Mekong River Commission Office of the Secretariat in Phnom Penh (OSP) 576 National Road, #2, Chak Angre Krom, P.O. Box 623, Phnom Penh, Cambodia Tel. (855-23) 425 353 Fax (855-23) 425 363 Terms of Reference Office of the Secretariat in Vientiane (OSV), Office of the Chief Executive Officer 184 Fa Ngoum Road, P.O. Box 6101, Vientiane, Lao PDR Tel: (856-21) 263 263. Fax: (856-21) 263 264 Updated 31 May 2016 Title: Division: Level of Post: Duty station: International/Regional Consultant (Videographer) Communication Outreach Component under the Mekong Integrated Water Resources Management Project (M-IWRMP) Special Service Agreement (SSA) Home-based, with travel to MRC member countries Duration: Up to 35 working days within 10 months (June 2016 March 2017), can be extended until December 2017 with additional 25 actual working days, subject to performance and budget availability Reporting to: Director of Planning Division 1. Background: The Mekong River Commission (MRC) was established through the 1995 Mekong Agreement between the governments of Cambodia, the Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam. The role of the MRC is to co-ordinate and promote co-operation in all fields of sustainable development, utilisation, management and conservation of the water and related resources of the Mekong Basin. The MRC Mekong-Integrated Water Resources Management Project (M-IWRMP) is a cross-cutting project that promotes the coordinated development and management of water, land, and related resources in a way that maximises economic and social welfare without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems. It coordinates and administers five bilateral projects of the four member countries at the Transboundary level (thereafter, referred to as the transboundary projects ) that facilitate cross-border dialogue and promote the IWRM approach to address key issues in the use of common water-related resources. The Communication Outreach Component under M-IWRMP facilitates dialogue and the communication of IWRM principles to different stakeholders including government agencies, the private sector, civil society and local communities, through the use of a wide range of communication approaches. The dissemination of the MRC knowledge and IWRM principles, the provision of communication support to the five bilateral projects, and the promotion of their activities and achievements are the core function of this component. In this context, the component seeks a Consultant (Videographer) to develop scores of video materials to promote the IWRM-based transboundary dialogue. 2. Objectives: 1
Audiovisual materials are powerful tools to reach out to a variety of audiences. The IWRMP plans to use videos (in English and riparian languages) for awareness-raising on the importance of IWRM-based transboundary dialogue for the management of common water resources, primarily targeting national policy-makers, local authorities and water-resources users in the sub-basins. Therefore, the Communication Component needs to develop (1) a short video introducing the importance of IWRM-based dialogue and the transboundary projects, (2) a number of short video clips to showcase the projects progress, and (3) a longer piece of video story on the achievements of the projects, with a trailer, by the end of the project cycle (December 2017). These products could be shown on the MRC website and other corporate communication opportunities and the project teams websites and various outreach events. 3. Scope of work: This assignment requires the consultant to develop storyboards and scripts, film footage in the fields and offices, and edit the video footage to produce video products on IWRM-based transboundary dialogue, which takes place through the following five bilateral projects: Mekong Sekong Fisheries Management Project (Laos - Cambodia) Sesan Srepok Sub-Basins Water Resources Management Project (Cambodia Viet Nam) Mekong Delta Water Resources Management Project (Cambodia Viet Nam) Xe Bang Hieng Nam Kam Wetlands Management Project (Laos Thailand) Tonle Sap Lake Songkhla Lake Basins Communication Outreach Project (Cambodia - Thailand) The consultant will work mostly from home and frequently travel to the fields (project sites and capitals of the four countries) to capture images, but also reports to the Office of the MRC Secretariat in Vientiane from time to time. Travel costs and DSA are provided in addition to the consultant fees. The initial assignment duration is 10 months from June 2016 March 2017, with 35 actual working days. The expected outputs from the initial assignment include: (1) a short video introducing the importance of IWRM-based dialogue and the transboundary projects, (2) at least five short video clips to showcase the five projects, and (3) archive footage of the project activities for a longer documentary video to be completed by the end of the project cycle (December 2017). The contract can be extended up to December 2017 with additional 25 working days to complete the longer piece on the achievements. While the Communication Component is responsible for providing detailed concepts of the assignment and available relevant documents and video products, as well as introducing the consultant to the relevant IWRMP team and the transboundary project teams, the consultant is required to arrange logistics and interviews with relevant officers and project team members. See more specifics below. 4. Responsibilities / Timeline: The consultant is required to carry out the following duties and responsibilities: Review all relevant documents, footage, and photos (some sample videos will be provided as an initial concept); Meet and facilitate discussions with the MIWRMP and Communication teams on storyline development, and develop a draft story outlines based on the discussion; Revise and finalise the story outlines based on the comments/suggestions; Conduct video shooting, interview key persons at the MRCS, National Mekong Committees (NMCs) and the project sites, and select footage/photos; 2
Write the video scripts and select sound bites and submit the scripts to the MRC for review and comment; and revise and finalise the scripts; Produce and edit the videos; Submit the video for review and comments, and revise and finalise videos for final submission; Facilitate translation into 4 riparian languages, and add subtitles and riparian-language voiceovers; and, Make sure that sources of the information presented in the videos are given proper credit. The table below outlines a proposed timeline of the production. Key tasks No. of days Desk-review the concept notes, project-related documents and MRC videos 1 Facilitate discussions with IWRMP & the Communication teams, develop a work plan, select target locations and plan a travel schedule (require MRCS agreement) Develop story outlines and storyboards (require MRCS approval) 5 Visit field locations in the four member countries and shoot video footage* 15 Write script, select sound bites, and finalise the script based on feedback (require MRCS approval) Editorial work on the products, including work on translated versions 6 Finalise and export the video products 1 Total no. of days 35 2 5 * Travel time is not included in the working days. One working day for MRC is 7.5 hours. ** The above timeline is indicative only. The consultant is requested to submit his/her work plan after initial discussions. 5. Deliverables: In this initial assignment, the consultant is required to deliver the following outputs: 1 short video (approx. 5-7 minutes) that introduces the overall transboundary projects (in English and 4 riparian languages); Archived video footage on the progress of the five transboundary projects for a longer piece of video story (approx. 30 minutes) with a 2-minute trailer to be produced by the end of 2017; and A minimum of 5 video clips (1 each of the 5 projects, up to 3 minutes) on the project activities (in English and 2 riparian languages/product). All products must be high quality with English subtitle when spoken in other languages (English version). The riparian-language versions also follow the same approach. Some footage is expected to be taken by a drone camera. If more effective to deliver messages, animation can be used in the video production. 3
Please note that the work plan, selected target locations, and travel schedule need to be agreed by the MRCS, and the key messages, storylines and scripts need to be approved by the MRCS. All products must be accepted by the MRCS as final before payment. The final products should be delivered in the following mediums: DVDs and/or VCDs MP4/FLV format for web-content (incl. HD/HQ format) The minimum standard requirements for the video quality are as follows: Description Dimension Frame size and image dimensions 1080 x 1920 Variable Bit Rate 10.08 Mbit/s Screen Aspect Ratios 4:3 (or 16:9) Interlacing Compatible version Sound 48k The deliverables may be modified upon mutual agreements if the transboundary projects do not progress as planned or for any other compelling reasons. 6. Legal arrangements for the use of the produced materials All graphic materials (e.g. drawings, graphs, pictures, etc.) and video footage produced for the videos have to be made available to the MRC-MIWRMP in an image format or publisher format (e.g..jpg,.png,.indd, etc.) in order for the MRC to further use them in other communications products (e.g. presentations, reports, posters, booklets, etc.). The copy rights and rights for further use and adjustment shall ultimately lie with the MIWRMP and MRC. 7. Condition of payment: This position is paid upon the delivery of products in 7 installments, first upon the delivery of the introductory video (25 %), second to sixth installments upon the delivery of each short video clip (10 % each) and the final installment upon the delivery of the archived footage with some short video clips at the end of the current contract period (25 %). Payment will be in US dollar. Required DSA and relevant travelling expenses will be provided in accordance with the MRC guidelines. 8. Working Principles / Reporting line: Under the technical supervision of the Communication Officer of the M-IWRM Communication Component, the consultant will report to the Director of the Planning Division. S/he will work closely with other communication personnel and project-related personnel. 9. Qualifications/ Requirements: - A minimum of bachelor s degree, preferably a master s, in communications or related field; - At least 5 years of solid experience in the field of professional video production with a good portfolio of video products on the Mekong, social or environmental issues; - Experience with the use of a variety of digital movie cameras, and expertise in shooting in various lighting conditions and capturing audio videos (i.e. boom mic.); 4
- Adequate equipment and facility, including HD cameras, an editing machine, microphones, a recording studio, and other necessary film-making tools; - Ability to produce video products as defined by the Communication Component; - Knowledge of natural resources management and environmental awareness is desirable; - Good understanding of the Mekong River basin s socio-economic, environmental contexts; - Work experience with international, intergovernmental organisations preferred; - Willingness to work closely with the MRCS and transboundary project teams; and - Working knowledge of riparian languages is an asset. 10. Signature Block: Director Consultant Name: Name: Date: Date: 5