Video Production for Project Visibility and Communication

1. About Expertise France Expertise France is the French public agency for international technical cooperation. It works alongside partner governments, international organizations, civil society organizations and local actors to support sustainable development, strengthen institutions and improve the delivery of essential services. In complex and fragile contexts, Expertise France combines technical expertise, partnership-building and capacity development to support locally led solutions and contribute to longer-term resilience. As part of its communication and visibility activities, Expertise France seeks to document and showcase the results, achievements and human stories generated through its projects. The videos will contribute to communicating project progress and results to beneficiaries, partners, donors, authorities, coordination platforms and the wider public, while ensuring that communication remains sensitive to the operational and security context. 2. Background and Context Expertise France is implementing two projects that support local actors, service delivery and resilience through partnerships with national and local organizations. Project 1: Syria Health Recovery and Reconstruction Effort (SheRE) The first project supports the improvement of reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health (RMNCH) services in Syria. The project works with local implementing partners and health stakeholders to improve access to quality health services, strengthen the capacities of health professionals and institutions, support coordination and evidence-based decision-making, and contribute to the sustainability of health services. The project supports health facilities, including maternity and primary healthcare facilities, while also contributing to training, quality improvement, operational research, coordination mechanisms and institutional capacity development. The project places particular emphasis on strengthening local capacities and ensuring that project-supported knowledge, tools, guidelines and practices can contribute to broader health-system development. Project 2: Mobilizing Agriculture for Zone Recovery Approach and Advancement (MAZRA) The second project focuses on strengthening local recovery and resilience through support to communities, agricultural actors, local institutions, cooperatives, MSMEs and other local economic actors. The project includes community assessments, rehabilitation of key infrastructure related to water, electricity and agricultural production, support to farmers and breeders, climate-resilient agricultural practices, business and market development, strengthening of local governance and coordination mechanisms, and support to agricultural research and technical institutions. The project aims to contribute to improved access to essential services, increased agricultural production, enhanced economic resilience and stronger local capacity to participate in inclusive recovery and evidence-based decision-making. 3. Rationale and Purpose of the Videos The videos will provide a visual and human-centered account of the projects, highlighting not only the activities implemented but also the changes and results generated for communities and local actors. The videos are intended to: • Increase awareness of the projects and their objectives; • Showcase concrete achievements and results; • Give visibility to the contribution of local partners and stakeholders; • Highlight the experiences and perspectives of beneficiaries and project participants; • Demonstrate how technical assistance, capacity building and infrastructure support contribute to longer-term resilience; • Document good practices and lessons that may be relevant to other actors; • Support Expertise France's communication and visibility with donors, institutional partners, coordination platforms and the general public; • Provide high-quality audiovisual material that can be used through Expertise France's website, social media channels, events, presentations and other communication products. The videos should avoid presenting the projects solely through an institutional perspective. Where security and ethical considerations permit, the storytelling should place people, their experiences and the changes supported by the projects at the center of the narrative. 4. Scope of the Assignment The selected video-graphing agency will be responsible for the complete production process, including preparation, filming, interviews, sound recording, editing, post-production and delivery of final audiovisual products. The assignment may cover selected project locations and activities agreed with Expertise France. The final filming locations and schedule will be determined jointly based on project implementation, accessibility, security considerations and availability of beneficiaries and stakeholders. The contractor will work closely with the Expertise France communication focal point and project teams and, where relevant, the implementing partners. 