1. BACKGROUND

Education is a foundational driver of rebuilding a new Syria but its impact unfolds over time. The goal of the Syria Education Programme (SEP) II, also known as Manahel, funded by UK aid and implemented by Chemonics, is to strengthen the quality and inclusivity of formal primary education in Northwest Syria. Manahel provides children access to safe, inclusive and quality learning opportunities, and has impacted more than 600,000 children over the first phase of the programme (2018-2023) with a second phase running from 2024-2027. To capture real-time tangible developments in classrooms, schools and policy, Manahel is launching a longitudinal documentary series that shines a light on the people at the heart of the education system: learners. Their stories will be supported by the voices of those who support education including parents, teachers, community members and education directorate and safeguarding personnel. The documentarian(s) will play a central role in visually capturing these narratives through high-quality, human-centered footage.

2.Programme Duration:

The programme will run until June 2027.

3.OBJECTIVE

The objective of this procurement is:

• To humanise and bring visibility to educational interventions through compelling storytelling.
• To document key areas such as learning outcomes, extracurricular activities, safety and inclusion alongside personal and emotional resilience built within classrooms and communities.
• To integrate a participatory element by allowing first-person narratives to emerge authentically. This documentary series should adopt a human-centred lens combining interviews and observational footage.
• To ensure ethical, safe and respectful filming practices.

4. SCOPE OF WORK

The documentarian(s) will be responsible for:

• Filming - during the school year to capture milestones, challenges and successes
  • Interviews with children, teachers, parents and community members.
  • Classroom and school environment footage.
  • Contextual B-roll (landscapes, daily life etc.).
• Storyboarding
  • Creating a compelling narrative based on the footage and experiences of the documentarian(s) interacting with Manahel beneficiaries.
  • Reviewing all footage and noting recurring themes, story arcs, powerful visuals as well as identifying tone.
  • Setting up context and development of key messages.
  • Creating a visual sequence and voiceover/narration.
• Editing- Post-Production
  • Reviewing and assembling footage to create cohesive, engaging narratives aligned with documentary objectives and project goals.
  • Enhancing video quality through colour correction, audio balancing, voiceover, and possible inclusion of graphics. All narrative must be subtitled in Arabic and English.
  • Delivering polished final edits in required formats for various platforms and audiences.
• Technical support and logistics
  • Working closely with the Manahel team to align on story arcs and visual style.
  • Advising on footage security and storage.
  • Ensuring appropriate informed consent is obtained and documented for all filmed individuals.
  • Coordinating with local facilitators for access and scheduling.

Ethical considerations

• The videographer must adhere to Manahel’s safeguarding and consent protocols.
• All footage must respect the dignity, privacy and agency of participants.
• No content may be shared externally without prior written approval.

5.PERSONNEL

This opportunity is open to both individual consultants and companies specialising in documentary making.

The Tenderer must have, or propose a team with, the qualifications and experience necessary to deliver high-quality visual content in fragile, conflict-affected, and education sector contexts. At a minimum, the Tenderer must demonstrate the following:

• Proven experience in documentary filmmaking or visual storytelling in fragile contexts.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating ability to capture emotive, human-centred stories.
• Excellence in camera operation, sound and lighting.
• Fluency in Arabic and English.
• Familiarity with ethical storytelling and safeguarding protocols, and ability to adhere to Manahel’s policies.

6.DELIVERABLES

The final deliverables and their delivery dates will be outlined in the final Service Agreement. A list of indicative deliverables is included below:

a. Pre-Production Phase

• General storyline and production plan, including proposed schools and subjects (children, teachers, communities).
• Filming schedule and logistics plan developed in coordination with the Manahel team.
• Safeguarding and consent documentation plan (including consent forms and protocols).
• Visual and stylistic concept note (tone, aesthetic, approach).
• Data storage management plans.
• Training and support for video diaries.

b. Production Phase (2025–2027)
For each filming cycle (three cycles in total):

• Raw footage from all school visits, including:
• Classroom and school environment scenes.
• Interviews with learners, teachers, parents, and community members.
• Contextual B-roll (e.g., community, landscapes, daily life).
• Consent documentation for all filmed participants.
• Footage log detailing locations, interviewees, and shot lists.
• Storyboard(s) for proposed narrative of each cycle’s film.

c. Post-Production Phase (per cycle)

• One 15-minute edited documentary film (three total – one per cycle).
• Subtitled versions in Arabic and English.
• Audio-balanced, colour-corrected, and fully edited final versions in broadcast-quality formats (MP4, MOV, etc.).
• Transfer of all raw footage, project files, and final edits to Manahel’s secure storage platform.

Deliverables will be reviewed for completeness by Chemonics based on their verification documentation, quality and adherence to safeguarding requirements.

Safeguarding and dignity will be at the heart of the filming and output – as with all Manahel’s work – and this will be embedded in pre-production, production and post-production processes. Additionally, the videographer(s) is/are expected to maintain continuous coordination with the Manahel team on story development, safeguarding compliance, and communication approval processes throughout the duration of the Agreement.

7.PRICING AND DELIVERABLE SCHEDULE

The maximum price that will be considered for this subcontract is £23,000. This must be justified based on a detailed budget breakdown and backup of proposed prices.

Chemonics will either make (fixed) payments in accordance with the deliverables outlined above OR per a schedule of rates as listed in the final contractual agreement.

Chemonics will pay invoices within thirty (30) calendar days after both a) Chemonics’ approval of the services, and b) Chemonics’ receipt of a valid invoice.

8.DUTY OF CARE

The Vendor/Subcontractor will be responsible for their own safety and well-being and Third Parties affected by the Vendor/Subcontractor’s activities under any resulting Agreement, including appropriate security arrangements. The Vendor/Subcontractor will also be responsible for providing suitable security arrangements for their domestic and business property. The Vendor will be made aware of Chemonics UK Duty of Care policy.

9.DATA OWNERSHIP AND USE

All data collected, generated, or used in connection with any activities under this Agreement, including raw data and footage, cleaned datasets and footage, transcripts, audio recordings, field notes, and final products, shall be the sole and exclusive property of Chemonics UK on behalf of SEP II.

The selected Vendor must adhere to the following stipulations:

• Intellectual Property: All outputs produced under this engagement shall be deemed intellectual property of Chemonics UK and shall not be used, reproduced, or published by the Vendor or its subcontractors without prior written consent from Chemonics UK.
• Confidentiality: The Vendor shall maintain confidentiality and not disclose or disseminate any data or information related to this engagement to third parties without the express written approval of Chemonics UK.
• Data Sharing and Archiving: Upon completion of each filming or documentary activity, the Vendor is required to submit the following to SEP II:
  • Final edited and raw footage with file descriptions
  • Analysis scripts or code used for data processing (if applicable)
  • Final and draft versions of all deliverables
• Publication Rights: Any intent to publish, present, or publicly share footage, findings, or derivative content from the documentary series externally must be discussed and agreed upon in writing by SEP II in advance. This includes academic publications, film festivals, conference presentations, donor briefings or media dissemination.

10.CONFLICT OF INTEREST DECLARATION

To ensure transparency, fairness, and impartiality in the selection process, all Tenderers are required to declare any actual, perceived, or potential conflicts of interest in relation to their involvement in SEP II or any other entities or programmes connected to Chemonics Group companies.