Request for Proposal: Creative Agency Production Partner - South Africa

Top Line Objective Co-develop and execute a culturally relevant, highly entertaining, and educational TV dramedy series on broadcast that resonates with South African youth, influencing positive behavior change and raising awareness on various social issues. Who We Are Girl Effect is an international non-profit that builds media that girls want, trust and need. From chatbots to chat shows, and TV dramas to tech, our content helps adolescent girls in Africa and Asia make choices and changes in their lives. We create safe spaces for girls, sharing facts and answering questions about health, nutrition, education, and relationships, empowering girls with the skills to negotiate and redefine what they are told is possible “for a girl”. Our reach is 50 million and counting. And we’re using technology to reach girls at scale so every girl can choose to be in control of her body, her health, her learning and her livelihood. Because when a girl unlocks her power to make different choices that change her life, it inspires others to do so too. She starts a ripple effect that impacts her family, community, and country. That’s the Girl Effect. Our Approach Girl Effect uses a branded media approach towards delivering behavioral change messaging. We reach girls across the world, where they are -online and offline, to support them at the critical moments in life when choices around their health, education and economic future need to be made. We use our expertise in behaviour change science to motivate and equip girls with information and support to help them see a different future for themselves, act on those choices, and drive greater demand for the opportunities and services available to them. Girl Effect builds youth brands that girls love and trust, reaching girls where they are and creating change. Chhaa Jaa in India, Tujibebe in Tanzania, Yegna in Ethiopia, Ni Nyampinga in Rwanda - these are some of our youth brands. They exist across multiple channels - digital ( Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, TikTok, Whatsapp), TV, radio, print and offline. Together, these brands reach over 50 Million girls worldwide. Girl Effect in South Africa Girl Effect has been present in South Africa for the last 7 years through its global digital brand ‘Springster’, ( now devolved) and its AI-powered chatbot for girls - ‘Big Sis’. The program in South Africa was launched as a series of mobi-sites under the Facebook Free Basics program and later pivoted to social media. It has made girl-friendly content accessible to girls for free, reaching 6.1M users across the African continent. Big Sis, Girl Effect’s chatbot in South Africa, offers girls a virtual friend to talk to about their health concerns and curiosities. Launched 5 years ago, Big Sis has scaled to 200,000 conversations started, over 4 million messages sent/received, proven impact across behavioral drivers, and been shortlisted for multiple awards. South Africa Opportunity Now, Girl Effect has the opportunity to bring hope and inspiration to an entire generation of South African youth. We are building a national-scale youth brand that will help young South Africans rise and take charge of their dreams, take different actions, and make better choices about their sexual health and economic prospects. What we are looking for Girl Effect is looking for a production company that will produce the first season of its first South African TV drama series. The series will consist of one season, comprising 13 episodes, each lasting between 23 minutes. We seek an experienced production company with the expertise to produce this series, ensuring it is culturally relevant, speaks to young people’s deepest needs and aspirations, is relatable, engaging, educational and most importantly - fun, with a strong emphasis on influencing positive behavior change and raising awareness on various social issues among the youth of South Africa. Change Objectives and Target Audiences SABC 1 Audience: An audience that represents the young fibre of South Africa. These are the digital natives who are always connected and aspire to the worlds they peek through to on their mobile devices! They exist in the socio-economic lifestyle measure focus of 3-6. Primary targets Black and coloured young women between the ages of 18 and 24.