5. Expected Deliverables The assignment is expected to produce up to six videos. , with a minimum oftwo videos and a maximum of three videos per project. Payment will be on a single video basis, subject to contract details and based on purchase orders that will be subsequently issued. Deliverable 1 – Health/RMNCH Project Video A maximum of three professionally produced video presenting the project, its context, key interventions, achievements and human impact. The videos may include, as relevant: • Health facilities supported by the project; • Health service delivery; • Training and capacity-building activities; • Health professionals and local partners; • Beneficiary perspectives; • Quality improvement initiatives; • Community-level impact; • Coordination and institutional engagement; • Relevant project results and achievements. Deliverable 2 – Local Recovery/Agriculture Project Video A maximum of three professionally produced videos presenting the project's approach, activities, achievements and contribution to local recovery and resilience. The videos may include, as relevant: • Community assessment and participation; • Rehabilitation of water, electricity or agricultural infrastructure; • Farmers, breeders and cooperatives; • Agricultural production and climate-resilient practices; • MSMEs and home-based businesses; • Local markets; • Community-based committees and local governance; • Agricultural institutions and research activities; • Beneficiary and stakeholder perspectives; • Results and changes generated through the project. Output requirements: • For each main video, the videographer should provide: • One final full-length version; • One shorter version suitable for social media; • Short selected video clips/reels suitable for digital communication; • Clean versions without subtitles or logos, where requested; • Versions with English and Arabic subtitles, as applicable; • High-resolution master files; • Delivering 20 photos with each video; showing the activities during implementation. • Web/social-media optimized versions; • Selected high-quality still images extracted from the footage, where technically appropriate; • All relevant raw footage and project files upon completion. The exact number, duration and format of short versions will be agreed with Expertise France during the inception phase. 6. Technical Requirements The videographer is expected to provide professional audiovisual production of broadcast and digital communication quality. Filming The production should include: • Professional cinema/broadcast-quality camera equipment; • High-resolution recording, preferably 4K; • Appropriate lenses for interviews, environments and activity filming; • Professional sound recording using external microphones; • Appropriate lighting equipment for interviews and indoor filming; • Stabilization equipment such as tripod, monopod or gimbal where appropriate; • Drone footage where legally permitted, operationally feasible and approved in advance. Interviews Interviews should be recorded using professional sound equipment and appropriate framing. Potential interviewees may include: • Beneficiaries; • Health professionals; • Farmers and breeders; • Entrepreneurs and cooperative members; • Community representatives; • Local authorities; • Technical experts; • Implementing partners; • Expertise France representatives. Interview questions will be developed in coordination with Expertise France. The videographer may provide recommendations regarding interview composition, location and visual storytelling. Editing and Post-production The final videos should include: • Professional editing and sequencing; • Appropriate transitions and visual storytelling; • Color correction and basic color grading; • Professional audio mixing and sound correction; • Appropriate music, using properly licensed or royalty-free material; • On-screen titles and captions; • Logos and visibility elements provided by Expertise France; • Arabic and English subtitles, as required; • Incorporation of project results and key messages provided by Expertise France. The final editing should remain factual and consistent with the project's documented results. Format Final files should be delivered in: • High-resolution master format; • MP4/H.264 format suitable for web and social media; • 16:9 landscape format for the main videos; 3-5 minutes • 9:16 vertical format for selected social-media content, where requested; 60-90 seconds The final videos should be optimized for both online publication and use during institutional events and presentations. 7. Storytelling and Editorial Approach The preferred approach is human-centered, factual and results-oriented. Rather than simply documenting activities, the videographer should seek to visually demonstrate how project interventions affect people's lives and strengthen local capacities. Where possible, footage should combine: • Interviews; • Observational footage; • Establishing shots; • Activity footage; • Before/after evidence where available; • Details and close-ups; • Environmental/contextual footage; • Interactions between project actors and communities. The videos should avoid exaggerated claims, staged situations or representations that could compromise the dignity, privacy or safety of beneficiaries. 8. Ethical, Safeguarding and Data Protection Requirements The videographer must comply with Expertise France's safeguarding, ethical communication and data protection requirements. Particular attention must be given to: • Obtaining informed consent before filming individuals; • Ensuring participants understand the purpose and potential use of the videos; • Respecting confidentiality and privacy; • Avoiding unnecessary collection of personal information; • Avoiding filming sensitive documents, patient records, identification documents or other confidential information; • Ensuring that interviews do not expose participants to security, social or political risks; • Immediately informing Expertise France of any safeguarding or protection concern identified during filming. No individual should be filmed where participation could reasonably expose them to harm or negative consequences. Particular care is required when filming patients, children, displaced persons and other vulnerable groups. 