Call for a consultant

Duration of the research task:	12 weeks
Type of contract/partnership:	Short-term consultancy (external)
RNW Media Focal Point:	Sana Naqvi, Senior Impact Manager, RNW Media
About this Consultancy	RNW Media, RNTC in partnership with Annir, is seeking a consultant to lead the baseline evaluation of an EU-funded project with a focus on the media ecosystem in Libya. The baseline will establish a reference point for all programme outcomes prior to implementation, providing the evidence base against which progress will be monitored and assessed at endline. It will also directly inform programme design decisions and targeting strategies.
Language	Arabic and English (bilingual deliverables required).

About RNTC 

RNTC is an international media training and media development organisation that supports media professionals, communicators, civil society actors, and institutions through tailored learning, training, and capacity-strengthening programmes. 

RNTC’s work focuses on public interest media, responsible communication, information integrity, media viability, and safe, inclusive, and ethical digital media spaces. In Libya, RNTC works with local partners and stakeholders to strengthen the capacities of media and communication actors in ways that are relevant to the Libyan context and responsive to local needs, sensitivities, and priorities. 

2. PURPOSE & SCOPE OF THE PROJECT 

The two-year EU-funded Libya Media Development Programme is committed to strengthening Libya’s media ecosystem through comprehensive capacity building of media actors. 

The purpose of this baseline study is to establish a reference point for all programme outcomes prior to the start of implementation. The baseline will provide the evidence base against which progress and effectiveness will be monitored and assessed at the endline. It will also directly inform programme design decisions and targeting strategies. 

This baseline consultancy is one of three parallel workstreams being commissioned at programme inception. Consultants should be aware of and take into account the findings of these parallel workstreams where relevant. 

Specific tasks include: 

1. Working with RNW Media and RNTC’s research and programme teams to agree on the purpose, scope, and methodology of the baseline study, and to contextualise and operationalise the indicators. 

2. Reviewing the programme’s results framework and relevant contextual analysis documents to ensure the baseline instrument is grounded in the local context. 

3. Designing and finalising the baseline survey instrument and any qualitative data collection tools, in Arabic and English. 

4. Recruiting, briefing, and managing In-Country Facilitators (ICFs) for all in-country data collection. 

5. Overseeing data collection, quality control, and data cleaning. 

6. Conducting analysis and producing a draft baseline report, including baseline values for all relevant indicators, disaggregated by gender, region, and respondent group where possible. 

7. Presenting draft findings in a validation workshop with RNW Media and relevant partners. 

8. Incorporating feedback and finalising the baseline report. 

3. CONSULTANT/CONSULTANCY TEAM 

The consultancy is open to all qualified consultants and may be undertaken by an individual or a team of experts. In the case of a team, applicants should clearly specify each member’s expertise and role, with one designated Lead Consultant who is responsible for the entire process and all deliverables. 

The Lead Consultant is responsible for preparing the research protocol, consent/assent forms where required, data collection tools, work schedule, and risk assessment. All work is managed remotely from the consultant’s home or work base; RNW Media is not able to support in-country travel for this assignment. 

Where in-country data collection is required, the consultant is responsible for recruiting, briefing, and supervising In-Country Facilitators (ICFs). The consultant agrees tasks and timelines with ICFs, remains accountable for the quality of their deliverables, and covers their fees and local fieldwork costs within the overall budget. All data collected must be translated into English by the consultant before submission to RNW Media. 

The consultant is also free to personally conduct qualitative data collection such as Focus Group Discussions and Key Informant Interviews, or to sub-contract these to a qualified third party,  in which case the same standards of supervision and quality control apply. 

4. METHODOLOGY   

The baseline study will use a mixed-methods approach combining quantitative and qualitative data collection. The detailed research design will be developed in consultation with RNW Media, RNTC, and Annir during the inception phase. All in-country data collection will be carried out by In-Country Facilitators (ICFs) recruited, briefed, and supervised by the consultant(s), who are responsible for quality control throughout. 

• Quantitative: Online surveys targeting multiple respondent groups, available in Arabic. The sampling strategy should ensure geographic coverage and representation, with data disaggregated by gender, age, region, and respondent group. The consultant(s) should propose and justify sample sizes per respondent group. 

• Qualitative: Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) to complement the survey findings and add depth to selected indicator areas. The number and composition of FGDs and KIIs, as well as the specific topics to be covered, will be agreed with RNW Media during the inception phase. 

5. COMMUNICATION 

The consultant is expected to frequently communicate with RNW Media, RNTC and is willing to meet on a weekly or bi-weekly (to be determined) basis during the period of the research project.  

6. DELIVERABLES & TIMELINE  

Deliverables  

#	Deliverable
1	Inception Report: Finalised research questions, methodology, sampling strategy, data collection tools, day-to-day work plan, and risk assessment. Data collection tools in Arabic and English, inception report in English
2	Draft Baseline Report: Comprehensive report including baseline values for all indicators, disaggregated by gender, region, and respondent group where possible, plus executive summary and annexes
3	Validation Workshop Presentation: Presentation of key findings to RNW Media and Annir prior to finalisation.
4	Final Baseline Report: Final polished report incorporating feedback from the validation workshop, including executive summary, methodology overview, detailed analysis, and recommendations.
5	All raw data in digitised and translated format

Timeline* 

Activity	Indicative Timeline
Call for consultants open	19 June
Application deadline	3 July
Consultant recruited	4 July – 13 July
Kick-off meeting	14 July
Inception Report submitted	24 July
Data collection and analysis	25 July – 14 August
Submission of draft report	25 August
Review and feedback	26 August – 1 September
Validation workshop	2 September
Submission of final report	12 September

  

*Please note that the exact dates under the timeline will be determined with the RNW Media, RNTC Team and Consultant.  

  

8. REQUIRED EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE    

• Master’s degree in social sciences, research methods, or a related field. 

• Minimum 5 years of experience designing and implementing baseline or evaluation studies. 

• Strong quantitative and qualitative research skills, including survey design and sampling. 

• Experience with digital data collection tools. 

• Experience conducting research in fragile or conflict-affected contexts; Libya and regional experience is strongly preferred. 

• Ability to manage In-Country Facilitators remotely. 

• Strong report-writing skills in English; Arabic fluency required. 

  

9. BUDGET AND PAYMENT CONDITIONS  

BUDGET: 6000 EUR (VAT included) 

The remuneration, payment schedule, and conditions will be discussed and agreed upon with the selected consultant. The total remuneration will cover the consultancy fee as well as reasonable costs related to the execution of the assignment, such as expenses for field research, administration, coordination, and digital tools or software required for data collection and analysis. 

10. APPLICATION PROCEDURE 

Interested consultant(s) should develop and submit a bidding proposal in English to respond to the above-mentioned specific tasks. The proposal should include: 

• Description and contact details of the consultant(s) applying 

• A clear description of the proposed methodological approach, including the format of data collection and analysis 

• A detailed budget proposal 

• Cover letter and CVs of all team members, emphasising relevant experience 

• Past performance in similar areas of work, with reference to previous contracting agencies or organisations 

  

Only those candidates that submit all of the above will be contacted and considered. Interested candidates should send their applications to Sana Naqvi at: sana.naqvi@rnw.org. The call will close on 3 July 2026, but applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and the call can close before if a suitable candidate is found. 

RNTC is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.