Location: Ethiopia
Organization: Girl Effect
Deadline: 01 Aug 2025
Job Description
Who We Are
Girl Effect is an international non-profit organization dedicated to addressing challenges faced by adolescent girls and youth in Ethiopia. Operating in the country since 2013, the organization leverages Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) strategies, combining media and on-the-ground interventions to tackle various societal issues and empower young people. Girl Effect Ethiopia created the youth brand Yegna in 2014 and, since then, has reached over 10 million people through multiple products, outreach programs, girl networks, and research pieces done all for the betterment of adolescent lives.
We create safe spaces for girls, sharing facts and answering questions about health, nutrition, education, relationships, etc. And we use innovative technology so we can reach girls at scale. We arm girls with the skills to negotiate and redefine what they are told is possible, so every girl can choose to be in control of her body, her health, her learning and livelihood.
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.
Background
We are launching a flagship weekly podcast, titled “Our Time” (Yegna Gizé). This podcast is built on the belief that every young person’s journey, with all its doubts and wins, deserves to be heard. It creates an authentic space where Ethiopia’s disruptors and dreamers can share what it feels like to keep going. Rather than just celebrating “success,” Our Time will shine a light on the emotional reality of the hustle—the fears, motivations, and small joys that make the journey worthwhile. Through raw, narrative-driven conversations, the show will help listeners see themselves in stories that normalise vulnerability and inspire perseverance.
The format moves beyond surface-level Q&A, guiding guests through a meaningful arc of self-discovery anchored in three core themes:
- The work: what they do and why it matters.
- The fear and drive: what keeps them up and what keeps them moving.
- The joy in the struggle: the moments of peace, pride, and connection along the way.
What we are looking for
The ideal production partner will provide
- A lead Cinematographer with a strong artistic vision and the leadership skills to manage a crew effectively using Girl Effect’s equipment.
- An experienced Sound Engineer specializing in dialogue and interview recording, dedicated to capturing clean, warm, and intimate vocal recordings with our gear.
- A skilled and creative Video Editor with their professional editing suite, a strong sense of pacing and story, and the ability to create high-impact social media clips.
- A highly organized and operationally-focused Line Producer to manage the physical and logistical aspects of the production.
- A creative Costume Designer to oversee all wardrobe and styling.
- A professional Makeup Artist to prepare talent for filming.
- A qualified Sign Language Interpreter to ensure accessibility.
- A collaborative team that can work effectively with the director and the wider Girl Effect team to deliver a high-quality weekly show.
The Scope
The selected production house will be responsible for all creative and technical aspects of the podcast’s production and post-production. This includes:
Line Production & Management
- Develop, manage, and track the production budget for the season, handling all financial reporting to ensure the project stays within its approved constraints.
- Create and manage the master production schedule for all phases, from pre-production through to post-production delivery. This includes booking crew, equipment, and locations.
- Oversee all on-set logistics during recording, ensuring the shoot runs smoothly, safely, and on schedule. This includes managing call sheets, transport, and catering.
- Ensure all necessary releases (guest, location, etc.) are signed and filed correctly.
Cinematography & Visual Production (Using GE Equipment)
- Develop the podcast’s overall visual identity and design the lighting scheme to create an “intimate and cinematic atmosphere”.
- Assemble and manage a professional production crew for each shoot day, consisting of two (2) additional Camera Operators, one (1) Camera Assistant / Grip, and one (1) Gaffer / Lighting Technician.
- The lead Cinematographer will personally operate the main camera while directing the other operators. The crew will be responsible for the complete setup, operation, and breakdown of all Girl Effect-provided camera and lighting equipment.
Styling & Grooming
- Responsible for all wardrobe and styling to ensure the talent’s appearance aligns with the creative direction of the podcast.
- Prepare all on-screen talent for filming, with specific attention to lighting, skin tone, and maintaining continuity.
