AgriFI Program Case Stories Producer

Employment Type: Full-Time

Qualifications: Diploma or Bachelor’s Degree

Experience: At least 3 years

Location: Nairobi

Job Fields: Agriculture / Agro-Allied, Media / Advertising / Branding, Project Management

Assignment Reference: MESPT-AGRIFI-05-2023

Assignment Overview:

MESPT is in search of a production firm to professionally create 7 short videos (each with a maximum duration of 4 minutes) showcasing the program’s milestones and produce 7 written case stories (each with a maximum of 800 words) replicating the selected milestones. These stories will feature:

1. Meru Dairy Union
2. Kamuthanga Fish Farm
3. Roy Shammer Agribiz Ltd
4. Nakuru Free Area Wet Market
5. KESPHIS LIMS System
6. TVETA and TVET CDAAC Partnership in Curricula Development, linked with the rollout of CBET courses at Mabanga ATC
7. Two County Food Safety Committees that have excelled in formulating and enacting policies, showcasing county investments in food safety initiatives.

The two assignments will be carried out in Meru (2 sites: Union & one cooperative), Machakos (1 site), Bungoma (2 sites: Roy & Mabanga), Nakuru, and Nairobi.

These stories will capture the food safety milestones, successes, challenges, best practices, and lessons learned in achieving program results areas, including:

• Reviewing and developing curricula to address food safety, animal, and plant health.
• Enhancing the capacity of value chain actors, farmers, and Trainer of Trainers (ToT’s) in sanitary and phyto-sanitary standards.
• Revamping 13 ATVET centers, infrastructure development, human resource training, and more.
• Forming County Food Safety Committees and developing food and feed safety policies and bills.
• Training county officials and food inspectors on food safety regulation, inspection, and enforcement.
• Engaging Private Sectors Lead Firms (PSLF’s) and Central Competent Authorities.
• Ensuring the adoption of food safety measures by VCAs, ToTs, and its influence on ATVET Model training.

The focus will be on the impact of these interventions and their spillover effects on indirect beneficiaries, such as the influence of curriculum reviews on ATVET operations or the adoption of food safety standards beyond the targeted value chains. The stories should highlight the ultimate goals of the program, including reducing rejections, improving productivity, increasing sales turnover, integrating farmers into local and international markets, promoting commercial-driven ATVET entities, and establishing food safety control systems.

The produced materials are intended for EU and DANIDA donors, potential investors, and other stakeholders to showcase MESPT’s brand as a trusted partner that effectively utilizes resources for the intended purpose. These materials will also aid in learning and providing guidance for future programs.

Assignment Objectives:

The primary objective is to produce 7 short videos (up to 4 minutes each) and 7 written case stories (up to 800 words each) highlighting best practices, achievements, and real impacts in the program’s focal areas. Other objectives include showcasing the work to donors and partners, increasing program visibility, raising public awareness, and strengthening partnerships.

Production Focus:

The production will emphasize two program result areas:

1. Result Area 2: Strengthening capacities of actors along selected value chains through the Agricultural Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ATVET) system approach.
2. Result Area 3: Increasing the capacity of the private sector and County Governments to implement and enforce standards on food safety, plant health, and animal health.

The videos will also showcase program outputs, including the use of agricultural vocational training centers for capacity building on food safety standards, the value chain approach to promote farmer integration into markets, the influence of program interventions on VCAs, the implementation of food safety policy and regulations, and how infrastructure support has driven ATVETs toward commercial viability.

Role of the Service Provider:

The service provider will work under the direct supervision of the Corporate Communications Officer in collaboration with the AgriFI Programme, MEAL managers, and the CEO. The selected firm or production house will be responsible for the following:

Short Video Production:

• Develop the overall concept and scenario for 6 short video clips.
• Interview selected participants for the videos, including project staff/manager, county government officials, central competent authorities, ATVET staff, farmers/value chain actors, and program partners.
• Record interviews in Kiswahili with English captions on the final production.
• Develop a production schedule for the videos.
• Provide high-quality photography for each selected site/storyline.
• Visit all the selected project sites and interact with government officials, private sector partners, and local communities/beneficiaries impacted by the program’s initiatives.
• Develop the video script and storyboard for approval by MESPT management before filming.
• Film appropriate video footage and interviews with project beneficiaries and stakeholders.
• Present draft short videos for content review and edit as required for final approval.
• Submit 6 high-definition short videos via email and on DVD, along with master copies of each version.
• Provide 600 well-edited still photos of the projects and interviews conducted.

Written Case Studies/Stories Production:

• Develop a production schedule for the case stories.
• Develop content and suggest appropriate photos for each case story.
• Case stories may incorporate additional content from existing program reports.
• Ensure each case story consists of a minimum of 800 words in the program-branded Word document template.
• Submit 6 well-edited case stories in soft copies via email.

Service Provider Requirements and Application Procedure:

Desired skills, competencies, and qualifications for the service provider:

• Prior experience in producing short videos or documentaries for EU and DANIDA funded programs, especially for development organizations and NGOs.
• Organizational capacity to conduct the assignment.
• Technical capabilities to simplify complex and highly technical information for the target audience.
• Proficiency in audio-visual animation, illustrations, and infographics.
• Strong understanding of development program processes, results-based management, and results-oriented project implementation.
• Ability to write clear and informative documentation in English.
• Innovative thinking and capacity to produce compelling case stories.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills, including the ability to present compelling case stories.
• Analytical skills for processing, analyzing, and synthesizing complex, technical information.
• Ability to innovate and combine methodological approaches and data from various disciplines and levels.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and networking skills.

Education & Experience:

• Recognized diploma in production/electronic media, graphic design, or related field.
• Bachelor’s degree in PR, Mass Communications, Journalism, Corporate Communications, or related fields.
• A minimum of 3 years of relevant work experience.

Application Procedure:

Applicants are required to submit the following:

A Technical Proposal:

1. Letter of interest and a brief methodology explaining how you plan to approach and implement the assignment.
2. Personal CVs of 4 technical personnel, including the Lead Producer/Director, Camera operator, and other senior technical staff such as writers and editors, proposed for this project. Highlight their qualifications and experience in similar projects.
3. Provide contact details (email and phone numbers) of three referees/firms you have produced similar assignments for.
4. Share links to at least 5 but not more than 7 video samples and 5 written case stories/links of recently completed projects for other clients.

Financial Proposal:

• Include the total service/consultancy fee with a detailed breakdown of expenses, including unit prices and related expenses. All costs should be in Kenyan Shillings. Ensure the financial proposal document has a password.

Application procedure:

If you are interested in this project, email your Technical and Financial Proposals, which should not exceed 20 pages, to procurement@mespt.org. Make sure to include:

1. A letter of interest.
2. An organizational profile/capacity statement.
3. Your interpretation of the Terms of Reference (ToRs).
4. Your proposed methodology for the assignment.
5. The assignment schedule/work plan.
6. Relevant experience related to the assignment (provide links).
7. Recommendation letters from other firms you have worked with on similar assignments (a minimum of 3).
8. Curriculum Vitae of the Production crew who will be responsible for the assignment.
9. The financial proposal, including all rates in Kenyan Shillings. Please protect the financial proposal document with a password.

For any clarifications, please contact procurement@mespt.org.

Method of Application:

Send your application to procurement@mespt.org.