Media Consultant

Description

• The objective of this engagement is to produce an evidence-based documentary that strengthens USDA donor visibility, supports TRACE’s Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning MELobjectives, and enhances communication of project results.

Expected Tasks
The Media Consultant will undertake the following:
Pre-production:

• Conduct inception meeting with TRACE MEL and program teams
• Review MEL data, reports, and success stories
• Develop concept notes, storyboard, and script aligned to TRACE results and USDA visibility
• Prepare production plan covering all six states.

Field Production All Six States:

• Capture project activities, farmer practices, and traceability systems
• Conduct interviews with farmers, cooperatives, partners, and stakeholders
• Capture MEL evidence including outcomes and adoption of innovations
• Ensure USDA and Corus/TRACE visibility compliance in all visuals.

Post-production:

• Edit high-quality documentary integrating storytelling and MEL evidence
• Add narration, subtitles, graphics, and branding
• Produce full documentary and short videos for reporting and advocacy.

Deliverables/Commodity list with specifications:

• Inception report and production plan
• Draft documentary
• Final documentary 10–20 minutes
• Short clips minimum 3
• Raw footage archive.

MEL and Donor Visibility Integration:

• Align with TRACElog frameand indicators
• Highlight measurable outcomes and impact
• Ensure USDA visibility requirements are met
• Document lessons learned and best practices.

The Media Consultant is expected to possess the following qualifications and competencies
Educational Background:

• Bachelor’s Degree minimum in Communications, Journalism, Media Studies, Public Relations, Marketing, or a related field.
• A Master’s Degree is an added advantage.

Professional Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in media production, communications, public relations, or digital storytelling.
• Demonstrated experience developing multimedia content e.g., videos, photography, documentaries, social media campaigns, and written stories for development programs, NGOs, or donor-funded projects.
• Proven experience covering agriculture, rural development, or livelihoods-related projects is highly desirable.
• Experience working with international organizations or donor-funded projects e.g., USDA, EU, USAID is an advantage.

Technical Competencies:

• Strong skills in photography, videography, and video editing e.g., Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, or similar tools.
• Ability to develop compelling human-interest stories, case studies, and visual documentation that highlight project impact.
• Proficiency in social media content creation, digital communication strategies, and branding.
• Strong writing and editing skills for reports, press releases, blogs, and communication materials.

Core Competencies:

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders, including farmers, government officials, and project teams.
• Strong storytelling ability, with a creative approach to capturing and presenting project results.
• High attention to detail, professionalism, and ability to meet tight deadlines.
• Ability to work independently and deliver high-quality outputs with minimal supervision.

Desirable Competencies:

• Experience working in rural or field-based environments.
• Familiarity with cocoa value chains, traceability, or sustainable agriculture initiatives.
• Knowledge of branding and donor visibility requirements.
• Basic graphic design skills e.g., Canva, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator are an added advantage.