Storytelling Consultant

Purpose of Project and Background

The STRIVE Project (Supporting Transition, Recovery, Inclusion & Vocational Empowerment) has been designed under the ‘Building Refugee Resilience and Inclusion in Türkiye (BRRIT)’ programme funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) for the duration of 2024-2029. The STRIVE Project aims to support communities in earthquake-affected areas for improving economic recovery, increasing the ability and resilience of the vulnerable communities to withstand ongoing and future gender-specific, socio-economic, and disaster-related shocks.

The project is implemented through the partnership between the British Red Cross (BRC), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and the Turkish Red Crescent (TRC) in the earthquake affected seven provinces including Adana, Adıyaman, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Malatya, and Şanlıurfa. Target groups of the project are Syrians under Temporary Protection (SuTPs), International Protection Status Holders/Applicants (IPSHA), and Turkish host communities affected by the 2023 earthquakes.

Alignment to the IFRC’s objectives and strategy

(IFRC’s Strategy 2030)

Part of the IFRC 2030 strategy and its overall mandate is to support the work of the national society, the Turkish Red Crescent, and help them achieve their targets. IFRC leads the communication activities under the STRIVE Project and work with Turkish Red Crescent and British Red Cross. The Storytelling Project is also an opportunity for learning that would have an opportunity that other National Societies could learn from and/or roll out and expand on globally.

Project objectives

STRIVE Storytelling Project will leverage the communication methodologies developed earlier by the IFRC and Turkish Red Crescent Storytelling Project, while piloting a new model that focuses more on learning, impact and humanitarian diplomacy within the STRIVE project.

We have an opportunity to tap into and harness the voices of the people we support – not only to share the impact and outcomes of the assistance, but also to build their knowledge and skills so they can tell their own authentic stories, in their own words.  

The Storytelling Project will amplify the voices of the people we support, allowing them to share their stories and their journeys throughout the STRIVE Project. These storytellers will not only highlight the positive impact of the assistance but also reflect on the challenges they have faced, how their lives have evolved through the Project, as well as the transformations within their families, communities, and other surroundings. 

Their stories will capture different dimensions of the people's experience throughout the STRIVE support period and beyond.

Purpose of the Assignment

IFRC is seeking a consultant to support the implementation of the Storytelling Project and become main focal point for coordination with storytellers and focal communicators. The consultant will be fluent in Arabic and also have experience and expertise in communications, in audiovisual production and editing.

The Storytelling Project will run in three phases.  The consultant will be contracted to support  the first phase of the Storytelling Project (December 2025 – March 2026).

We would also target project participants receiving/received support from STRIVE who have a keen interest in storytelling and communication. Storytellers will produce content on a rolling basis with the goal of producing at least one story each month.  They will tell not only their stories but also the broader community stories as well.  STRIVE Project participants will be trained as storytellers through basic communication skills trainings organized by the IFRC and the team leader, enabling them to share their stories on an ongoing basis.

Due to the profiles of the STRIVE beneficiaries and their routine responsibilities, the project participants may not be able to or may not be interested in developing their skills in communication to be storytellers.  Therefore, we want to follow and document their journeys also with representatives from refugee communities who will be able to collect stories. The focal communicators structure of the Storytelling Project aims for sustained long term dialogue and monitoring to observe the lives of the refugee communities and the impact of the project on their lives. The consultant may assist with and personally undertake content gathering during the establishment of the structure in the first phase of the Project.

Desired outcomes

At least 10 people who benefit from the training and one-to-one mentorship and are able to apply their skills and knowledge to showcase at least two of their own stories each.

Consultancy outputs, roles and responsibilities

Recruitment & Planning

• Finalize a detailed storytelling work plan for Phase 1.
• Jointly with IFRC, identify and onboard community focal communicators and storytellers from project participants who have interest in communication in coordination with TRC community centers.

Training & Mentorship

• Develop training plan/content and materials. (based on IFRC guidance).
• Help to identify and recruit speakers for online trainings with storytellers
• Lead two face-to-face storytelling trainings.
• Provide continuous coaching and support to focal communicators and storytellers.

Content Management

• Oversee collection, creation and packaging of written, photo, and video stories.
• Ensure content meets IFRC quality, safeguarding, and visibility standards.
• Coordinate with IFRC to disseminate stories on platforms (social media, internal channels, press).

Monitoring & Reporting

• Submit monthly progress reports outlining activities, challenges, and achievements.
• Contribute to end-of-phase evaluation and draft strategy for next phase.

Deliverables

Timeframe and Location

The consultant will be hired for a four-month period in the First Phase, in Türkiye, preferably in Gaziantep.The consultancy will run from December 2025 to March 2026- with a maximum of 60 working days in total. Travel within the seven STRIVE provinces may be required: Adana, Adıyaman, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Malatya, and Şanlıurfa.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in communications with humanitarian projects.
• Demonstrated experience in humanitarian projects.
• Fluency in Arabic and knowledge of Turkish required; English is an asset.
• Strong storytelling and editorial judgment, with expertise in photography, videography, editing and digital tools.
• Experience delivering capacity building or training workshops in communications.
• Strong interpersonal skills, and ability to manage community-based teams.
• Understanding of IFRC principles and safeguarding policy is an asset.

Management of Consultancy

The consultant will report directly to the IFRC Communications Department in the Türkiye Delegation. Coordination will be required with Turkish Red Crescent (TRC) Community Centers.

Application Process

Interested candidates should submit:

• CV and cover letter outlining relevant experience
• Two examples of prior relevant work (written or multimedia)
• Contact information for two references
• Financial offer detailing the consultant daily rate

Payment Schedule

The IFRC will contract and pay the consultant daily fee for the first phase of the Project (four months) – calculated at the agreed daily fees rate and the total number of working days.

The payment plan will be developed based on deliverables and done upon completion of the deliverables and submission of invoices and receipts. The payment will be made after each working month upon the completion of the deliverables as indicated in the table below.

Other Consultancy Costs:

The IFRC will cover costs for travel, accommodation and per diem and other agreed expenditures related to the assignment in accordance with IFRC travel policy.  

• The consultant will be contracted by the IFRC and the standard contractual terms will apply.

• Early applications are encouraged, as interviews may take place during the application window.