Call For Applications
Consultancy To Develop And Implement Capacity Building For Developing Media Houses
2022-2025, Kigali, Rwanda
Introduction
Pax Press in partnership with Fojo Media Institute are implementing the Rwanda Media Programme and are looking for a consultant or team of consultants to develop and implement a media training and mentoring program for developing media managers, editors, and journalists in commercial and non-profit media in Rwanda.
The Rwanda Media Programme is supporting a general professionalization of journalism, improving gender representation, and strengthening media management capacity to produce sustainable quality journalism and secure financial viability built on local and regional business models with particular focus on local media markets and potential target groups.

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The project will be implemented following two tracks:
• A comprehensive training program for media managers, editors, and journalists from selected developing media houses possibly between 20-30.
• In-house training and mentoring focused on assistance to a specific development project proposed by the individual media house.
The selection process of the diverse group of Rwandan media houses is currently ongoing and a list of media houses to be supported will be available by April 2022, the first training sessions for tracks 1 and 2 are planned for late April or May 2022. The training and mentorship will be for one year with recurring training and mentorship sessions for one group.
A draft detailed description of project organisation, the expected process and content to be trained is available, as well as our expectations for the qualifications of consultants. (see under)
Qualified national consultant teams are welcome to apply before deadline on April 15. 2022. Short listed consultants will be invited for interviews prior to final assignment.
Background
The Rwanda Media Programme 2021-2026 is a five-year programme for capacity building and professionalisation of the media in Rwanda. The programme will focus on news and newsroom production, in line with international journalistic core values of truthfulness, accuracy, objectivity, impartiality, fairness and public accountability that will have a strong gender focus. The programme is funded by SIDA (Sweden) and SDC (Switzerland) and implemented by Fojo Media Institute (Fojo), SR MDO, PAX PRESS and RBA.
PAX PRESS, a network of Journalists promoting peace, human rights and democracy in Rwanda since 2006, is implementing the five-year programme together with Fojo Media Institute.
Fojo Media Institute belongs to the public Linnaeus University in Sweden and is the country´s leading organization for media development, strengthening free, independent, and professional journalism in Sweden and globally. Since 2015, Fojo has supported the School of Journalism and Communication at the University of Rwanda with capacity building.
The Specific objective of the programme is: Strengthening the independence, professionalism, and sustainability of key actors in the Rwandan media sector with the aim to increase media viability, diversity, and integrity with the following outcomes.
• Outcome 1: Commercial and non-profit media are strengthened to become financially sustainable and to produce and disseminate public interest journalism, reflecting the full composition of society through a balanced presence of women and men, age groups and communities. (Implemented by Fojo and PAX PRESS)
• Outcome 2: RBA is strengthened in the process to become an independent, trustworthy, and sustainable Public Service Media (PSM) provider, according to international journalistic and public service standards. (Implemented by SR MDO and RBA)
• Outcome 3: Journalism education institutions have increased skills concerning practical journalism, awareness of gender issues, and are better connected with the Rwandan media and the international journalism community. (Implemented by Fojo and PAX PRESS)
This consultancy assignment is primarily contributing to Outcome 1.

The Assignment
Track 1 The assignment is to plan, design and implement a training package:
1. A comprehensive training program for media managers, editors, and journalists from selected developing media houses.
2. We expect different thematic training sessions within the scope of subjects/themes included in the attached project document describing draft curricula for selected training themes detailed with potential content, issues and expected learning benefits for the participants.
3. The sessions could be full-day trainings or half-day trainings over two – three days.
4. The launch session should cover an overview and introduction to the full programme concept with interaction between participants on the subjects to be covered and how the issues are reflected in a Rwandan context. This approach will not only create an open stage for the participants' expectations, experiences, and attitudes, but will also serve as a guide for the trainers on how the subsequent sessions should be designed in terms of content, process and learning methods.
5. The subsequent training sessions can be designed within the scope of the draft curricula proposed:
1. How to do corporate media strategy planning built on viable business models
2. How to shape and operate a sustainable, inclusive, effective, and innovative media organisation
3. How to do media audience research and use data and market insights in content, product- and business development
4. How to enhance and diversify editorial content in different forms and channels – how to integrate the editorial workflow cross-media
5. How to set the agenda with journalistic specialisation in new content areas and editorial disciplines
6. How to do audience centric content- and product development through innovative experimentation and editorial planning systems
7. How to manage, operate and profit from website, other digital services, and global social media platforms
8. How to do professional and credible advertising sales and develop revenues from user payments and other business lines
6. The final training session should include evaluation elements and structured summing up on learnings from all sessions – connecting the trainings with barriers and opportunities for the individual media houses and the general media sector in Rwanda.
7. We encourage trainers to combine conventional expert/teaching presentations with facilitation of interactive learning lab exercises and contributions and inclusion of all participants.
8. Training material should be well-prepared and distributed in appropriate form as takeaway material.
9. We encourage to use case-based teaching with concrete examples of good practice from front runner media houses (preferably East Africa cases).
10. Learnings should be concrete, actionable, media professional and applicable to Rwandan context.
11. The group interaction should respect the competitive aspect of allowing participants not to reveal company secrets.

