TOR Drama Series, stories, songs and jingles

Job Description

TERMS OF REFERENCE  

Production of Informative Drama Series (audio, video Information, Education and  Communication (IEC) Materials, Jingles, and Songs. 

Program Title: Strengthened Peace Infrastructure and Accountability through Community-led  Peacebuilding and Empowerment of Women and Youth as Leaders in Sierra Leone 

Expected Duration of the assignment: 30 days 

BACKGROUND 

About Trócaire 

Trócaire is an Irish development agency that was established in 1973 by the Catholic Bishops of  Ireland and whose work is inspired by Catholic Social teachings, with an overarching commitment  to social justice. Trócaire works in 20 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.  Trócaire works in partnership with local organizations in developing countries and with the people  in Ireland to tackle the root causes of poverty and injustice. 

In Sierra Leone Trócaire was established in 1995 implementing programmes on governance, human  rights, women’s empowerment, prevention, response to gender-based violence, sustainable  livelihoods, climate change, peacebuilding, and humanitarian response. We work in partnership  with several local Civil Society Organizations that directly implement projects in communities in Port  Loko, Kambia, Karene, Bombali, Kono, Bo, Kenema, Western Area Rural and Urban districts.  

About the project 

In July 2023, Trócaire secured a funding from the United States Agency for International  Development (USAID titled Strengthened Peace Infrastructure and Accountability through  Community-led Peacebuilding and Empowerment of Women and Youth as Leaders in Sierra  Leone. The 36-month project is being implemented by a consortium of CSOs- Social Enterprise for  Development Sierra Leone (SEND-SL) – Local Entity, Campaign for Good Governance (CGG) – Local  Entity, Women’s Forum for Human Rights, and Development (WOFHRAD) – Local Entity,  Association for the Wellbeing of Communities & Development (ABC-D) – Local Entity.  

The overarching purpose of the project is to support a people-to-people peacebuilding approach in  addressing issues of social cohesion and politically motivated violence. The project also sets out to  support the empowerment of marginalized groups, such as women, youth and Commercial Motor  riders, at risk youth through taking up positions of leadership within their communities as  Peacebuilding Ambassadors. 

The overall goal of the project is to contribute to the prevention and mitigation of politically  motivated violence through the people-to-people peacebuilding approaches in Western Area

Rural, Kambia, Bombali, Karene and Kono Districts. The specific objective of the project is to empower women and youth to have increased voice and leadership as peacebuilders and  actively contribute to the strengthening of “peace infrastructure” at local and national levels. 

To achieve its objectives, the project will use the following approaches/methodologies:

• People-to-People Methodology (“Connector” Events, Dialogue & Building Trust) • Youth-centred “Planting the Seeds of Peace” approach. 

• Capacity strengthening of local CSO partners. 
• Women and youth socio-economic empowerment 

Purpose of the production of Informative Drama Series (audio and visual) IEC materials,  jingles, and songs. 

• The informative drama series, IEC materials, jingles and songs, seek to support mutual  understanding, build trust and empathy among communities.  
• To breakdown gender stereotypes 
• To disseminate accurate information on project thematic areas such as non-violent alternatives  to community disputes resolution, gender equality, peaceful co-existence etc.  

Scope of the Consultancy 

• Geographical Scope: The consultant will be responsible to design, and produce informative  Drama Series, audio and video IEC materials, jingles and peace songs. The exercise will be  implemented in the five project districts in Sierra Leone, namely Western Area Rural, Kambia,  Bombali, Karene and Kono. Therefore, airing of the drama series and related messages will be  done in the target districts but with aim to reach people outside of the targeted districts.  
• Target participants/ Primary Audience; youth-commercial bike riders, trained peace  ambassadors, VSLA leaders, Women and Young Women in Governance Network, traditional  authorities, religious leaders, government leaders, political party leaders, civil society  organisations. 
• Secondary audience: Trócaire Sierra Leone programme focal persons and implementing partner, organization staff. 

Methodology 

1. The consultant will be responsible to produce Informative Audio Drama Series in local languages  on peacebuilding and non-violence in the post-election context of Sierra Leone.  
2. The Informative Audio Drama Series will be produced in the major local languages within the  target districts, including Mende, Themne, Limba, Susu, Kono, and Krio.  
3. The consultant will have the responsibility of assembling casts, rehearsing and recording in the  production of the informative drama series (audio and visual) IEC materials, jingles, songs in collaboration with youth-commercial bike riders, trained peace ambassadors, VSLA leaders,  Women and Young Women in Governance Network, traditional authorities, religious leaders,  government leaders, political party leaders, civil society organizations. 
4. Songs and music videos will contain messaging around peaceful elections in Sierra Leone, non violence and breaking down stereotypes. 
5. Production of Informative Drama Series, jingles, songs and music to be aired on the radio, TV as well as on social media platforms. 

Supervision and Management  

Communication and Supervision: The Project Officer from Trócaire will supervise the process and  specifically, the Consultant will report to the Project officer while keeping the Project Management Team headed by the Chief of party in copy for all communications to Trócaire. He/she will work  closely with Trócaire implementing partner project leads as well in the project districts. 

