Request for proposals: Strategic Plan development Ethiopian Media Council (EMC)

Consultancy title: Strategic Plan development Ethiopian Media Council (EMC)- proposals are welcome from individual consultants or from teams of consultants.

Contract: Consultancy, up to 90 days

Duration: The work is expected to start in December 2025 and be concluded no later than 28 February 2026

Reporting line: The consultant/team of consultants will report to the BBC Media Action project management team and closely coordinate all activities with both EMC and BBC Media Action.

Interested, qualified applicants should submit the following:

• Curriculum Vitae
• A cover note (in English, PDF or Microsoft Word format) highlighting relevant skills and experience
• A technical proposal outlining how the Strategic Plan development will be approached including a timeline, methodology and work plan
• A financial proposal including costs per day and any other costs
• Contact details for at least two references

Where the proposal is sent from a team of consultants, please provide information on all members of the team, division of labour and approach. Please do not send certificates or other attachments. Only shortlisted applicants will be notified.

Interested consultants should send their response to info@et.bbcmediaaction.orgby 11pm EAT on 20 November 2025. Please include “Strategic Plan development EMC” in the subject line. Please also email any questions you might have about this consultancy to info@et.bbcmediaaction.org.

Introduction

BBC Media Action is an international NGO working in Ethiopia since 2001 as a registered charity with the Authority for Civil Society Organisations (ACSO). BBC Media Action uses media and communications for good informing, connecting and empowering people around the world.

This assignment is part of BBC Media Action’s Brave Media programme aimed at enhancing the resilience of independent, public interest media around the world, co-funded by the European Commission.

Background

Under the Brave Media programme, BBC Media Action is providing technical support to its partner, the Ethiopian Media Council (EMC). EMC comprises publishers, broadcasters, media associations, and over one hundred legally registered media outlets (public, commercial, community) at federal and regional levels, including radio, TV, print, and related media CSOs. EMC acts as a self-regulatory mechanism: adjudicating complaints, upholding freedom of expression, promoting ethics, and supporting professional development of journalists.

EMC seeks a Strategic Plan that is achievable, realistic, and aligned with its mission, mandate, and long-term objectives to advance professional and ethical standards in Ethiopian mass media.

As EMC’s current Strategic Plan (2021–2025) nears completion, EMC seeks to develop a new five-year Strategic Plan (2026–2030). The plan is to provide a clear roadmap to strengthen EMC’s institutional capacity, enhance its role in promoting professional and ethical standards, and respond to Ethiopia’s evolving media and political landscape.

Objective of the Consultancy

The overall objective is to develop EMC’s new five-year Strategic Plan (2026–2030) through a participatory, evidence-based process that reflects stakeholder priorities and aligns with EMC’s mission and mandate. The Strategic Plan is to guide EMC for the next five years in strengthening its institutional capacity and governance; enhancing its influence in shaping a free, pluralistic and responsible media environment; building stronger partnerships and stakeholder engagement; and ensuring long-term sustainability and impact in the Ethiopian media landscape.

The Strategic Plan should:

• Guide EMC’s long-term vision and priorities ensuring a focus on long-term goals beyond day-to-day operations and allowing EMC to align its mission and vision with evolving national and global media trends.
• Ensure continuity and institutional learning allowing EMC to build on successes and lessons learnt of the current phase.
• Respond to changing media and policy landscapes in the Ethiopian media environment and position EMC strategically to respond to these developments.
• Ensure accountability and measure EMC’s performance against performance indicators and milestones to help EMC track progress, assess impact, and report transparently to its members, donors, and the public.
• Support resource mobilization to strengthen EMC’s ability to attract funding and technical support.
• Review EMC’s existing Strategic Plan (2021–2025) and relevant documents
• Conduct a situational analysis (SWOT Analysis) of EMC’s institutional capacity and a context analysis of the Ethiopia’s media sector
• Facilitate stakeholder consultations at federal, regional and community levels and with partner organizations (this includes interviews, focus groups, in-person and virtual workshops)
• Draft the Strategic Plan (including vision, mission, values, strategic pillars, objectives, outcomes)
• Facilitate a validation workshop and collect feedback from EMC and its stakeholders to refine the draft
• Provide an inception report (including methodology, tools, work plan)
• Review EMC’s existing Strategic Plan and relevant documents
• Conduct a situational and context analysis and provide a related report
• Conduct stakeholder consultations and provide a stakeholder consultation report
• Provide a draft Strategic Plan
• Facilitate the validation workshop
• Final Strategic Plan (2026–2030)
• Executive summary (Amharic & English)
• Communication brief

• Strong knowledge of media development, media regulation, media self-regulation, journalism ethics and professionalism, and the media landscape in Ethiopia and globally.
• Proven experience in strategic planning, organizational development, and governance.
• Experience facilitating participatory consultations and working with media councils, associations, or civil society organizations.
• Excellent analytical, writing, and communication skills.
• Fluency in English and Amharic.

This role may involve working with groups of vulnerable children, youth, and adults. For the successful candidate, mandatory training will be provided on BBC Media Action’s safeguarding policy and staff code of conduct. BBC Media Action operates a zero-tolerance policy concerning all forms of abuse and exploitation of vulnerable people. A police background check may form part of the recruitment process.