Consultancy Service to develop disability accessible IEC materials under “Empowered Persons with disabilities in an Inclusive and Resilient Community”

IFRC/Danish Red Cross Nepal is looking for consultancy services to produce IEC material for community orientation.to develop disability accessible IEC materials under “Empowered Persons with disabilities in an Inclusive and Resilient Community”

Interested applicant should submit their expression of interest and required documents as mentioned in ToR to Ms. Aliza Baidya at aliza.baidya@ifrc.org , latest by 11 August 2022.

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Terms of Reference (ToR) to produce Disability Accessible Animated videos on Disaster Preparedness

Consultancy Service to develop disability accessible IEC materials under “Empowered Persons with disabilities in an Inclusive and Resilient Community”

(AX: 24568)

(26th July, 2022)

1.0  Background

Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) with support from Danish Red Cross has been implementing a project entitled “Empowered Persons with Disabilities in an Inclusive Community" from 1st September 2019 – 28th February 2023.

The project aims to empower Persons with Disabilities (PWD) & support their family, community, and institutions to become more inclusive. The project has four outputs: Output 1: Self-confidence of persons with disabilities and their capacity to position themselves as active members of their families are strengthened. Output 2: Meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in their communities is increased. Output 3: An enabling environment allowing persons with disabilities to fully exercise their rights is fostered. Output 4: Local authorities and communities (including Self Help Groups) have increased awareness and capacity to take actions towards community resilience through a multi-hazard and Disability Inclusion approach in Disaster Risk Management.

The project is being implemented in Dordi Rural Municipality, Lamjung and Rishing Rural Municipality, Tanahu. This project is led by Gender Diversity and Inclusion (GESI) Department, NRCS. However, output 4 (also known as DiDRR output) is led by the Disaster Management (DM) Department, NRCS.  The expertise and ownership of output 4 is the responsibility of DM department where GESI department provides other coordination facilitation and required support for the activity's execution.

Under output 4, DiDRR focused output; production and dissemination of disability accessible information, education and communication (IEC) materials is one of the major activities based on situation assessment report. A situation assessment carried out in October 2020 highlighted the lack of such materials and need to work with disability inclusion experts/organizations to produce or refine the key risk information and required disaster preparedness messages in accessible formats such as braille, audio, video, including sign language etc.  

The project completed disability inclusive Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment (Di-VCA) in February 2022 where community identified the risks and hazards for them. The top five hazards identified by the community are earthquake, flood, landslide, epidemic and fire.  Project situation assessment carried out in October 2020 also highlighted lack of right information at right time to the community people as one of the major gaps; which the VCA reports reconfirmed. 

Based on those reports, the project has decided to implement a wide range of non-structural risk reduction activities including a few structural mitigation activities though.  One of the activities under non-structural mitigation activity is dissemination of messages on risk reduction and disaster preparedness measures in an accessible format. A quick survey on available IEC materials found that several information, communication, and education (IEC) materials, in different formats (audio-visual, audio, print copy), are available in the country however those IECs; in any form like audio, video, print copy etc; are not accessible to all. Especially persons with disabilities who usually face more difficulties in times of disaster have less access to the IECs with lifesaving messages which hampers their right to be informed and capacity to take action to protect themselves.  Therefore, the main aim of this consultancy is to produce information, communication, and education materials in disability accessible format. 

We would like to produce IEC materials accessible to the people living with disability: physical disability, disability related to hearing, disability related to voice/speech, disability related to vision, multiple disability, mental or psychosocial disability, disability related to inherited genetic disorder but not limited. We would like to produce materials that cover the messages on disaster preparedness actions at community level, including emergency contact numbers for any emergency and others.

2.0  Purpose, Objectives and Scope

2.1  PURPOSE

The main purpose of this consultancy is to prepare disability accessible IECs on disaster preparedness covering earthquake, landslide, flood, epidemic and fire. The designed final products will be used by the Nepal Red Cross Society, community, organizations working in disability sectors, schools, and government stakeholders.

2.2  OBJECTIVES

The specific objectives of the consultancy are:

Produce one animated video (2D animation) about each hazard earthquake, landslide, flood, epidemic and fire which must contain messages on i) introduction of hazard ii) possible adverse effects that a particular hazard can have on persons with disabilities, iii) preparedness actions to be done before and during a particular hazard/disaster by the persons with disabilities and care takers. The video must be in two languages English and Nepali. 

2.3  SCOPE

The scope of the consultancy is given below.

• The consultancy must prepare a video on flood, fire, epidemic, landslide, and earthquake. The developed final product/output must be accessible to the following categories of persons living with a disability: i) physical disability, ii) disability related to hearing, iii) disability related to voice/speech, iv) disability related to vision, v) mental or psychosocial disability.
• The consultancy must use universal accessible techniques while preparing the videos, targeted to the above-mentioned groups  
• Each animation video must not be longer than 3 minutes. The videos should be in 2D animation. There will be 3-5 speaking characters and additional 3-5 non-speaking background characters. The characters will be repeated in all five videos to establish a sense of familiarity in the viewers.
• Quality assurance must be done by the respective disability organizations or experts through a series of meetings and the evidence. The evidence (workshop report) must be submitted along with the animated videos.
• A quality control check list must be submitted by the consultant along with inception report to ensure that the videos  are accessible to persons living with following disability i) physical disability, ii) disability related to hearing, iii) disability related to voice/speech, iv) disability related to vision, v) mental or psychosocial disability, 

3.  Methodology

1. Desktop review or review of secondary information- IECs (audio-visual, audio, print copy drama etc.) produced by the different organizations or institutions
2. Consultation interaction with organization of persons with disabilities (OPDs), NGOs working in disability sector, relevant committees of the Government and sectoral experts at national level
3. Consultation interaction with OPDs and sectoral experts at district and community level
4. Interaction with production, design experts, disability experts of different categories and produce the sample
5. Piloting of all five-first draft videos among the target group & key stakeholders (at national level and at community level) and produce the final product including suggestions and feedback. 
6. NRCS will support the local level coordination but that needs to be clearly explained in technical proposal. 

