Consultancy to Organize the Second African Agricultural Film Festival

FORUM FOR AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH IN AFRICA

 

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT SERVICES

 

 

Multi Donor Trust Fund for Support to the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA)

 

MDTF Grant No.: TF095129

 

Project ID No.:   P112684

 

Title: Consultancy to Organize the Second African Agricultural Film Festival

 

Assignment Reference Number: NSF2/221/AASW/1/FS

 

Background

 

This request for expressions of interest follows the general procurement notice for this project that appeared in dg Market, issue no. 4577029 of November 10, 2009.

 

The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) has received a grant from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) in the amount of US$ 17,244,320 equivalent toward the cost of implementation of the Comprehensive African

 

Agriculture Development Program (CAADP) Pillar IV strategy of the African Union’s New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AU-NEPAD), for revitalizing, expanding and reforming Africa’s agricultural research, and technology dissemination and adoption efforts and intends to apply part of the proceeds for the following consultant services :

 

Consultancy to Organize the Second African Agricultural Film Festival

 

The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) is the apex organization for agricultural research for development in Africa and the African Union’s New Partnerships for African

 

Development (AU/NEPAD) mandated institution to lead implementation of Pillar IV of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP) focusing on generation, dissemination and adoption of agricultural innovations. Harnessing the development and poverty-reducing potential of CAADP depends crucially on the effectiveness, efficiency and relevance of agricultural research institutions and services in addressing the challenges facing African agriculture.

 

The mission of FARA is to create broad-based improvements in agricultural productivity, competitiveness and markets by supporting Africa’s sub-regional organizations in strengthening the capacity of the NARS for agricultural innovation. FARA delivers on its mandate through four mutually-reinforcing Networking Support Functions (NSFs) concerned with advocacy and policy analysis (NSF1/3); Access to Knowledge & Technologies (NSF2); capacity strengthening (NSF4); and development of partnerships and strategic alliances (NSF5).

 

The NSFs mobilize and support FARA’s constituents and partners (Sub-regional organisations and organisations of the National Agricultural Research Systems) to undertake activities that generate continental spill overs and public goods.

 

FARA’s communications strategy intends, among other things, to give more visibility to innovations and achievements in agricultural research and development (ARD). Over the past few years, there have been a number of achievements and innovations in ARD in Africa. Some of these have been documented and shared in various formats -online, in print, audio and to a limited extent video. However, the majority are either undocumented or are in formats that are not widely available, accessible or attractive. Video holds a lot of promise as a means of effectively documenting and sharing innovations. With its strong appeal to the senses, video evidence has stronger impact than print across all stakeholder groups and is particularly useful for communities where literacy is a challenge, as is common among smallholder farmers across Africa.

 

Under the stewardship of NSF2, FARA is organizing the 2^nd African Agricultural Film Festival to take place at the 6^th Agricultural Science Week in July 2013. This is a follow up to the positive response received at the 1^st film festival organized at the same event in 2010.

Objectives

 

The purpose of the film festival is to share visual evidence of innovations (technologies, processes, practices) that have made positive impact on food security and nutrition in Africa in the past 3 years

 

Scope of work

 

The festival will be preceded by a film competition from which videos to be screened and winning videos will be selected. Specifically, the consultant will undertake the following tasks related to the film competition and film festival:

 

·     Prepare the concept note

 

·     Prepare and disseminate call for submission of films

 

·     Set up an online video space for submission of films

 

·     Nominate and contact potential panel members

 

·     Coordinate review and selection process

 

·     Upload all shortlisted videos to online video-sharing channel

 

·     Publicize the film festival

 

·     Make all necessary logistical preparations for the film festival (in liaison with FARA)

 

·     Coordinate the festival and award of winners

 

·     Prepare and submit a narrative report

 

Deliverables

 

The consultant will deliver the following:

 

i.        Concept note

 

ii.         Call for submissions

 

iii.         List of panelists

 

iv.         List of shortlisted films

v.         List of top three films

 

vi.         Event plan with details of programme

vii.          Hosting of the film festival] 

viii.          Short-listed films available online

 

ix.         Report of the event supported by communication products, list of participants and participant evaluation

 

Qualifications and Experience

The following qualifications are required:

 

·     A Master’s degree in Agriculture, Development Studies, Communication or other related fields

 

·     A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in the field of communication especially in the field of agriculture

 

·     Good writing and communication skills

 

·     Experience in convening and facilitating interactions between diverse stakeholder groups

 

Duration of the assignment

 

Two and a half months although the festival itself will last two days

 

Location of the assignment

 

Online and two days in Accra, Ghana.

 

Submission of Expression of Interest (EOI)

 

Interested Individual Consultants must provide a detailed Curriculum Vitae and a Cover Letter indicating they are qualified to perform the services.

 

Individual Consultants will be selected in accordance with the procedures set out in the World

 

Bank Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants by World Bank Borrowers (January 2011 edition)

 

Interested Individual Consultants may obtain further information at the address below from 09:00 to 15:00 hours, Monday through Friday (except public holidays).

 

Expressions of Interest must be delivered to the address below by 10:00 hours GMT, 16 May,

2013.

 

Prof. Monty P. Jones

 

Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA)

 

PMB CT 13, Cantonments, Accra, Ghana

 

Telephone: +233 21 772823/779421

 

Email:  ed@fara-africa.org

 

For further information and clarification contact:

 

Ifidon Ohiomoba

 

Email:  iohiomoba@fara-africa.org