Consultant Media Partner - Story Time and Play (STP) Pacific Children's Media Program

Background on Plan International

We strive to advance children's rights and equality for girls all over the world. As an independent development and humanitarian organization, we work alongside children, young people, our supporters, and partners to tackle the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children. We support children's rights from birth until they reach adulthood and enable children to prepare for and respond to crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national, and global levels using our reach, experience, and knowledge. For over 80 years, we have been building powerful partnerships for children, and we are active in over 75 countries.

Project Background

Story Time and Play (STP) Pacific Children's Media program is an innovative media and early childhood development initiative conceptualized and led by Plan International Australia (PIA) and ANCP. STP's goal is to support the early development and learning by providing equitable and inclusive access to quality early childhood play opportunities that ensure girls and boys build the social, emotional, physical, linguistic and cognitive skills for future success.

STP aims to create vibrant local children's media and play spaces that promote inclusive, equitable and joyful learning opportunities for all children across the Pacific. This is achieved by mentoring the next generation of children's media creators and educators in the Pacific to create quality children's media and play spaces that celebrate indigenous languages, knowledge, traditional songs and stories.

Plan International, along with our dedicated project partners and the communities we serve, recognises the STP project as an important milestone. STP is a cultural turning point in the continued effort to celebrate, enhance and preserve culture, language and knowledge across the Pacific. With support from our donors, Plan International in partnership with TBC, works to create a children's media hub that celebrates indigenous languages, cultures, stories and learning. The hub facilitates mentorship and collaboration between experts from children's media and ECD with local media and ECD groups, and fosters local ownership and shared governance.

Story Time and Play! Is being developed with the goal to be an exciting new TV audio visual series for pre-school to primary school aged children (aged 4-7 years) to engage them in learning about place, culture and the wider world.

The Consultant, in partnership with Plan International Timor-Leste (and any other partners) will support concept and implementation for the STP Timor-Leste program.

Rationale for Sub-Contractor:

• The Consultant is being engaged in the STP project in order to concept appropriate and impactful activities using media as a way of educating children.
• The Consultant is expected to draw upon its experience in music, art, theatre production and of working in media to concept and deliver locally-relevant activities that encourages play based learning, and entertaining children's stories, songs and traditions.
• The Consultant consists of a collective of Timorese women from different Arts background – Theatre, storytelling, dance, music and video production.

Key Activities and Deliverables:

Specifically, the sub-contractor is required to deliver on the following activities:

• The Consultant is tasked with developing a concept with Plan International Timor-Leste for children's media that celebrates Timorese stories, culture and music and is targeted towards 4–7-year-olds.
• The Consultant will lead creative decision-making in concepting and implementation, with the support of Plan International Timor-Leste, PIA and other partners.
• Provide regular updates to Plan International Timor-Leste and PIA.
• Contribute to any necessary monitoring, reflections and evaluation of the project implementation in Timor-Leste, as needed.
• Provide short progress reports and financial acquittals to Plan International Timor-Leste, as per the agreed fee schedule.

Location:
Dili, Timor Leste

Timeline
The activities detailed above are to be delivered from 17 March 2025 – 30 June 2025,
the children's video series completed and aired by June 2025.

Payment Schedule

Tranche 1 (10% of contract value)

• 10% of contract value upon signing of this contract and submission of an invoice.
• Due within 7 days of contract signing

Tranche 2 (20% of contract value), due by 14 April 2025

Requires completion of:

• Draft concept for STP TL
• Workplan of Activities
• Proposed budget

Tranche 3 (50% of contract value), due by 15th May 2025

Requires completion of:

• Delivery of project activities as agreed with PITL in Workplan
• Submission of progress report, expenditure forecast and financial acquittal
• Reporting period covers 15 March - 30 April 2025

Tranche 4 (20% of contract value), due by 30th June 2025

20% of contract value upon completion of all following activities:

Submission of final narrative financial report and acquittals. Due 15 June for the complete implementation duration including the period 3, 1 June-30 June 2025.

Submission of Application

Plan International welcomes applications from qualified applicants or consultancy firms and hopes that the successful candidate can start by March 17, 2025. All interested parties should submit their proposal electronically to [email protected] and copy [email protected] with the title 'STP's Media Production' by Tuesday 11 March 2025.

NOTE: Proposals should include: A cover letter indicating the firm's interest in the position, recent Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Company profile, highlighting relevant experience and qualifications including sample of videos produced (no more than 2 pages). The financial proposal should specify a total lump sum amount and a breakdown of a daily professional fee and additional costs. Applications without a financial proposal will be regarded as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment.

Confidentiality
All discussions and documents relating to this TOR will be treated as confidential by the parties.

Child Safeguarding
The successful applicant will be required to comply with Plan International's Child Safeguarding Policy and Procedures and to sign the Codes of Conduct. If the consultant will be having direct contact with children or having access to children's personal information, a valid police clearance must be submitted.

Counter-Terrorism
Plan International acknowledges its obligation under the Australian laws relating to counter-terrorism. In order to meet its obligation, the consultant's name will be reviewed against Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and National Security Australia lists at the onset of financial relationship.

Insurance
Not Applicable

Acknowledgment and disclaimer
Plan International, their Board and staff make no express or implied representation or warranty as to the currency, reliability or completeness of the information contained in this TOR. Nothing in this TOR should be construed to give rise to any contractual obligations or rights, expressed or implied, by the issue of this TOR or the submission of an EOI in response to it. No contract will be created until a formal written contract is executed between Plan International, and a selected consultant.

FOR ALL PLAN POSITIONS AND CONSULTANCIES…

• Strong commitment to the equal rights and participation of girls and women is essential
• Strong commitment to the Rights of the Child is essential