UNDP Jobs - 52247- Consultancy - Video Producer for Short Films on th

Consultancy - Video Producer for Short Films on the MDGs

Location :

Home-based

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

15-Dec-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

7 months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

7 months

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

Coming to the close of 2014, countries have had considerable experience with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). MDG-based national plans, targeted interventions, small-scale pilots and other such efforts have established a reliable knowledge base highlighting the achievements made and the remaining gaps as we enter the last leg of the MDGs. With the MDGs due to expire in 2015, UNDP is keen to show the impact achieved on improving the lives of people, and to keep up momentum, with the message that the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) now being forged will build on and continue the work of the MDGs.

Ahead of 2015, extensive and expedient efforts are underway to close remaining gaps and to capture key knowledge, lessons learned, and impacts stemming from the MDG experience. With over 14 years of experience with the MDGs, UNDP’s focus should be on telling the story of how people’s lives have changed and what challenges still remain, rather than an institutional summary of achievements. Given that audiences are increasingly consuming multimedia material over print, UNDP is keen to use video to highlight its work in this regard, so it may be presented at Summit events and disseminated across online platforms.

Towards this goal, UNDP looks to develop a series of short films focusing on its work in the five different regions. Packaging and showcasing these short films will present evidence of success at the micro level through the stories of individuals whose lives were changed as part of MDG achievement. Ultimately, considering the girth of information, knowledge, and experience related to the MDG experience, these short films will help articulate UNDP’s support of MDG achievement in a brief and accessible manner.

In today’s age of mobile interconnectivity and the volume of material and videos available at the touch of a keyboard, many good or even great stories and videos get lost in the ever increasing communication platforms of social media. To obtain and sustain attention to the proposed short films, efforts should go beyond simply producing a series of videos and rather ‘showcase’ these videos and related MDG/SDG information through a dedicated webpage which can be integrated into the existing UNDP website and promoted using UNDP’s existing social media channels. The videos could also be used at relevant events, such as the 2015 MDG summit, and the ‘showcase’ website could be shared with Country Offices around the world to utilize and promote UNDP’s work.

To fulfil this work, UNDP/Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) is seeking to contract a consultant to deliver video footage in five countries across the five regions which will lead to:

The development and production of 5 short story videos;
A dedicated online ‘showcase’ webpage for the videos (available in Teamworks) expected to be released in 2015.

Each country film will be 3-5 minutes in length and will tell a human interest story highlighting MDG progress and UNDP support. The dedicated online ‘showcase’ will be highly visual, featuring infographics and photos, with limited text, and will be integrated within UNDP’s existing interface (Teamworks and UNDP’s corporate website). Additionally, the information presented will be repackaged for use across UNDP’s social media channels.

Focus of the Films

The country films will highlight the support given by UNDP to countries in helping them achieve the MDGs. The film will focus on the lives of individual people and families but will link these stories to specific MDGs and to UNDP’s role in achieving these goals.

Specifically, it will focus on:

At least two MDG thematic areas in each of the 5 regions;
The individual stories attached to achievement of the MDGs or progress towards the MDGs;
The kind of support UNDP has provided at the country level in helping to achieve the MDG’s and how has this played out in the lives of individuals and families;
What MDG progress or achievement look like at the individual level;
What UNDP support looks like at the individual level;
The audience of the final product will be the external public.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objectives

Research and Story Development

Working with UNDP offices and partners on the ground in different countries and regions, research and identify five powerful stories of change (one from each region of UNDP operations). The five stories will cover different MDG themes.

Video filming and production

Produce five video stories (3-5 minutes each). This phase will require planned visits to each country to interview selected individuals, their families and other people who are related to the story in a direct way. To make these personal and compelling videos, the focus will be on the story and the individuals. The videos will be shot and edited in a first person story telling format and narration will be used only if necessary. UNDP or implementing partners on the ground may be interviewed as well to supply context, identify UNDP’s specific role, and provide supportive narrative. Suitable interviews and main activity footage, plus related background footage would be shot at each location. Any relevant existing footage or historic photos of the projects held by UNDP or its partners would be sought and reviewed for possible use.

Showcase webpage (via Teamworks) and social media content production

Develop a dedicated online ‘showcase’ page (in Teamworks) where the five video stories are presented alongside other key information about achievements and issues related to the MDGs and transition to the SDGs. The showcase page is integrated into the existing UNDP website. The information presented would be highly visual, featuring infographics and photos, with limited text. Information will also be repackaged for use across UNDP’s social media channels. This would be designed to ‘launch’ and promote the ‘showcase’ page and related stories plus information across UNDP’s existing online channels.