• Based on peri-urban and township environments
• Has access to a smartphone and love social media
• Sexually active
• School leavers ( Matric)
• Curious and hopeful for a better life

Secondary targets Urban young men between the ages of 18 and 24. Audience archetype :

• Based in an urban area
• The young hustlers
• Sexually active (multiple sexual partners)
• Is part of the digital economy - forex trading, e-commerce, etc

Some of the themes that this drama will cover will be around mental well-being and resilience, economic empowerment, and sexual and reproductive health - but crafted in a way that is accessible to young people. For example, we could be following a character struggling with undiagnosed depression or stress as she seeks to fulfil her dreams and ambitions. We could be role-modelling how a supportive friend can be an encouraging force for good or how a character is speaking up to a boyfriend who insists on unprotected sex. We want to create highly relatable characters so our audience sees their life reflected in the series. Our ambition for this drama is to become a youth sensation - something they are watching, talking about, consuming additional content around, leaving comments, sharing, etc. We plan to have a supportive ecosystem of content around this drama - possibly on radio, social media and through on-ground events - to further the engagement, provide more knowledge and point young people to relevant services. Scope of Work The production company would partner with Girl Effect to produce a branded youth-focused series rooted and resonant with the realities that young people in South Africa face. The series must embody the spirit of the times, with a premise authentic to contemporary youth culture. The characters should be relatable, multi-layered, and complex. We follow them on a journey of self-discovery and change as they fail, forge friendships, find mentors and find mental resilience in their adulting journey. The characters will negotiate through our behaviour change framework, modeling positive journeys for our audience. There are three areas of work that include but are not limited to:

1. Development phase:

• Assembling the writer room (Consultation during the recruitment of writers)
• Work with a GE-appointed writing consultant
• Finalize the concept and get sign-off
• Review and feedback on scripts
• Setting up plans and processes for pre-production and production

1. Pre-production :

• Planning - Review and consult on the production schedule
• Casting - Conduct casting calls and select actors representing the target audience demographics and embody the characters' traits and personalities as outlined in the concept development phase.
• Ensuring all the locations are locked before the shoot
• Template and process development
• Consultation during recruitment of creative team and HODs (Directors and LP, ADs, DPs, Production Designer)
• Document review and support - Approve script changes and oversee delivery of final shooting scripts
• Ensuring all the correct contracts have been signed by the cast and the crew
• Overseeing any additional preparation before scripts are finalized and pre-production starts - CTA’s, Social Media Content, Cast Interviews, etc
• Production Management: Oversee all aspects of production, including scheduling, budgeting, location scouting, and securing necessary permits.

1. Production Phase

• Provide all the necessary equipment to execute the TV series successfully.
• Provide a studio for shooting.
• Timely and on-budget delivery of agreed-upon deliverables
• Ensuring smooth setup of production processes including set up of weekly production meetings and templates.
• Troubleshooting and problem-solving for continued delivery
• Run a safe and compliant set and ensure that all stakeholders remain well-informed on the production process
• Compile progress reporting and be present at all production meetings
• Directing: Lead the direction of each episode, working closely with the cast and crew to ensure the vision of the series is realized on screen.
• Post-Production: Handle post-production tasks such as sound design, color correction, and visual effects to enhance the overall viewing experience.
• Promotion and Marketing: Collaborate with Girl Effect on promotional strategies to generate excitement and anticipation for the series among the target audience. This may include teaser trailers, social media clips, etc.

Expected Deliverables

• End-to-end production of 13 Episodes, each 23 minutes long. Including but not
• 30-second promo per episode plus 3 teaser spots. A total of 16 pieces
• Shorter cuts/shoulder content for each episode for Instagram reel and YouTube Shorts - a Total of 40 shorts/clips.
• Development of the story arc, storylines, and scripts for the season
• Graphics package & VFX
• Ensure that a senior and experienced team leads the production and can support where necessary.
• Ensuring industry-standard production quality
• Setting up smooth processes for final delivery
• Weekly reporting and status updates with the Girl Effect team
• Delivery of all raw footage, music stems used, SFX, and files to the GE team on HDD’s.
• Documentation, including concepts, scripts, briefs, etc
• Other documentation, including location or supporting cast releases, may be needed.
• Hiring and paying individuals who will be part of the series using our template contracts
• Scripting, filming, editing, and delivering full episode 13 episodes
• Delivery to the channel, including FCC and Music que sheets
• Deliver season trailers (3) ahead of time for marketing and episodic trailers.
• Ensure the reinforcement message is included at the end of each episode.
• Provide monthly budget reports.
• Provide behind-the-scenes shots (pictures and some other short video) materials to be used for marketing and digital content.