4.  Roles & Responsibilities

The disability accessible IEC production team will be led by the consultant in close collaboration with DRC and NRCS.

DRC COUNTRY OFFICE SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR:

• DRC’s Senior Programme and Livelihood Officer will closely work with the consultancy
• DRC’s Senior Programme and Livelihood Officer is responsible to ensure that contribution from internal experts and technical team of DRC provides suggestions and inputs timely
• Arranging logistics (travel, and accommodation during filed visit & interaction at field), & linking with NRCS focal person
• Providing feedback on first draft of each output as per agreed schedule from RC side
• Making payments in Nepali Rupees as per the signed contract

CONSULTANT SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR:

• Inception report including a detailed work plan including all tasks and workflow/steps, experts to be used in production, methodology, stakeholders at community, district, national level, and milestones with time frames 
• Leading the IEC production team and over all process of production  
• Leading the IEC production process (desk study/secondary information review process, consultation with experts and OPDs, consultation with design team and quality team, consultation with community groups and authorities, developing the prototype and, collecting feedback from all concerned and final product based on feedback and suggestions) 
• Providing progress update/briefing on weekly basis
• Providing sample video for review to RC team (If the consultant is planning to submit the sample product on a scheduled basis, please mention it clearly in your proposal and inception report)
• Doing the piloting of all five animated videos and incorporating the feedback received and produce final output
• Submitting final product to DRC CO (If the consultant is planning to submit the final product on a scheduled basis, please mention it clearly in your proposal and inception report.)
• Working closely with project staff (NRCS & DRC CO) to ensure success of the consultancy along with OPDS, government agencies and a target group
• Working closely with authority and other organizations working in the disability inclusive DRR

NRCS PROJECT TEAM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR:

• Supporting local coordination as per the inception report and plan of action submitted by the consultant
• Logistical preparation for field work, arranging workshops, interactions (e.g. inviting participants, and logistic arrangements etc.)
• Providing all information and documents requested by the consultant
• Supporting to liaise with authorities, target groups (Self-help groups, persons with disabilities, family members/caretakers, PSS consultancy) and other external stakeholders as per the inception report of the consultant/consultancy 
• Providing any additional support as needed and communicating with DRC CO as necessary

5.  Deliverables & Schedule

The assignment should be able to get started on 1st September 2022 and completed by 30 November 2022.

6.  Skills & Qualifications

The consultancy is open for individuals, companies, and organizations. During the application process, the applicants must submit CV of all team members who will be engaged in the project. The individual or company applying for the consultancy must have:

1. Five years of relevant professional experience in producing animation videos and IEC materials. 

2. Professional experience in producing disability inclusive audio-visuals and IEC materials. 

3. Evidence of successfully producing disability accessible IECs like audio-visual, booklets, posters etc. 

4. Evidence of successfully producing disability accessible IECs like audio-visual, booklets, posters etc. 

5. A creative team who is passionate about storytelling and conveying messages through videos. 

6. Experience of working ion disability rights and issues sector including disaster risk reduction and disaster preparedness.

7. Team members with expertise on accessible techniques and methods required for i) physical disability, ii) disability related to hearing, iii) disability related to voice/speech, iv) disability related to vision, v) mental or psychosocial disability.

8. Proven track record of producing disability inclusive DRR documents, IECs with NGOs and INGOs.

9. Strong coordination and collaboration record with government agencies stakeholders and relevant organizations.

7.  Selection criteria

• Relevant professional experience
• Quality of samples submitted during the application process
• Team composition and diversity, experience, and qualification 
• Commitment to quality of deliverables and timely delivery
• Technical and Financial proposals

8.  Guidelines for financial proposal:

9.  Financial Proposal

The consultant is asked to submit a budget proposal outlining the costs for working days (fee), events fees, and other fees for all activities and sub-activities as mentioned in point number 8 and a detailed work plan. Submit a financial proposal in NPR, with detailed breakdown of cost and its related activity including all applicable tax/vat.

In your financial proposal please mention clearly about the terms of payment including bank details:

Bank Name:

Account Name:

Branch

10.  Per diem & Travel allowance: 

The Danish Red Cross will cover all travel & accommodation costs as per actual basis & food-max NPR 1200 per person per day as per DRC-CO policy for the field visit. 

11. How to apply:

Interested individual, company and organization should submit the full application package with following documents to Ms Aliza Baidya at aliza.baidya@ifrc.org  latest by 11th August 2022,

• Acknowledgement of ToR. (Please attach the signed copy of these Terms of Reference with your offer) 
• Latest tax clearance certificate.
• VAT registration is mandatory and submit a VAT registration certificate. 
• Submit a technical proposal and timeline demonstrating a thorough understanding of this ToR.  A financial proposal. 
• Organizational profile.
• Team composition and their CV. Only include the ones who will be directly involved in this project. 
• Relevant work samples in line with skills and qualifications mentioned under clause no. 6.  
• Detail work plan, including working days for main activities and milestones (e.g., using a Gantt chart).

Applications that are incomplete in any respect and applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

Clarifications may be requested no later than 4 days prior to the submission deadline. The contact information for requesting clarifications is: shubhadra.devkota@rodekors.dk We thank you in advance for understanding, only short-listed candidates will be contacted for the next step in the application process.

 DRC reserves the right to modify or cancel the MOU in case of unavoidable situations like changes in budget or other situations. 

We thank you in advance for understanding that only short-listed candidates/Company will be contacted for the next step in the application process.