Expected Delivery: Final Products:

Research and story development for 5 videos (1 month)

Contacting UNDP country offices, partners and stakeholders;
Reviewing stories, existing footage and photos;
Where possible, contacting potential participants and doing pre-interviews;
Story development for each of the five videos.

Video filming and production (3-4 months):

Production will be based on new footage and existing footage to be collected from country offices. This should cover the five regions where UNDP is present and conducts programmatic activities.

Showcase webpage (Teamworks) and social media content development (1 month):

Research and content production for the showcase webpage and social media channels;
Production of information presentation tools, including infographics and photos;
Integration of showcase webpage (Teamworks) into existing online platform (UNDP MDG page);
Liaise with UNDP communications staff to troubleshoot any problems and ensure proper functioning and integration of all applications, tools and software.

Responsibilities and Duties

Under the overall guidance and supervision of BPSS/Sustainable Development Cluster, the consultant/vendor will be responsible for the following:

Ensure delivery of all the end products required as stated above;
Ensure pre-production filming and post-production at the highest quality;
Contact beneficiaries on location and insure their availability and willingness to be filmed. Details of the exact requirements will be discussed separately;
Coordinate the filming and interviews. Conduct interviews with selected people including government officials , selected donors and United Nations staff, and local communities;
Film all the necessary footage requested;
Liaise with UNDP offices in country on production schedules, filming, filming formats and location access;
Submit a comprehensive shortlist of the footage filmed, including time code translations to English from any other languages;
Ensure that all requests and instructions from UNDP are fulfilled;
Ensure that the correct video formats are used as requested;
Work with the highest professional ethical standards and in keeping with UNDP’s and governments’ mission;
Ensure delivery of video material to UNDP and Video Unit at the end of the production;
Ensure that the correct video formats are used as requested;
Ensure that the correct technical requirements are followed as stated below;
Liaise with UNDP communications to integrate showcase webpage within UNDP website;
Ensure infographics, photos and other uploads are done so at highest quality;
Ensure content is repackaged in a format suitable for UNDP social media channels;
Ensure that all contents follow the copyright laws.

Ensure that all deliverables/products are finalized by early July 2015

Competencies

Corporate Competencies

Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional Competencies:

Development and operational effectiveness;
Ability to perform a variety of specialized tasks related to results management, including support to design, planning and implementation of programme, managing data, reporting;
Ability to provide input to business processes re-engineering, implementation of new system, including new IT based systems;
Good knowledge of results based management and performance indicators;
Excellent analytical and qualitative skills (e.g. SPSS, STATA etc).

Leadership and Self-Management:

Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.

Knowledge Management and Learning:

Shares knowledge and experience;
Actively works towards continuing personal learning, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

University degree or Technical Vocational Training in the area of communications, video production, or media related;
Demonstrated training in communication and data visualization skills for outreach to diverse audiences.

Experience:

At least 5 years of proven technical experience involved in the production of short videos;
Have extensive experience in producing news, documentary films, TV programmes and 3 to 4 minute short format films. Proof of experience (sample videos via URLs) should be submitted with application to bid;
Able to produce high quality broadcast video on tight deadlines on a variety of different issues and subject matter;
Excellent planning and organizational skills and proven ability to meet tight deadlines;
Proven experience producing interactive web content;
Able to work effectively with UNDP teams on location;
Able to work in a culturally diverse environment;
Be able to cover regions indicated: Africa, Asia and Pacific, Latin America and Caribbean, CIS, and Arab States.

Language:

Fluent in English (other UN languages is an asset, but not a requirement).

Technical requirements:

Broadcast quality HD video and audio equipment, minimum requirements of 720 p;
Professional sound recording at 48Khz;
Ability to film in 16:9 ratio;
Need technical specification for web content development.

Evaluation method

Interested consultants/vendors are invited to submit their bids outlining:

Their technical competencies to conduct the assignment, and how they will approach the work as per terms of references (TOR) in no more than 1000 words (e.g. including international experience, development experience; prior experience in working with the UN or UNDP specifically) (This item will constitute 20% of the total score);
Two samples of videos produced previously – preferably on the area of international development – or any issue of relevance to the advertised TOR (This item will constitute 50% of the total score);
Financial costs for the execution of project (This should be estimated per key deliverable as listed above: (i) research and story development for 5 videos; (ii) video filming and production; and (iii) showcase webpage in Teamworks and UNDP website, and social media content development) (The financial proposal will constitute 30% of the total score).

For additional clarifications (if needed), please write to: yuqiong.zhou@undp.org