Video Project Tender Document Published: 19 Jan 2010 Issued by: The STEPS Centre, Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, Brighton, BN1 9RE Deadline: Tender documents must be returned no later than 19 Feb 2010 Any questions relating to this Tender should be made to Julia Day, STEPS Centre Communications Manager, via email to [email protected] or by phone to 01273 915671 or 07974 209148

STEPS Centre ‘Pathways to Sustainability’ Video Project Proposals are sought from film/video production companies to conceptualise, produce and distribute a short film which translates our key research messages into an exciting and informative product that will have a range of uses, both internally and for various target audiences, as described below.

Profile of firm: You will understand development challenges in an era of rapid change and share our vision that more sustainable and equitable solutions are required. You have a proven track record in creating imaginative, innovative yet hard-hitting programming and have experience in the use of traditional and new media.

1.Background and context How do we deal with the spread of HIV/Aids or avian ‘flu? Who benefits from genetically-modified crops? Is there is enough water for people to survive the 21st century? How can people cope with the challenges of rapid urbanisation in Asia? How can African farmers respond to climate change? Today's world is experiencing rapid social, technological and environmental change. But poverty and inequality are growing. Environmental sustainability, science and technology need to combine in new ways to ensure better livelihoods, health and social justice for poor people. Opportunities to address these 21st century challenges exist right now: International policy interest and investment in science, technology, environment and development are higher than ever. Yet the tasks ahead are complex. The STEPS (Social, Technological and Environmental Pathways to Sustainability) Centre is an interdisciplinary global research and policy engagement hub, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council. We work with partners around the world to develop a new approach to understanding, action and communication on sustainability and development. Our ‘pathways’ approach aims to understand the complex interactions between social, technological and environmental systems, and what these mean for different groups of people. Dominant development solutions often do not work in the real world because they fail to respond to the perspectives and priorities of the poor and marginalised. Too often, approaches reflect the views and goals of the powerful. Our work aims to show that alternative narratives, or storylines about problems and solutions exist and that alternative pathways can be identified and built. By acknowledging the interactions between social, technological and environmental factors in diverse local settings we aim to help create more sustainable, socially just and favourable conditions for people who are struggling to escape poverty and marginalistaion. We are three and half years into our first five years of funding. We now need to influence a wide range of audiences who take decisions about the development pathways that are pursued. We aim to use character-led stories in film to make these complex notions understandable and attractive options for action. We need our complex messages to be accessible and to stand out in the crowded development arena and believe film can present key messages in a succinct and interesting way while offering a long shelf-life. We also hope the video project will bring a new dimension to our work and serve as a legacy of the Centre’s substantial body of work over its first five years.

2.Purpose The purpose of this contract is to engage a film production firm that is capable of delivering consistent, high quality material to this end. The films will be produced in English, but subtitled translation will be required in two languages (Kamba for Kenya and Hindi for India) and local language quotes will need to be subtitled in English..

The films will serve as an innovative influencing tool in our bid to have alternative development pathways taken into account by intermediary decision-makers (see section 4: audiences), with the films woven into talks at meetings and international fora where STEPS members and partners are speaking and via availability on STEPS and partner websites. The films will also be used for teaching and training purposes.

3. Budget The video project has a total budget of £40,000, which will be payable in two equal instalments of £20,000– one payable on signing of the contract before the end of Financial Year 2009-1010 (March 31 2010) and one payable on completion of the work.

4.Objectives Produce two short films and two trailers (or viral video) that promote the STEPS pathways approach to environment, technology and development in an exciting and accessible way, via the use of character-led stories from Delhi, India and rural Kenya. Identify and secure potential distribution channels via TV and the internet Demonstrate the benefits that identifying and supporting alternative development pathways can have to poor and marginalised people and to those who fund and carry out development activities Present complex ideas and research in an accessible, exciting and intriguing manner After watching the videos the viewer will: (i)

Understand that there are viable alternatives to dominant development narratives

(ii) Understand that sustainable development actions must take into account the realities of the lives of people they are trying to help, or failure will result (iii) Be moved to find out more about the STEPS Centre’s work

5.Deliverables Production of 2x17 min films- plus 2x3-5minute trailers for online use delivered in relevant formats (i.e. for broadcast and streaming /download online) and as DVDs. (We are open to modifications of these film lengths according to experience and budget). Implementation of distribution plans – potentially TV and online distribution/marketing.