Expected Commitment

• April 2024 until the end of September 2024

Who You Are Skills and expertise:

• You have been working on similar projects, on Series or TV series, which work with young people to help engage and spread awareness. Passionate about making a positive difference in the lives of young people.

• Project Management : Ability to effectively manage projects, coordinate teams with diverse skill sets, develop project strategies, and ensure successful execution from start to finish. Have a strong work ethic to execute all projects in the intended timeline with support from the GE team.
• Local Market Knowledge: Strong understanding of local trends, media landscape, and cultural nuances to tailor creative solutions that resonate with the target audience in the country you are working (South Africa). Experience creating content, content and campaigns for youth audiences, especially South African girls from low-middle income backgrounds. Social Media + radio experience would be a bonus.
• Time and Budget Management : Proficiency in delivering projects on schedule and within budgetary constraints, ensuring efficient allocation of resources and adherence to financial targets.
• Creative Ideation: Skill to generate innovative and unique ideas aligned with our objectives and target audience(girls and women), fostering creativity and pushing boundaries to deliver outstanding creative work. You will have a proven ability to work with subject matter experts and ‘translate’ their expertise into appropriate content for the target audience.
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to analyze client goals, target audience preferences, and market trends to develop a strategic approach that drives results and provides effective creative solutions.
• Multi-platform Expertise : Proficiency in creating content for diverse platforms such as digital, TV, and emerging media channels, leveraging each platform's unique features to engage the target audiences. Experience in health-related content/Behaviour change content production in the field of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights would be an advantage.
• Branding and Storytelling: Capability to craft compelling brand narratives and storytelling techniques that effectively communicate the Girl Effect message, create emotional connections, and build brand loyalty.
• Visual and Design Skills: Strong aesthetic sense and knowledge of design principles encompassing graphic design, photography, videography, and visual effects, enabling the creation of visually appealing and impactful creative assets.
• Technical Proficiency : Familiarity with the latest creative production tools, software, and technologies, including design software, video editing tools, and content management systems, to ensure efficient and high-quality output.
• Collaboration and Teamwork: Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with clients, creative teams, copywriters, designers, and stakeholders to bring ideas to life, fostering a collaborative and productive work environment.
• Language: Effective communicator and writer in English and Local languages ( Nguni and Sotho) with the ability to synthesize, communicate and simplify complex language concepts per the needs of girls and young women.
• Safeguarding: Experience working with young adults and understanding of policies involved when working with minors.

Tentative Timeframe

• Terms of reference published: 20 March 2024
• Questions/Clarification Deadline: 26 March 2024
• Deadline for responses: 4th April 2024
• Agency selection, contracting and briefing: Mid-April
• Project commencement: April, 2024

Proposal Submission Your proposal, should you be interested (Max 20 pages excluding script sample), should cover the following: Technical Proposal

• Your understanding of the brief and why you feel you are well-placed to advise us on this. It would be a definite plus if you could demonstrate previous experience in having produced comedy or drama series.
• Content
• A Brief synopsis of their creative idea - just as a reference for how they would approach drama in this landscape.
• Controlling idea, dramatic question, premise, logline and a statement of intent
• 10 pages of sample dialogue/script - can be from previous production
• Series creative treatment and visual approach
• Cast suggestions aligned with Jik’izinto brand positioning and core target audience
• Credential/Profile/CV
• Production companies must prove their capacity to produce the series as captured in the evaluation criteria.
• Key Creatives must demonstrate relevant experience in the scripting and production of long-form drama and or comedy series.
• Please showcase any previous work that you consider relevant to what we are trying to achieve, how we approach our work, and the audience we cater to.
• Must have a minimum of 3 years experience in producing long-form drama
• Crew credentials
• Production house showreel.
• Your Preliminary Creative ideas that can help land the key messages with our audience - we will support your team in scripting, but we are keen on understanding disruptive and engaging story-telling ideas that can help carry the weight of the messaging.
• Approach - How would you approach making sure that we produce a youth series that cuts through the noise and stands above the rest of the dramas that dominate the South African landscape
• Production schedule - Incorporate a detailed work plan with a timeline for the implementation in the proposal. This includes a preliminary list of the crew, equipment and board location suggestions.
• Reference - Provide at least three references for similar contracts with a description of the service provided and the contract periods of performance.