Sound Engineering & Audio Production (Using GE Equipment)
- Set up all Girl Effect-provided audio equipment before each session, including professional microphones (e.g., Shure SM7B), mixers (e.g., Rodecaster Pro II), and boom mics.
- Manage the audio mixer, set levels, and monitor multiple audio sources live during the 2-hour recording to prevent issues like clipping or distortion.
- Work with the host and guests to ensure optimal microphone placement and technique to capture pristine, warm, and clean dialogue.
- Deliver organized, high-quality, and clearly labelled audio files to the post-production team after each session.
Accessibility
- Provide a qualified sign language interpreter for all recording sessions to ensure the content is accessible to viewers with hearing impairments. The interpreter will be positioned in the bottom corner of the video frame during editing.
Video Editing & Post-Production (Using Own Studio)
- Using their editing studio, perform a multi-camera edit of the full 2-hour podcast, cutting skillfully between angles to create a dynamic and engaging conversation.
- Conduct comprehensive sound mixing and professional colour grading to achieve the desired cinematic look and ensure consistency.
- Identify, edit, and format 3-5 engaging, short, vertical video clips from each episode, optimized for platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels.
- Prepare, export, and deliver all final master files for the full episode and social clips according to technical specifications and weekly deadlines.
Responsibilities
The production agency will undertake the following key responsibilities:
Line Production & Management
- Financial Management
- Scheduling and Coordination
- Crew and Vendor Management
- On-Set Logistics and Operations
- Asset and Legal Administration
Cinematography & Visuals
- Creative & Visual Leadership
- Develop and define the overall visual identity, look, and feel for the podcast.
- Design the lighting scheme to create an “intimate and cinematic atmosphere”.
- Translate the show’s narrative goals into a compelling and consistent visual experience.
- Crew Provision & Management
- Assemble, provide, and manage a complete, professional production crew for each shoot day. The required team consists of two additional Camera Operators, one Camera Assistant/Grip, and one Gaffer/Lighting Technician. Lead and direct the camera team during all recording sessions.
- Technical Execution & On-Set Direction
- Personally operate the main camera during shoots.
- Ensure all cameras are correctly set up and matched (resolution, frame rate, picture profiles, white balance).
- Guarantee the lighting plan is executed perfectly on set.
- Oversee the complete setup, operation, and breakdown of all camera and lighting equipment.
Styling & Grooming
- Costume Design
- Collaborate with the director to establish a wardrobe direction that aligns with the podcast’s brand and creative vision.
- Provide and style all on-screen wardrobe for hosts, ensuring a consistent and professional look.
- Manage wardrobe continuity throughout the recording sessions.
- Makeup Artistry
- Provide professional makeup and light grooming for all on-screen talent.
- Ensure talent’s appearance is optimized for a cinematic, multi-camera lighting setup.
- Perform on-set touch-ups to maintain continuity and a fresh look throughout the 2-hour recording session.
Sound Engineering
- Pre-Production & Setup
- Set up all audio equipment for each recording session, including microphones, mixers, boom mics, and all related recording devices.
- Work directly with the host and guests to ensure correct and optimal microphone placement and technique.
- Live Recording & Monitoring
- Manage the audio mixer and perform precise gain staging during the entire 2-hour recording session.
- Continuously monitor multiple live audio sources simultaneously to identify and prevent potential issues, such as clipping, distortion, or background noise.
- Take sole responsibility for capturing clean, warm, and pristine dialogue from all participants.
- Post-Recording & File Management
- Deliver organized, high-quality, and clearly labelled audio files to the post-production team promptly after each session.
Accessibility
- Sign Language Interpretation
- Provide simultaneous sign language interpretation for the entire 2-hour recording.
- Work with the director and camera crew to ensure optimal placement and framing for post-production integration.
- Review final edits to ensure the interpretation is clear, accurate, and correctly synced.
Video Editing & Post-Production
- Full Episode Post-Production
- Perform a multi-camera edit of the full 2-hour visual podcast, skillfully cutting between different camera angles to create a visually engaging and dynamic conversation.
