Terms of Reference

Purchase of the services of a researcher

Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM) is an independent non-governmental non-profit organization. We seek to build a society that guarantees freedom of expression and belief, human rights, and justice. Our vision is a democratic world based on justice, freedom, equality, and respect for human rights and dignity.

Within the framework of the work of the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM) in building a society based on respecting and protecting the right to free expression of opinion, and support media work as a form of freedom of opinion, with a focus on developing media professionalism, and based on the center’s constant efforts to support journalists and its vision that the most fundamental support is to meet the various security and protection needs of media workers.

The Media and Freedoms Program at SCM plans to produce a study that addresses:

“Comparing support mechanisms through the journalist house’s work years”

SCM is looking for a “researcher” based on the attached technical requirements and the following principles:

• Preparing the methodology and sharing it with the project team on 31^st December 2025.
• Conduct the research, including classifying and analyzing support requests received by the center.
• Preparing the draft study for audit on 28^th February 2026.
• Review and submit the final copy by 30^th April 2026
• Review the translated version of the research.
• Participation in the webinar to launch the research.

Required documents:

• Proof of work in similar projects that includes:
  • Excellent academic qualifications, at least including a master’s degree or higher in a relevant discipline (preferably in Media or Law).
  • Demonstrable experience in developing similar research for the media sector (at least five years).
  • Experience and understanding of the Syrian context and issues faced by stakeholders in Syria.
  • Demonstrable extensive experience in research, research methods,
  • Excellent analytical skills – research question design, familiarity with research methods (and their appropriate usage), report writing.
  •  At least 2 References from previous projects.
• Financial offer including:
  • The Financial compensation.
  • The validity of the offer (duration- date)

Location of Work:

• Online

Evaluation criteria

• (70%) – Tenderer’s experience with the topic‏ ‏and the capacity for similar searches
• (30%). Financial offer

Tender procedure:

• For interested service providers, please send in your offer and professional portfolio in addition to a cost sheet. Tenders shall be submitted by this Link.
• Tenders sent via email or without sufficient attachments, especially the price offer and updated CV, will be rejected.
• We encourage you to send us your questions for any clarifications before submitting your proposed cost sheet.
• Only the selected party will be notified within two weeks of the deadline below.

Deadline for submission of tenders/offers	7th December 2025 (5:00 pm Paris time)
Link for submission of tenders/offers	https://forms.gle/eeZ1py41P4QdXuoq5
For any questions or explanations:	To: [email protected]Cc:    [email protected]
Contract duration	Until the complete of the obligations of the parties
Expected starting date of execution	10th December 2025