Financial Proposal

• Breakdown of all Costs, including development, scripting and productionwith applicable taxes and other charges clearly identified in ZAR.
• Agencies should provide their daily or hourly billing rate or their proposed fixed fee for the requested deliverables.
• All applicable taxes should be quoted separately;

NOTE: There will be a briefing session before the commencement of work for the selected production partner, which will include details on what’s above and more to help give insight into the topics on which the partner will be expected to deliver messaging. Evaluation Criteria The criteria against which proposals will be evaluated are listed below: Technical Evaluation

• Interpretation and understanding of the TOR - 5%
• Portfolio and Previous Work Samples (Link) - 15%
• Creativity and Innovation in Conceptualization ideas-10%
• Technical Proficiency and Production Equipment -10%
• Track Record of meeting Deadlines - 10%
• Geographical Experience in South Africa - 5%
• Evidence of a minimum of three contactable references -15%
• Experience and/or Qualification, share your Profile/Credentials/CV - 10%

Financial Evaluation

• Value for money/proposed budget breakdown - 20%

Note : The technical and financial proposals will need to be submitted as separate documents. In their proposal, the bidder must demonstrate an understanding of the requirements described in the RFP and demonstrate how the bidder will meet the requirements of the deliverables. Eg. The budget breakdown needs to have all the lines required for this level of production, even if the numbers may not be specified and the budget may be at a high level. Please note that Girl Effect is not liable for any cost incurred during the award/contract preparation, submission, or negotiation of the award/contract. All submitted documentation and/or materials shall become and remain the property of Girl Effect. VALIDITY of the proposal shall be for 90 days from the date of bid closure.

How to Apply

To apply for this opportunity, please submit a proposal by email with the subject line “Jik’izinto Production Partner - South Africa” to suppliers@girleffect.org by COB 4th Apri 2024 . Questions/Clarifications If you have any questions about this RFP, please email suppliers@girleffect.org by 26th March 2024 EOD . All questions will be answered and shared with all agencies that have received the RFP for fairness. Tax Applicants are advised to ensure that they have a clear understanding of their tax position with regard to provisions of South Africa’s local jurisdiction tax legislation when developing their proposals. Equal Opportunities Girl Effect is committed to equal opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity, or expression. We are proud to be an equal-opportunity workplace. We are committed to building an organization that is truly representative of the communities that we serve. To this end, due regard will be paid to procuring consultancy services of organizations and individuals with a deep understanding and experience of our programming markets and diverse professional, academic and cultural backgrounds. Safeguarding You may be required to undertake safeguarding checks. Shortlisted consultants will be assessed on our organizational values at the interview stage. The successful consultant will be expected to adhere to our safeguarding policy. We encourage you to read and understand our safeguarding policy, the executive summary of which can be found here . We have zero tolerance for all forms of violence against children, beneficiaries and staff. Disclaimer GE reserves the right to determine the structure of the process, the number of short-listed participants, the right to withdraw from the proposal process, the right to change this timetable at any time without notice and reserves the right to withdraw this tender at any time, without prior notice and without liability to compensate and/or reimburse any party. GE shall inform the ONLY successful applicant(s). The process of negotiation and signing of the contract with the successful applicant(s) will follow. #J-18808-Ljbffr