TOR: Documentary on the Leave No Youth Behind Project

Project Overview

Leave No Youth Behind is a multi-year initiative funded by Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) and implemented by SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia in partnership with relevant government institutions, youth associations, civil society actors, private institutions, and development stakeholders. Over the past five years (2022–2026), the project has contributed significantly to strengthening the socio-economic inclusion, participation, and resilience of young care leavers in Ethiopia.

The project was designed to improve the transition of young care leavers into independent adulthood by strengthening systems, building institutional capacity, and expanding economic opportunities for young people leaving alternative care. Over the five year implementation period, the project has worked with government institutions, care leaver associations, financial service providers, training institutions, and young people themselves to create more sustainable pathways toward independence, social inclusion, and economic self-reliance.

The project’s achievements are organized around three outcome areas:

• Policy Advocacy and Systems Strengthening
• Institutional Capacity Strengthening
• Youth Empowerment and Economic Inclusion

In sum, the project has generated valuable lessons, promising practices, and scalable approaches that can contribute to broader national efforts aimed at ensuring dignified and sustainable transitions for young people leaving care systems.

This calls for documenting the project’s impact, capturing results, life-changes, and opportunities brought for young care leavers. Such documentary work should also serve for awareness creation and advocacy work by taking the previous period implementations as an input (learning experience) for the future best actions/programming towards supporting young care leavers.

The National Impact Forum

To take stock of the achievements in the last 5 years, there is a need to organize a high-level national engagement platform that goes beyond a conventional project dissemination workshop. Considering the scale of achievements, policy influence, partnerships built, and the transformative impact on young people’s lives, the initiative warrants a broader national visibility and advocacy platform.

To this end, SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia is organizing a National Impact Forum on Youth Transition and Care Leaver Empowerment in the beginning of September. The forum will serve as a multi-dimensional engagement and visibility platform that combines policy dialogue, impact showcasing, storytelling, exhibitions, stakeholder engagement, media outreach, and youth-led advocacy. The initiative aims to create a national conversation around the transition from care to independent living while highlighting the achievements, lessons learned, and future recommendations emerging from the project implementation.

The forum will bring together government institutions, development partners, embassy representatives, youth associations, financial institutions, civil society organizations, media, academia, private sector actors, and young care leavers themselves to:

• Reflect on five years of implementation achievements;
• Showcase successful models and impact stories;
• Promote policy and system-level discussions;
• Strengthen future partnerships and commitments;
• Advocate for sustainable support systems for young care leavers in Ethiopia.

The forum will also elevate the voices and experiences of young people by positioning them at the center of discussions and showcasing their journeys, innovations, resilience, and leadership.

Consequently, SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia seeks to hire an experienced and competent production agency to develop a five-minute documentary of the impacts made by the LNYB project in the English language with a 1-minute event promo and 30-second cut-down for digital use.

Why Documenting this Project is Important

Documenting the LNYB project is essential for capturing its achievements, demonstrating its value, and extending its influence beyond the project lifecycle. By systematically documenting the project’s interventions, outcomes, and the stories of participating young people, this initiative aims to:

• Raise public awareness about the lived realities and transitions of young care leavers.
• Demonstrate the impact of integrated interventions and highlight the critical support systems needed to enable successful and sustainable transitions to adulthood.
• Promote learning and replication by documenting good practices, innovations, and lessons learned that can be adapted and scaled in other contexts.
• Highlight the kinds of interventions and support systems urgently needed.
• Serve as an advocacy and visibility tool to mobilize additional support and promote the replication of successful approaches.
• Showcase the sustainability and continued relevance of the project.
• Provide compelling visual evidence for donors, partners, and the public to demonstrate how the LNYB project improves lives in real and lasting ways.

Objective of the Assignment

SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia seeks to engage a qualified production agency to conceptualize, produce, and deliver a high-quality documentary package that captures the five-year impact of the Leave No Youth Behind Project.

The documentary package will serve as a key communication asset during the National Impact Forum on Youth Transition and Care Leaver Empowerment and support broader advocacy, visibility, resource mobilization, and stakeholder engagement efforts.

