Plan International

Deadline: 25 May 2021

Background

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organization that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We believe in the power and potential of every child. We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood and we enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge. In Zimbabwe, we have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 31 years.

Plan International strives to advance children’s rights and equality for girls all over the world. As an independent development and humanitarian organisation, we work alongside children, young people, our supporters and partners to tackle the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children. We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood and enable children to prepare for and respond to crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge. For over 80 years we have been building powerful partnerships for children, and we are active in over 75 countries.

Through the Civil Society Strengthening project, there have been significant changes in communities around Tsholotsho, Chiredzi, Harare and Bulawayo. In order to document those successful stories, Plan International is going to collect, compile and produce a project magazine that reflects the overview of the projects, achievements, quotes and evaluation results.

Purpose of the assignment

The purpose of this assignment is to collect, compile and produce outstanding success stories/case studies in all districts where the CSS project is being implemented. The success stories/case studies which demonstrate the impact of the project and the contribution it made in the communities have already been identified and the consultant is only expected to conduct interviews, take photos and compile them into a project magazine.

A total of 12 stories are expected 75 percent of which should be about women, young women and girls . The stories should be covering a wide range of project interventions and revealing results of any of the project outcomes. The stories can reveal changes at individual , family and community level. Three stories must come from each province where the project was implemented (Masvingo, Bulawayo and Matabeleland North) and the other three from the national level interventions: that is Girls not Brides and Child Rights Coalition.

The consultant will be expected to include the overview of the project in the magazine. The overview will be provided by Plan International.

Overall results from end of project results also need to be captured as part of the magazine. A separate consultant will be engaged to conduct the evaluation and produce an impact brief which will be given to the consultant doing documentation.

Scope of work

The consultant will develop structured questions for each story idea to be shared to Plan International Communications Specialist and the project team before field work commences. After compilation, the consultant will present a well-designed child friendly magazine. The magazine must be between 18 – 24 pages.

Participant selection and recruitment

As a minimum requirement, representatives from key stakeholders (project team, project partners, other potential experts cooperating with the project team, e.g. public authorities, community leaders) and target groups should be given the opportunity to provide feedback on the project to the consultant(s).

The key stakeholders and target groups that would be involved: Project staff (PIZ, JCT and WLSA); Plan Management; Third level Sub grantees; Government line ministries; Implementing partners; Other NGOs; CSOs; Girls, Boys, Youths, Men, Women (Direct and indirect beneficiaries).

Outputs and deliverables

The following deliverables are expected from the consultant: An inception report, outlining the key scope of the work and intended work plan of the analysis, and refinement of the documentation (interview) questions (technical proposal), shall be submitted after 5 days of commencing the consultancy. An inception meeting will also be conducted to deliberate and map the way forward. The evaluators will prepare an inception report which will outline the scope of work, intended work plan and production; Production of success stories under the CSS project in English language ( but showcasing the diversity of the languages from the project areas); The story narrative should be written in a creative way which needs to be supported by the quality photos and stronger bites; Prepare a short narrative or profile before writing a full stories; Draft the stories, and submit for the comments; Incorporate the comments from Plan International Team; Submit the final version (Branded project magazine) including the photos with captions; After completion of the study the consultant will give a presentation to Plan International Zimbabwe and its stakeholders.

Users of the documentation

Donor – the magazine will inform the donor about the project achievements and project values at completion of project, bringing out the human element and the transformation across project sites through the interventions; Plan , JCT, WLSA and participating CSOs - these include project staff, program staff, management and administrative staff located in Bulawayo, Masvingo and Matabeleland North provinces and Plan International Zimbabwe’s PAs; Plan staff in other Country Offices in Plan countries and in National Offices (SNO); Partner communities in the Program Areas; Partner development organizations to improve programming at all levels–from policy to implementation levels thereby improving the quality of partnership with Plan; In addition, key stakeholders in Zimbabwe such as government line ministries/departments, NGOs, CSOs, local authorities and communities are interested parties.

Time Frame

The assignment is expected to be undertaken within 15 working days.

Qualification and experience

The consultant team/individual should have at least 5 years of writing experience in story writing in a creative way for a diverse audience; Significant experience in writing, editing and documenting human interest stories for different audiences is prerequisite; Excellent knowledge, experiences and skills in editing and photography. A basic understanding of project implementation

Ethics and Child Protection

Plan International is committed to ensuring that the rights of those participating in data collection or analysis are respected and protected, in accordance with Ethical MERL Framework and our Global Policy on Safeguarding Children and Young People. The applicants should include details in their proposal on how they will ensure ethics and child protection in the data collection process. Specifically, the consultant(s) shall explain how appropriate, safe, non-discriminatory participation of all stakeholders will be ensured and how special attention will be paid to the needs of children and other vulnerable groups. The consultant(s) shall also explain how confidentiality and anonymity of participants (where necessary) will be guaranteed. Personally Identifying information should also be well considered in instances where it will be utilised and appropriate consent be sought throughout the entire process.