TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR); Review and Pretesting of Vroom Audio

Job Description

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR THE SERVICE OF REVIEW AND PRETESTING OF VROOM AUDIO CLIPS FOR THE MALE ENGAGEMENT PROJECT, SIERRA LEONE

TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR); Review and Pretesting of Vroom Audio Clips for the Male Engagement Project, Sierra Leone

1. Background

BRAC Sierra Leone, with funding from the Bezos Foundation, is implementing the Male Engagement Project. This two-year initiative promotes positive, responsive, and nurturing parenting among male parents and caregivers by delivering parenting messages via mobile phones. The project aims to support fathers and male caregivers in adopting improved parenting practices, contributing to the holistic development of their children.

As part of this initiative, BRAC has contextualized Vroom tips for Sierra Leone and will produce audio clips in three local languages: Temne, Mende, and Krio. These audio messages will encourage fathers and male caregivers to engage actively in their children’s learning and development. The languages were selected based on the project’s geographical scope. Messages will be delivered through SMS, Interactive Voice Response (IVR), and WhatsApp.

2. Purpose of the Consultancy

The consultant will conduct a comprehensive review and pretesting of the audio clips to ensure they meet quality standards for community-based early childhood messaging. This dual process will verify that the language, tone, and content are:

• Accurately translated from English into Temne, Mende, and Krio without loss of meaning.
• Culturally appropriate and respectful of local parenting traditions and gender norms.
• Accessible and easily understood by the target audience, including those with varying literacy levels.
• Age-appropriate for the target child age range (to be specified).
• Aligned with principles of positive parenting and male engagement.
• Technically clear, with appropriate pacing, pronunciation, and audio quality.
• Effective and resonant with fathers and male caregivers, as validated through direct community feedback.

3. Scope of Work

The consultant will be responsible for the following key activities:

1. Review of Audio Content:

• Review the content framework and contextualization process.
• Assess recorded Vroom tips audio clips in Temne, Mende, and Krio.
• Evaluate the accuracy, clarity, and cultural relevance of the language used.
• Provide detailed feedback and recommendations for improvement.
• Review final audio clips from the recording studio and share observations with the team.

1. Community-Based Pretesting:

• Design a pretesting methodology and tools to gather feedback from the target audience.
• Conduct pretesting sessions in selected sample communities.
• Gather and analyze feedback on comprehension, relevance, acceptability, and potential impact of the audio messages.
• Support finalization of audio scripts based on pretesting insights, if needed.

1. Reporting and Collaboration:

• Provide feedback and recommendations for improvements.
• Attend a project workshop and present the review and pretesting process and findings to stakeholders.

4. Deliverables

All deliverables must be submitted in English.

Deliverable 1: Inception Report & Pretesting Plan
Due: 2 weeks after contract signing

• Detailed work plan with timeline.
• Proposed review methodology and tools.
• Design of pretesting methodology, sample selection criteria, and data collection tools.

Deliverable 2: Preliminary Review & Pretesting Report
Due: 3 weeks after receipt of audio clips

• Detailed assessment of each clip using a standardized template.
• Summary of pretesting process, findings, and community feedback.
• Analysis of translation accuracy, cultural relevance, and clarity.
• Priority categorization (e.g., approve as-is, minor edits, major revision required) with justifications.
• Suggested alternative phrasing or translations where applicable.

Deliverable 3: Workshop Presentation
Due: 4 weeks after commencement

• PowerPoint summary of the combined review and pretesting process, key findings, and community insights.
• Overview of common issues and patterns identified.
• Actionable recommendations for finalizing audio clips and for future production.

Deliverable 4: Final Review & Validation Report
Due: 7 days after receipt of revised audio clips

• Final assessment of all revised clips incorporating pretesting feedback.
• Written approval/sign-off for clips ready for dissemination.
• Consolidated lessons learned and recommendations document.

5. Duration

The consultancy will be conducted over 4 weeks, requiring an estimated 22 consultant days, structured as follows:

• Weeks 1–2: Inception, tool finalization, and initial review.
• Week 3: Community pretesting sessions, data analysis, and workshop participation.
• Week 4: Final review, reporting, and sign-off.

Start Date: 1 March 2026
End Date: 31 March 2026

6. Location

The consultancy requires in-country presence for the community pretesting component. The consultant must be based in or travel to Sierra Leone to conduct community sessions. All materials will be shared electronically via a specified platform (e.g., Dropbox, Google Drive, wetransfer).

7. Qualifications and Requirements

Essential:

• Minimum 5 years of experience in early childhood development (ECD) and parenting programs.
• Fluency and expertise in Temne, Mende, and Krio languages.
• Proven experience in language review, audio content validation, or ECD communication.
• Demonstrated experience designing and conducting community-based pretesting of audio or communication materials.
• Familiarity with Sierra Leonean culture, parenting practices, and gender norms.
• Demonstrated ability in content review, translation validation, or quality assurance of audio/multimedia materials.
• Understanding of positive parenting and male engagement strategies.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.

Desirable:

• Previous experience with Vroom tips or similar parenting messaging programs.
• Experience working with BRAC or similar international development organizations.
• Familiarity with mobile-based behavior change communication.
• Knowledge of gender-transformative approaches in parenting programs.
• Experience facilitating workshops and presenting to diverse stakeholders.

8. Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be assessed based on responsiveness, compliance, and combined technical/financial scoring. Only consultants achieving the minimum technical score will proceed to the interview stage.

1. Technical Proposal (50 marks | Pass mark: 40)

• Relevant experience in ECD/parenting programs: 15 points
• Demonstrated Temne, Mende, and Krio language expertise: 15 points
• Experience in audio/content review AND community pretesting: 10 points
• Understanding of methodology and approach, including pretesting design: 10 points

1. Interview & Presentation (20 marks)

• Clarity of proposed review and pretesting methodology: 8 points
• Understanding of project objectives and context: 6 points
• Communication skills and professionalism: 6 points

1. Financial Proposal (30 marks)
   Scored using the formula: (Lowest priced proposal / Proposal price) × 30

9. Submission Requirements

Interested consultants must submit the following as separate PDF files by 27 January 2026 to magdalene.ykargbo@brac.net /contact details- +23276558325/ +23276517489 with the subject line: “Consultant for Review and Pretesting of Vroom Audio Clips”.

1. Technical Proposal (max. 3 pages) including:
   • Understanding of the assignment.
   • Proposed review and pretesting methodology and approach.
   • Work plan with timeline.
   • Examples of similar previous work, specifically highlighting pretesting experience.
2. Financial Proposal including:
   • Professional fee (daily rate × number of days).
   • Itemized costs related to pretesting (e.g., local travel, community facilitator fees, etc.).
   • Other applicable costs (internet, communication, etc.).
   • Total consultancy fee in USD or SLL.
   • Proposed payment schedule.
3. Curriculum Vitae (max. 4 pages) including:
   • Educational background.
   • Relevant work experience (last 5–10 years), with pretesting roles clearly outlined.
   • Language proficiencies.
   • Contact information for three professional references.

End of Terms of Reference

Deadline for submission: 30 January 2026