The assignment is expected to communicate both individual transformation and systems-level change by showcasing the experiences of young care leavers alongside the project’s contributions to policy reform, institutional strengthening, and economic inclusion.

Documentary Approach

The documentary should adopt a human-centered storytelling approach that places young care leavers at the center of the narrative while demonstrating broader systems-level impact. Rather than focusing primarily on project activities, the documentary should explore:

• The realities of transitioning out of care.
• Challenges faced by young care leavers.
• Pathways toward independence and personal resilience, aspirations, and achievements of young people.
• The role of communities, caregivers, and mentors in supporting successful transitions.
• Social inclusion, psychosocial well-being, and the development of life skills needed for independent living.
• Youth leadership and participation.
• Access to skills development and employment opportunities.
• Entrepreneurship and access to finance.
• The importance of multi-stakeholder partnerships (including government, civil society, the private sector, and development partners) in creating sustainable support systems for care leavers.
• Institutional and policy changes that support successful transitions.

The documentary should effectively connect individual stories to the project’s broader impact under its three outcome areas. It should present a balanced perspective by combining authentic personal experiences with credible evidence of project results, while recognizing the contributions of key stakeholders, including government institutions, communities, the private sector, and project partners.

The emphasis should be on storytelling that demonstrates transformation, leadership, resilience, inclusion, and lasting change, rather than a chronological summary of project activities. The final products should inspire action, strengthen advocacy efforts, and serve as high-quality communication assets for donors, partners, policymakers, and the wider public.

Scope of Work

The production agency will be responsible for:

Pre-Production:

• Participating in a project briefing session.
• Reviewing project documentation and impact reports.
• Developing a creative concept and storytelling approach.
• Producing a script, storyboard, filming plan, and interview guide.
• Identifying creative approaches to visualize project outcomes.

Production:

• Conducting interviews with project participants, stakeholders, and partners (minimum 1 interviewees each)
• Capturing high-quality video, audio, and photography content within Addis Ababa city only.
• Filming project-related locations, events, and supporting visuals.
• Capturing content suitable for both long-form and short-form outputs.

Post-Production:

• Editing all deliverables.
• Color grading and sound design.
• Motion graphics and animation of key statistics.
• Subtitle production.
• Incorporation of feedback through review rounds.
• Delivery of final approved versions.

Specific Deliverables

Deliverable 1 – One (1) five-minute impact documentary.

To showcase the overall impact of the Leave No Youth Behind Project across its three outcome areas and serve as the centerpiece video presentation during the National Impact Forum on Youth Transition and Care Leaver Empowerment.

Deliverable 2 – One (1) event opener / promotional video (60–90 seconds).

To create anticipation, establish the event tone, and introduce the Five Years of Leaving No Youth Behind campaign.

Deliverable 3 – Three (3) social media cut-down versions. 30–60 seconds each.

To support social media promotion before, during, and after the event.

Deliverable 4 – Raw footage and editable source files.

Deliverable 5 – All scripts, narration texts, subtitles, graphics, and project files.

Note: Deliverables 1-3 must be optimized for:

• Event screening.
• Social media platforms.
• Website use.
• Email distribution.
• USB and cloud sharing.

Roles and Responsibilities

SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia will:

• Provide the documentary concept, key messages, target audience, and intended objectives.
• Facilitate access to filming locations, young care leavers, and other relevant stakeholders, in alignment with safeguarding procedures.
• Share relevant background materials and branding guidelines.
• Coordinate the schedule and approve the shooting script, storyboard, and filming plan prior to production.
• Review and approve all drafts (rough cut and final version) to ensure alignment with communication goals and ethical standards.
• Ensure all necessary informed consent and safeguarding documentation is collected and filed.

The Production Agency will:

• Translate the brief into a compelling documentary package through English scriptwriting, storyboarding, filming, editing, and post-production along with the required short versions optimized for social media and events.
• Ensure that all content is developed in line with SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia’s brand identity and safeguarding policies.
• Provide all technical equipment and crew necessary for high-quality production, including videography, sound, lighting, and editing.
• Deliver a rough cut for feedback and incorporate revisions leading to the final approved version.
• Provide final outputs in the agreed standards and editable source files for future use.
• Maintain confidentiality and avoid unauthorized use or distribution of any raw or final footage.

