Terms of Reference Consultancy to Produce a video documentary on Natural Resource Governance and Inequalities in Ghana

Terms of Reference Consultancy to Produce a video documentary on Natural Resource Governance and Inequalities in Ghana

  1. Background:

Founded in 1987 when most non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Ghana were predominantly foreign, ISODEC is one of the oldest indigenous NGOs in the country. It seeks to address development inequalities and their impact on marginalized populations. ISODEC envisions a world where Every Life Matters equally irrespective of race, ethnicity, age, gender or physical ability. This vision is rooted in the universal principles of equality, equity and human rights. To achieve it, ISODEC’s mission is to “work in solidarity with all who strive for a socially just and environmentally sustainable world”. Social justice portends the promotion of human rights, including social, economic and environmental rights, and the accountability of duty holders.

ISODEC has worked on natural resource governance since the early 1990s focusing then on supporting communities affected by mining and the privatization of state owned-mines having created CEPIL to provide legal and para-legal support to communities. Indeed, it was ISODEC that hosted the first major CSO conference on oil and gas which led to the formation of the likes of the African Centre for Energy Policies (ACEP), yielding transformational change in policies. For a long time, it hosted the Civil Society Coalition on Oil and Gas. Through these initiatives ISODEC became the only CSO representative on the National Steering Committee of the Ghana Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI). 

To broaden CSO participation in the EITI process, in 2004 it convened a roundtable to adopt a framework for CSO engagement in the EITI process. This initiative evolved into Publish What You Pay (PWYP) – Ghana. ISODEC has since been on the Multi-Stakeholder National Steering Committee on EITI and serves as the Chair. It has also hosted PWYP Ghana ‘s secretariat since inception, providing coordination support, convening meetings and getting members to articulate their collective views on natural resource governance.

Ghana is endowed with a wealth of natural resources, including minerals, oil and gas, forests, and fertile agricultural lands. However, management and distribution of the benefits from these resources have long been a source of concern, with significant disparities and inequalities in how the different segments of the population access and benefit from these resources.

In recent years, there has been growing recognition of the need to address these challenges and to promote a more equitable and sustainable natural resource governance in Ghana. This has led to increased advocacy and policy dialogue on issues such as land rights, revenue transparency, and community participation in decision-making processes regarding land governance and its benefits to the citizenry of the country. 

The successful convening of the high- level West Africa conference on natural resource management and inequalities in 2022 confirms that with the requisite resources (human, institutional and financial), ISODEC is well placed to tap into its repository of knowledge, track record, networks and commitment to continue steering groundbreaking work to advance the social justice and equity agenda- not only in Ghana, but the wider sub-region.

The manifest enthusiasm about the analysis and knowledge around the issues of natural resource management and inequalities by the Conference underscored the relevance and resonance of the intervention’s thematic focus. Conference delegates from the target countries affirmed interest and value of the conversation around the nexus between the management of natural resources and inequalities. The research that underpinned the conference deliberations was deemed illuminating, value-adding and useful for informing policy discourses going forward.

The Conference set the tone to stimulate national conversation and sharpen policy proposals to improve natural resource governance and reduce inequalities.

The national engagements were proposed to be convened in Ghana, Nigeria, Burkina Faso and Sierra Leone, to provide a platform for further peer review, sharpening of the analysis and cultivating national ownership of the emanating policy proposals. Nigeria, Burkina Faso and Sierra Loene have held their national roundtable engagements already.  

To further amplify these discussions and to raise awareness among policymakers and duty bearers, ISODEC is seeking to commission the production of a video documentary that will explore the key issues related to natural resource governance and inequalities in Ghana.

  1. Objectives:

The primary objectives of this consultancy are to:

  1. Produce a high-quality video documentary that highlights the challenges and inequalities in the governance of natural resources in Ghana.
  2. Place a cadre of informed media practitioners placing issues of inequalities and natural resource management in the public sphere
  3. Provide a platform to elevate the voices and perspectives of affected communities, civil society organizations, community-based organizations affected by mining and extractives and other key stakeholders
  4. Inform and influence policymakers and duty bearers to address the identified issues and promote more equitable and inclusive natural resource governance in Ghana.

 

  1. Scope of Work:

The consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:

  1. Conduct research and broad stakeholder consultations to identify the key issues and perspectives related to natural resource governance and inequalities in Ghana
  2. Develop a detailed storyline and production plan for the video documentary
  3. Carry out field work, including interviews, footage collection, and documentation of relevant case studies.
  4. Edit and produce the video documentary, ensuring high production quality and effective storytelling.
  5. Provide transcripts and subtitles for the video in both English and Twi.
  6. Develop dissemination and outreach strategy to ensure the video reaches the intended target audience, including policymakers and duty bearers.
  7. Collect latest data/statistics on the subject matter from relevant Institutions /Organisations to enrich the documentary.
  8. Traditional authorities, youth and other groups affected by mining should be investigated on the utilisation of mineral royalties in their communities.
  9. Consultant should among other, find out the extent to which the Mineral Income Investment Fund (MIIF) has benefitted mining affected communities in Ghana
  10.  

 

  1. Deliverables:

The consultant will be required to deliver the following:

  1. A comprehensive research report and stakeholder mapping
  2. A detailed production plan, including storyline, filming schedules, and resource requirements.
  3. A high-quality video documentary (approximately 20-30 minutes in length) that effectively captures the key issues and perspectives related to natural resource governance and inequalities in Ghana.
  4. Transcript and subtitles for the video in English and Twi.
  5. A dissemination and outreach strategy, including a plan for engaging with policy makers/political party leadership and other duty bearers.
  6. Timelines:

The consultancy is expected to be completed within a period of 60 days, with the final submission not later than October 30th, 2024.

  1. Qualification and Experience:

The consultant should have the following qualification and experience

  1. Demonstrated expertise in documentary filmmaking, with a portfolio of relevant work.
  2. Extensive knowledge and understanding of natural resource governance and development issues in Ghana.
  3. Strong research and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to gather and synthesize diverse perspectives.
  4. Excellent storytelling and video production skills, including experience in editing, cinematography, and post production.
  5. Familiarity with the policy makers landscape and key stakeholders in the natural resource governance sector in Ghana.
  6. Fluency in English and familiarity with Twi.

 

  1. Application process:

Interested candidates should submit the following: 

  1. A technical proposal outlining the consultant’s understanding of the assignment, proposed methodology, and a detailed workplan
  2. A financial proposal detailing the consultant’s daily rate in Ghana cedis and total cost of the assignment
  3. A portfolio of relevant past work and references
  4. CVs of the consultant(s) who will be involved in the assignment

All applications and attachments should be sent to [email protected] and copy [email protected]  and [email protected] by the close of the deadline. 

 

The deadline for submission of applications is 15th. August 2024.