TERMS OF REFERENCE

 

Background:

ERIM (IREX Europe, doing business as ERIM) in collaboration with the Modern Journalism Development Centre (Uzbekistan) is implementing the Mahalla project (“Strengthening the Media Community in Uzbekistan”). It is a 4-year program aimed at strengthening the capacities of local independent media outlets to provide quality content to their audiences whilst increasing Uzbek citizens’ demand for objective, fact-based and reliable information in local communities via media literacy tools.

 

The 2 objectives of the project are:

• To improve the quality, relevance and accessibility of local media content by strengthening their capacity and enhancing collaboration with civil society, educational institutions, and local authorities
• To strengthen citizens’ ability to identify and analyze independent, quality news and information by leveraging existing media literacy activities and building a strong fact-checking community among the media and journalists across the country

 

Activities under Objective 1 are focused on capacity development of selected local media from all 12 regions of Uzbekistan and the Karakalpakstan Republic via training, long-term mentoring and enhanced partnerships with local communities.

 

This is the third Hackathon organized in Uzbekistan to increase networking, foster intersectoral collaboration and to develop fundraising capacity of local media. Follow up grants and long-term mentorship will help media strengthen their organizational capacity, improve content and increase their audiences. The program  also aims to engage youth and local communities in content creation by identifying locally relevant topics, developing media projects focused on gender equality, ecology, and social issues, as well as exposing  and debunking false news.

 

ERIM is hiring an International media expert/trainer with experience in content and media project management, media strategy development and financial management to conduct capacity building training during the next media Hackathon for Uzbekistan media.

 

 

Responsibilities:

The international Media Expert/Trainer will work under the guidance of the ERIM Program Manager and in close collaboration with the MJDC Program Manager and local trainers.

 

The international media expert/trainer will be involved in conducting training on media strategy development, content management and media project management. They will also support the  teams during the Media Hackathon in refining their project proposals. In particular, they will have to perform the following tasks:

 

• To prepare training materials which will cover the following topics (the range of topics can be expanded based on the discussion with the local trainer and the project staff):

1. Development of a media strategy

Defining a vision for the development of the media, planning key changes that will increase the potential of the media and its position in the market.

1. Content Management

Content planning, promotion and sales. Monitoring the quality of journalists’ work, analyzing the audience and its preferences.

1. c) Media project management

Project Design. Development of a work plan and timeline.  Planning of project activities. Financial management of media projects.

1. Monitoring and evaluating the efficacy of social media strategies

Practical tools to count the online audience.

 

• To participate in the preliminary online orientation training (2 webinars) held before the Hackathon (January, 2025). Preliminary training is organized for the media teams/editorial staff, experts and media designers students of Uzbekistan selected to participate in the competition.
• To conduct training during the Hackathon (February 17-21, 2025) for editors of regional media of Uzbekistan in the above-mentioned areas and take part in the grant selection committee, which will select the six best applications;
• To provide support to the teams in finalizing their proposals and to facilitate the work during the Hackathon;
• To provide a brief report on the in-depth training, presenting the results of the work done, including an analysis and assessment of the activities of the coaching team, the effectiveness of the methodology used and of the training approach, with an emphasis on issues and challenges. Conclusions and recommendations should be provided for each media team.

 

All sessions should be interactive, in-depth and include as much practical exercises as possible (in content development, budgeting, business modeling, project management, public speaking and others), as well as real cases from within and outside the media industry as a basis for discussion. The purpose is for participants to acquire the necessary skills and to help them improve their proposals during Hackathon. The proposals will be assessed on the last day of the event by the grant selection committee and 6 small grants will be awarded.

 

Deliverables

Deliverable	Timeline / deadline	Number of w/days
Training materials (Deliverable 1)	By January 10, 2025	2
Preliminary training	January 2025	1
Conduct training and assist participants in crafting their proposals (Deliverable 2)	February 17-21, 2025	5
Provide brief report together with the supporting materials (Deliverable 3)	By March 15, 2025	1
TOTAL		9 days

 

Terms and conditions:

Period of contract: January, 15 – March 15, 2025

Duration: 9 working days

Duty station: Home-based with travel to Uzbekistan (Tashkent) for the onsite training during the Hackathon (February 17-21, 2025). The travel expenses related to the participation of the trainer in the Hackathon will be covered by ERIM.

Required qualification:

• University degree in Social Sciences, Journalism, Mass Media and Communications or extensive work experience in one of those fields. Advanced university degree would be an asset;
• Minimum 5 years of successful experience in the field of contemporary communications techniques and social media, including experience in training journalists, bloggers, and media outlet professionals;
• Training experience and workshop facilitation skills;
• Modern approach and exceptional analytical skills to work in sensitive and restricted contexts;
• Experience in gender equality, ecology, and social issues.
• Ability to:

1. Express clearly and concisely ideas and concepts in writing and orally;
2. Relate and transfer best practices and successful experience both culturally and locally;
3. Research, analyze, evaluate and synthesize information;
4. Conceptualize, plan and execute ideas;
5. Work well under pressure and manage conflicting priorities.

• Familiarity with the context of Central Asian media; previous experience with Uzbek media would be an asset;
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
• Fluency in Russian and/or English language;
• Advanced knowledge of PC-based word processing software and social media technologies, including database applications, presentation software, etc.

 

Interested candidates should send their CV, cover letter and financial proposal by December 31, 2024, to the following addresses: erudenko@erim.ngo and vpalamarciuc@erim.ngo