Call for tenders: Evaluation of Network Development

Scope of work

The evaluation has to be conducted between November 1, 2024 and February 17, 2025.

It should be based on an analysis of scientific or "gray" specialist literature and other relevant publications (desk research), but above all on 32 qualitative interviews with former project participants/current network members (semi-structured guide).

The four projects (8 journalists from each group of participants are to be interviewed) were carried out between 2017 and 2024 in Armenia, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. These projects include one project to promote investigative journalism, one project to increase media literacy, one project to strengthen commentary culture and one project to raise the content profile of 12 online media outlets.

n-ost will support the establishment of contact with the former participants. The interviews can be conducted in English and should clarify the following questions, among others:

• Relevance: How relevant are international networks in general for the work of journalists?

• Effectiveness: Have the n-ost projects helped to expand the respondents' personal network in the long term?

• Efficiency: Which project elements particularly motivated the respondents to network?

• Sustainability: Do the contacts made in the projects continue after the project has ended?

• Overarching development objective: What contribution have the projects made to strengthening and sustainably stabilizing high-quality, independent media?

Outputs and Deliverables

The result of the evaluation consists of an evaluation report written in German or English, which should not exceed 30 pages.

The report should answer all the questions in the interview guide (which is attached to the report as an annex) both separately by country and in an overall view, and formulate clear conclusions that can serve as recommendations for the development of further media development cooperation projects.

In addition, the report is to be presented to the n-ost team in a two-hour workshop (offline or online) and discussed with the project management and management.

Requirement profile

We are looking for either a single evaluator or a team of evaluators who have

• proven experience with evaluations of media development cooperation projects

• own experience as an organizer of or participant in media development projects

• Thorough knowledge of the media landscapes of the relevant project countries

• good knowledge of English

The following would also be desirable

• your own journalistic/media background

• Experience in building (journalistic) networks

The evaluators may not have a personal or family relationship with employees of n-ost or any of the journalists/media to be interviewed.

Want to apply?

Please send your detailed offer by October 6, 2024 to

Anneke Hudalla (hudalla@n-ost.org).

She will also be happy to answer any questions you may have about the call for proposals, the project and the evaluation.