Location Type: Office-based (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)

Employment Type: Full-time Consultancy

Career Level: Mid-Level (3–5 years of relevant experience)

Application Deadline: July 16, 2026

Number of Positions: 1

I. Background

The African Media Integrity & Resilience Program (AMIRP) is a multi-year initiative implemented from 2026 to 2028 to strengthen the capacity, independence, integrity, and sustainability of media organizations in Ethiopia. The program contributes to improving access to reliable information, promoting public accountability, and supporting inclusive civic engagement.

Funded by the European Union (EU), coordinated by International Media Support (IMS), and implemented by OMNI Ethiopia in partnership with DW Akademie and other partners, AMIRP supports public interest media through a structured Media Fellowship. Selected media houses across television, radio, print, and digital platforms benefit from training, practical application, tools, tailored consultancy support, mentorship, and follow-up guidance.

To strengthen the editorial role of participating media houses, the Fellowship includes a dedicated component on Public Interest Journalism: OSINT in Journalism for Investigation and Verification. This component supports media houses to produce credible, evidence-based, audience-relevant, and public interest-oriented journalism, while strengthening practical skills in story development, verification, investigation, and editorial decision-making. This Terms of Reference seeks to engage a lead thematic trainer/consultant to design and deliver this component.

II. Purpose of the Assignment

The purpose of this assignment is to engage a qualified thematic trainer/consultant to develop and facilitate a practical learning package on Public Interest Journalism: Investigation, Verification, and Audience Relevance for selected media houses under the AMIRP Media Fellowship.

The assignment aims to help participating media organizations strengthen their ability to identify public interest story angles, conduct practical investigation and verification using OSINT tools, improve editorial quality, and produce journalism that responds effectively to community concerns. The consultant will design context-relevant newsroom modules grounded in the realities of the Ethiopian media landscape.

III. Scope of Work

The lead thematic trainer/consultant will be expected to:

  • Review relevant program documents and needs assessments to analyze editorial capacity gaps related to public interest journalism, investigation, and verification.
  • Design a practical Public Interest Journalism module for two Fellowship cohorts, covering investigation, verification tools (including OSINT), story development, and editorial decision-making.
  • Develop exercises, templates, checklists, and guidance notes that support evidence-based reporting, source verification, ethical investigation, and audience-focused story production.
  • Design actionable assignments that newsrooms can apply immediately, including investigation plans, verification checklists, and editorial improvement actions.
  • Conduct a Train-of-Trainers (ToT) for local assistant trainers and co-facilitate sessions with them to enhance capacity and engagement.
  • Provide follow-up newsroom support, including online clinics, assignment feedback, and technical guidance for outlet-level editorial support processes.
  • Document key learning, challenges, and structural recommendations for future Fellowship cycles.

IV. Expected Deliverables

  • An inception note outlining the proposed approach, methodology, work plan, and timeline.
  • Practical training modules, slides, handouts, case examples, investigation planning tools, and verification checklists.
  • A brief ToT plan with facilitation notes and guidance materials for local assistant trainers.
  • Delivery of workshops, masterclasses, or clinics for the targeted Fellowship cohorts.
  • Limited technical support, assignment review, and editorial planning support tailored to participating media houses.
  • A comprehensive end-of-cohort report detailing delivery outcomes, participant progress, and future recommendations.

V. Duration and Level of Effort

The assignment will take place during the AMIRP Fellowship implementation period, from August 2026 to June 2028, with exact dates to be finalized with OMNI Ethiopia. The estimated level of effort is 20–30 working days, depending on the finalized delivery format and coaching schedules.

VI. Eligibility Criteria

  • Relevant professional experience in public interest journalism, investigative journalism, fact-checking, verification, OSINT methodologies, or related fields.
  • Good understanding of the Ethiopian media context, including editorial challenges related to public interest reporting, verification, audience trust, and newsroom capacity.
  • Proven track record in designing and delivering practical training or coaching for journalists, editors, newsroom teams, or media managers.
  • Strong facilitation, communication, and reporting skills, with fluency in English (knowledge of Amharic and/or other local languages is highly valued).
  • Required Skills: Analytical capabilities, decision-making, professional communication, attention to detail, and problem-solving.

How To Apply

Interested applicants should submit the following documents combined into one single PDF file:

  1. Cover letter expressing interest and suitability for the assignment.
  2. Updated CV or organizational profile.
  3. Examples of similar previous work, where available.
  4. Brief technical proposal outlining the proposed approach and methodology.
  5. Financial proposal indicating daily rate and estimated number of days, inclusive of applicable taxes.

Please submit your application electronically to info@omniethiopia.org and copy Yodit.bayissaa@gmail.com with the exact subject line: “AMIRP Fellowship Application – Public Interest Journalism”.

Application Deadline: July 16, 2026