TOR for Consultancy for Documentation, Knowledge Generation and Production of Learning and Advocacy Products

TERMS OF REFERENCE
Consultancy for Documentation, Knowledge Generation and
Production of Learning and Advocacy Products
Project name Expanding Protection in Communities of Somalia (EPIC Somalia).
Organization ActionAid International Somalia
Location Beledweyne, Hiiraan, Somalia
1. Background
ActionAid International Somalia is implementing a protection project aimed at strengthening
accountability, participation, protection and meaningful engagement of communities with
humanitarian and development actors. The project seeks to ensure that communities, particularly
vulnerable and marginalized groups, can participate in decisions affecting their lives and hold
humanitarian and other duty bearers accountable. The project recognizes that effective advocacy
and policy influence require credible evidence, documentation of community experiences, learning
from implementation, and accessible knowledge products that can be used by communities, civil
society organizations, government institutions, humanitarian actors, private sector actors, traditional
leaders and other stakeholders.
As part of this effort, AAIS seeks a consultant who will undertake a Documentation and Knowledge
Generation Assignment focusing on the production and dissemination of short video documentaries,
case studies, policy briefs and other knowledge products for learning exchange, advocacy,
campaigns and policy influencing.
The assignment will particularly contribute to the projects advocacy, campaigns and policy
influencing component by generating credible evidence and stories that demonstrate community
experiences, good practices, challenges, accountability gaps, lessons learned and recommendations
for improved humanitarian action.
The assignment will focus specifically on the community-led protection activities implemented under
the project, assessing their effectiveness and impact on the targeted communities. The study will
document key achievements and learning, including the contribution of community-led protection
approaches to reducing GBV risks, strengthening community protection mechanisms, and promoting
the sustainability of protection interventions. It will also examine the prospects for scaling up
successful approaches and identify key lessons and recommendations to share with the wider
Protection Cluster and other humanitarian stakeholders
2. Purpose of the consultant/consultancy
The overall purpose of the assignment is to document project’s experiences, community voices, good
practices, lessons learned and evidence of change and transform them into high-quality, accessible
and compelling knowledge and advocacy products. The consultant/consultancy will support the
AAIS to capture and communicate evidence through a combination of:
- Video documentary
- Success stories
- Policy brief
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- Photo stories and other visual documentation
- Key messages and advocacy materials and
- Other knowledge products identified during implementation.
The products should support learning exchange, accountability, advocacy, campaigns, policy
dialogue and influencing at community, district, regional and national levels.
3. Specific Objectives
The consultant/consultancy will aim:
- To document the experiences, perspectives and voices of communities engaged by the
programme.
- To capture evidence of change, promising practices, challenges and lessons emerging from
project’s implementation.
- To document how humanitarian actors and other stakeholders are responding to community
priorities and accountability commitments.
- To produce compelling short video documentaries that communicate community experiences
and project results.
- To develop high-quality case studies and human-interest stories demonstrating change and
impact.
- To produce concise, evidence-based policy briefs that identify key issues, evidence, policy
implications and recommendations.
- To translate project’s learning and evidence into practical knowledge products for learning
exchange.
- To strengthen the organization's evidence base for advocacy, campaigns and policy
influencing.
- To disseminate knowledge products to relevant stakeholders through appropriate
communication and engagement channels.
4. Scope of the assignment
4.1. Documentation and evidence gathering
According to the documentation and evidence gathering the consultant/consultancy:
- Will review relevant programme documents, reports, assessments, monitoring data and
existing evidence.
- Will identify key themes, stories, achievements, challenges and learning opportunities.
- Will develop a documentation plan and story with selection criteria.
- Will conduct interviews and consultations with community members, project teams, community
leaders, government representatives, CSOs, humanitarian actors and other relevant
stakeholders.
- Will capture community perspectives and voices in an ethical, safe and dignified manner.
- Will document evidence of change, including positive and negative experiences where
appropriate.
- Will identify good practices and innovations that can be replicated or scaled up.
- Will ensure that documentation reflects gender, age, disability, inclusion and protection
considerations.

Required Qualifications and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Media Studies, Development Studies, Social Sciences,
International Development or a related field.
- At least 4-5 years of relevant professional experience in documentation, communications, knowledge
management, journalism, research, advocacy or related fields.
- Demonstrated experience producing professional short documentaries and digital video content.
- Demonstrated experience developing case studies, human-interest stories, learning products and/or
policy briefs.
- Strong writing, editing and storytelling skills.
- Experience working with humanitarian, development, governance, gender, protection or accountability
programs.
- Strong understanding of community engagement and accountability approaches.
- Demonstrated ability to work with diverse stakeholders.
- Experience working in Somalia or similar humanitarian contexts is desirable.
- Knowledge of the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS) is desirable.
- Experience in advocacy, campaigns and policy influencing is desirable.
- Fluency in English and Somali is highly desirable.
10.1. Other required technical skills
- Professional videography
- Photography
- Video editing
- Scriptwriting and storytelling
- Interviewing
- Research and evidence gathering
- Policy writing
- Graphic design and visual communication
- Social media content development
- Microsoft Office and relevant digital media/editing software.
- Relevant qualifications and professional experience
- Experience in documentation, knowledge generation and storytelling
- Technical approach and methodology
- Financial proposal/value for money

Application requirements
- Technical Proposal, including understanding of the assignment, proposed methodology and approach,
proposed workplan and timeline, proposed deliverables, risk management and ethical/safeguarding
approach, and team composition where applicable.
- Financial Proposal, including professional consultancy fees, fieldwork/travel costs where applicable,
production costs, equipment and other relevant costs, and applicable taxes.
- Updated CV(s) of the consultant/team members.
- Portfolio of previous work, including documentaries, case studies, policy briefs, learning products,
photography or other relevant communication products.
- At least two references from previous clients or organizations for similar assignments.
Submission of Applications
We invite interested consultants’/consultancy firm to submit their application documents not later
than 10th of October 2026 via: [email protected] Subject: Consultancy-Documentation
and Knowledge Generation.
While Assessment will be done on individual merit, suitably qualified female are highly encouraged to
apply. Only shortlisted consultants will be contacted