Consultant(s) to Produce Human Interest

1.    PROJECT BACKGROUND
The Directorate-General for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid (DGD) funded project “Fighting with women against inequalities and for socioeconomic justice in food systems: Improved Social Protection and Labour Rights for Women Workers in Asean’s Agri-Food Sector (2022-2026)” is being implemented Oxfam from 1st January 2022 to 31 December 2026. It aims improve social protection and labour rights for women workers in ASEAN’s Agri-Food Sector” covers Lao PDR, Cambodia and Vietnam and includes a regional component. In Lao PDR, it offers a broader coverage reaching out to workers in other agri-food sectors, including banana plantation, rice farmers, vegetable, home-based workers, household food processing, and street vendors of target areas as implemented in 160 villages, 46 Districts in 17 Provinces: Bokeo, Louangnatha, Oudomxay, Xayabrouly, Louangprabank, Phonsaly, Houphan, Xiengkhoung, Vientiane Province, Vientiane Capital, Bolikhamxay, Khammoun, Savannakhet, Salavanh, Champasak, Xekong, and Attapue Provinces. The key project interventions and strategy of the project are as follows:

• Mobilizing women workers in the agri-food sector to organize cooperatives and networks, empower their leadership capacity, build knowledge and understanding of labor rights, social protections for worker groups, and Grassroots Trade Union (GTU), collective bargaining training and formulating collective labor contracts for Grassroot Trade Union and informal workers in the agri-food sector.

• Conduct studies or research to provide additional policy recommendations on labor needs, gender issues, and social protection; promotion of the legislation and other measures of enforcement which support labor rights and gender-transformative social protection;

• Policy makers have better engagement in social protection and labor rights awareness-raising sessions and dialogues; encouraging government partners to engage CSOs and worker representatives in any relevant dialogues for policy change; exchange lesson learned sessions and annual meetings

• Promote tripartite dialogue meetings at local and central levels; Promote employers’ compliance with national and international standards for OSH and social protection; Employers engage in collective bargaining with worker groups to negotiate and resolve issues relating to social protection and labor rights; Information-sharing regarding social protection and labor rights to increase understanding among employers and other key stakeholders.

• Strengthening national partners’ capacity, knowledge, and expertise in the areas of social protection and labor rights in the agri-food sector; maximizing national partners’ knowledge regarding the gender transformative approach

The project’s target groups are mostly engaged in informal and vulnerable employment, often seasonally. They lack proper employment contracts and social security coverage and have been known to experience labour rights violations and harassment in the workplace. The project works with 6 civil society organizations; CAMKID, IWAA, Lao Farmer Network, ASDSP, Phan Thin/HJA, MHP, the Lao Federation of Trade Union, Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, and its provincial and district offices; and the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare and its provincial departments and district offices.

Oxfam is looking for a writer and photojournalist to produce human interest stories and photographs with field mission to the target areas.
2.    OBJECTIVES

• To increase visibility of the Project to the donor and general public
• To show the project’s impact in an engaging, touching, and visual way

3.    DELIVERABLES AND EXPECTED OUTPUT
The consultant is expected to produce 21 human interest stories in Lao and English which reflect the work and impact of the project, are engaging and accurate, accompanied by high-resolution photographs, produce short English captions for the photographs with at least 5 unique photographs associated with each story and submit to Oxfam. And are well-written and ready for print, starting from December 2024 to March 2025 on an intermittent basis. the expected deliverables are   as follows:

DELIVERABLE 1: Review existing project document, report, outcome harvesting, etc.

• The consultant(s) will receive a briefing from Oxfam and partners on the scope of work.
  • Consult and discuss story ideas as well as planning with Oxfam and partners. A list of proposed story ideas and approximate locations will be provided latter. The stories should reflect a good balance of gender and age.
  • Develop and consult interview questions with Oxfam and partners

DELIVERABLE 2: Conduct interviews in target communities

• Conduct interviews in-person with beneficiaries and partners of the project.
• Draft stories and share the drafts with Oxfam and partners for the first round of review. The length of the stories is flexible, approximately about 500-750 words.
• Review the drafts based on feedback.
• Submit the final drafts to Oxfam.

DELIVERABLE 3: The high-resolution photographs:

• The photographs accompanying the stories will be of project partners and beneficiaries interviewed, local scenes, and their activities. Photographs should portray emotions and empowerment where possible. They should reflect the person’s work and be natural, not appearing staged.
• Collect a variety of photographic formats (vertical / horizontal, close-ups / wide shots / medium shots, portraits / photos posed / actions).
• All images should be in JPEG format, and resolutions for various uses (e.g., web, print).
• All images should be accompanied by English captions containing the following information: the place, the date and any relevant information making it possible to easily identify and understand the context of the photograph, the name of the persons photographed if known.

4.    LIST OF PROPOSED STORY IDEAS
[ To be added later]
5.    PAYMENT SCHEDULE
Remuneration is based on submission of final deliverables according to the schedule. No payment will be made in advance.

No.
Steps / deliverables
Dates
% payment

1
DELIVERABLE 1

Final interview questions agreed by Oxfam

December, 2024
30% total budget

2
DELIVERABLE 2

Submission of the 1st draft of all stories

February 2025

40% total budget

3
DELIVERABLE 3

[Submission of the completed set of human stories and high-quality photographs.

March, 2025
30% total budget

TOTAL
 
100%

6.    PROFILE REQUIREMENTS
The company/ individual(s) should have the following competencies:

Essential criteria

• Have at least 3 years’ experience in mass communications, journalism, public information, photography and related fields.
• Excellent command of English.
• Track record of on-time delivery.
• Experience in writing similar content like: Ability to write compelling narratives that highlight personal experiences, community impact, and emotional connections.
• Ability to take high-quality, professional photographs that capture emotions, environments, and context.
• Knowledge of ethical guidelines to ensure consent, dignity, and accuracy in the representation of people and stories.
• Experience in conducting interviews to extract meaningful and detailed narratives.

