Reporters sans Frontières Is Hiring an External Evaluation Consultant – Apply by 1 June 2026
The international press freedom organization Reporters sans Frontières has announced a consultancy opportunity for an external evaluation of its EU-funded project focused on strengthening the sustainability of an independent, free, and pluralist media ecosystem in Ukraine. This assignment is part of a broader effort to assess the effectiveness, relevance, and long-term impact of media support initiatives implemented in a highly challenging conflict environment.
The consultancy is designed for experienced evaluation professionals with strong expertise in media development, humanitarian or conflict-sensitive programming, and EU-funded project assessment frameworks.
Context: Media Freedom Under Pressure in Ukraine
Since the escalation of the conflict in 2022, Ukraine’s media landscape has faced unprecedented disruption. Journalists and media workers continue to operate under severe security risks, infrastructure damage, and increasing disinformation campaigns.
Key contextual challenges include:
- Targeted attacks on journalists and media infrastructure
- Destruction of communication and energy systems affecting reporting capacity
- Arbitrary detention, harassment, and forced labour of journalists in occupied territories
- Heavy dependence on international funding following reductions in donor support
- Rising psychological and operational stress among media professionals
Despite these challenges, press freedom initiatives have continued to support over 2,000 journalists and more than 200 media outlets, helping sustain independent reporting on the war and its humanitarian consequences.
Purpose of the Evaluation Assignment
The consultancy aims to conduct a comprehensive external evaluation of a project funded by the European Union under the “Ukraine Facility” mechanism. The project focuses on enhancing media resilience, sustainability, and independence in Ukraine.
The main objectives of the evaluation include:
- Assessing the overall effectiveness and relevance of project implementation
- Identifying lessons learned for future programming in conflict environments
- Evaluating the sustainability and long-term impact of interventions
- Providing recommendations for improving future project design and delivery
- Supporting accountability toward donors and stakeholders
The evaluation will also examine how effectively the project integrated lessons from previous initiatives implemented in Ukraine.
Scope of the Project Evaluation
The evaluation covers activities implemented between December 2024 and December 2026. It focuses exclusively on interventions conducted within Ukraine and involves multiple stakeholder groups.
Key target groups include:
- Ukrainian journalists working in conflict conditions
- International journalists reporting from Ukraine
- Media outlets of varying sizes, including regional and independent platforms
- Final audiences relying on trustworthy information to counter disinformation
The evaluation will also consider the broader impact on the general public, particularly in terms of access to reliable information.
Key Evaluation Focus Areas
The consultancy is structured around three main dimensions: relevance, effectiveness, and sustainability.
Relevance and Coherence
The evaluation will assess whether the project design aligned with the needs of journalists and media organizations.
Key questions include:
- Whether project activities responded to evolving security and media conditions
- The adaptability of interventions to Ukraine’s political and cultural environment
- The added value of coordination with other international and local actors
- The integration of lessons from previous RSF projects
Effectiveness and Efficiency
This area focuses on implementation performance and resource utilization.
Important considerations include:
- Adequacy of financial, human, and technical resources
- Responsiveness to emerging risks and contextual changes
- Achievement of planned outputs and outcomes
- Effectiveness of RSF’s field presence in supporting beneficiaries
- Visibility and accessibility of project services and tools
Impact and Sustainability
The evaluation will explore the long-term influence of the project on Ukraine’s media ecosystem.
Key points include:
- Contribution to media sustainability and resilience
- Strengthening of independent journalism structures
- Promotion of gender equality in media participation and benefits
- Enhancement of collaboration among media support organizations
- Early signs of systemic or structural change in the media sector
Methodological Expectations
The evaluation is expected to follow a participatory and gender-responsive approach. Consultants will be required to design and implement a robust methodology that ensures inclusivity and reliability of findings.
Proposed methodological elements include:
- Qualitative interviews with journalists, media managers, and stakeholders
- Document and policy analysis of project outputs and EU frameworks
- Field consultations where feasible and secure
- Stakeholder validation workshops for shared learning
- Risk-sensitive data collection approaches to ensure informant safety
The evaluation must adhere to OECD-DAC quality standards and prioritize ethical research practices in conflict settings.
Required Expertise for Consultants
The assignment requires highly qualified professionals with a strong background in evaluation and media ecosystems.
Essential qualifications include:
- Advanced degree in journalism, international relations, development studies, or related fields
- At least 5–9 years of experience in monitoring and evaluation
- Proven experience evaluating EU-funded or humanitarian media projects
- Strong understanding of the Ukrainian media and political context
- Fluency in English and Ukrainian (French considered an asset)
Additional desirable competencies:
- Experience in conflict or post-conflict environments
- Familiarity with press freedom and disinformation issues
- Ability to lead multidisciplinary evaluation teams
- Strong analytical and report-writing skills
Deliverables and Timeline
The consultancy will follow a structured timeline from mid-2026 to early 2027. Key deliverables include:
- Inception report outlining methodology and workplan
- Data collection tools and stakeholder mapping
- Draft and final evaluation reports (maximum 30 pages)
- Executive summary in English and Ukrainian
- PowerPoint presentation of key findings
Key milestones include:
- Kick-off: July 2026
- Data collection: September–October 2026
- Draft report submission: December 2026
- Final report approval: January 2027
The total consultancy budget is capped at €20,000.
Application Process
Interested consultants are invited to submit a complete application package including:
- Technical proposal with methodology and workplan
- Financial proposal outlining total costs
- Updated CV(s)
- Examples of previous relevant evaluation work
Applications must be sent by email to:
Subject line reference: FRS Ukraine Media Evaluation 2026
Deadline for submission: 1 June 2026 (09:00 CET)
Conclusion
This consultancy represents a significant opportunity for evaluation experts to contribute to strengthening independent journalism in one of the most challenging media environments in the world. The work of Reporters sans Frontières in Ukraine highlights the critical importance of safeguarding press freedom, supporting media resilience, and ensuring access to reliable information during times of conflict.
Through rigorous evaluation, the assignment aims to generate actionable insights that will improve future programming and reinforce the global commitment to free and independent media systems.
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