Job Description
Job Description
1. Background
A local NGO is implementing a project aimed at strengthening community resilience, promoting gender equality, advancing sustainable natural resource management, and enhancing community participation in local development processes. The project has been implemented in Bikita and Insiza districts, working with communities, local leadership, relevant government departments, and other stakeholders to achieve sustainable changes.
As the project enters its final phase, there is a need to document the key outputs, outcomes, changes, and lessons emerging from its implementation. The documentation will use an output harvesting approach to capture both intended and unintended changes experienced by community members and other stakeholders, including women, men, young people, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and duty bearers.
The NGO therefore seeks to engage a competent videographer or documentary film production service provider to produce a short documentary film that showcases the project's achievements, provides evidence of change, captures community voices, and identifies lessons and recommendations to inform future programming.
2. Purpose of the Assignment
The purpose of the assignment is to produce a high-quality documentary film that captures and communicates the outputs and emerging outcomes of the project in Bikita and Insiza districts during its final implementation phase.
The film should go beyond documenting activities to demonstrate what has changed, for whom, how the changes occurred, what evidence supports them, and what remains to be done.
Duties and Responsibilities
3. Specific Objectives
The assignment will seek to:
1. Document the key outputs and outcomes achieved by the project in Bikita and Insiza districts.
2. Capture community members' experiences and testimonies of changes in their lives, livelihoods, practices, relationships, and participation in local development.
3. Showcase successful interventions, community-led initiatives, and the contribution of the NGO and its partners to the observed changes.
4. Identify unexpected outcomes, implementation challenges, gaps, and results that require further support.
5. Document lessons learned, good practices, and recommendations for sustaining project achievements beyond the project period.
6. Produce an engaging visual resource for accountability, learning, advocacy, resource mobilisation, and communication with communities, government stakeholders, partners, and donors.
4. Scope of Work
The selected service provider will undertake a two-day field assignment in Bikita and Insiza districts, in coordination with project team.
The scope of work will include the following:
4.1 Pre-production
● Hold a briefing meeting with project team to understand the project objectives, implementation context, expected results, and communication requirements.
● Review relevant project documents, monitoring reports, outcome statements, success stories, and available baseline or endline information.
● Develop a filming plan, interview guide, and proposed documentary storyline based on output harvesting.
● Coordinate with project team to identify filming locations, community participants, local leaders, and relevant stakeholders.
4.2 Field filming and output harvesting
The service provider will conduct two days of filming across the project sites in Bikita and Insiza. Activities will include:
● Filming community initiatives, project-supported interventions, and examples of changes achieved.
● Conducting short video interviews with selected project participants, community leaders, local authorities, government representatives, and project staff.
● Capturing testimonies that explain the changes experienced, how they happened, and the contribution of the project and other actors.
● Documenting unexpected outcomes, challenges, remaining gaps, and community recommendations for sustaining achievements.
● Gathering visual evidence of project outputs and outcomes, including relevant practices, infrastructure, livelihood activities, natural resource management initiatives, or other interventions supported by the project.
● Capturing a range of voices, ensuring meaningful representation of women, men, young people, and persons with disabilities, where relevant and feasible.
4.3 Post-production
Following the field assignment, the service provider will:
● Edit and produce a coherent documentary film with a clear narrative and evidence-based storyline.
● Incorporate interview footage, field visuals, relevant captions, location identifiers, and project branding.
● Include subtitles where necessary, particularly where interviews are conducted in local languages.
● Use appropriate sound, music, colour correction, and transitions to ensure professional quality.
● Submit a draft film to the NGO for review and incorporate agreed revisions.
● Deliver the final approved film and agreed supporting video materials in high-resolution digital formats.
5. Key Output Harvesting Questions
The film should be guided by the following questions:
1. What significant changes have occurred in the communities because of the project?
2. Who has experienced these changes, including women, men, young people, and persons with disabilities?
3. What evidence demonstrates that these changes have occurred?
4. Which project interventions or partnerships contributed most significantly to the changes?
5. Were there any unexpected positive or negative outcomes?
6. Which outcomes are lagging, and what factors have contributed to this?
7. What challenges remain, and what additional support is needed?
8. What lessons have been learned, and how can the gains be sustained after the project ends?
9. What recommendations should inform future programming, policy engagement, and resource mobilisation?
The questions should be adapted to each interviewee to encourage practical examples, personal experiences, and specific evidence rather than general statements about project activities.
6. Expected Deliverables
The selected service provider will be expected to deliver:
1. Pre-production plan: A brief filming concept, storyline, interview guide, and field schedule approved by by the NGO.
2. Raw footage: Organised and labelled original video and audio footage captured during the assignment.
3. Draft documentary film: A first-cut film submitted to the NGO for review and feedback.
4. Final documentary film: One professionally edited documentary.
5. Short video clips: At least two short clips, approximately 30–90 seconds each, suitable for social media and digital advocacy.
6. Final digital files: High-resolution versions suitable for presentations, online sharing, reporting, and archiving.
7. Supporting materials: Interviewee names and roles, captions or subtitles as required, and any agreed still photographs extracted or captured during filming.
All deliverables must be submitted within the agreed timeline, following WLZ's review and approval.
8. Roles and Responsibilities
8.1 The NGO
will:
● Provide the service provider with relevant project documents and background information.
● Identify and coordinate access to project sites and interview participants.
● Facilitate introductions to community leaders, project participants, and relevant stakeholders.
