Organization: Youth Cooperation Center of Dilijan (YCCD) NGO
Duty Station: Dilijan, Yerevan, Aparan, Charentsavan, Vayk
Type of Contract: Consultancy / Service Agreement
Estimated Level of Effort: Up to 30 working days
Duration: July 1 – September 15, 2026
1. Background
Youth Cooperation Center of Dilijan (YCCD) NGO is a non-governmental organization in Armenia dedicated to empowering young people and strengthening communities through education, youth participation, civic engagement, social inclusion, community development, and international cooperation. Since its establishment in 2000, YCCD has implemented numerous local, national, and international projects in partnership with international organizations, governmental institutions, educational establishments, civil society organizations, and development agencies.
Within the framework of the project “Informed First-Time Voters: Youth Participation and Information Resilience Across Armenia’s Regions”, implemented in partnership with Armenian Progressive Youth (APY) NGO and Altera Lab NGO, YCCD will support the development and implementation of a standardized media literacy and fact-checking program focused on election-related misinformation and disinformation, targeting first-time voters across youth centers in Armenia. The project aims to strengthen informed, non-partisan democratic participation among first-time voters aged 17–22 by improving civic knowledge, increasing access to fact-based information, and strengthening resilience to misinformation and manipulation.
To ensure consistency, quality, and scalability of implementation, YCCD seeks to engage an Expert to develop the complete Media Literacy, Fact-Checking, and Information Resilience Toolkit, deliver Training of Facilitators (ToF), and provide mentoring support throughout implementation.
2. Position Summary
The Expert is responsible for designing and developing a comprehensive, standardized, youth-friendly, and strictly non-partisan highly practical media literacy modules and toolkits focused on election-period realities in Armenia to be implemented by facilitators and youth workers across participating youth centres.
The Expert will prepare all required training and implementation materials, deliver Training of Facilitators (ToF), and provide technical mentoring support to facilitators during implementation. The assignment requires close collaboration with YCCD project staff, partner organizations, facilitators, youth centres, and relevant stakeholders to ensure the curriculum and implementation approach meet agreed quality standards and project objectives.
3. Key Responsibilities
Curriculum Development and Instructional Design
- Review project documentation, workplan, methodology, and implementation approach.
- Design a standardized curriculum structure and learning pathway for media literacy, fact-checking, and information resilience for first-time voters.
- Develop learning objectives and expected competencies for participants.
- Ensure alignment with principles of neutrality, non-partisanship, safeguarding, inclusion, digital safety, and do-no-harm.
- Develop practical, interactive, and youth-friendly learning methodologies that strengthen participants’ ability to critically assess information and resist manipulation.
Curriculum and Educational Materials Development
Develop a complete curriculum package including:
- Curriculum framework and methodology.
- Detailed facilitator manual (A–Z implementation guide).
- Session-by-session facilitation plans.
- Training agenda and implementation instructions.
- PowerPoint presentations for all sessions.
- Participant handouts and learning materials.
- Worksheets and practical exercises.
- Reflection materials.
- Fact-checking simulations and verification drills.
- Information verification toolkit and supporting resources.
- Digital safety guidance materials.
The curriculum shall include topics related to:Media literacy fundamentals.
- Information ecosystems and sources of information.
- Election-related misinformation and disinformation.
- Common manipulation techniques and harmful narratives.
- Source verification and fact-checking methods.
- Critical thinking and information assessment.
- Responsible online behaviour and digital citizenship.
- Digital safety and privacy basics.
- Identifying reliable sources and evidence-based information.
- Safe and responsible information sharing practices.
Facilitator Toolkit and Assessment Tools
Develop implementation and learning tools including:
- Facilitator implementation guide.
- Session preparation checklist.
- Materials checklist.
- Session reporting template.
- Participant registration forms.
- Pre-training questionnaire.
- Post-training questionnaire.
- Verification skills assessment tools.
- Scenario-based fact-checking exercises.
- Workshop evaluation forms.
- Facilitator reflection templates.
- Monitoring and documentation templates.
Training of Facilitators (ToF)
- Design Training of Facilitators programme and agenda.
- Deliver facilitator training for youth workers and project facilitators.
- Build facilitators’ knowledge and confidence to independently deliver sessions.
- Introduce facilitation techniques and workshop management approaches.
- Deliver practical facilitation exercises and simulations.
- Conduct facilitator readiness assessments.
- Revise training materials based on facilitator feedback where necessary.
Mentoring and Technical Support
- Provide technical support to facilitators during implementation upon request.
- Respond to implementation questions and challenges.
- Support adaptation of materials where required.
- Participate in coordination meetings when requested.
- Contribute to maintaining implementation quality across youth centres.
4. Deliverables and Technical Requirements
Deliverable 1. Inception Note and Curriculum Design Plan
Deadline: July 6, 2026
The Expert shall submit:
- Proposed curriculum structure and methodology;
- Proposed learning pathway and session architecture;
- Draft workplan and timeline for deliverables.
Format: Maximum 10 pages; Word and PDF formats.
Deliverable 2.Media Literacy, Fact-Checking, and Information Resilience Education Curriculum Package
Deadline: July 20, 2026
Minimum requirements:
- Curriculum framework and methodology;
- Learning objectives and competencies;
- Recommended delivery methodology;
- Estimated delivery schedule.
