IMS Media Market Reform Consultant

IMS (International Media Support) is inviting interested and qualified consultants to submit proposals for an assignment. IMS requires the Advertising Market Liberalisation & Media Market Reform Adviser to provide strategic expertise to support IMS and national stakeholders in advancing evidence-based reforms that promote fair competition, transparency, and economic viability, in line with European standards and Moldova’s EU accession trajectory.

Moldova’s media sector continues to operate without a coherent, long-term strategy that links freedom of expression, economic sustainability, and democratic resilience. While pluralism exists, independent media remain economically fragile, structurally fragmented, and exposed to political, economic, and hybrid pressures that undermine information integrity.

Key responsibilities 

• Identify regulatory, economic, and structural barriers limiting the growth and fairness of the advertising market.
• Assess macro-economic factors influencing media viability, including advertising expenditure trends, fiscal policy impacts, digital platform revenue extraction, access to capital, and broader economic conditions affecting the media sector
• Promote transparent, competitive, and non-discriminatory allocation of advertising revenues, including state advertising.
• Address market concentration, monopolistic practices, and platform-related distortions.
• Contribute to reforms that enable independent media to operate on sustainable commercial foundations.

Eligibility 

• Advanced University degree in law, economics, public policy, media studies, or a related field.
• At least 10 years of professional experience in media regulation, advertising markets, competition policy, or market reform.
• Demonstrated experience conducting market and regulatory analysis and producing policy -oriented recommendations.
• Strong understanding of EU media and competition frameworks and freedom of expression standards.
• Excellent analytical, drafting, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Participation in the drafting or reform of advertising – related legislation in EU Member States that have undergone post-transition media market reform, including but not limited to Estonia, Latvia, or Lithuania.
• Experience contributing to legal or policy reforms that strengthened advertising market transparency, competition, and independence from political influence.
• Familiarity with media market reforms in Eastern Partnership or EU accession contexts.
• Excellent communication skills in English; proficiency in Romanian will be considered an advantage

How to apply

Please download and review the supporting pack before submitting a tender. Download the Supporting Pack here: AMR Adviser Moldova – Supporting Pack. You will need to complete a tender that shall be submitted to IMS electronically through the portal. The tender shall be composed of the following parts:

• CV
• Cover letter
• Financial proposal

The tender and supporting documents are to be submitted before 26th May 2026. Applicants should be submitted on this portal.