7.    APPLICATION PROCESS
Submission deadline
Quotations and applications must reach Oxfam no later than 31/12/2024 at 17:00 PM (GMT +7).
Submission instructions
Responses must be submitted electronically to: https://career2.successfactors.eu/career?company=OxfamNovibP

The subject of the mail should be: Consultancy to produce human interest stories with photos
Clarifications
Any questions, remarks or requests for clarification can be sent to Soudany Phommavilay via Email: soudany.phommavilay@oxfam.org. The questions will be answered to all applicants.
Administrative compliance (list of documents to be submitted)
Responses must be submitted and prepared in English and received by the deadline.

To be shortlisted for evaluation against award criteria, the following documents must be included in the application:

Item
Importance

1
Technical proposal / approach paper to conduct the assignment and achieve objectives including methodology, proposed work plan and timelines
Mandatory

2
Financial offer (price quotation) including budget and pricing

•        All prices must appear in USD, with to pay 5% income tax, this tax Oxfam will pay directly to the tax authority)

•        The total budget, which must include a detailed breakdown of costs by deliverables.

•        The total budget proposed by the Consultant must include all costs that will be invoiced to Oxfam in the financial offer:

a)     all technical services and activities e.g. research, report writing, analysis and interpretation

b)     travel related costs (including flights, taxi, car, accommodation, and food. The costs should include the local government partners who will accompany during data collection in seven provinces).

c)     Other associated cost ()
Mandatory

3
Curriculum Vitae(s) (CV) of the proposed consultant(s), proving relevant experience and/or qualifications. If multiple people are involved, an outline of roles/ responsibilities also needs to be included. CV should not more than 3 pages
Mandatory

4
Evidence of two relevant of previous work (for the works that are not confidential only)
Mandatory

5
Proof of registration: The bidders also must include a copy of their registration; this is applicable for enterprise.
Mandatory

8.    OTHER CONDITIONS
Issuance of this Terms of Reference does not constitute an award commitment on the part of Oxfam, nor does it commit Oxfam to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of a bid.

The attached Annexes are an integral part of this Request for Proposals.

Oxfam may contact bidders to confirm contacts, addresses, bid amount and to confirm that the bid was submitted for this solicitation.
Quotation validity
If the bidder is awarded the contract, all information provided in the quotation and negotiation process is contractually binding.
False statements
Bidders must provide full, accurate and complete information as required by this solicitation and Annexes. False statements in bids constitutes grounds for immediate termination of any agreement with the supplier. OXFAM takes fraud, misstatements, falsification, manipulation, alteration of facts and/or documents very seriously, has a zero-tolerance policy to such behaviours, and may choose to take legal action in a case of misrepresented disclosures by Contractors.
Conflict of interest
Bidders must provide disclosure of any past, present or future relationships with any parties associated with the issuance, review or management of this solicitation and anticipated award.  Failure to provide full and open disclosure may result in Oxfam having to re-evaluate the selection of a potential bidder.
Right to Select/ Reject
Oxfam reserves the right to select and negotiate with those firms it determines, in its sole discretion, to be qualified for competitive proposals and to terminate negotiations without incurring any liability.  Oxfam also reserves the right to reject any or all proposals received without explanation.
Reserved rights
All applications and quotes become the property of Oxfam, and Oxfam reserves the right in its sole discretion to:

• To disqualify any offer based on applicant’s failure to follow solicitation instructions
• To waive any deviations by the applicant from the requirements of this terms of reference that, in Oxfam’s opinion, are considered immaterial defects requiring rejection or disqualification; or where such a waiver will promote increased competition
• Extend the time for submission of responses after notification to all applicants
• Terminate or modify the process at any time and re-issue the request for quotation to whomever Oxfam deems appropriate
• Issue an award based on the initial evaluation of offers without discussion
• Award only part of the activities in the solicitation or issue multiple awards based on solicitation activities

9.    CODE OF CONDUCT
Oxfam is committed to integrity in its operations and supply chains and ensuring high ethical standards. Complying with all laws and regulations and ensuring fair competition are fundamental to this commitment. We actively promote these principles and standards, and expect all Oxfam suppliers to demonstrate commitment towards them.

All consultants/applicant are required to agree and adhere to the Oxfam Supplier Code of Conduct, whereas individuals (including consultants) must sign the Oxfam Non Staff Code of Conduct[1]. These Codes of Conduct set out the specific standards and principles in the areas of human and labour rights, environmental impact and anti-corruption that suppliers must follow.
10. REPORTING OF FRAUD & UNETHICAL BEHAVIOUR
Oxfam’s reporting and whistleblowing mechanisms are available for Suppliers as well Oxfam employees, to ensure that Oxfam continues to operate under the highest ethical standards and principles.

You can use these reporting channels confidentially, anonymously, and in your own language to report any concerns involving fraud, corruption, waste, abuse or safeguarding concerns.

Online webform
Oxfam Misconduct Reporting Webform (including possibility for anonymous reporting): https://oxfam.clue-webforms.co.uk/webform/misconduct/

Email
integrity@oxfamnovib.nl

Phone
Global phone number: +44 1249 661808   https://speakup.oxfamnovib.nl for local numbers (you can request interpretation)

[1] Non-Staff Code of Conduct applies for any self-employed individuals or contracted employees of suppliers who are working on Oxfam sites, or who have access to Oxfam materials, or who may represent Oxfam in any manner but are not part of Oxfam’s legal entity)