Job Description

BACKGROUND
TERMS OF REFERENCE
Child Friendly Cholera Animations Consultancy
Break the Outbreak, Safe schools 4 Healthier Population Project.
Location: Zimbabwe
Youth Advocates is a youth-led organisation working to advance youth rights and amplify their voices where it matters. With a mission of empowering adolescents and young people through knowledge and skills transfer, Youth Advocates continues building on extensive experience leading youth driven projects within the development field, ideally pioneering innovative technology in youth-centered programs partnering with the local communities. Operating in 5 countries across East and Southern Africa (Zambia, Malawi, Kenya, Botswana, and Zimbabwe), Youth Advocates comprehensively addresses the complex behavioral, social, and structural drivers of risk tolerance among young people through combining technology, nationwide multimedia campaign with systems strengthening, community-level outreach, and clinical and psycho-social services. Youth Advocates’ rights-based approach involves increasing access to quality youth friendly services and providing comprehensive gender-sensitive, sexuality education, promoting and preserving human dignity. It uses technology and grassroots initiatives to empower children and youth, claiming respect for fundamental freedoms and rights; improved conditions for young people and their communities; opportunities to learn, work and participate in decisions that affect them.
The first cholera outbreak in the country in 2023 started on February 12, 2023, in Chegutu town, Mashonaland West Province. The outbreak has spread due to (1) poor hygiene practices, (2) unsupervised gatherings and funerals, (3) high usage of unsafe or unprotected sources of water for drinking and domestic use, (4) low national sanitation coverage with 40 percent open defecation (Zimbabwe 2022 Population and Housing Census Report) and (5) low safe-water coverage, which is just 35 percent. This outbreak continued to persist from the dry season into the current rainy season, increasing the risk of the disease spreading. The country is struggling to contain the spread of the cholera outbreak and has announced various measures amid fears of a repeat of the 2008 outbreak which resulted in over 4 200 deaths.
Communities continue to demonstrate a need for knowledge regarding preventive alternatives for the disease and how to support affected individuals, resulting in generalised stigmatisation of those affected. Some groups, especially in parts of Harare, Masvingo, and Chitungwiza, are the most at-risk communities due to poor hygiene practices and religious practices, to name but a few. Schools are the most common site for cholera outbreaks due to their high population density and close contact between students.
Youth Advocates with funding support from UNICEF is implementing a social behaviour change communication project that is aimed at supporting schools in developing and implementing Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) action plans and promote online engagement on the Disaster Risk Management and Resilience (DRMR) course designed by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education. The project will use innovative approaches and multimedia to establish learner-led cholera prevention initiatives based on the Disaster Risk Management and Resilience (DRMR) plan for education. Priority focus will include enhancing good hygiene and sanitation practices, monitoring hazards plus access to clean and safe water and proper sanitation facilities.

Duties and Responsibilities

Purpose and Objectives
Harare Urban, Epworth
Cholera is a highly infectious and potentially deadly disease caused by consuming contaminated food or water. Children are particularly vulnerable to cholera due to their weaker immune systems and limited understanding of hygiene and sanitation practices. Break the Outbreak Campaign is social behaviour change initiatives that aims to educate children on the importance of proper hygiene and sanitation practices to prevent cholera and to promote behaviour change in their schools, families and communities. These animations are aimed at informing children about the causes and symptoms of cholera, to educate children about the importance of good hygiene practices in preventing cholera, to encourage children to adopt and practice good hygiene behaviours, such as washing hands with soap and using safe drinking water as well as dispelling any myths or misconceptions about cholera and promote accurate information and uptake of the Oral Vaccine.

Scope of work
The selected contractor will be responsible for:
• Developing the storyline and script for the animations, in collaboration with the project team.
• Designing and creating child-friendly and culturally appropriate animations, using characters and
settings that children can relate to.
• Incorporating key messages and information about cholera and hygiene practices into the animations.
• Creating multiple short animations (2-3 minutes each) that can be used individually or as part of a
series.
• Providing voiceovers, sound effects, and background music for the animations.
• Ensuring that the animations are of high quality and can be easily understood by the target audience.
• Delivering the final animations in a format that can be easily shared and used across different
platforms.

Qualifications and Experience

Target population
The target audience for the child-friendly animations is children aged 5-19 years old. These animations will be used in schools, community outreach programs, and through digital platforms to reach as many children as possible.
Proposal requirements
Interested individuals or companies should submit a proposal that includes:
• A brief overview of their experience and expertise in creating animations.
• Examples of previous work.
• A detailed budget proposal.
• A proposed timeline for completing the project.
• A minimum of 5 years of practical professional work experience in Research and Animation development.
Evaluation criteria
The proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Experience and expertise in creating visual appealing animations – 30%
• Submission of previous work(this will also assess quality) – 30%
• Budget proposal – 20%
• Proposed timeline – 10%
• Additional ideas/suggestions – 10%

How to Apply

Timeline
The proposed timeline for this activity is from the 19th of February to the 5th of March 2024.
Budget
A Narrative and Financial proposal has to be submitted indicated scope of work and all-inclusive costs for the survey.
Interested cadres should submit all the information to [email protected] clearly stating on the subject YOUTH ADVOCATES-CHILD FRIENDLY ANIMATIONS DEVELOPMENT no later than Thursday the 15th of February 2024, 10 Am. Applications to be accompanied by clear reference of previous similar assignments.

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