Gidabo Policy Advocacy Center

Call for Proposal

Documentary Film Production Services Seeds of Tomorrow: Ethiopla

Location: Ethiopia (multi-regional)

Training Duration: One Year

Deadline: 3 days after the issuance of this bid

Submission Email: gidabopolicypayments@gmail.com

About the Project

Seeds of Tomorrow: Ethiopia is a feature-length documentary (60-75 minutes) that will examines critical challenges and scalable solutions in the following thematic areas:

• Maternal, newborn, and child health
• Nutrition and early childhood development
• Girls’ education and access to quality schooling
• Women’s economic empowerment

The film will function as both a storytelling platform and an advocacy tool, designed to strengthen awareness, support policy dialogue, and mobilize Investment in high-impact development solutions.

Call for Proposals

We invite qualified production companies, filmmakers, and media organizations to submit proposals for the production of a feature-length documentary film titled Seeds of Tomorrow: Ethiopia.

The documentary will follow four interconnected, character-driven narratives drawn from diverse but representative Ethiopian communities:

• A rural mother navigating maternal and child healthcare services
• A school-aged girl overcoming barriers to education
• A woman entrepreneur achieving economic stability
• A frontline community health or education worker delivering essential services

An observational documentary approach will be used, prioritizing authenticity, local languages, and community perspectives. Content will be grounded in existing research, program data, and partnerships with local organizations.

The project aligns with key development priorities including strengthening primary and community health systems, advancing scalable and data- informed interventions, and promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment. The film supports knowledge translation by bridging the gap between research, implementation, and public understanding.

Scope of Work

The selected Production Company will be responsible for the full production lifecycle, including but not limited to:

Pre-Production (Estimated 2-3 Months)

• Review of existing research, program data, and relevant literature
• Community engagement and character/story identification
• Development of shooting scripts and story treatments
• Coordination with local partner organizations and community liaisons
• Logistical planning for multi-regional field production
• Securing necessary filming permits and ethical clearances

Field Production (Estimated 4-6 Months) napay

• Observational and interview-based footage capture
• Recording in local languages with simultaneous documentation for subtitling
• Engagement with community members, health workers, educators, and program beneficiaries
• Adherence to ethical standards for filming vulnerable populations

Post-Production (Estimated 3-4 Months)

• Professional editing to produce a 60-75 minute feature cut
• Sound design, color grading, and visual quality assurance
• Translation and subtitling (minimum: English and Amharic)
• Delivery of broadcast-quality master files
• Production of short-form clips (2-5 minutes) for digital campaigns
• Final review and approval process with the Organization

Distribution and Outreach

• Development of a distribution and screening strategy
• Coordination of stakeholder screenings and policy dialogue events
• Delivery of materials formatted for digital and broadcast distribution
• Support for monitoring and evaluation data collection

Proposal Submission

Interested firms should submit:

1. Technical proposal (approach, methodology, and work plan).

2. Financial proposal (detailed cost breakdown in ETB).

3. Company profile and relevant experience.

4. Valid business license and TIN certificate.

Please email all documents to gidabopolicypayments@gmail.com with the subject line:

“Documentary Film Production Services Seeds of Tomorrow: Ethiopia”

Deadline for submission: 3 days after the issuance of this bid.