Terms Of Reference for Production of Five Text-Free 3D WASH Animation Videos in Standard Somali (Maxaad Tiri) and Maay Languages for the SHIP 2 Consortium Project – Oxfam

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Oxfam is a global movement of people who are fighting inequality to end poverty and injustice. Across regions, from the local to the global, we work with people to bring change that lasts.

OVERVIEW

Interested candidates are invited to submit:

1. A technical proposal (understanding of the assignment, approach, workplan within four weeks, and team)
2. A portfolio of previous animation work (sample links)
3. A financial offer, based on the consultant’s own budget

See section ‘6. Application Process’ for further details

Consultants are asked to submit their own budget.

The films must contain no on-screen writing, subtitles, titles, labels, numbers, written credits or text-bearing logos.

Native Standard Somali  Maxaad tidhi and Maay voice-overs are required, with independent local review of the Maay adaptation.

Proposed delivery period: four weeks from the contract start date, subject to translation and review time.

1. BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT

Oxfam is a global movement of people who are fighting inequality to end poverty and injustice. In Somalia, Oxfam works with local partners and communities to respond to humanitarian needs and to build resilience, including through water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and health-related support for displaced and rural communities.

This assignment forms part of the SHIP 2 Consortium Project. Many of the families the project serves live in displaced-person camps and remote villages and do not read or write, including users of Waaberi health facility in Burhakaba and Horseed health facility in Bardere. Written materials therefore cannot reach them. Oxfam needs five short animated films that demonstrate essential WASH and health practices, with spoken explanations in Standard Somali maxaad tiri and Maay, so that families can see and hear what to do and then ask a Community Health Volunteer (CHV) for a demonstration.

Oxfam has prepared draft English and Standard Somali scripts for all five films, which will be made available to the selected consultant; the Maay scripts are a consultant deliverable. All technical content must be approved by Oxfam’s WASH or health lead before it is narrated or animated. The films must not imply an active outbreak or invent a hotline.

1. SPECIFICATION OF SERVICES REQUIRED

Oxfam is seeking an experienced animation production company or consultant team to adapt scripts, animate, voice and deliver five text-free 3D animated films, each 2–3 minutes long (target 2 minutes 30 seconds), in two languages – Standard Somali (maxaad tiri) and Maay – giving ten finished language versions.

The scope includes scripting adaptation, Maay translation and review, storyboards and timed animatics, viewer testing, animation, voice-over recording, sound mixing, revisions, file delivery and handover. Vertical or square versions are not included and, if offered, must be quoted separately. Technical content approval is carried out by Oxfam and is not part of the consultant’s scope.

The five films and their main messages are:

• Film 1 – Handwashing: wash with soap before food and after the latrine or cleaning a child.
• Film 2 – Safe water: collect safely, treat when needed, cover and pour.
• Film 3 – Sanitation: use a safe latrine and put children’s faeces in it; wash afterwards.
• Film 4 – Disease prevention: cover coughs, sleep under a treated net and seek help early.
• Film 5 – Family hygiene: prepare food safely, share hygiene tasks and protect newborns.

Audience, style and sound requirements:

• Audience: families in displaced-person camps and remote villages who do not read or write. Animation demonstrates each action and the voice-over explains it.
• No on-screen writing, subtitles, titles, labels, numbers, written credits or text-bearing logos.
• Warm, simple 3D animation with a recurring Somali family and Community Health Volunteer (CHV), set in familiar camp shelters, village homes, containers and shared latrines. Show adults sharing care and accessible facilities.
• Clear native-speaking narrators, quiet background sound and one action at a time. Repeat the main action visually and aloud.
• Do not assume piped water, refrigeration or private latrines.
• Each film runs 120–180 seconds (both language versions timed) and finishes with an animated recap and a spoken invitation to ask the CHV.

Specific tasks related to this scope of work are outlined as:

• Agree the approach, workplan and voice samples with Oxfam.
• Adapt the English and Standard Somali scripts; commission a native Maay adaptation with independent local review, and provide back-translations.
• Produce storyboards and timed animatics, and time both language reads.
• Test the animatics with intended viewers who do not read or write, and revise confusing scenes and phrases.
• Animate the five films, record the voice-overs and mix the sound, starting final recording and animation only after the relevant approvals.
• Complete two consolidated review rounds incorporating feedback from Oxfam’s programme focal point, WASH or health lead, native language reviewers and CHVs, and communications staff.
• Deliver ten text-free Full HD MP4 masters (1920 × 1080, 16:9, H.264 with AAC audio), each with approved voice-over, plus ten smaller sharing copies. No subtitles or caption files.
• Demonstrate that both language versions play and loop offline on the intended television or player.
• Hand over final scripts, storyboards, editable animation files, separate sound tracks and asset licences. Usage and adaptation rights will be agreed through the contract.

1. APPLICATION PROCESS

Submission instructions

Quotations and technical proposal applications must reach Oxfam no later than 21/11/2026, 17:00 East Africa Time (UTC+3).

Responses must be submitted in English, electronically to: [email protected] 

The subject of the mail should be SHIP 2 WASH Animation – Proposal Submission – 

Any questions, remarks or requests for clarification can be sent up to 1 day before the submission deadline in writing. The (anonymised) questions will be answered to all applicants.

Administrative requirements

To be shortlisted for evaluation against award criteria, the following documents must be submitted with this application: