Search for Common Ground (Search) is an international non-profit organization that promotes the peaceful transformation of conflict. With headquarters in Washington, DC, and Brussels, Belgium, Search’s mission is to transform how individuals,
organizations, and governments deal with conflict—moving away from destructive approaches and towards cooperative solutions. With more than 700 staff worldwide, Search implements projects in more than 30 African countries, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, and North America.
Project Summary
To contribute to the mitigation of conflict over natural resources between farmer and herder communities in Adamawa and Taraba states, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Search for Common Ground (Search), and Mercy Corps, with funding from the European Union, are implementing a project titled COMITAS (Contributing to the mitigation of conflict over natural resources between farmer and herder communities in Adamawa State). The consortium has designed a comprehensive and integrated approach that builds on the comparative strengths of each organization. Search will build on its extensive work on early warning and response, trust building through dialogue, and promoting positive perceptions through reliable information and peace messaging. Mercy Corps will capitalize on its trusted relationships with local stakeholders across Nigeria’s Middle Belt to continue to empower communities to prevent and respond to violence by strengthening collaboration on natural resource management.
Objective of The Documentary
The documentary will capture the project’s key results, successes and challenges, best practices and lessons learnt from the interventions. The video will serve as a tool to publicize the work of the EU and its partners to serve as an advocacy tool to lobby for further support. It will feature several personal stories of beneficiaries, interviews of representatives from Search and partners in the consortium, key strategic partners, as well as indirect beneficiaries from selected communities.
Additionally, the documentary will showcase and highlight Search’s intervention in Adamawa and Taraba states on the project as well as improving access to reliable information and narratives around the farmer herder conflicts.
Most importantly, the documentary will aim to improve the intra and inter communal perceptions of an audience who might already have stereotypes, misperceptions and misconceptions by adapting a human angle approach showcasing the
transformation that has been achieved between Farmers and Herders as a result of the project.
METHODOLOGY
Search will contract a documentary producer to produce a documentary that showcases the impact of the COMITAS project including narratives that integrate peaceful narratives and diverse voices promoting unity between farmer and herder
communities.
It will promote peace and unity by highlighting inspiring stories, messages, and content, showcasing diverse voices, emphasizing on the commonalities of the people, thereby improving intra and inter communal perceptions. The format and the entire concept of the documentary will be conceptualized by the film company but deployed upon receipt of final approval by Search.
The documentary will be produced in Hausa and Fulfulde (Voice overlay) and subtitled in standard English so that the messages and themes will be relatable and accessible to the target audience.
The documentary should be timeless and relevant in whatever time the world is in. SEARCH will showcase the documentary in screening events with its stakeholders and on its social media platforms to a range of audiences.
Deliverables
- The consultant will establish operations rapidly and efficiently in consultation with SEARCH, to accomplish formative scripts and other preparatory work. The contractor is expected to hold early and intensive meetings with SEARCH.
- The consultant will provide all necessary filming, production, and post-production equipment. No equipment or software (i.e. cameras, computers, movie editing software, etc.) will be purchased under this activity.
- The consultant will provide the professional lens needed to produce a high-quality documentary that is conflict-sensitive, showcasing the impacts of COMITAS project while inspiring behavioral change, balanced and accurately reflects on the realities of the citizens of Adamawa and Taraba States conflict situation.
- The consultant should ensure that the documentary meets the highest cinematic standards of quality to engage and inspire hope in the viewers.
- The documentary should convey core messages of the COMITAS project and tell an emotionally engaging story through a creative and visually captivating product mirroring the communities’ situations and transformation through different perspectives.
- The consultant will commit to outdoor shooting of the documentary within Adamawa and Taraba states, and also rural communities, where permissible.
- The consultant will take high-quality, high-resolution professional action photographs during film production for SEARCH photo library.
- The consultant is solely responsible for engaging all personnel to facilitate all aspects of this contract as necessary. All costs associated with the film or documentary production and photography will be the sole responsibility of the contractor and should be incorporated in the contract cost proposal.
- The consultant will provide illustrative examples of how the documentary would be structured including high-level storyboards and scripts during the pre-production phase.
- Apply the Do No Harm principle to the documentary and contributors, also ensuring conflict sensitivity and duty of care.
- At the end of the production, the consultant will provide Search with ‘Behind the Scenes (BTS)’ footage, as well as all recordings carried out during production and post-production, in a Hard Drive.
- Search will determine how the final version of the documentary will be distributed and broadcast.
The documentary producer will be required to produce the contents from the Project locations covering Adamawa, Taraba, Abuja and the Consultant owned studio facilities.
The period of performance for this contract is approximately between September and December 2024. Search anticipates the following timetable:
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Engagement (September 2024): The consultants will work closely with Search to learn and understand the scope of the project, goals, objectives and the project impacts covering the first phase of the project from 10th December 2020 to date. Equipped with this, the consultant will develop the script and contents for the documentary. . The work during this phase will be physical.
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Pre-production, Production and Post Production (October - November 2024): During this period, the consultants, in consultation with Search, will further develop ideas, and scripts. Pre-production work is to be conducted in the studio/office. The consultants will record the raw elements for the documentary and take photographs during recording for Search’s record purposes while also working with Search during the editing phase to finalize the documentary.
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Submission of approved documentary (November 2024): Following revision of the post production in line with feedback received from Search, the consultant will address all feedback received and share with Search the final version of the documentary for approval from Search and the donor in accordance with the agreement/ contract signed and paid for by Search.
Educational Background
- University degree or equivalent in Multimedia Production, Communication for Development, Journalism, Media studies or Related fields. Master’s degree is an added advantage.
Required Experience
- More than 5 years’ experience developing and implementing videos/documentaries for development for INGOs.
- Extensive experience in producing development work related documents and/or documentaries for international organizations with the aim of reaching both local and international audiences
- Experience engaging and working with audiences from diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds;
- Demonstrated experience working on conflict issues and fragile environments;
- Excellent knowledge of the North East conflict dynamics
- Relevant experience supporting and engaging the media, NGO or INGO
Personal Attributes
- Familiarity with location (i.e. Adamawa and Taraba) and knowledge of the local languages in the target states will be an added advantage (in this case Hausa and Fulfulde).
- Strong command of English language and the Hausa Language or Fulfulde, with excellent written, oral communication, and interpersonal communication skills;
- A demonstrated commitment to high professional ethical standards;
- Ability to prioritize, plan, and organize workflow to tight timeframes, multi-tasking, and flexibility.
- Strong leadership skills
- Attention to detail: The ability to process detailed information effectively and consistently.
- Collaboration: The ability to work effectively with others in order to achieve a shared goal
- New-Learning: The ability to absorb new information readily and to put it into practice effectively
- Adaptability: The ability to remain fully functional by adapting to changing circumstances (environment, procedures and people).
Proposal/Offer Submission:
- A technical proposal, not more than four pages, describing the documentary production objectives (looking at the project background) will be met within the stated timetable. Also a narrative “pitch” describing the basic concepts and illustrative examples of how it would be structured based on the consultant’s area of expertise.
- Technical qualifications of the consultant (including team members if they will be applying as such) including CV(s), for all proposed personnel along with select internet links or digital copies of relevant short productions developed by team members.
- Budget/financial proposal including a description of costs for personnel, per diems, travel, logistics, and local production support, and all production costs (development, pre-production, production, and post-production). Include an overall cost for the contract. Final content decisions will be discussed between the consultant and Search before production begins.
- Creative portfolios, including internet links or digital copies of relevant radio productions developed by the consultant.
Payments: The total sum of each consultancy will be paid in three Installments:
- 30% Initial payment, upon submission of a complete work plan/timeline of the production.
- 10% Submission of the raw version of the filmed documentary and recorded sound and visual
- 10% Submission of draft of edited and assembled documentary
- 50% Produced final documentary with Search/EU feedback incorporated
Applications are open from now until Monday 7th October, 2024
Interested candidates are invited to send their application through our
Career Portal.
Submitted applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis
