Consultant to develop Video Documentary

Company Description

Background

SNV Netherlands Development Organization's first involvement in the Lao Improved Cook Stove (ICS) sector dates to 2006/2007 when STEA-TRI, with financial support from WISION (Wuppertal University), started a stove program in Paek District, Xieng Khouang province. In 2012, EU SWITCH-Asia, through 'Promoting Sustainable Consumption and Production,' awarded the proposal for the Improved Cookstove Action in Lao PDR for February 2013 –January 2017. SNV provided technical assistance to this project managed by Oxfam and implemented by Association for Rural Mobilisation and Improvement (ARMI), a local NGO. Since then, SNV has supported various initiatives to increase access to affordable and user-friendly cooking technologies in Laos. With support from Energising Development (EnDev), SNV started implementing preliminary Result Based Financing (RBF) scheme in April 2017 to address systemic barriers that prevented producers from innovating, expanding, and diversifying ICS production. The project saw the commercial introduction of the new design of an advanced cookstove model in Laos that had a substantial firewood saving capacity compared to all other locally available improved cookstoves. Similarly SNV has been implementing another ICS project funded by C-QuestCapital from 2022. These projects focus on to optimize the local production (quality assurances, testing, research, and development) and marketing of existing Tier-2 stove models by expanding production and distribution into new provinces in Northern Laos and thus providing national coverage.

SNV has been through a long journey in ICS sector in Laos and gained huge experience in this sector. There has been tremendous effort made by SNV and its partners to bring ICS sectors in this commercial phase from piloting and scale-up. It has been realized that knowledge generated during this long journey and the achievement need to be captured and shared with wider stakeholders. The knowledge on technical and business skill should be passed on new generation for the continuation and improvement of this sector. With this background, we aim to engage service to develop video documentary as a knowledge product.

Rationale

As the project continues to scale up outreach and increasingly access to many parts of the country, it is important to bring more actors in this sector to meet the market demand. New entrants require capacity building activities to enhance their skill and knowledge. The importance of video documentary in the form of tutorial has been realized to make the trainings effective. This documentary will cover each and every step of ICS production from materials selection, production process, testing and quality control.  It is also equally important to disseminate the impact of the program to wider stakeholders. A short video highting the achievement made could be instrumental to influence the policy makers, planners and promotors and bring the more resource to develop the market and contributes to achieve NDC and SDG. These video documentaries can also be used as academic and marketing materials.

Job Description

Objective and Scope of the Assignment

The overall objective of the assignment is to develop three different types of video documentaries to serve the following purposes:

1. ICS Production Process: This video will capture all the steps of the ICS production process that includes materials selection, ICS manufacturing process, performance testing and quality control procedures. The length of the video around 15 minutes. The purpose of this video is use as training materials to train the new producers and refresher for old producers. This video can also be used by graduate students from energy/environment as academic materials to pursue their academic project or dissertation. Young/new professional entering into this market can also use this video to upgrade their knowledge on ICS technology.

2. EnDev Project Impact: This video will capture the major achievements and key lesson learned from the project. The length of the video around 3-5 minutes. The target audience of this video are donors, policy makers, planners, promotors, etc.

3. Case Stories: This video will capture impacts on individuals from EnDev project. How this project became a turning point in their life. Their condition before and after project interventions and their journey of struggle. Three case stories in total from different segment: (i) ICS producer, (ii) Retailers, (iii) users. The length of each case storey: 2-3 minutes

• Key Informant Interview with ARMI, Lao Women Union (LWU), Department of Energy Efficiency and promotion (DEEP), Research Institute of Energy and Mines (RIEM)
• Field visit: Selected production centres of Vientiane Capital and Savanakhet

Methodology

• Meeting with SNV, ARMI, Lao Women Union, govt agency and other relevant stakeholders to understand the contexts,  scope of works and deliverables.
• Review of relevant project documents, videos, social media postings, and other relevant reference materials
• Visit to nearest production centres, retailers and users within Vientiane Capital to develop preliminary ideas.
• Develop necessary tools and format, prepare script.
• Visit selected producers, retailers, and users with videographers to collect live action video and all required information.
• Production of videos as per scope of works

Deliverables

The deliverable of this assignment comprises of:

• ICS Production process video with Lao voice-over narration with English subtitle. Length of the video around 15 minutes
• Project impact video in two versions (Lao voice-over narration with English subtitle and English voice-over narration with no subtitle). Length of the video:3-5 minutes
• Three sets of case stories in two versions (Lao voice-over narration with English subtitle and English voice-over narration with no subtitle). Length of each video: 2-3 minutes
• high-quality photographs and Raw footage and in CD/DVD/hard disk

Timeframe

The assignment should be completed before 30 May 2023. The total duration of the assignment should not exceed 15 working days in total (including travel days).

Consultant shall provide the estimated input days in their proposal in breakdown of each team member with their role: 

• Preparatory Works
• Field Visit
• Desk Work (Post field visit)

Budget

The consultant should provide the estimated budget clearly specifying daily rate, transport, DSA and other expenses (if any). Transport cost will be reimbursed as per actual expenses upon the submission of all bills and receipts.

Support

SNV will provide the relevant documents which provides the overview ICS project and ICS market and achievement made. SNV will support to identify the producers, retailers and users to visit for interview and information collection. Consultant will be introduced with ARMI, LWU, Govt agency and other stakeholders. SNV and /or ARMI will coordinate at field and set the time for visit. SNV and/or ARMI key staffs will travel together with consultant in field.

Qualifications

The selection of the consultant will be determined based on previous experience and skills of the proposed consultant, and an interview. He/she will have following qualifications and competencies:

• University degree in relevant field
• 3 years relevant professional work experience
• Proven track record of successful execution of similar works, good presentation/ facilitation skills and excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and oral and ability to interact with individuals at all levels

Additional Information

Interested consultant / firm should submit the letter of interest (LoI) highlighting their understanding of the assignment by clicking on the "I'm interested" button before March 27, 2023. The LoI should also include following: 

• Total Cost for the assignment (with cost breakdown of consultant's daily rate and other expense (if any))
• A recent CV of consultant highlighting similar assignments carried out in the past. 

Detail ToR and other information of the assignment can be requested by writing to  with subject line “ToR - Video Documentary”.