Ecosystem Mapping Consultant

Strengthening Media Capacity and Civil Oversight for Accountability in Lebanon

Project Background

Lebanon's governance environment is heavily impacted by systemic crises and erosion of the national integrity system. This project aims to strengthen the organizational capacity of six Lebanese media and civil society organizations (CSOs) to evaluate public data sources, apply advanced analytical workflows, and execute evidence-based accountability work.

The project integrates cutting-edge technology, AI-assisted research routines, and automated data monitoring workflows to enhance the analytical capacity of independent media and CSOs scrutinizing public procurement, registries, and financial data in Lebanon.

This project is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in partnership with Media in Cooperation and Transition (MiCT). It is funded by Germany through the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

Role Objective

The Ecosystem Mapping Consultant conducts comprehensive mapping, desk research, dataset auditing, and structured interviews to identify candidate partner organizations and evaluate the technical feasibility of data-driven oversight in Lebanon.

Key Responsibilities & Scope of Work

• Desk Research & Data Inventory: Review media freedom reporting (CPJ, RSF, SMEX, SKeyes), donor reporting (CFI Qarib), and audit public data platforms (PPA portal, CDR procurement data, Central Bank, commercial registers, TI Lebanon Ekhbar platform).
• Structured Stakeholder Interviews: Conduct structured interviews with 12–15 independent media outlets, investigative platforms, and CSOs across Lebanon to assess editorial mandates, technical capacities, legal exposure, and digital security.
• Organisational Profiling: Produce standardized organizational profiles detailing institutional readiness, technical appetite, and risk profiles for all interviewed entities.
• Shortlisting & Validation Session: Develop a prioritized shortlist of candidate partner organizations with documented rationale; present findings at the Beirut Validation Session.

Key Deliverables

1. Detailed Data Access & Platform Inventory Report.
2. Comprehensive interview notes and 12–15 standardized Organizational Profiles.
3. Final Ecosystem Mapping Report containing the prioritized candidate shortlist, selection rationale, and risk matrix.
4. Presentation materials for the Beirut Ecosystem Validation Session.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Advanced degree in Journalism, Media Studies, Sociology, Political Science, or Governance.
• Minimum 7 years of experience mapping Lebanese media landscape, civil society networks, or civic technology ecosystems.
• Demonstrated track record in qualitative research, stakeholder interviewing, and technical baseline studies.
• Native Arabic speaker with fluent English writing skills.