Project Overview
Sonke Gender Justice seeks to hire a consultant to complete a midterm assessment to systematically evaluate the integration and effectiveness of gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) components within the media landscape under the project “Sustainable Independent Media Activity” (SIMA) in South Sudan. The Sustainable Independent Media Activity (SIMA) in South Sudan, funded by USAID, aims to bolster the resilience and sustainability of independent media. This initiative seeks to enhance the provision of credible, accurate, and reliable information to South Sudanese citizens, thereby supporting democratic processes and peacebuilding efforts.
Purpose of this Consultancy
- To assess how effectively GESI principles have been integrated into the SIMA project activities and to measure their impact on the project outcomes. This evaluation helps understand whether GESI considerations have improved media practices and influenced the broader media landscape in South Sudan since the first baseline assessment.
- To identify successful strategies and best practices in the implementation of GESI initiatives within the media project, as well as challenges that may have hindered effective integration. This helps in refining and strengthening GESI components in ongoing and future activities.
- To provide evidence-based insights and recommendations that will guide strategic adjustments in the project to enhance its effectiveness in promoting gender equality and social inclusion. This includes revising or introducing new approaches to better address the needs and rights of diverse groups.
- To assess the current capacity of media personnel, institutions, and other stakeholders in understanding and applying GESI principles. This can lead to targeted capacity-building initiatives aimed at promoting inclusive and equitable media practices.
- To hold the project accountable to its GESI objectives by transparently evaluating its progress and outcomes. This promotes transparency and accountability, ensuring that GESI is not only a stated component of the project but is actively being pursued and achieved.
- To generate insights that can support policy development and advocacy efforts aimed at creating a more inclusive and equitable media landscape in South Sudan. This can influence broader sectoral policies and practices that support GESI.
The final report should be succints and include a summary infographic for dissemination.
Budget: ZAR 150,000.00, excluding all travel costs for the evaluation team.
How to apply: Should you wish to apply, please send as four separate documents to Motlatsi@genderjustice.org.za, cc: Aliyah@genderjustice.org.za by COB 4 June 2024. If selected, induction will start on 12 June 2024.
To include in email:
- Short proposal including work plan and budget.
- Brief 1-1.5-page cover letter citing your relevant expertise for the consultancy and confirming your availability to travel to Juba for approximately 10 days in June.
- Detailed CV including examples of similar evaluations completed (4 pages maximum)
- Example of similar work completed.
Background and Context
Background and context of the project
The world’s youngest country, South Sudan is among the poorest, least developed, and most unpredictable. In 2013, two years into independence, the country broke out into brutal civil war. Though a ceasefire was reached in 2020, the country continues to struggle with inter-communal conflict and displacement, as well as a highly vulnerable economy controlled by a handful of elites and poor infrastructure repeatedly assaulted by climate disasters such as drought and flooding. It consistently falls near the bottom on indexes measuring corruption, prosperity, human development, and democracy. A 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) provided a roadmap to a planned election in 2023, yet to date, few of the agreement tasks have been implemented, including the completion this year of a full country census. During this fragile transitional period, credible, independent media have an essential role to play in keeping citizens informed, mitigating conflicts, and facilitating a peaceful, democratic society.
In designing an approach to bolster independent media amidst a wide range of obstacles, IREX’s locally led approach will improve access, sustainability, and quality of independent radio. Grounded in a Do No (More) Harm approach and fully integrating Gender Equality and Social Inclusion throughout implementation, SIMA will approach sustainability from three angles: financial sustainability, institutional sustainability, and social sustainability, grounded in an understanding that the true sustainability of any media investment is journalism’s overall impact on society, individual behaviors, and systems of governance.
To achieve this, Sonke Gender Justice leads in SIMA’s Training of Trainers approach on GESI, ensuring that GESI is appropriately and effectively utilized to strengthen and build the capacity of organizations and individuals in the media sector. This includes addressing issues of gender disparity in access to opportunities in journalism. SIMA will work with local partners to integrate gender transformative approaches and GESI strategies into ongoing institutional programming in the communities where they work.