9. Security and Context Sensitivity The videographer will be in charge of all security and safety measures on their own. However, advices can be taken from Expertise France as deemed necessary. 10. Coordination and Management of the Assignment The videographer will work under the overall coordination of the Expertise France communication focal point/project team. Coordination will include: Before filming • Introductory briefing with Expertise France; • Review of project documentation and communication objectives; • Agreement on key messages and target audiences; • Development of a proposed storyboard and filming plan; • Identification of interviewees and filming locations; • Agreement on the filming schedule; • Review of security, safeguarding and consent requirements. During filming The videographer will coordinate closely with the designated Expertise France focal point and implementing partners. Expertise France and/or its implementing partners will facilitate access to relevant project sites and stakeholders, subject to security and operational constraints. During editing A first draft of each video will be submitted to Expertise France for review. The videographer will incorporate consolidated comments provided by Expertise France. At least two rounds of reasonable revisions should be anticipated for each main video. Final publication will be subject to Expertise France's approval. 11. Intellectual Property and Use of Materials All final audiovisual products produced under this assignment will belong to Expertise France in accordance with the contractual arrangements. The videographer will provide Expertise France with the final edited videos and relevant raw audiovisual material generated during the assignment. Expertise France will have the right to use, reproduce, edit, adapt and disseminate the materials for institutional, communication, visibility, reporting, learning and public information purposes. The videographer shall ensure that all music, images, fonts, graphics and other third-party materials incorporated into the final products are appropriately licensed for the intended use. 12. Expected Profile The selected videographer or production team should demonstrate: • Proven professional experience in documentary, development, humanitarian or institutional video production; • Strong skills in filming, interviewing, sound recording and editing; • Experience producing content for international organizations, NGOs, donors or development programmes; • Demonstrated ability to communicate complex development or humanitarian topics through accessible visual storytelling; • Experience working in challenging or sensitive environments; • Strong understanding of ethical and safeguarding considerations when filming vulnerable populations; • Excellent editing and post-production skills; • Ability to work in Arabic and English. Knowledge of both languages is mandatory; • Ability to work flexibly according to project and security constraints. • Experience in Syria or comparable fragile and conflict-affected settings will be considered an advantage. • Demonstrated field access to Damascus, Rural Damascus and Eastern governorates in Syria 13. Indicative Production Process The assignment is expected to follow the following sequence: 1. Briefing and documentation review 2. Storyline/storyboard development 3.Filming plan and logistics preparation 4. Field filming and interviews 5. Initial editing 6. Submission of first cut 7. Expertise France review 8.Revision and post-production 9. Final approval 10. Delivery of final videos, short formats and agreed raw footage The detailed timeline will be agreed between Expertise France and the selected service provider. 14. Proposal Requirements Interested candidates/companies should submit: • Technical proposal describing their understanding of the assignment; • Proposed creative and storytelling approach; • Proposed methodology and production process; • Portfolio and examples of previous relevant work; • CV(s) of proposed personnel; • Proposed timeline for each video; 15. Eligibility Criteria Applications will be considered for a technical evaluation only if they meet the following eligibility criteria: - Evidence of formal access in Syria. - Technical proposal including details outlined in technical proposal requirements. - CVs of proposed/technical team, focal point, producer, editor, and record film taker. - Financial proposal for each video including all costs in USD. - A completed Sworn statement on exclusion criteria, the absence of conflict of interest ( See Annex I ) - A completed Beneficial owners declaration form ( See Annex II ) 16. Application Evaluation Criteria Proposals may be assessed against the following criteria: Understanding of the assignment and proposed approach: 20% Teams’ experience and qualifications: 25% Quality and creativity of proposed storytelling approach: 20% Technical capacity and production quality (previous example): 15% Financial proposal: 20%