who is responsible to liaison with the programme senior management team (SMT) of CSSP2 who will give overall guidance and direction.  

Job Requirements

Selection Procedure and Requirements

Selection of consulting firms/service providers will be based on the following criteria.

Relevant qualification and experience and technical proposal. This will account for 70% of the assessment score. Service providers/consulting firms shall fulfill the following competency , knowledge and skills requirements. 

• Substantive knowledge and understanding of the media sector, it’s operational context, and civil society-media relations 
• Proven track record in designing and conducting analysis that utilize gendered and participatory research methods 
• Demonstrated experience and expertise in conducting a gender, disability and social inclusive stakeholder mapping, analysis and engagement framework
• Experience in conducting mixed research data collation and synthesis and ability to write a strong analytical and actionable report. 
• Ability to conceptualize and analyze problems and to identify key issues and underlying action oriented recommendation
• Experience in developing SMART action plans  Fluency in English and at least two local languages
• Excellent writing and presentation skills in English. 

Education  

A minimum of Master’s Degree in media and human rights, social inclusion, development or other related social sciences is required. A thorough knowledge of media related issues, with particular emphasis on the context of media and civil society in Ethiopia is essential. 

The service providers must clearly indicate key personnel included in the task and the team lead. In cases of group based applications, CSSP2 expects a gender balanced team. Core team members are expected to have: 

At least eight years of relevant professional experience; 

• Demonstrated experience in doing similar media mapping and assessments in CSO or other sector;
• Observe and adhere to the programme’s safeguarding protocols and procedures
• Good command of report writing skill in English language
• Good command of audio-visual presentation skills
• Excellent analytical, coordination and management skills
• Good interpersonal skills and capacity to liase with actors from various sectors  

How to Apply

Interested consulting firms/service providers are requested to submit all of the following requirements in a sealed envelope to be considered. 

1. Letter of Interest, CV, Copies of diplomas, certificates and references of key personnel that may be requested before the contracting;
2. Technical proposal;
3. Evidence of experience in undertaking similar assignment from funding agencies/donors;
4. Detail cost of assignment (cost per materials and professional fee/day)*. 

Application closing date

Interested consulting firms/ service providers should submit the requirements mentioned under Section 9 above before 23 November 2020 either at https://in-

tendhost.co.uk/britishcouncil or email selamawit.workineh@cssp2-et.org. You may also deliver it in a sealed envelope to CSSP2 Office located at Bole, Addis Ababa next to Bole mini | 6th floor on the SEVITA Building during working hours on or before 23 November 2020.

For registration and application, please visit https://in-tendhost.co.uk/britishcouncil/aspx/Home

For more information: contact CSSP2 Office: Telephone: +251(0)116153411