6. Stories and locations 5a. Locations We envisage using two of our research locations to source strong character-led stories that would help explain the ‘pathways’ issues in an accessible and interesting way. In these locations we work with partner organisations based in-country. a) Maize farmers in Kenya: Maize is an important staple crop in Kenya, socially, politically and economically. Our project takes maize as a window through which to explore different farmers’ responses to climate change, market uncertainties and land use changes over time. The research explores how the interventions of various institutions address issues of sustainability - whether through crop improvement, seed or input supply, produce marketing support or other initiatives - in the face of these challenges. At issue is the way in which actors understand and frame resilience - for example as a property of seeds, farming systems or broader livelihoods 2

and how these framing assumptions shape agendas and steer solutions, programme designs and resources in certain directions, or pathways, and not others. The combined effects of climate, market and demographic changes and uncertainties vary between and within different agro-ecological zones of Kenya, in diverse and socially differentiated ways. This research explores pathways followed or envisaged by farmers (wealthy and poor, male and female), individually or as groups, in local crop, soil and water adaptations, for example; the value of farmers’ own knowledge and innovations, and the extent to which their strategies are, or might be integrated into national and international policy, research and development initiatives. In doing so, the research seeks to highlight the multiple systems of innovation that coexist, overlap and sometimes conflict; how some systems come to ‘count’ more than others; and opportunities for opening these processes for wider debate. Find out more about our Kenya project: http://www.steps-centre.org/ourresearch/crops,%20kenya.html b) Peri-urban dwellers Delhi: The expanding fringes of Delhi are indicative of the conditions that a growing proportion of the world's poor and marginalised citizens will inhabit in decades to come. This project uses water conflicts as a lens through which to explore the technological and environmental sustainability challenges in peri-urban areas. Today’s landfills become tomorrow’s housing estates for urban migrants, people are turning their backs on a dying, polluted river, and conflicts over land, water and tenure are rife as siting of polluting industries, waste disposal, and construction compete with small-scale agriculture and common lands.. There are contradictory or absent regulatory frameworks and technology arrangements, and poor health, water and sanitation service provision and haphazard planned and unplanned operations abound. The health and livelihood challenges for an increasing number of disenfranchised, poor and marginalised peri-urban dwellers are numerous and complex. With no clear jurisdiction powerful actors have benefited from the lack of regulation, while the very marginalised lose access and rights to basic services and find their livelihoods declared ‘illegal’. Our research is tracking how poor women and men are coping in these circumstances. The current development challenge is to find approaches to address these conflicts, strike a balance between ameliorating poverty, protecting the environment, and drawing synergy from urban and rural relationships. Our research is tracking diverse pathways and assessing which can address the needs and interests of marginalized and disenfranchised groups in ways that enhance sustainability. Find out more about our peri-urban project: http://www.stepscentre.org/ourresearch/urbanisation,%20asia.html

We also have strong stories from other projects – such as on Epidemics and health – particularly avian flu in Indonesia and antibiotic regulation in China and Argentina. But we are mindful of budgetary constraints on the number of locations and films possible. 5b. STEPS staff involvement We envisage that a STEPS researcher or partner in each location will be dedicate approx. 3 weeks to help the production company with creating the storyline and filming. This will enable the production company to be linked up with our local partners who know the areas and people and can help facilitate filming. Additional meetings with STEPS project convenors and directors before and after filming can take place as appropriate to help refine the overall message of each film and ensure its resonance with the STEPS Centre’s broader pathways approach. 5c. Existing material We have a wealth of existing printed and multi-media material about the STEPS Centre and our projects on the website: www.steps-centre.org . Our video, audio, photos, blog, Twitterfeed etc can be accessed via site. If you would like some specific information that you can’t readily find on the website, please get in touch. 5d. Sensitivity We are concerned that the issues and lives shown are accurately reflected, particularly given the sensitive nature of the situations in which we work. We would seek assurances of previous experience of sensitive handling of development subject matter.

