Call for Journalists in Jordan to produce articles and stories of change

Terms of Reference

‘Info-Kom Consultancy’

Background

IM is a Swedish NGO committed to empowering civil society, catalyzing profound societal change towards equality and democracy, as a feminist and anti-racist change agent. We base our work on a rights-based approach and we work with Social Inclusion, Economic Inclusion, Capacity of Civil Society and Enabling Space for Civil Society.

IM sees and reacts to injustice in the world. Our primary mission is to fight poverty and exclusion and contribute to lasting change for individuals in particularly vulnerable situations. We do this through social and economic inclusion and by giving the right holders the opportunity to raise their voices. We believe a strong civil presence is the key for a democratic society. All projects are implemented in close collaboration with local partner organizations.

IM has been working in the Middle East since the late 1960s in the area of intellectual disability. At present IM Middle East works with partners in Jordan, Palestine and Lebanon to achieve 4 priorities; Social Inclusion, Economic Inclusion, Insured Civic Space, and Strong Civil society.

The main target groups of IM’s work in the middle east are; young women and men, persons with disabilities and civil society organizations.

Rationale and purpose

This consultancy aims at producing featured articles, highlighting the role of civil society, mobilization and organization while working on Social Inclusion, Economic Inclusion, Ensured Civic Space, and Strengthened Civil Society.

These productions are part of IMs InfoKom-program. InfoKom means” Information and Communication”, and is funded by Sida with the purpose of enhancing the knowledge of the Swedish public on what development is and how it brings change. This assignment aims at enhancing people’s knowledge, engagement, and action, in addition to bring together people who support development.

The productions should focus on when people go together to create change, strengthen their voices, break isolation and fight poverty and exclusion. In these InfoKom-stories we want to focus on the role organizations play in people’s lives. So, in part we focus on groups, gatherings, meetings and associations – describing the power of the many. In part we continue to focus on individuals – but try to profile the individual in a group. Taking part in a group – why, how does it feel? For the first time meeting and being part of an organization – what does that change, what does that bring for the individual? In focusing on organizations and mobilization we also wish to bring up issues of civil society. The role it plays, the importance it has, what it actually is. We strongly believe that in order to fight for democracy we need civil society. In order to fight poverty, we need civil society. But civil society needs to be seen as people of flesh and blood, feelings and life stories.

Our task is to make civil society felt by our readers and viewers. What we want is good storytelling of how people break isolation, join forces, think and speak together, build bridges and challenge structures. In small village and savings schemes, in women’s groups, in demonstrations and awareness campaigns, in all parts of society – from the local to the national and regional.**

Objectives:

• Highlighting the role of civil society (mobilization and organization) while working on Social Inclusion, Economic Inclusion, Ensured Civic Space, and Strengthened Civil Society.

• Enhancing the knowledge of the Swedish public on what development is and how it brings change**

• Highlighting the contribution of partner organizations in the ME to achieve societal change and IM’s global strategy**

Deliverables:

• 1 long featured article

· with a word count of 1000-1500 Word.

· 10-15 photos with varying subjects (zoom-in and zoom out, from details to portraits to photos of people interacting, and activities/events, and context/environment).

· Text should focus on an organization, profiling their work, the change they make, and the way they mobilize and strengthen through grassroots engagement.

• 2 interviews, portraits, in shorter format.

· with a word count of 400-1000 Word.

· 5-10 photos/interview. Differing format, both landscape and portrait. Both smiling and serious. Both looking into camera and being active and interacting with others as part of a team or discussion.

· Text focus on participants and rights holders. What change has taking part in a joint activity or organization had? How has mobilization changed and improved their situation.

• 2 Stories of Change (Template to be shared with the consultant)

· Each story of change must be accompanied with a minimum of 5 photos. Please remember that everyone occurring in the photos must sign a GDPR consent form.

· Each story has a maximum text limit of 2000 words.

· The story should be about change in one person’s life, a change that preferably reflects a change process in the whole society.

· When writing, focus on the reader. Imagine one of your friends that know very little of IM and of development cooperation work in general.

· The story might be re-written by communication staff at the head office in order to adapt it to various target groups. Additional information may then be requested.

• 2 Snapshots (Template to be shared with the consultant)

· The results should be both quantitative and qualitative

· The text should be between 500-650 words

· The text should build on results reported in the results framework and annual progress report

· It is suggested that the regional communications officers write the snapshot

· Communication staff at Head office may contact the author for further information

Production Requirements

• Deliver high-resolution photos for print.

• DSLR-camera.

• File transfer via WeTransfer, uncompressed photos.

• GDPR-consents signed by all photographed persons. Labelled for easy archiving (To be shared with the consultant)

Language and Photography

· The final deliveries are expected to be done in English; however, the consultant has the flexibility of producing in Arabic and then having the deliverables translated into English.

· The consultant can either take the responsibility of the photographs as per the instructions, or hire a photographer. However, IM will expect the consultant to deliver the photographs as part of the assignment, and will not contract any third parties.

Date and location:

· The task will start on December 5^th 2020 and End on March 15^th 2021, specific working days will be agreed on with the consultant.

· The task will target Jordan.