Documentary on the Children in Street Situations Project (CISS) in Addis Ababa, Adama and Diredawa cities

Project Overview

Since January 2022, the “Children in Street Situation Project (CISS)” is under implementation by SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia.

This five years project aims to address the root causes of 9000 (nine thousand) children in street situations in Addis Ababa, Dire-Dawa, and Adama.

Currently the project works with Key implementing partners (KIPs) including Forum on Sustainable Child Empowerment Organization (FSCE), Tilahunen Charity Organization (TCHA), and Delasalle Community Development Organization (DCDO). These partners provide rehabilitation and reintegration services in Addis Ababa, Adama, and Diredawa.

This documentation aims to document the project’s impact, capture results, life-changes, and opportunities brought for children who were once in the street, their families, and communities. Also, documentation of the overall challenges faced hitherto, and necessary actions taken shall be documented for future learning.

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 the prevention, rehabilitation and protection of children in street situations or beyond.

Consequently, SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia seeks to hire an experienced and competent production agency to develop a short documentary of the impacts made by the CISS project in Addis Ababa, Adama and Diredawa in the English language.

Why Documenting This Project Is Important

Documenting the CISS is a critical step in amplifying its impact. To this end, SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia, through its Brand and Communications Department and in collaboration with the CISS project has developed a comprehensive visibility plan and documentary synopsis to guide this effort.

By documenting the ongoing CISS project interventions in Addis Ababa, Adama and Diredawa, this initiative aims to:

• Raise public awareness about the lived realities of CISS.
• Highlight the kinds of interventions urgently needed to address persistent vulnerabilities.
• 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 CISS project.
• Provide compelling visual evidence for donors, partners, and the public to demonstrate how CISS project improves lives in real and lasting ways.

Overall Objective

To produce a high-quality, emotionally resonant, and factually grounded 30-min documentary in the English language that captures the ongoing impact of the CISS project in Addis Ababa, Adama and Diredawa cities, with a focus on real-life stories and family and community transformation based on project interventions.

Scope of Work

The production agency will be responsible for:

Pre-Production:

• Participate in a briefing session with SOS CVE Communications and Program teams.
• Develop the documentary storyline, structure, and script in alignment with SOS CVE’s objectives and brand
• Conduct pre-shoot site visits if necessary.

Production:

• Film interviews with project participants, key staff, and partners with consent.
• Capture high-quality footage of program activities and community settings.
• Ensure ethical and child-sensitive filming standards in line with SOS Children’s Villages Child and Youth Safeguarding Policy and Sexual Misconduct Regulation

Post-Production:

• Edit and produce a polished 30-minute TV-ready documentary (HD quality), along with 3 short cut-down versions (1–2 minutes each) optimized for social media.
• Incorporate background music, graphics, and branding elements as per SOS CVE guidelines.
• Deliver a final master copy suitable for broadcast on digital platforms as well as raw footage and editable project files.

 

Documentary Focus Areas (Addis Ababa, Adama and Diredawa cities)

The project key five outcomes:

1. Rehabilitate children in street situations,
2. Strengthening social support systems for the rights and wellbeing of street children,
3. Ensure children in street situations are cared for and protected,
4. Equip children aged 15-17 on/of the streets with competencies and employment, and
5. Advocate for improved legal and policy frameworks to protect and empower CISS.

Specifically, the documentary work shall ensure that project services such as the full center, day center, service for children with their caregivers, as well as for children (young people) aged 15 to 17 are covered during interviews.

Interviewees (Addis Ababa, Adama and Diredawa cities)

No	Interviewees	How Many?
		Addis Ababa	Adama	Diredawa
1	Children	TBD	TBD	TBD
2	Young people (15 to 17 age group)	TBD	TBD	TBD
3	Families/caregiver	TBD	TBD	TBD
4	KIPs (key Implementing Partners)	TBD	TBD	TBD
5	Multicounty Director, Deputy National Director, National Project Manager-CISS, Location Program Directors (LPDs)	TBD	TBD	TBD
6	Project staff (coordinators, social workers, counselors)	TBD	TBD	TBD
7	Signatories (BOFED, Women & Children Affairs, etc.)	TBD	TBD	TBD
8	School representatives	TBD	TBD	TBD
9	Government Experts in areas of Child protection	TBD	TBD	TBD

Expected Outcomes

• A 30-minute English documentary film highlighting impact stories across the five key intervention areas.
• A visual archive of community testimonials, stakeholder interviews, and activity footage.
• Increased visibility for the CISS project among stakeholders, donors, and the public.
• Material that supports further fundraising, advocacy, and replication of the project model.

Roles and Responsibilities

SOS CVE will:

• Provide the documentary concept, key messages, target audience, and intended objectives.
• Facilitate access to filming locations, staff, children, families, 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 30-minute documentary through English scriptwriting, storyboarding, filming, editing, and post-production along with 3 short cut-down versions (1–2 minutes each) optimized for social media.
• Ensure that all content is developed in line with SOS CVE’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.

Specific Deliverables

• A master copy of the 30-minute English documentary video
• A master copy of 3 short cut-down versions (1–2 minutes each) optimized for social media
• The raw footages used to produce the video (editable source files for future use)
• The narration text or the full script used for the production and subtitles
• Versions provided should be compatible for internet and TV screening (compatible to social medias, USB, OneDrive and emailing)

Intellectual Property

All outputs produced in this action shall remain the property of SOS CVE who shall have exclusive rights over their use.

Safeguarding Notice

The selected production agency is expected to fully adhere to SOS CVE’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, appropriate age-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 violation 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 CVE safeguarding reporting channel: misconduct@sos-ethiopia.org.

Duration of the Assignment

The assignment shall be completed and delivered within three (3) weeks from the date of the agreement signing, including time for review and approval. The timeline will cover the following key activities:

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

Qualification

• At least 3 years’ relevant experience in the production of best practice videos and publications in the development/NGO sector
• Competent and skilled staff or team members have experience with video recording, documentation & production in the development/NGO sector.
• Legally registered & licensed in all aspects of the Ethiopian government requirements.