- Take the raw footage and craft a coherent and compelling narrative, identifying the most powerful moments.
- Audio and Visual Enhancement
- Conduct comprehensive sound mixing for each episode, ensuring the dialogue is clean, clear, and balanced.
- Perform professional colour grading on all footage to achieve the desired cinematic look and feel, ensuring visual consistency.
- Social Media Content Creation
- Identify and extract the most engaging and impactful moments from each full episode.
- Edit and format 3-5 short, vertical video clips from each episode, specifically optimised for social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels.
- Final Delivery and File Management
- Ensure all deliverables meet the specified technical requirements and are delivered on time to meet weekly deadlines.
Expected Deliverables
Specific deliverables for Season 1 (16 episodes) will include:
- A master production schedule and daily call sheets for each recording day.
- A creative plan outlining the proposed visual style for the podcast.
- A fully staffed and managed team for every scheduled shoot day.
- Professionally shot, multi-camera raw footage from every session.
- Pristine, clean, and clearly labelled audio files from each recording session.
- The final, master version of the approximately 2-hour episode, including a multi-camera edit, professional colour grading, and mixed sound.
- A set of 3 to 5 engaging, vertically formatted video clips from each main episode.
- The complete set of high-quality master files delivered on time.
- A complete file of all necessary releases and contracts with crew, vendors, guests, and locations.
Expected Commitment
- Duration: Aug 18, 2025 – Dec 31, 2025
NB: The production agency will commit to full delivery of all outputs within the specified timeframe.
Management
The production agency will have a primary point of contact within our Ethiopia Create team.
Procurement Timeline
- Terms of Reference Published: Jul 25, 2025
- Deadline for Proposal Submission: Aug 1, 2025
- Project Commencement: Aug 18, 2025
Proposal Submission
Interested production agencies should submit a maximum 10-page proposal that includes the following:
Technical Proposal
-
- A link to the team’s/company’s showreel, highlighting relevant multi-camera, dialogue-driven projects.
- CVs for the lead Cinematographer, Sound Engineer, Editor, and Line Producer.
- A brief overview of the key on-set team members (camera operators, gaffer, costume designer, makeup artist, sign language interpreter).
- A short (1-page) description of your proposed visual and lighting approach for “Our Time”.
- Describe your approach to guest management for the podcast show, including preparation, handling unexpected challenges, and your mitigation strategy for potential issues—presented in a one-page game plan.
- A brief description of your post-production process for a multi-camera interview project
Financial Proposal
- A proposed daily rate for the full on-set production personnel. This rate should be for Talents only, as all equipment will be provided by Girl Effect, except for editing suites.
- A proposed fee per episode for post-production services (which includes the full edit, color grading, sound mixing, and social clips).
- Costs in ETB
- All applicable taxes must be itemized separately.
Evaluation Criteria
Technical Evaluation (70%)
- Relevant Experience & Past Projects (25%)
- Crew quality, especially key crew members like the producer and cinematographer (25%)
- Understanding of the TOR (10%)
- Understanding of Production Logistics & a Proactive Approach to Problem-Solving (10%)
Financial Evaluation (30%)
- Value for money of the proposed fee (30%)
GE 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 GE.
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 “Podcast Production House – Ethiopia” to: suppliers@girleffect.org by Aug 1, 2025.
Copyright
All materials/documents arising from this consultancy work shall remain the property of Girl Effect.
Equal Opportunities
Girl Effect is committed to equal opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, disability, gender 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.
Tax
Girl Effect Ethiopia is obliged by the Ethiopian tax authorities to ensure all taxes are charged where applicable. Applicants are advised to ensure that they have a clear understanding of their tax position regarding provisions of Ethiopian tax legislation when developing their proposals.
Disclaimer
GE reserves the right to determine the structure of the process, the number of shortlisted 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.
Please note: We will evaluate only proposals submitted following the application process outlined in the TOR and using our specified email address (suppliers@girleffect.org).
