Terms of Reference African Media Integrity & Resilience Program (AMIRP) Media Fellowship – Ethiopia Thematic Trainer / Consultant – Digital 18 views

Terms of Reference

African Media Integrity & Resilience Program (AMIRP) Media Fellowship – Ethiopia

Thematic Trainer / Consultant – Digital Transformation and Responsible AI in Journalism

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 will benefit from training, practical application, tools, tailored consultancy support, mentorship, and follow-up guidance.

As media organizations continue to adapt to changing audience behavior, digital platforms, emerging technologies, and the growing use of artificial intelligence, the Fellowship will include a dedicated component on Digital Transformation and Responsible AI in Journalism. This component is intended to help participating media houses strengthen their digital workflows, improve audience engagement, explore practical digital tools, and apply AI responsibly, ethically, and safely within newsroom and organizational contexts. This Terms of Reference therefore seeks to engage a lead thematic trainer/consultant to design and deliver the Digital Transformation and Responsible AI component of the Fellowship.

II. Purpose of the Assignment

The purpose of this assignment is to engage a qualified thematic trainer/consultant to design and facilitate a practical learning package on Digital Transformation and Responsible AI in Journalism for selected media houses under the AMIRP Media Fellowship.

The assignment aims to support participating media organizations to assess their digital readiness, identify opportunities for digital innovation, strengthen newsroom and organizational workflows, and explore responsible uses of AI in journalism, content production, audience engagement, and media management.

The consultant will design and deliver context-relevant training sessions, practical tools, assignments, and follow-up guidance that enable participating media houses to apply learning directly within their organizations. The assignment should be grounded in the Ethiopian media context and suitable for media houses with different levels of digital capacity and institutional readiness.

III. Scope of Work

Selected media organizations will receive a structured package of support, including training, practical assignments, coaching, peer learning, and tailored follow-up. The lead thematic trainer/consultant will be expected to:

1. Review relevant program documents, including needs assessment findings and application responses, and analyze digital transformation and responsible AI needs across participating media houses.
2. Design a practical Digital Transformation and Responsible AI in Journalism module for two Fellowship cohorts, including exercises, assignments, templates, tools, and guidance notes tailored to the Ethiopian media context.
3. Develop practical assignments and thematic outputs that support digital workflow improvement, audience engagement, innovation, responsible AI use, and outlet-level consultancy processes.
4. Coordinate with relevant program colleagues to ensure the curriculum complements existing digital and AI-related tools, including the AI Sandbox where applicable.
5. Conduct a ToT for assistant trainers and co-facilitate sessions with them to strengthen facilitation, follow-up, and participant engagement.
6. Provide limited follow-up support to selected media houses, including online clinics, assignment feedback, and technical guidance, and contribute to outlet-level digital transformation and responsible AI implementation plans.
7. Document key learning, participant engagement, lessons learned, and recommendations for future Fellowship cycles.

IV. Expected Deliverables

The consultant is expected to submit the following deliverables:

1. A brief inception note outlining the proposed approach, methodology, work plan, timeline, and adaptation of the module to participating media houses.
2. Practical modules, slides, handouts, exercises, assignments, case examples, digital workflow tools, responsible AI guidance, and other relevant resources.
3. A brief ToT plan with facilitation notes and guidance materials for assistant trainers.
4. Delivery of agreed training sessions, workshops, masterclasses, or clinics for the relevant Fellowship cohorts.
5. Limited technical support to participating media houses, including assignment review, feedback on thematic outputs, and outlet-level planning support.
6. A short report after each cohort summarizing delivery, participant engagement, key observations, lessons learned, challenges, and recommendations.

V. Duration, Delivery Format 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 agreed with OMNI Ethiopia and relevant program partners.

Delivery may include in-person workshops, online sessions, hybrid masterclasses, ToT sessions, follow-up clinics, coaching sessions, and coordination meetings.

The module should be designed for two Fellowship cohorts and delivered flexibly to minimize disruption to newsroom operations.

The estimated level of effort is 20 – 30 working days, with the final number of days to be agreed during contracting based on the Fellowship schedule, delivery format, coordination needs, and follow-up support required.

VI. Eligibility Criteria

Applicants should meet the following minimum requirements:

1. Relevant experience in digital transformation, digital media, newsroom innovation, responsible AI, media technology, or related fields.
2. Good understanding of the Ethiopian media context, including challenges related to digital readiness, audience engagement, platform use, innovation, and responsible technology adoption.
3. Experience designing and delivering practical training, coaching, or technical support for media organizations, journalists, editors, managers, digital teams, or similar groups.
4. Ability to develop practical training materials, tools, templates, and assignments that can be applied by participating media houses.
5. Strong facilitation, communication, and reporting skills, with fluency in English. Knowledge of Amharic and/or other Ethiopian languages is an added advantage.