Audience of the production. The exercise is led by Trócaire, and the Audio/Visual IEC materials and  media content produced in the major local languages will be used to educate Sierra Leoneans on  the need for social cohesion, reconciliation, forgiveness and thus helping to bridge lines of division  and healing after the June 2023 elections. It will also serve to remind the citizens of Sierra Leone in  and out of the country that Peace is the answer to development.  

Roles & Responsibilities 

Consultant 

• Initial meeting with the project team to discuss consultancy deliverables, scope, partners, and  timelines. 
• Provide the inception report showing the methodology to be used by the consultant and the  workplan for the baseline. 
• Provide a draft Informative Drama Series (Both Audio and Animated) content material, for the  project team and partners to review and provide feedback before final productions.
• Ensure inclusivity in the production process particularly including, the youth-commercial bike  riders, ataya base, women, chiefs, political and religious leaders, trained peace ambassadors,  civil society groups, peace commission, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups and peace strictures created and functional.  
• In collaboration with Trócaire, recruit, train and supervise the identification of the local artists  to produce songs and stories.

• Oversee the entire process of the production, validation to ensure quality material production  and dissemination. 
• Comply with all timelines set for the production and dissemination and reporting deadlines.
• Share all raw data with Trócaire.  
• Adhere to Trócaire’s and partner safeguarding principles more specific for handling of sensitive data including SGBV and other personal data of participants.  

Trócaire and Partners:  

• Provide all relevant documentation and ensure that Trócaire and Partner safeguarding and data  protection principles are adhered to by the consultant.  
• Partner’s staff to support mobilize participants/casts and avail information to the consultant on  how best to reach the participants in their locations.  

QUALIFICATIONS OF THE CONSULTANT 

1. a) Education 

• Master’s degree in any of the following: Media Production which include Informative Drama  Series (Both Audio and Animated) materials or any relevant field of study. Equivalent relevant  experience (5 years) is acceptable in lieu of a degree.  

1. b) Experience, skills, and competencies 

• 10 or more years’ experience in media productions more specific to working with local artists,  production of Informative Drama Series, stories, songs, and music (Both Audio and Animated)  materials. 
• Must have conducted not less than three program/project baseline studies from INGO  assignments. 
• Must have advanced computer skills in Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint) 
• Good interpersonal skills, including the ability to lead a team and work with people from  diverse ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds. 
• Good presentation and facilitation skills and ability to present to various audience.  

1. c) Desirable 

• Experience producing Informative Drama Series (Both Audio and Animated)  
• Experience in the production of visual and audio IEC materials in local languages on  peacebuilding and non-violence  
• Experience in the formation of youth into Community Theatre Groups/ Production of Drama  Series  

Deliverables from the Consultancy 

• An inception meeting: with Trócaire team for questions and clarifications and to agree on a  plan for successful completion of the task.  
• Inception report: The consultant is expected to present the inception report using Trócaire’s  template upon signing the contract in line with the agreed timelines. The inception report will  be presented at least four days from the date of the contract signing. The inception report will 

clearly articulate (with clear understanding) of the terms of reference for the assignment. The  consultant will need to articulate the methodology, the format of presentation of the  deliverables, data collection methods, tools, and sources as well as proposed timelines for the  delivery of the assignment. 

• Draft report. The Consultant is expected to produce and present the draft informative drama  series (audio and visual) IEC materials, jingles, songs etc. to Trocaire and partner staff with  emphasis placed on quality of materials produced and timelines. The consultant will  coordinate with Trocaire to advice on appropriate channels for dissemination of the materials  produced especially the audio / visual IEC materials. 
• The draft productions will be presented to Trócaire for inputs and as well a validation meeting  held with partners upon which the consultant will incorporate the issues to produce final  copies. 
• Final report: After incorporating the feedback from the management and project team and  validation meeting, the consultant will then prepare and submit the final copies of materials  produced to Trócaire Project Officer, Chief of Party and Country Director. 

Safeguarding 

All consultants who work for Trócaire will be required to sign and abide by Trócaire’s Safeguarding  and Data Protection principles. Any instances of breach of Trócaire’s safeguarding and data  protection policy by the consultant and his or her team members will result into the immediate  cancellation of the contract between Trócaire and the consultant. In addition, any pictures taken of  the participants by the consultant should be only after the consent of the project participant and  signing of the Consent Form.  

APPLICATION 

For expression of interest to undertake the consultancy should be submitted to 

Technical Proposal – outlining your understanding of the TOR, the methodology that will be used in  undertaking the assignment, work plan, and team composition, including CVs and 3 references for  similar assignments.  

• Financial proposal (maximum 1 page) outlining all relevant costs, including consultant fees. Deadline for Submitting the Expressions of Interest is by 4th December 2024.  

Please submit all application and expression of interest to: tenders@trocaire.org  

(Only shortlisted consultants will be contacted for an interview).