Description of the project
| Organization | Sonke Gender Justice |
| Title of the project | Sustainable Independent Media Activity |
| Project Goal | Improve access to credible, accurate, and reliable information for South Sudanese citizens by promoting the sustainability of high quality, independent radio operations |
| Project duration | September 1, 2023, to August 30, 2025 |
| Geographical areas | The following counties and areas in South Sudan:Abyei Administrative AreaCentral Equatoria: Juba CountyEastern Equatoria: Budi, Kapoeta North and Torit countiesJonglei: Akobo, Pibor, and Twic countiesLakes: Awerial and Rumbek countiesNorthern Bahr el-Ghazal: Aweil CountyUnity: Leer and Mayendit countiesUpper Nile: Baliet, Malakal, and Renk countiesWarrap: Kuajok and Turalei countiesWestern Bahr-el Ghazal: Wau and Jur River countiesWestern Equatoria: Yambio County |
| Main objectives of the project | Objective 1: Increased access to credible information by South Sudanese citizens leading up to and beyond national elections.Objective 2: Increased sustainability of independent commercial and community radio operationsObjective 3: Improved quality of reporting from journalists and broadcasters |
| Description of direct and indirect target groups | Direct: Journalists and Media PractitionersIndirect targets: Women, Girls, Men and Boys |
| Key partners involved in the project | International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX)Association for Media Development in South Sudan (AMDISS)Aga Khan Foundation (AKF)Global Centre for Pluralism (GCP)Sonke Gender JusticeNational Press Club – South Sudan (NPC-SS) |
Purpose of the assessment
The Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) midterm assessment for the Sustainable Independent Media Activity (SIMA) project in South Sudan aims to critically evaluate and enhance the project’s effectiveness in integrating GESI principles, ensuring equitable outcomes for all participants and measurable contributions to reducing identity-based inequities within the media landscape. The specific purposes of this assessment include:
- To assess how effectively GESI principles have been integrated into the SIMA project activities and to measure their impact on the project outcomes. This evaluation helps understand whether GESI considerations have improved media practices and influenced the broader media landscape in South Sudan.
- To identify successful strategies and best practices in the implementation of GESI initiatives within the media project, as well as challenges that may have hindered effective integration. This helps in refining and strengthening GESI components in ongoing and future activities.
- To provide evidence-based insights and recommendations that will guide strategic adjustments in the project to enhance its effectiveness in promoting gender equality and social inclusion. This includes revising or introducing new approaches to better address the needs and rights of diverse groups.
- To assess the current capacity of media personnel, institutions, and other stakeholders in understanding and applying GESI principles. This can lead to targeted capacity-building initiatives aimed at promoting inclusive and equitable media practices.
- To hold the project accountable to its GESI objectives by transparently evaluating its progress and outcomes. This promotes transparency and accountability, ensuring that GESI is not only a stated component of the project but is actively being pursued and achieved.
- To generate insights that can support policy development and advocacy efforts aimed at creating a more inclusive and equitable media landscape in South Sudan. This can influence broader sectoral policies and practices that support GESI.
Assessment Objectives and scope
Scope of assessment
Time Frame
This media landscape assessment will take place between June 2024 and August 2024 when the final report will be due.
Geographical coverage
South Sudan
Target Groups
This assessment will target media personnel, project beneficiaries, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Media institutions and associations.
Domains of GESI Analysis
The assessment will explore shifts in any of the following six domains of GESI since the baseline assessment conducted in 2023 to understand their impact on outcomes of the SIMA project:
- Access to and Control Over Assets and Resources: Assessing whether there is a shift in equitable access to and control over media resources and opportunities, including technology, information, and financial resources.
- Power and Decision-Making: Evaluating shifts in decision-making power within the media landscape and how this impacts the representation and inclusion of various genders and social groups.
- Roles, Responsibilities, Participation, and Time-Use: Observing the shifts in roles and responsibilities assigned to different genders within media operations and how these roles impact their participation and time allocation.
- Human Dignity, Safety, and Wellness: Focusing on the safety, dignity, and overall wellness of individuals within the media environment, particularly looking at protection from harassment and discrimination.
These domains will guide the collection and analysis of data, ensuring a time-sensitive, comprehensive understanding of how changes in the domains since the initial baseline may have impacted SIMA’s GESI approaches and outcomes, and whether SIMA may have influenced changes within the domains in South Sudan’s media sector.