Standards of the production

Along with the communications and branding policy, the following standards are expected to be fulfilled:

1. Video quality

• Video resolution produced should be recorded with 4K camera and exported at the highest HD quality
• The framerate of the video should be compatible to the current social media needs (24fps is recommendable)
• When possible, all video footage should be at the best bitrate. This will allow with better color and video quality

1. Audio quality

• Avoid any background sound including Mic frequency
• In case to sound effects, use a clean and professional low bass sounds

Creative References and Expected Style

The documentary package should be visually engaging, emotionally compelling, and suitable for high-level stakeholder events. The preferred approach combines:

• Human-centered storytelling – authentic and dignified representation of young people, ensuring their voices and experiences drive the narrative.
• Dynamic visual storytelling.
• Fast-paced and engaging editing.
• Strong cinematography.
• Minimal institutional narration.
• Youth-led voices and perspectives.
• Motion graphics for impact statistics, key results, and project outcomes.
• Contemporary and inspirational tone.
• High-quality natural sound, music, and ambient audio that enhance the emotional impact without overshadowing the stories.
• A clear narrative arc that moves from challenges to opportunities, resilience, and lasting impact.

The below references are intended to guide the creative direction and should not be replicated directly.

Event Opener / Promo References

Generation Unlimited – Our Time. Our Turn. Our Future. This video combines youth voices, ambition, employment, empowerment, and movement. The pace and energy are ideal for an event opener. (link here)

Enkopa This video combines fast-paced editing, strong emotional build-up, dynamic transitions, event-quality production value including added animation, powerful use of music, concise and memorable messaging which reflects the desired approach for the event opener/promo video. (link here)

Impact Documentary References

Generation Unlimited: Nurturing South Africa’s youth This video makes strong use of youth stories, entrepreneurship, skills development, and dynamic visuals. Useful reference for balancing inspiration and impact. (link here)

UPSHIFT – Unlocking the Potential of Youth as Global Social Innovators This video shows very modern treatment of youth innovation and entrepreneurship. The animation section in the video that present project impact can be adapted to look like this. (link here)

Intellectual Property

All outputs produced including raw footage in this action shall remain the property of SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia who shall have exclusive rights over their use. All unrestricted rights for future editing and translation are exclusively reserved by SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia.

Safeguarding Notice

The selected production agency is expected to fully adhere to SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia’s safeguarding standards throughout the documentary process. The following principles must be observed:

• Respect and Protection: All filming and interviews must uphold the dignity, privacy, and safety of children, young people, and families. No content should portray individuals in a way that is exploitative, stigmatizing, or harmful.
• Informed Consent: The production team must ensure that clear, age-appropriate informed consent is obtained in writing from all participants or legal guardians in the case of minors prior to any filming or use of identifiable images or stories. Consent forms will be provided by the national office.
• Safe Conduct: Any form of inappropriate behavior, coercion, or boundary-crossing is strictly prohibited.
• Incident Reporting: Any safeguarding concern or potential incident observed or disclosed during production must be reported within 24 hours through the official SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia safeguarding reporting channel; misconduct@sos-ethiopia.org.

Duration of the Assignment

The assignment shall be completed and delivered on August 17, 2026 or within 4 weeks from the date of agreement signing, including time for review and approval. The timeline will cover the following key activities:

• Kick-off meeting
• Script and storyboard approval
• Filming
• Editing and post-production
• Submission of the final approved versions

Qualification

• At least 3 years’ relevant experience in the production of short documentary videos in the development/NGO sector based on portfolio delivered.
• Understanding of the assignment and suitability for the project based on creative concept/ synopsis delivered
• Competent and skilled staff or team members experienced with storytelling, video recording, documentation & production in the development/NGO sector along with suitable list of equipment delivered.
• Legally registered & licensed in all aspects of the Ethiopian government requirements. (5%)