Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC TERMS OF REFERENCE Production of Documentary Films to Visually Monitor, Evaluate and Promote the Implementation of Market Access for Rural Poor through Value Chain Promotion Programme (MARP), 2013-2016. 1. General background The Swiss Cooperation Office for Vietnam (SCO) is the representative of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). It is responsible for the coordination of Swiss Development Cooperation of the Swiss Government in Vietnam. The Market Access for the Rural Poor through Value Chain Promotion Programme (MARP) was initiated by SDC in 2012 and will complete in June 2016. This three-year CHF4,950,000 (around USD5,250,000) program supports projects and organizations mainly in Vietnam, and partly in Laos and Myanmar, that enable poor rural households to participate in selected agricultural value chains and so to increase their income. MARP targets the rural poor and ethnic minority households, with men and women as actors, along value chains which include collectors, pre-processors, traders, enterprises or government agencies including research institutes. Strategic emphasis of the MARP is placed on targeting economic activities of women. In a two-stage competitive selection process under MARP, an expert panel selected five winning projects out of 39 contenders. The five selected projects aim to improve nine value chains that increase income of at least 10,000 poor households, especially rural ethnic minorities and poor women, generates over 1,000 full-time jobs and moves at least 3,000 households out of poverty. Successful models and experiences in value chain interventions will be widely shared and exchanged at local and national levels, and in specific cases in the Mekong region in order to trigger wider absorption and eventually additional income and employment. The MARP program is active in ten provinces in Vietnam (Nghe An, Lao Cai, Ha Giang, Lai Chau, Hoa Binh, Thanh Hoa, Yen Bai, Lang Son, Ninh Thuan, Khanh Hoa), one province in Laos (Phongsaly) and one district in Myanmar (Keng Tung district of Shan State). The nine value chains of the program include tea, rattan, bamboo, silk, hemp, cardamom, cinnamon, star anise and seaweed. Specifically, the MARP program has two components: 1) Increased market access and participation of poor rural households in selected agricultural value chains. This component focuses on the implementation of 5 selected projects, which aim to achieve significant change in a total of nine value chains: 1
Developing high quality tea value chains for poverty reduction for ethnic minorities in Northern Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar: Shan Tea 2013-2016 (run by Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation). Up-scaling of pro-poor rattan and bamboo value chain development for women and ethnic minorities (Oxfam Hong Kong). Improving livelihoods of ethnic minority women through sustainable development of the ethnic textile value chain (Vietnam Handicraft Exporters Association, VIETCRAFT) Pro-poor high quality red algae value chain promotion in Vietnam (MCNV and Capital Seaweed). Spice of life: leveraging the spice sector for poverty reduction amongst ethnic minority communities in Vietnam (SNV Netherlands Development Organization) All five MARP projects have started their implementation around mid-2013 and will complete in June 2016. The MARP project factsheets are available at the SDC website (www.sdc.org.vn) or upon request. 2) Knowledge and experience of value chain intervention generated and disseminated at local and national level, and in specific cases in the Mekong region. Successful models and solutions for MARP s specific value chains and for the methodology applied are disseminated to larger networks of stakeholders to trigger a wider absorption of MARP and other experiences. In annual workshops, through policy briefs, studies, publications and media, knowledge and experience in utilizing value chain improvement for reducing poverty will be documented, shared and debated with other actors and enterprises working in making markets work for the poor. This is expected to facilitate replication and expansion at local, regional and national levels as well as generating knowledge for overall SDC intervention strategy. The SDC now seeks the services of an experienced and professional (team of) consultant(s) (the Consultant) to produce documentary film(s) (the Product(s)) to visually monitor, evaluate and promote the implementation of MARP. This will serve as documents to understand, maintain and scale up achievements, and use to share lessons with others. 2. Objectives The Product(s) have 3 key objectives: To tell success stories (or not) from value chain interventions under MARP program and/or selected MARP projects. To serve as a live monitoring document to complement existing M&E system, which is based on words and numbers To promote the approaches applied by MARP and its projects 3. Target audience The key target audience is the general public, with focus on public in Vietnam, in the Mekong region, and in Switzerland. 2
Development partners including donors, NGOs and organizations working in livelihood improvement in general and in inclusive value chain development, agricultural sector in particular in Vietnam. Other partners/stakeholders such as business communities and government agencies including public service delivery and public administration agencies 4. Scope of work a. Tell success stories: Selected success stories from 5 projects / 9 value chains should be identified and captured, in which the followings should be mentioned/answered but not limited to Context: internal at household level and external and its changes, if any, along the 3 years of the interventions Beneficiaries livelihoods and/or incomes: What have been changed and why (key factors for such changes and also challenges) from the perspectives of the target groups. Sustainability and potential of the value chains/products: Beneficiaries perspective on their future engagement and investment in such value chain? What are the key factors for such decision? b. Monitoring document: The Product(s) should serve as a lively monitoring documentary that Captures the different/difficult steps to achieve success Shows the audience how the projects bring positive change along the product value chain from the production to market and how challenges are overcome (or lead to failure). c. Promote approaches of MARP: The Product(s) should be able to engage the audience through interesting stories and at the same time, highlight the approaches applied by MARP and its projects, making it convincing enough to be an advocacy tool to other stakeholders, either for replication or policy improvement purposes. 