ERIM (Equal Rights & Independent Media), a French based organisation, is announcing a Call for Applications to select Organizational Capacity Assessment (OCA) Experts based in Armenia, Moldova, and Ukraine. The selected experts will assess local civil society organisations (CSOs) to strengthen their organisational capacities, governance, and sustainability.

CONTEXT
The present call for application is organised by ERIM within the framework of its projects FIER·ES and Democracy in Eastern Partnership (DEAP).

ERIM (Equal Rights and Independent Media) is a not-for-profit organisation based in Lyon, France. Our mission is to promote human rights, strengthen independent media and civil society, develop and maintain democratic, fair and sustainable societies where people enjoy equal rights, have access to independent information and are empowered to build the society they want to live in. ERIM's approach emphasises partnerships with local development organisations to bring about change through training, partnerships, education, research and sub-granting schemes.

The FIER·ES programme (Fostering the Inclusion, Equality and Resilience of LGBTQIA+ people) aims to support LGBTQIA+ CSOs and initiatives so that they are better able to carry out their mandate and mission and promote respect, inclusion, dignity and equality for LGBTQIA+ people in the Eastern Partnership countries and the Western Balkans. The programme is co-funded by Agence française de développement, coordinated by ERIM and led with its partners Genderdoc – M (Moldova) and the LGBTI Equal Rights Association for Western Balkans and Turkey (ERA).

DEAP is a regional project, funded by the European Union and implemented by ERIM. The project aims to promote inclusive, resilient and democratic societies in the Eastern Partnership Region by strengthening the capacities of civil society and grassroot organisations, supporting research and policy analysis, and organising cultural and networking events to promote the work of human rights defenders.

DURATION AND LEVEL OF EFFORT

The consultancy is expected to start in November 2025 with an estimated 14 working days per CSO assessed, all of which will be located in the consultant’s country of residence, over a 10–12 month period.. The consultants will be contracted as independent experts under a consultancy agreement. Payments will be made upon the submission and approval of the agreed deliverables.

BACKGROUND AND SCOPE OF THE CONSULTANCY

The two projects, DEAP and FIER·ES, aim to strengthen LGBTQIA+ Civil Society Organizations in Armenia, Moldova, and Ukraine through targeted capacity development. At least four CSOs will be selected to undergo a comprehensive Organisational Capacity Assessment (OCA) with tailored Capacity Development Plans. These plans will outline key priorities and actions to enhance each organisation’s institutional growth, effectiveness, and sustainability throughout a 10–12-month implementation period.

The selected experts will:

• Facilitate and conduct initial OCA using ERIM’s OCA Tool and prepare the OCA report
• Develop a practical and actionable capacity development plan for selected LGBTQIA+ organization(s)
• Recommend potential local consultants or experts for follow-up support and implementation
• Facilitate and conduct final OCA using ERIM’s OCA Tool and prepare the final OCA report highlighting the progresses made and further recommendations

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES AND DELIVERABLES

The OCA experts will be responsible for conducting at least one Organisational Capacity Assessment (OCAs) using ERIM's OCA Tool. The number of organizations per country may vary from 1 to 2 based on the selection process which will finalize by mid-November 2025.

Each OCA includes three phases:

EXPECTED DELIVERABLES

• OCA reports for each assigned organisation, following ERIM's tool and templates
• Develop Capacity Development Plans with clear, prioritised actions
• Mid-term review report (up to 3 pages) summarising progress and recommendations
• Final OCA report and updated Capacity Development Plan

ELIGIBILITY AND SELECTION CRITERIA

In the framework of this call, we aim to identify 1 local expert per country: 1 expert for Armenia, 1 for Moldova and 1 for Ukraine.

Education and Experience

• University degree or Master’s in a relevant field (law, human rights, development, project management, social sciences, international relations, etc.)
• Minimum 3 years of professional experience in organisational capacity development, project management, or CSOs support
• Proven experience working with civil society organisations, ideally in contexts involving human rights and/or media development

Skills and Competencies

• Strong analytical, facilitation, and reporting skills
• Experience in strategic planning, governance, and institutional strengthening.
• Excellent understanding of institutional development, communication, HR, finance, and M&E
• Fluency in English and at least one of the following: Ukrainian, Romanian, or Armenian 
• Strong local network and familiarity with civil society organizations  per target country (Armenia, Moldova, Ukraine)
• Sensitivity to issues related to gender, diversity, and inclusion particularly within LGBTQIA+ contexts
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
  *Administrative request: The expert should be able to issue an invoice in line with local regulations for consultancy work

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested candidates are invited to submit the following documents:

1. CV (up to 2 pages)
2. Cover letter outlining relevant experience, interest in this role and a short methodology (up to 3 pages)
3. Financial Proposal indicating daily rate and total cost for conducting one OCA

If you have collaborated with ERIM In the past, please state it in the application.

Please send applications by email to ocasupporteap@media-csos.com with the subject line:
“Application – OCA Expert – [Your Surname & country (Armenia / Moldova / Ukraine)”

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and early submissions are encouraged. The project team encourages applications from women, LGBTQIA+ and members of marginalised communities. 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.

Deadline: November 11, 2025 at 18:00 (local time)