Indonesia Book Ecosystem
Terms of Reference – Research Consultant
Background
Founded in 2000 on the belief that World Change Starts with Educated Children®, Room to Read develops children’s foundational literacy skills, as well as life skills that promote gender equality. Room to Read nurtures these essential skills in children by training and coaching educators, creating quality learning materials and spaces, strengthening education systems, and delivering programs directly and with partners – all while honoring the dignity of every child. Room to Read has benefited children across 29 countries, with more than 17 million children actively benefiting from our programming in 2025 alone. Room to Read envisions a world free from illiteracy and gender inequality, where all children have room to read, learn and grow.
Over the past decade, Room to Read has implemented a literacy program in Indonesia, focused on building the capacity of publishers and increasing demand for books through school libraries. With implementing partner, Provisi Mandiri Pratama, Room to Read has worked with 9 commercial publishers, 70 authors, 67 illustrators, 10 editors, 8 art directors, government institutions, and other actors to develop 141 children’s storybooks, supporting the development of a sustainable children’s book ecosystem and promote reading for children in primary school.
After more than ten years of programming, Room to Read seeks to assess the impact of its work and identify key lessons learned to support the publishing ecosystem. This research will help inform future strategy and contribute to broader knowledge on strengthening children’s publishing ecosystems.
Purpose of the Research
The purpose of this consultancy is to analyze the evolution of the children’s book ecosystem in Indonesia over the past decade and understand the contribution of Room to Read’s initiatives.
The research will identify key successes, lessons learned, and effective approaches that have contributed to strengthening the supply and demand of children’s literature.
Research questions
The research should address the following core questions:
1. How has the Indonesian children’s book publishing system changed from 2014 to today? Please consider the following:
- Availability and capacity of authors, illustrators, and other creatives
- Type and availability of books available on the markets
- Number of publishers
- Professional and editorial capacity of publishers
- Any other relevant metrics
2. Have Room to Read’s interventions contributed to the changes identified in the book publishing sector in Indonesia? In what ways?
3. Additional sub-questions may include, but are not limited to:
- Which ecosystem actors / institutions / policies / regulations played key roles in these changes?
- What barriers remain in strengthening the children’s book ecosystem in Indonesia?
- What opportunities exist for further growth and sustainability?
Scope of Work
1. Research Design
Proposals should describe the proposed research framework and methodology for examining the evolution of Indonesia’s children’s book ecosystem over the past decade and assessing the contribution of Room to Read’s initiatives. The consultant should outline the overall research approach, including how ecosystem changes will be examined and how Room to Read’s role within the broader sector will be analyzed. Consultants should identify the key stakeholder groups to be included and describe how the research design will ensure credible and balanced insights across ecosystem actors.
2. Data Collection
Proposals should detail data collection methods and tools. At a minimum, these should include a desk review of relevant program documentation and sector literature, as well as qualitative data collection through key informant interviews with stakeholders such as publishers, authors, illustrators, educators, distributors, policymakers, and other relevant actors. Consultants may also propose focus group discussions or additional methods where appropriate. The proposal should describe the anticipated sample of respondents, the approach to recruitment, and how the data collection process will ensure representation of key perspectives across the ecosystem.
3. Data Analysis
Proposals should describe the analytical approach that will be used to synthesize findings from the desk review and qualitative data collection. The consultant should explain how data will be analyzed to identify patterns of ecosystem change, including shifts in the supply, quality, and diversity of children’s books, as well as changes in the capacity of publishers and other sector actors. The proposal should also outline how findings will be triangulated across sources to strengthen validity and generate clear lessons learned. Particular attention should be given to identifying the pathways through which Room to Read’s initiatives may have contributed to observed ecosystem changes.
4. Reporting and Presentation
- Present preliminary findings to the organization
- Incorporate feedback and refine analysis
- Present findings to Room to Read in short report and PowerPoint presentation
Deliverables and Timeline
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Activity
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Timeline
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Development and refinement of Research Plan for RtR approval
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Week 1-2
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Development of data collection tools
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Weeks 3
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Data collection
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Weeks 4-7
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Draft Research Report
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Weeks 8-9
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Room to Read feedback
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Week 10
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Final report and short presentation deck
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Week 11-12
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*RtR may request regular progress updates and meetings, as needed.
Consultant Qualifications
- Strong qualitative research and analytical skills
- Experience conducting ecosystem or market research
- Background in publishing or literacy
- Experience working with publishers in Indonesia
- Experience working with nonprofits or international development organizations
- Familiarity with children’s literature or book sector development in Indonesia
- Based in Indonesia and fluent in Bahasa Indonesia, preferred.
To Apply
Interested candidates are invited to send their CV, a brief proposal and line-item budget, and examples of past work to alyson.moskowitz@roomtoread.org by 15 June 2026. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.