● Support logistical coordination and confirm the field itinerary.
● Review the draft film and provide consolidated feedback.
● Approve the final documentary before publication or dissemination.
9. Video Production Service Provider
The service provider will:
● Provide the technical equipment, personnel, transport arrangements, and production expertise required for the assignment, as agreed in the contract.
● Develop a filming approach that reflects the project's objectives and output harvesting methodology.
● Conduct interviews professionally and capture high-quality footage.
● Ensure the film accurately represents community experiences and project results.
● Obtain informed consent from all interviewees and permission for filming, in coordination with the NGO.
● Respect confidentiality, safeguarding requirements, dignity, and the rights of participants.
● Edit and submit the film within the agreed timeline.
● Ensure that all final products meet the technical and editorial standards agreed with the NGO.
10. Ethical and Safeguarding Considerations
The service provider must comply with the NGOs safeguarding, protection, communication and data protection requirements throughout the assignment.
Specific requirements include:
● Obtain informed consent before filming or recording interviews.
● Explain the purpose of the film, its intended audiences, and possible dissemination channels to participants.
● Respect participants' right to decline interviews or withdraw consent in accordance with agreed consent procedures.
● Ensure that the participation of children, if relevant, is subject to appropriate guardian consent, child assent, and safeguarding measures.
● Avoid filming or sharing information that could expose participants to harm, discrimination, stigma, or retaliation.
● Represent community members respectfully and avoid stereotypes, sensationalism, or misleading editing.
● Ensure that testimonies and project claims are accurate and supported by available evidence.
● Obtain the NGO approval before publishing or sharing any footage.
11. Ownership and Intellectual Property
All raw footage, interview recordings, photographs, edited films, and other materials produced under this assignment will be the property of the NGO, subject to the terms of the contract. The service provider shall not use, publish, sell, or distribute the materials without prior written authorisation from the NGO.
The service provider must also ensure that all music, graphics, and other third-party materials used in the film are appropriately licensed for the intended uses.
Qualifications and Experience
12. Required Qualifications and Experience
Interested service providers should demonstrate:
● Proven experience in documentary filmmaking, development communication, or community-based video production.
● Experience documenting development projects, community initiatives, gender equality, climate resilience, sustainable livelihoods, governance, or related themes.
● Strong interviewing, storytelling, filming, sound recording, and video editing skills.
● Ability to translate community experiences and evidence of change into an engaging and credible documentary.
● Experience working respectfully with rural communities and diverse groups.
● Access to suitable filming and audio equipment.
● Ability to work within a short field schedule and meet agreed deadlines.
● A portfolio of previous documentary films or similar assignments.
13. Reporting and Supervision
The service provider will report to the designated project focal person or project manager. All filming plans, interview arrangements, draft materials, and final products must be coordinated through this focal person. The service provider must obtain approval from the NGO before making substantive changes to the agreed storyline or publishing any material.
14. Application Requirements
Interested service providers should submit:
● A technical proposal outlining their understanding of the assignment, proposed methodology, and approach to output harvesting.
● A brief work plan and proposed production timeline.
● A financial proposal with a clear breakdown of professional fees, equipment, transport, accommodation where applicable, editing, and other anticipated costs.
● A portfolio or links to at least two relevant previous video productions.
● A brief CV or profile demonstrating relevant experience.
● Contact details for at least two professional referees, where available.
15. Budget and Payment Arrangements
Applicants should submit an itemised budget covering all costs associated with the assignment, including pre-production, field filming in both districts, equipment, transport, editing, revisions, and delivery of final materials.
Payment milestones will be agreed with the selected service provider and linked to satisfactory completion and approval of the agreed deliverables.
Submission deadline: 30/10/2026
Submission email/contact: admin@wlz.co.zw
12. Required Qualifications and Experience
Interested service providers should demonstrate:
● Proven experience in documentary filmmaking, development communication, or community-based video production.
● Experience documenting development projects, community initiatives, gender equality, climate resilience, sustainable livelihoods, governance, or related themes.
● Strong interviewing, storytelling, filming, sound recording, and video editing skills.
● Ability to translate community experiences and evidence of change into an engaging and credible documentary.
● Experience working respectfully with rural communities and diverse groups.
● Access to suitable filming and audio equipment.
● Ability to work within a short field schedule and meet agreed deadlines.
● A portfolio of previous documentary films or similar assignments.
13. Reporting and Supervision
The service provider will report to the designated project focal person or project manager. All filming plans, interview arrangements, draft materials, and final products must be coordinated through this focal person. The service provider must obtain approval from the NGO before making substantive changes to the agreed storyline or publishing any material.
How to Apply
14. Application Requirements
Interested service providers should submit:
● A technical proposal outlining their understanding of the assignment, proposed methodology, and approach to output harvesting.
● A brief work plan and proposed production timeline.
● A financial proposal with a clear breakdown of professional fees, equipment, transport, accommodation where applicable, editing, and other anticipated costs.
● A portfolio or links to at least two relevant previous video productions.
● A brief CV or profile demonstrating relevant experience.
● Contact details for at least two professional referees, where available.
15. Budget and Payment Arrangements
Applicants should submit an itemised budget covering all costs associated with the assignment, including pre-production, field filming in both districts, equipment, transport, editing, revisions, and delivery of final materials.
Payment milestones will be agreed with the selected service provider and linked to satisfactory completion and approval of the agreed deliverables.
Submission deadline: 30/10/2026
Submission email/contact: admin@wlz.co.zw