- Minimum 6 training sessions/modules.
Each session shall include:
- Session title;
- Duration;
- Learning objectives;
- Materials required;
- Preparation instructions;
- Detailed facilitation process;
- Discussion questions;
- Practical exercises;
- Reflection and debrief;
- Expected outcomes.
Expected duration:
- Each session should be designed for 90 minutes.
Formats: Editable Word; PDF.
Deliverable 3. Facilitation Toolkit and Learning Materials
Deadline: July 20, 2026
Minimum requirements:
Facilitator Manual:
- Comprehensive A–Z implementation guide;
- Minimum practical guidance sufficient for independent delivery by facilitators.
PowerPoint Presentations:
- One PPT presentation per session;
- Editable format (.pptx);
- Include facilitator notes where relevant;
- Apply YCCD and donor branding guidelines.
Participant Materials:
- Handouts;
- Worksheets;
- Reflection materials;
- Mock voting materials;
- Practical exercises.
Assessment and Monitoring Tools:
- Pre-training questionnaire;
- Post-training questionnaire;
- Workshop evaluation form;
- Facilitator reporting template.
Language: Armenian.
Formats: Editable and printable.
Deliverable 4. Training of Facilitators (ToF)
Deadline: July 26, 2026
Minimum requirements:
Participants: Minimum 12 facilitators and youth workers
Duration: Minimum 2 full training days
Outputs:
- Training agenda;
- Training materials;
- Attendance records;
- Training report.
Deliverable 5. Mentoring Support
Period: July 25 – September 15, 2026
Minimum requirements:
- Provide up to 10 hours technical mentoring support;
- Respond to facilitator requests;
- Participate in up to 3 training sessions to monitor the facilitators work;
- Participate in implementation troubleshooting sessions.
Final Submission Requirements
All deliverables shall:
- Be submitted in Armenian language (English executive summaries where requested);
- Be delivered in editable and PDF formats;
- Follow YCCD branding and visibility requirements;
- Become property of YCCD;
- Be subject to review and approval by YCCD.
5. Required Qualifications
- Education: University degree (Master’s preferred) in Journalism, Media Studies, Communication, Political Science, Information Security, Data Analytics, or a related field.
- Professional Experience: Minimum 5 years of professional experience in investigative journalism, fact-checking, counter-disinformation research, or digital media literacy training.
- Curriculum Background: Demonstrated experience developing educational materials, toolkits, or interactive modules specifically focused on disinformation mechanics.
- Training Delivery: Proven track record of delivering engaging, non-formal training sessions to youth cohorts (aged 17–22) in regional or rural environments in Armenia.
- Technical Toolset: Proficient handling of digital verification tools (e.g., reverse image search engines, video metadata extractors, social media archive tools).
- Core Competency: Deep analytical understanding of the domestic Armenian media ecosystem, social media trends (Telegram, TikTok, Facebook), and election-period information vulnerabilities.
- Neutrality: Uncompromising dedication to absolute political neutrality, non-partisanship, and educational safeguarding protocols.
Technical Competencies
- Strong instructional design and curriculum development skills.
- Excellent facilitation and training delivery skills.
- Experience designing educational assessments and learning tools.
- Ability to develop practical and user-friendly training resources.
- Strong computer skills including Microsoft Office Suite and Google Workspace.
Languages
- Excellent command of Armenian and English, both written and spoken.
5. Reporting Line
The Expert will report directly to the Project Coordinator and work under the technical supervision of the Project Coordinator.
6. Performance Indicators
- Timely delivery of agreed deliverables.
- Quality and usability of curriculum and toolkit.
- Successful completion of Training of Facilitators.
- Facilitator satisfaction and readiness.
- Quality and responsiveness of mentoring support.
- Compliance with donor and organizational requirements.
7. Safeguarding and Compliance
The Expert is expected to uphold the highest standards of professional conduct and ensure that all activities are implemented in accordance with YCCD organizational values and policies.
Key Responsibilities
- Adhere to YCCD safeguarding, child protection, prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA), anti-corruption, data protection, and code of conduct policies.
- Ensure that all activities are delivered in a safe, inclusive, ethical, and non-discriminatory manner.
- Promote dignity, accountability, and equal opportunities.
- Report safeguarding, misconduct, fraud, corruption, or ethical concerns in accordance with YCCD procedures.
- Ensure safeguarding considerations are integrated into curriculum, training, mentoring, and implementation support processes.
- Participate in mandatory safeguarding and compliance requirements where applicable.
8. How to Apply
Interested candidates are invited to submit their application package by 28.06.2026 to [email protected] with the subject line: “Application – Information Resilience and Fact-Checking Expert”
The application package shall include:
- Updated Curriculum Vitae (CV);
- Brief technical proposal (maximum 2 pages) outlining the proposed approach and methodology for curriculum development and delivery of Training of Facilitators;
- Financial proposal indicating the total consultancy fee in AMD (inclusive of all applicable taxes and costs);
- Portfolio and/or examples of previous relevant assignments (curricula, facilitation guides, educational materials, training programmes, publications, or similar work).
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
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YCCD, in partnership with the Partner organizations, reserves the right to close the recruitment process before the deadline if a suitable candidate is identified.
YCCD is an equal opportunity organization and encourages applications from qualified individuals regardless of gender, disability, ethnicity, religion, or background.