5. Principles Working in close collaboration with SDC from the planning stage to ensure that messages for and from The Product(s) are well understood, taken and implemented properly and on the right track. Liaise with the SDC s MARP program officer, and designated individuals of MARP implementing projects on all contents in order to ensure accuracy and endorsement. The films have to be based on interviews with major stakeholders in MARP project implementation: beneficiaries including poor people and minority ethnic groups and women, implementing and co-operating partners, and SDC. The films will be produced in line with SDC corporate standards and other SDC operational documents. 6. Deliverables Detailed production and post production schedule for filming process. Draft scripts, including proposed interview questions for the documentary films for comments by SDC office. 3
First cut of the documentary on DVD for comments by SDC and its implementing partners. Finalized draft documentary for SDC clearance, at most 5 working days from receipt of initial SDC comments. The Product(s) available in English and Vietnamese version (or with sub-title for one of the two) in broadcast quality DVD and in other appropriate formats that enables the films to be uploaded to SDC and MARP implementing partners websites, YouTube, flickers, etc in five (5) working days from receipt of final SDC comments and clearance. Master of all interviews and other footage shot for the documentary on high quality DVD. National broadcast of the short documentary on one of the country s national TV channels. Be available for the film s official presentation with participation of MARP implementing partners and SDC. Provide 50-100 copies of the Product(s) on professional labelled and packed DVD. The label design must be approved by SDC. Submit all raw materials collected during the filming for any possible future production initiated by SDC. Optional with separate budget line: Arrange films screening on a national TV channels, and will also assist and facilitate special screening of the film in six (6) host institutions selected by the Consultant. 7. Qualifications and competencies required The Consultant (individual(s), organization, or a TV production company) should have extensive experience in producing public information video films or TV programs, relating to the social and economic matters. Experience in working with international organizations and/or international donors as well as in working with state institutions, NGOs and local authorities in Vietnam. Awareness of the international development and poverty reduction programs in Vietnam. Excellent technical capacities to ensure smooth and high quality production (video production staff, owner of its own video production studio or a documentary proof of an access to a rented video studio, etc.). Excellent planning and organizational skills. Excellent ability to meet deadlines. 8. Tentative schedule and duty station The MARP program started on 1 st May 2012 and will end by 30 June 2016, while the projects under MARP are funded for 3 years at most, with the earliest one started in April 2013 and the latest one in August 2013. All projects will end before the end of the program. Therefore, the production of the film will take place from October/November 2013 till June 2016. Exact number of field trip for filming and period for filming should be proposed by the Consultant. 4
MARP projects are implemented in 10 provinces in Vietnam, 1 province in Laos and 1 district in Myanmar as mentioned in the background. However, all filming should take place in Vietnam only. 9. Selection process There will be two-step selection process. Based on the following evaluation criteria, three shortlisted teams with highest points will be invited to present their concept to SDC. The winning offer will be selected after the presentation of the 3 teams. Evaluation criteria are as follows: Expertise of the Consultant: DVD sample of previous works of similar nature as well as full list of productions completed and in process: 20%. Proposed methodology, approach (creative and innovative ideas) and implementation plan with proposed timeframe for pre-production and postproduction: 40%. CVs of the key Consultants and crews to be used on the assignment: 20%. Financial proposal (production costs and necessary expenses, transparency and efficiency of costs): 20%. 10. Ownership The edited documentary films as well as all footage filmed for this assignment is the sole property of the SDC. The selected Consultant s name and logo shall only be acknowledged in the closing credit. 11. Guidelines for submission of proposals Interested Consultant should submit its proposal that include: A short concept on how you go about to achieve the given multi-objectives in the context of MARP program (5 projects; 9 value chains, implemented in 10 provinces, many unknown variables such as successful value chains and individuals, drop out individuals, context changes ect..). The concept note should also state the number of Products delivered and the expected length of each product. Time for filming and Financial proposals Deadline for submission is 14 th Octorber 2013 to Swiss Cooperation Office for Vietnam 16th Floor, HCO Building, 44b Ly Thuong Kiet Hoan Kiem, Ha Noi, Viet Nam Three (3) short-listed candidates will be invited to present your ideas to SDC. 5