Assessment methodology
Proposed assessment methodology and data collection
The consultant should clearly outline the proposed methodology in the proposal. Both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods, which are participatory in their approaches should be used for findings to be validated through triangulation to enhance the credibility and reliability of the baseline evaluation.
Proposed data collection methods and analysis
The proposal should describe the data collection method, data sources and data analysis approaches. A Mixed-Gender Research Pair methods are highly recommended.
Proposed sampling methods
The proposal should clearly describe the sampling method used for each data collection method.
Field Visits
Consultant will conduct a field visit to South Sudan to physically engage with the project beneficiaries, partners and stakeholders.
Evaluation ethics
In preparing the proposal, the evaluator/s must put in place specific safeguards and protocols to protect the safety (both physical and psychological) of respondents and those collecting the data and to prevent harm. Members of the evaluation team should understand and be sensitive to the political, socioeconomic, historical, and cultural context across sites where data collection occurs and ensure the rights of the individual are protected and participation in the evaluation does not result in further violation of their rights. The evaluator/s must have a plan in place to:
- Protect the rights of respondents, including privacy and confidentiality in line with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPI Act).
- Prioritize the safety and welfare of the all respondents involved in the research. Implement measures to prevent harm, abuse, or exploitation, and have protocols in place to respond promptly to any safeguarding concerns that may arise during the research process.
- Adhere to any additional regulatory requirements or guidelines specific to research involving in South Sudan.
- Elaborate on how informed consent will be obtained and to ensure that the names of individuals consulted during data collection will not be made public.
- If the project involves children (under 18 years old) the evaluator/s must consider additional risks and the need for parental consent and youth assent.
- Be sensitive to the cultural norms, values, and practices of the communities where the research is conducted. Ensure that the research methods, data collection tools, materials, and interactions are culturally appropriate and respectful of diversity.
- Data collection visits should be organized at the appropriate time and place to minimize risk to respondents.
- The interviewer or data collector must be able to provide information on how individuals in situations of risk can seek support (referrals to organizations that can provide counseling support, for example).
Key deliverables of the evaluator and timeframe
| No. | Deliverable | Deadline |
| 1 | Evaluation Inception Report | 19th June 2024 |
| 2 | Draft Evaluation Report + summary infographic draft | 26th July 2024 |
| 3 | Evaluation Findings Presentation | Week of 5th August 2024 |
| 4 | Final Evaluation Report + final summary infographic | 23rd August 2024 |
Evaluation team composition
Roles and responsibilities
The lead and co lead evaluator will be responsible for undertaking the evaluation from start to finish and for managing the assessment team under the supervision of GESI Specialist from Sonke Gender Justice for the data collection and analysis, as well as report drafting and finalization in English.
Required Competencies
Team lead and co lead:
- Evaluation experience at least 10 years in conducting external evaluations, with mixed-methods evaluation skills and having flexibility in using non-traditional and innovative evaluation methods
- Experience with program design and theory of change, gender-responsive evaluation, participatory approaches, and stakeholder engagement.
- Experience in collecting and analysing quantitative and qualitative data as well as data visualization.
- In-depth knowledge of South Sudanese Gender, political and Socio-economic status is advantageous.
- A strong commitment to delivering timely and high-quality results, i.e., credible evaluation and a report with actionable recommendations for the implementation team.
- A strong team leadership and management record of accomplishment, as well as interpersonal and communication skills to help ensure that the evaluation is understood and used.
- Good communication skills and ability to communicate with various stakeholders and to express concisely and clearly ideas and concepts.
- Regional/Country experience and knowledge: in-depth knowledge of country South Sudan
- Language proficiency: fluency in English
Management Arrangements of the evaluation
The overall evaluation will be managed by Sonke’s GESI Specialist with support of the Sonke Research Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (RMEL) unit. Evaluators will liaise with the Sonke RMEL unit and program staff for relevant project documentation and clarification, assistance in liaising and connecting with relevant stakeholders and primary and secondary beneficiaries. The Sonke RMEL unit manager will also set up feedback/check-in sessions to discuss any further support or clarification required.
Budget
The total assessment budget is ZAR 150,000.00, excluding all travel costs for the evaluation team.
