Apply now for Evaluation of Media Development Projects in Africa

The projects are funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

The projects strengthen the human right to freedom of expression and unhindered access to information. DW Akademie empowers people worldwide to make independent decisions based on reliable facts and constructive dialogue.

Objectives

• “African media actors are able to design inclusive communication structures that support access to information, constructive dialogue and the strengthening of African media culture. As managers of socio-political dialogue formats; they promote knowledge transfer and understanding. They establish media systems as a motor for democratic processes, social development and political stability.”

Funding Information

• East Africa: The budget for the evaluation is 36,000 Euros net, including any travel expenses. This amount should not be exceeded.
• West Africa: The budget for the evaluation is 36,000 Euros net, including any travel expenses. This amount should not be exceeded.
• Southern-Africa: The budget for the evaluation is 22,000 Euros net, including any travel expenses. This amount should not be exceeded.
• Regional Project: The budget for the evaluation is 17,000 Euros net, including any travel expenses. This amount should not be exceeded.

Duration

• The contract will be effective for 6 months from date of signing.

Outcomes

• The expected outcomes of the country projects in East Africa are as follows:
  • Ethiopia: “The Ethiopian media sector is strengthened by instituting journalistic standards for quality and by initiating a dialogue between the media, civil society and other reform actors on key societal issues.”
  • Kenya: “Media houses are economically viable and sustainable in terms of their ability to provide reliable, relevant digital programming to young people and women, in particular.”
  • Uganda with regional component East Africa: “Media professionals, activists, and innovators are able to center the concerns of vulnerable groups (especially women and individuals in rural areas) in Uganda, and East Africa more broadly, on the public agenda.”
  • Innovation Initiative: “The media and civil society are strengthened in their ability to innovate toward greater freedom of expression for disadvantaged groups.”
• The expected outcomes of the country projects in West Africa are as follows:
  • Burkina Faso with regional component West Africa: “Media and civil society organizations are able to network at the regional level and support the participation of disadvantaged groups in public dialogue.”
  • Côte d’Ivoire with regional component West Africa: “Media and civil society organizations support the creation of spaces to deal critically with information and reduce social tensions.”
  • Ghana: “To strengthen the independence of the media sector, media organizations provide sustainable structures and training programs to multipliers and media professionals so that they can impart MIL and fact-checking skills.”
  • Innovation Initiative: “The media and civil society are strengthened in their ability to innovate toward greater freedom of expression for disadvantaged groups.”
• The expected outcomes of the Southern Africa program are as follows:
  • Namibia and Southern Africa: “Media and civil society organizations are able to strengthen the resilience of information ecosystems as well as promote a diverse and inclusive civic dialogue in Southern Africa.”
  • Innovation Initiative: “The media and civil society are strengthened in their ability to innovate toward greater freedom of expression for disadvantaged groups.”
• The expected outcome of the Regional Project are as follows:
  • “People affected by displacement have improved access to relevant information and are able to participate in decision-making about the crises affecting their lives.”

Deliverables

• The following services are to be rendered on assignment:
  • Participation in the kick-off workshop with the project team and evaluation consultant from DW Akademie’s Research and Evaluation Unit (REVAL), carried out online or in-person (to be determined).
  • Inception report (max. six pages, plus appendix).
  • Data collection phase – including the preparation and execution of evaluation interviews (online or face-to-face).
  • Presentation of the findings of the evaluation.
  • Participation in a change workshop at the end of the evaluation, during which the results and recommendations will be presented and discussed with the same participants invited to the kick-off workshop, carried out online or in-person (to be determined).
  • Final evaluation report of max. 20 pages (plus appendix) in English or German. Additionally, an executive summary in English and (ideally) in German, two to three pages each, should be submitted, as well as an appendix containing any additional information that supports the understanding of the evaluation results.

Criteria

• Applicants should have experience in designing and carrying out evaluations in the field of international development.
• They should be proficient in information and data collection and analysis, as well as have excellent analytical skills.
• Experience in the media sector and in international development cooperation/media development, as well as relevant regional and in-countries expertise, is preferred, as is the experience with remote evaluations.
• The applicant or, if applying as a team, at least one of the applicants should have extensive knowledge of the region applied for, including any relevant language skills. Ideally, at least one of the applicants should be based in the region.
• Note: The project documentation is mainly in German; however, the main documents can be provided in English.

For more information, visit DW Akademie.