Call for Application: Media Sector and Communication Channel Mapping Consultant
Search for Common Ground, Nigeria

Search for Common GroundSearch is an international conflict transformation NGO that aims to transform the way individuals, groups, governments, and companies deal with conflict, away from adversarial approaches and towards collaborative solutions. Headquartered in Washington DC, USA, and Brussels, Belgium, with 52 field offices in 29 countries, Search designs and implements multifaceted, culturally appropriate, and conflict-sensitive programs using a diverse range of tools, including media and training, to promote dialogue, increase knowledge and determine a positive shift in behaviors.
About ConsultancySearch for Common Ground (Search) is seeking the services of a Consultant (an individual or organization) for a media sector analysis and communication channel mapping across the 7 Off-Cycle election states of Anambra, Bayelsa, Edo, Ekiti, Kogi, Ondo, Osun in Nigeria. The Consultant is expected to have proven quantitative and qualitative data collection experience to facilitate baseline survey, media, and communication channels mapping. The Candidate's resume should include previous data collection experience with a detailed description of the organizations and specific tasks worked on. Candidates should also include language skills and proficiency levels of local Nigerian languages in their resumes.
Purpose and Objectives of the Mapping As part of achieving objective 3, which is to strengthen civic education and efforts to counter hate speech, misinformation, and disinformation, Search will be conducting communication channel mapping and media sector analysis to understand where diverse Nigerian youths, women, IDPs, and PWDs access election-related information. The media mapping and communication channel assessment and findings will inform effective media engagements and monitoring of communication channels for hate speech trends as well as rumour tracking and will provide recommendations to develop tailored counter hate speech messages and election-related information. This would also provide the opportunity to capture baseline information on project monitoring indicators and allow for effective assessment of progress in achieving project goals and objectives.*The anticipated year 1 output is the media sector analysis and communication channel mapping which will be conducted in off-cycle election states across the country. The findings will also support monthly hate speech monitoring studies and dissemination to stakeholders.Objectives of Media Sector Mapping and Communication Channel and baseline AssessmentThe objectives of the media sector analysis and communication channel mapping are specified below:
Media Sector Mapping* To generate a database of media houses (print, radio stations, and TV stations) and their networks in selected states.* To determine social influencers geographic location and reach in selected states and across the country* To gather information on the types of program focus - electoral and governance issues - by the media houses and social influencers while assessing their organizational capacity on civic education and countering misinformation/disinformation and hate speech.
Communication Channel Assessment* To determine appropriate communication channels for disseminating information for varying demographics (Youths, women, IDPs, and PWDs) in the selected state* To ascertain effective channels to circulate information on election and democratic processes among different demographics in targeted states and across the country
Baseline data on Misinformation and Hate Speech* To assess citizens' perception of hate speech currently. (categorization)* To assess the extent of misinformation and hate speech amongst citizens currently* To determine how and what channels hate speech is mostly spread currently* To assess citizens currently respond when they encounter hate speechFindings from this Media Sector Analysis and Communication Channel Mapping will be used to inform tailored election-related information and monitoring of hate speech in selected states. The findings will be shared with the consortium and archived to inform future program implementation. Additionally, findings will serve as reference points for radio programming activities as well as communication channels that target audience get and source information from including social media platforms.
Geographic LocationsThis assessment will be conducted in the seven off-cycle election states of Anambra, Bayelsa, Edo, Ekiti, Kogi, Ondo and Osun.
Methodology and Data Collection ToolsThe application should outline the research approach and methods for data collection to be used, including the justification for these methods related to the research questions. It must clearly explain why the proposed methodology is the most appropriate to achieve the study objectives; they must also clarify the different tools that will be used and how each of these