Track 2 The assignment is to do in-house training and mentoring:
1. Support a specific concrete development project proposed by the individual media companies (also taking part in track 1)
2. All partner companies will be allocated an amount of consultant/mentor time to be managed by the consultant/mentor
3. The project is within the broad thematic Media Viability scope.
4. The consultant/mentor give advice to relevant themes and facilitate in the definition, process, project implementation, follow-ups and monitoring results and failures.
5. As we encourage experimentation, continuous change efforts in internal transformation, product development and business model innovations, it is OK to use consultant time on different projects within the individual media houses.
6. The consultant/mentor do physical mentoring visits to the media company. The physical visits can be combined with online mentoring time managed by the consultant/mentor.

Documentation, coordination, sustainability, M&E:
• The lead consultant documents the results in a final report for the results and learnings from the implementation of the two tracks of the project
• The lead consultant coordinate project activities with designated staff in the Pax Press/Fojo office in Kigali
• Designated Pax Press staff will closely follow activities – to support consultants and with a ToT aspect of learning media trainings from the consultant team.
• The Fojo PM and Fojo HQ advisors and coordinators will support the project
• The Fojo International Media Viability advisor will be a key expert resource on the training scope and evaluations during the project period.
• All activities will be measured by targeted M&E methods, tools, and indicators.

Qualification requirements
Interested consultants must meet the profile below. Applications are open from individuals or a team who can consult jointly. Team-applications require a designated “Lead-consultant” to take responsibility for coordination with Fojo/Pax Press and Rwandan media partners.
The qualification requirements must be clearly stated in the consultants’ curriculum vitae, along with at least one relevant customer reference per consultant that can be contacted by the Programme.
Selection criteria for consultant/consultant team to be met:
• High level of media professionalism skills from developed through long experience from concrete work in media companies.
• Demonstrated experience in media business/corporate management and/or editorial media houses management
• A diverse consultant team is preferable (seniority/young professional, women/men, Media professional expert/Media academic expert)
• Knowledge, insights and overview of relevant media cases and best practice in media houses and media markets in East Africa
• Excellent training skills and mentoring experience
• Consultancy references from relevant media assignments
• Context specific sensitivity
• Be fluent in both spoken and written English.
• Rwanda knowledge (media, market, political, historical) is an advantage.

Evaluation criteria
Proposed method and input for carrying out the assignment track 1 and 2, max 2 A4 pages.
(max score 10, according to the scale 10 excellent, 8-9 very good, 5-7 good, 1-4 not so good to unsatisfactory answers)
Opinion note: “Opportunities and barriers for Media Viability in East Africa region and Rwanda in particular” max 2 A4 pages.
(max score 10, according to the scale 10 excellent, 8-9 very good, 5-7 good, 1-4 not so good to unsatisfactory answers)
Description of curriculum and manual development, max 1 A4 page.
(max score 10, according to the scale 10 excellent, 8-9 very good, 5-7 good, 1-4 not so good to unsatisfactory answers
Economically advantageous price
(max score 10, according to the scale 10 excellent, 8-9 very good, 5-7 good, 1-4 not so good to unsatisfactory answers)
Qualifications, experience, and diversity of consultants/ trainer team
(max score 10, according to the scale 10 excellent, 8-9 very good, 5-7 good, 1-4 not so good to unsatisfactory answers)
Total max score = 50
If two or more tenders receive the same points, preference will be given to the female candidate.
Period of the consultancy
In addition to an outlined proposal, the application shall include a timeline of key activities of the consultancy with its underlying training methodology.
The whole consultancy work shall be completed by December 31. 2025. During this period there will be two sessions of 1.5 years each. The budget to be submitted is only for one year session.
Submission of tender
The tender must contain documents describing the qualification requirements listed above (curriculum vitae) and how the consultant lives up to the criteria for evaluation. It must include both a consulting hourly and daily fee and this fee must include all related expenses like travel, food, communication, and accommodation in any part of Rwanda, and otherwise respond to the demands in the tender request.
• Application and updated CV (including relevant testimonials) should be sent by e-mail to: fulgence.niyonagizepaxpress@gmail.com, PAX PRESS Project Manager, with copy to alex.buyinza@lnu.se, FOJO Programme Coordinator and albert.baudouinpaxpress@gmail.com, PAX PRESS National Coordinator.
• The deadline for application is 15th April 2022 at 5.00 pm. Applications received after that deadline will not be accepted.
Done at Kigali on 24th March 2022
Twizeyimana Albert Baudouin
National Coordinator of PAX PRESS