Terms of Reference (ToR):

 Hiring a Consultancy for Baseline Study – Freedom of Expression for Digital Governance-Swadhinata project

Background  

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organization that advances children’s rights and equality for girls, striving for a just world by working alongside children, young people, supporters, and partners. With a vision of a world where all children realize their full potential in societies that respect rights and dignity—a vision echoed by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development—Plan International tackles the root causes of the challenges facing girls and vulnerable children. The organization supports children from birth to adulthood, helping them prepare for and respond to crises and adversity. Through its global presence in over 75 countries and more than 80 years of experience, Plan International drives change in policy and practice at local, national, and international levels, building powerful partnerships to create lasting impact for children.

Plan International envisions a world where all children realize their full potential in societies that uphold rights and dignity. Operating in Bangladesh since 1994, Plan International Bangladesh (PIB) has been implementing high-quality, impactful programs with children at the center of its work. Under its Country Strategy 2030, PIB focuses on empowering women and girls through access to quality education, skills, and decent work, promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), reducing gender-based violence, and enhancing resilience to climate change. The organization operates from its country office in Dhaka, with a strong presence in Cox’s Bazar and Ukhiya. PIB’s current strategic priorities are delivered through three thematic areas—LEAD, Skills & Opportunities for Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship (SOYEE), and SRHR—with Disaster Risk Management (DRM) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) as cross-cutting themes. By 2030, PIB aims to influence the lives of approximately 36 million people, including 18 million women, by strengthening inclusive, community-based child protection mechanisms and driving systemic change in gender norms and power dynamics.

1. Project Overview

Freedom of Expression (FoE) is a constitutional right in Bangladesh (article 37 and 39.1) , supported by international treaties like the ICCPR . However, despite these commitments, government practices often undermine FoE. In December 2023, CIVICUS downgraded Bangladesh’s civic space from "narrowed" to "closed," citing widespread crackdowns, surveillance, and harassment of HRDs, journalists, and civil society. This has fostered fear, self-censorship, and impunity for state authorities. Laws like the Cyber Security Act   and Foreign Donations Regulation Act further restrict civic space, suppress dissent, and limit independent journalism. Media outlets, conventionally pro-government, censor news and curtail investigative reporting. Additionally, many citizens, especially marginalized groups, lack awareness of their rights due to limited access to information. This, coupled with low digital literacy, leaves them vulnerable to misinformation and manipulation. High internet costs and limited access to devices exacerbate the issue, particularly for low-income families, women, and marginalized communities. The rise of AI and deep fakes further complicates efforts to combat misinformation, eroding access to accurate information and weakening democratic accountability. The 2024 regime change in Bangladesh, following a historic popular youth movement, has created new opportunities for civil society engagement and the protection of FoE. The resignation of the former Prime Minister after widespread anti-government protests has been seen as a "second liberation" by many, signaling hope for a more inclusive political future. However, structural reforms are still pending, particularly concerning repressive laws like the Cyber Security Act and the Code of Criminal Procedure (CRPC 54), which continue to undermine citizens' rights to expression, privacy, and liberty. The government has initiated reforms, but meaningful change will depend on the political landscape's future evolution. Although public perception regarding FoE has shifted, deeply rooted systemic changes are yet to be fully realized.

The project Action strengthens CSOs, Human Rights Defenders (HRDs), and journalists by promoting FoE and supporting them in navigating digital challenges, particularly in countering misinformation and AI-generated disinformation. It raises public awareness, especially among youth, women, minorities, and marginalized groups, empowering them to speak up and overcome self-censorship (Lot 5, priority 1 and 2). The Action facilitates local advocacy dialogues on media freedom and governance while safeguarding participants' legal, digital, and physical well-being through a nationwide support mechanism. Additionally, it sensitizes duty bearers to accept constructive feedback from these groups and include them in decision-making processes. Furthermore, the Action aligns with the call’s global objective of strengthening CSOs as independent actors in good governance, focusing on fundamental rights, civic engagement, and digital literacy. It supports EU priorities like inclusive governance, women’s rights, and challenging discriminatory norms, and aligns with SDGs 5, 10, and 16. Despite shrinking civic space, national and regional efforts, such as amendments to the Cyber Security Act, Foreign Donation Regulation Act and implementation of the Right to Information Act , continue to promote FoE with support from community media and international donors. The project will promote these current existing initiatives, building on the experiences of PIan and MJF past and ongoing initiatives

2. Objectives of Baseline Study

The overall objective of the Baseline evaluation is to conduct a robust and objective study in order to assess the status of the indicators of project’s Log-frame and Monitoring and Evaluation Framework (Annex-3).
More specifically the purpose of the study is to assess the present status of intended outcomes of the Swadhinata project as:

• Civil society, human rights defenders (HRD), and media actors, successfully promote fundamental rights, create public awareness and inclusive debate, while countering disinformation, misinformation, and online harassment.
• Conducive environment is established where people, incl. youth, minorities and marginalized people, enjoy open internet, media freedom and access quality information to form opinions and speak up to participate in political, cultural and social life.
• To assess the extent to which the project applied Gender Transformative approaches and explicitly aimed for results that improve the rights of children and young people and gender equality. 

These questions aim to assess the current status relevant to the project's intended outcomes, providing a baseline for future evaluation.

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Submission of Proposal

The technical and financial proposals should be submitted electronically to the email address planbd.consultant.hiring@plan-international.org with the title “Proposal for hiring a Consultant for Baseline Study under Swadhinata project” as subject line.

Proposal submitted to any other email account or address except this will be treated as disqualified.

Submissions after the deadline 17th August, 2025 will be treated as disqualified. The proposals should be submitted in pdf format

Two different folders i.e. technical and financial should be submitted into one zip folder with a covering letter addressing to Md. Enamul Haque, Admin & Procurement Specialist, Plan International Bangladesh.

“Any direct or indirect pressure/persuasion/harassment to any Plan staff shall disqualify shortlisted consultant/vendors’

Women-owned businesses and companies actively engaged or advancing gender equality and women empowerment in the workplace are especially encouraged to apply.