LEARNING VIDEOGRAPHER CONSULTANT
Location: Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria
About Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action—helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.
Background:
The Videographer & Photographer (Learning Documentation Consultant) will lead the end-to-end visual documentation of Mercy Corps’ program implementation in Northeast Nigeria, with a strong focus on capturing learning, evidence, and storytelling.
The consultant will generate high-quality visual content that documents how programs are implemented, what works, what does not, and why, through structured visual storytelling, interviews, and contextual footage.
The assignment will be executed across three phases: Pre-Production, Field Production, and Post-Production & Delivery.
PRE-PRODUCTION AND PLANNING (Days 1–3)
The consultant will work closely with the learning and documentation consultant to lay a strong foundation for the assignment by aligning with Mercy Corps teams and defining a clear visual learning approach.
Program Familiarization
- Conduct a detailed review of key program documents, including:
- Proposals and logframes
- Donor reports
- Learning briefs and evaluations
- Post-Distribution Monitoring (PDM) findings
- MEL frameworks and indicators
- Identify priority themes, success areas, and known challenges to guide documentation
Stakeholder Engagement
- Hold inception meetings with:
- Program teams
- MEL teams
- Communications team
- Clarify:
- Key learning questions
- Priority sectors and locations
- Target audiences (donors, internal teams, external communications)
Development of Documentation Plan
The consultant will develop and submit a Visual Documentation Plan, including:
- Detailed work plan and field schedule
- Location selection and justification
- Shot list categorized by:
- Activities
- Stakeholders
- Learning themes
- Storyboard(s) for planned video outputs
- Interview guides aligned with learning questions
- Equipment and technical plan
FIELD PRODUCTION / DATA COLLECTION (Days 4–10)
The consultant will conduct field visits (as feasible) to selected program locations in Borno State to capture comprehensive visual evidence.
Visual Documentation of Program Implementation
Capture high-quality visuals of:
Program Activities
- Cash and voucher distributions
- Food assistance interventions
- WASH infrastructure and usage
- Livelihood and agricultural activities
- Shelter construction/rehabilitation
- Protection and community-based activities
- And other program activities
Implementation Processes
- Targeting and beneficiary selection processes
- Registration and verification processes
- Distribution workflows
- Community mobilization activities
Service Delivery Quality
- Interaction between staff and beneficiaries
- Inclusion of vulnerable groups
- Accessibility and efficiency of services
Community Engagement and Accountability
Document:
- Community meetings and engagement forums
- Feedback and complaints mechanisms (CFMs) in action
- Participation of women, youth, and marginalized groups
- Evidence of how community input informs programming
Interviews and Testimonies
Conduct and record structured interviews with:
Internal Stakeholders
- Program Managers
- Field Officers
- MEL staff
Focus areas:
- Implementation approaches
- Operational challenges
- Adaptations and innovations
- Lessons learned
External Stakeholders
- Implementing partners
- Community leaders
- Local authorities (where appropriate)
Community Members / Beneficiaries
Capture:
- Personal experiences with the program
- Perceived changes and outcomes
- Challenges faced
- Recommendations
Story Development in the Field
- Identify and follow 6–9 strong human-interest stories
- Capture complete story arcs, including:
- Background/context
- Intervention received
- Changes experienced
- Remaining gaps
Contextual and Environmental Footage
Capture supporting visuals that provide context, including:
- Living conditions and environment
- Market conditions (for cash/voucher programs)
- Water points and sanitation facilities
- Seasonal or environmental challenges
Technical Standards
Ensure:
- High-resolution photography (minimum 300 dpi for print use)
- Stable, well-framed video footage
- Clear, high-quality audio (use of lapel/boom microphones where needed)
- Proper lighting and exposure
- Multiple angles and sufficient B-roll coverage
POST-PRODUCTION AND CONTENT DEVELOPMENT (Days 11–14)
The consultant will transform raw footage into structured, high-quality learning products.
Photo Processing
- Select and edit best-quality images
- Perform color correction and cropping
- Caption all images with:
- Location
- Activity
- Date
- Description
- Tag images according to themes and sectors
Video Editing
Produce:
Documentary Video (15–20 minutes)
- Comprehensive narrative covering:
- Program overview
- Implementation processes
- Community experiences
- Key lessons learned
Short Thematic Videos (1–3 minutes each)
- Focus on:
- Specific sectors (e.g., WASH, Cash)
- Key learning themes
- Success stories or challenges
Narrative Development
Ensure all videos:
- Follow a clear storytelling structure:
- Introduction → Context → Intervention → Outcomes → Lessons
- Integrate:
- Interview clips
- Voiceovers (if required)
- Subtitles (especially for local languages)
- Align with Mercy Corps branding guidelines
Integration of Learning
Explicitly highlight:
- What worked well and why
- What did not work and why
- Adaptations made during implementation
- Recommendations for future programming
REVIEW, VALIDATION, AND FINAL DELIVERY (Day 15)
Internal Review Process
- Submit draft outputs to Mercy Corps
- Participate in review sessions
- Incorporate feedback and revisions
Final Deliverables Packaging
Submit a complete package including:
Photo Deliverables
- 50–100 edited high-resolution images
- Fully captioned and categorized
Video Deliverables
- 1 documentary video (15–20 minutes)
- 6–9 short videos (1–3 minutes each)
Raw Files
- All raw photos and video footage
- Organized by location, date, and activity
Documentation
- Consent forms for all participants
- Metadata and file index
- Summary note highlighting key stories and themes captured
COORDINATION AND REPORTING
- Maintain regular communication with Mercy Corps focal points
- Provide progress updates during fieldwork and editing
- Immediately flag any operational or ethical concerns
ETHICAL AND SAFEGUARDING REQUIREMENTS
The consultant must:
- Obtain informed consent before any recording
- Ensure voluntary participation of all subjects
- Avoid harmful, exploitative, or misleading representations
- Respect cultural norms and sensitivities
- Adhere to Mercy Corps safeguarding and data protection policies
- Apply “Do No Harm” principles at all times
EXPECTED APPROACH
The consultant is expected to adopt a:
- Learning-driven approach (not just visibility-focused)
- Participatory approach (engaging communities meaningfully)
- Context-sensitive approach (considering security and cultural dynamics)
- Storytelling approach that balances evidence, emotion, and analysis
Qualifications
- Minimum of 5–7 years of professional experience in videography and photography
- Experience in program learning and documentation in humanitarian context
- Proven experience working in a humanitarian context in Northeast Nigeria
- Proven experience working in humanitarian, development, or social impact programs (NGO/UN/donor-funded projects preferred)
- Strong portfolio demonstrating documentary storytelling, field photography, and video production work
- Strong skills in video editing using tools such as Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, or DaVinci Resolve
- Strong photo editing skills using Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, or similar software
- Experience working in humanitarian or conflict-affected settings, preferably in Northeast Nigeria or similar contexts
- Knowledge of local languages in Northeast Nigeria
Your application should include the following
- Understanding of the assignment
- Technical proposal
- financial proposal
- workplan
- Sample of similar work done
- payment terms and conditions
Note: Mercy Corps will not cover transportation, accommodation, or other logistical costs except for deep field locations, where transportation and accommodation will be covered.