Final Study Author for MARIO project

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19 Dec 2025

Title

Final Study Author for MARIO project

Project name: Minorities, Accountability, Rights, Independence and Organizational Development (MARIO)Aim: Mapping the impact of MARIO programme on civil society organisations (CSOs); evaluating positive change in the civic space in the EU-11 region.

Background of the project

CSOs play a key role in society; when the space in which CSOs can operate shrinks, it is a sign that the rule of law is at risk. Within EU-11 states, minority CSOs are facing serious challenges, including financial restrictions or controls, inadequate protection against physical or verbal attacks and a lower national level of protection of the fundamental rights that guarantee the free operation of civil society. MARIO aims to advance the protection, promotion and awareness of EU fundamental rights and values in these states. The programme seeks to achieve this by increasing the capacity and resilience of CSOs and creating a supportive environment for them. Towards this end, the project financially supports and builds the capacity of grassroots CSOs representing minority groups. See more about the project and Minority Rights Group here.

Assignment

The selected author would produce the Final Study of MARIO. The original report in English will be printed and distributed to at least 300 stakeholders including decision makers and policy influencers CSOs, EU institutions and journalists. Moreover, the final study will be presented at a launch event in Brussels. The electronic version of the report will be also widely disseminated. The study will focus on the following topics:

• Demonstration of best practices and positive examples of minority rights protection in the target countries
• To what extent targeted minority CSOs use existing frameworks, instruments and their enforcement procedures within the EU including Rule of Law report, annual report on the application of the Charter of fundamental rights, as well as the Citizenship report and
• The impact of the different project activities on the legal and political environment of the civic space.

The study will be comprised of desk and empirical research. Interviews will be set up with grantees and beneficiaries and audience of the grantees to ensure measurable and comparable results. It should pay close attention to intersectional discrimination, and the experience faced by women, youth, the elderly, and people with disabilities (PwD).

Final study aims & objectives

The overall aim of the final study is to map the impact of the CSOs who were involved in the project activities throughout the project period and to demonstrate through examples how the project contributed to any positive change in the civic space in the EU 11 region. Objectives:

• to measure the change in the situation of civic space in the EU 13 countries with shrinking civic space and assess the long- and medium-term effects of the project intervention.
• the final study gives and overview of the shrinking civic space and project results and new initiatives (good practices, case studies, follow up projects, new collaboration among grantees, new fundraising).
• Based on the findings of the evaluation, to develop a set of suggestions and key recommendations for international actors, EU and international NGOs as MRGE and its partners’ future and continued activities.

Key tasks

The author is ultimately responsible for sourcing the data for the report via desk research, interviews, focus group discussions. Tasks:

• to review all project documentation and conduct separate interviews and/or surveys with CSO grantees and target communities and to summarise results in the Final Study. The consultant will be expected to take gender and other cross-cutting issues into account.
• Read all grantees materials, final reports and project outcomes and select best practices to be replicated in the region.

Final study specifications:

• Language of the report: English
• Timeline: January 2026 – 15 February 2026
• Length: Up to 40 pages plus annexes

Experience and expertise required

• Extensive knowledge of and experience in human rights, minority rights and Roma rights
• Good knowledge of the Central-Eastern European region, including political, social, legal, media context, particularly with regards to the situation of Roma and anti-gypsyism.
• Experience with monitoring, capacity-building, advocacy and campaigning projects.
• Ability to speak, read and write fluently in English.
• Ability to regional languages at a good level is desirable.
• Experience in advocacy, campaigning, monitoring and work with minority NGOs and in research would be an asset, including previous publications on similar topics;
• Be able to work independently, arranging appointments and interviews for him/herself.

How to apply

If you are interested, please complete the form below and attach the required documents:

• CV (if the evaluation will be carried out by a team, all team members’ CV should be submitted).
• Expression of Interest – indicating relevant experience, knowledge and how you meet the candidate’s requirements.
• Examples of, or links to, evaluations completed by the expert/team members with similar elements.

MRGE values diversity, and applicants from minority backgrounds are particularly encouraged to apply.