Context

• The Samir Kassir Foundation (SKF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to defending media freedom, supporting independent journalism, and promoting human rights and democratic values across the MENA region.
• Funded by the European Union and led by BBC Media Action, the Brave Media Project is a global initiative that brings together leading media organizations to strengthen independent media, enhance gender-equitable practices, provide training and financial support, and promote solutions that safeguard democracy, human rights, and resilience against disinformation worldwide.
• Through the Brave Media Project, SKF is seeking a consultant to conduct a Governance Mentorship to an independent media outlet. The outlet is seeking to strengthen its governance systems to ensure accountability, sustainability, and the protection of its editorial independence. As the organization grows, there is a need to formalize governance structures, clarify decision-making processes, and institutionalize ethical and operational standards.

Description of Assignment

The objective of this assignment is to support the outlet in developing a comprehensive, practical, and context-adapted governance framework that:

• Clarifies roles, responsibilities, and accountability lines.
• Strengthens transparent and efficient decision-making.
• Ensures continuity and organizational resilience.
• Safeguards editorial independence and ethical standards.

The Mentor will provide structured mentorship and technical support to develop a coherent governance system, consisting of the following components:

• Governance Manual
• Decision-Making & Authority Framework
• Leadership Succession & Continuity Plan
• Code of Ethics & Code of Conduct
• Conflict of Interest Policy
• Risk Management Framework
• Editorial Independence Charter
• Whistleblowing & Conflict Resolution Mechanism

Methodology

The assignment will follow a collaborative and iterative mentorship approach which ideally includes:

• Review & Analysis: Review existing documents and practices and conduct a brief contextual analysis to identify gaps.
• Drafting Phase: Prepare drafts based on the approved outlines and agreed structure.
• Finalization: Deliver finalized, ready-to-use governance documents.
• Governance Roll-Out & Orientation: Conduct sessions to present the frameworks and support initial implementation.

Deliverables

The Mentor commits to deliver the following:

• Governance gap assessment (brief)
• Final revised governance documents
• Governance orientation and walkthrough sessions

Duration of the Assignment

The assignment will be conducted over three months, allowing adequate time for iterative drafting, validation, and internal consultations.

Qualifications

The Mentor should have:

• Proven experience in governance design and organizational development, preferably with media or civil society organizations.
• Strong understanding of independent media, editorial independence, and related governance safeguards.
• Experience developing institutional policies (e.g., decision-making frameworks, ethics, risk management).
• Strong analytical and writing skills with experience in advisory or mentorship roles.

How to Apply

If you are interested, please submit your application here by May 20, 2026 and upload your:

• Technical proposal (maximum three pages) outlining approach and methodology.
• Financial proposal (including daily rate and number of days).
• Updated CV.