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7.Responsibilities The work shall be conducted under the guidance of STEPS Communications Manager Julia Day and the STEPS directors (Melissa Leach, Ian Scoones and Andy Stirling). During the process, Julia Day will be the STEPS Centre point of contact.

8.Audiences The films will have a wide range of audience who are intermediaries and advisors in the policy and decision-making process. So – we are not targeting the general public or the G8 or ministries directly. We aim to change the thinking of intermediaries such as NGOs that want evidence, donors and foundations who are trying to take these debates forward, and mid-level policy-makers in government. The films will also be used for teaching purposes, to influence a new generation of thinkers and activists who are currently students. Science, technology and development policy-makers We would like decision-makers to recognise and respond to alternative pathways to fulfilling development goals, pathways that are pro-poor, sustainable and adaptable in this era of rapid change. We would also like them to be interested enough to consider us as an authoritative Centre and take an interest in our wider body of work and policy recommendations. Potential viewers in this category include ministerial and departmental advisors that attend conferences/events where the film might be shown. NGOs and civil society organisations NGOs and civil society organisations are looking for evidence to back innovative and alternative pathways to fulfilling development goals. Our research could help these organisations deliver their own programmes more effectively, and the videos might help them both understand our work and explain theirs. Teachers and trainers We would like our own institutions and others around the world to consider using the video/s as part of the training package of a new generation of social and natural scientists, to engender discussions about alternative pathways to sustainability for the developing world. Local-level partners and practitioners We would like our partners and local practitioners to be able to use films that are relevant to their country settings/issue in ways that would be useful to them – to influence local councillors at meetings, for instance. The YouTube/online world We would like the online community interested in development issues to be inspired to think about development issues differently and maybe to find out more about our work. We would like to be able to link effectively to and share our videos to online communities of interest. We have active website, blog, YouTube and blip.tv channels that we would like to link to.

9.Specific requirements of tender STEPS is seeking proposals that includes the concept, operational plan and budget to achieve the above mentioned objectives and deliverables. The proposal should include: (i) A creative brief giving a clear explanation of how you would create and distribute films that would meet the project objectives (ii) An explanation of the production process (iii) A break-down of the budget in £sterling (staff, supplies, travel, other etc) (iv) Expertise and previous development experience of company and key staff members (v) Tentative schedule of activities and timeline for key actions

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10. Image 9a. STEPS Identity STEPS is a new breed of research centre and policy engagement hub that aims to produce the highest quality academic work at the same time as providing a wide range of non-academic audiences with accessible information on key development issues, often in innovative formats. We strive to produce exciting and multimedia products that have a fresh, modern image to complement our new approach to effective thinking, action and communication. These films should reflect that image. Keywords: modern, incisive, rigorous, fresh, effective, creative, innovative, challenging

11.Tender process Proposals must be submitted by email to Julia Day, STEPS Centre Communications Manager at [email protected] no later than 19 February 2010. Shortlisted applicants may be asked to pitch to Julia Day and the STEPS directors. The successful company will be appointed on or before 5 March 2010. Any questions relating to this Tender should be made to Julia Day via email to [email protected] or by phone to 01273 915671 or 07974 209148

12.Timeline We would aim to take delivery of the finished films by the end of August 2010. A detailed timeline would be worked out with the successful company and would be subject to the availability of in-country partners for filming. Phases might include: Phase 1: Creation of concepts and scripting or storyboarding, as necessary Phase 2: Identifying locations/characters, arranging film crews and in-country partners Phase 3:Filming Phase 4: Post-production and distribution

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