Location: Kenya (filming in Kiambu, Nairobi, and Narok Counties)
Duration: August – October 2025
Reporting to: Communications Consultant, AWDF Project – COVAW
Application Deadline: 29th August 2025
About Coalition on Violence Against Women (COVAW)
Coalition on Violence Against Women (COVAW) is a national non-profit organization committed to implementing and influencing sustained interventions that eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls.
Founded in 1995, COVAW envisions a society where women and girls enjoy equal rights, freedoms, and thrive in safe and inclusive spaces. Our work is anchored on five strategic pillars: Access to Justice, Access to Comprehensive GBV and SRHR Services, Women’s Economic Empowerment, Women’s Leadership Development, and Institutional Development.
COVAW’s interventions deliberately confront harmful norms, attitudes, laws, policies, and practices that perpetuate inequality and expose women to violence. We employ community-led, inclusive, and survivor-centred approaches that are adaptive and rooted in continuous learning.
Our work is guided by the core values of respect, integrity, solidarity, and an unwavering commitment to improving the lives of women and girls, who remain at the heart of everything we do.
We employ community-led, inclusive, and survivor-centred approaches that confront harmful norms, attitudes, laws, policies, and practices.
Get to know more about us here
Project Background
With support from the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF), COVAW is implementing the project Enhancing Access to Justice for Sexual and Gender Based Violence Victims with Intellectual Disabilities in Kiambu, Nairobi, and Narok Counties.
Project Objectives:
- Enhance public knowledge and awareness on the rights of persons with intellectual disabilities in relation to SGBV.
- Provide court representation and psychosocial care to survivors.
- Advocate for inclusive legal and policy frameworks using evidence from legal clinics and court processes.
- Strengthen the capacity of criminal justice actors to respond appropriately to SGBV cases involving intellectually challenged women and girls
Purpose of the Documentary
COVAW seeks to produce a cinematic, high-quality advocacy documentary that will:
- Amplify the voices and lived experiences of intellectually challenged women and girls.
- Showcase COVAW’s impact in advancing access to justice, psychosocial support, and advocacy for legal reform.
- Influence policy and public perception around rights and protection of persons with intellectual disabilities.
- Serve as a lasting visibility tool for donors, partners, communities, and policymakers — with versions tailored for local TV, cinema screenings, and online platforms.
Scope of Work
The selected production team will:
- Concept Development: Refine the agreed storyline and visual style (documentary format with strong storytelling elements)
- Pre-production:
- Review project materials and context
- Conduct prelimiary interviews and scouting
- Finalize story arc, interviewee list, and filming schedule.
- Production:
- Film in Kiambu, Nairobi, and Narok Counties.
- Capture high-quality interviews, b-roll, and advocacy activities with survivors, advocates, policy makers, community members, and COVAW staff.
- Ensure ethical, survivor-centred filming practices for SGBV cases.
- Post-production:
- a 30–40 minute documentary suitable for TV, cinema, and online viewing, and a 3–5 minute high-impact cut for social media.
- Include translations/subtitles (English, Kiswahili, and local languages relevant to target counties).
- Provide branded, accessible versions in line with AWDF and COVAW guidelines.
- Distribution Support:
- Develop a basic distribution plan to reach target audiences (TV stations, online streaming, community screenings).
- Provide a media-ready press kit with stills, synopsis, and trailer.
Deliverables
- One 30-40-minute cinematic documentary suitable for TV broadcast, local cinema screenings, and online release.
- One 3–5 minute condensed version for advocacy presentations, donor engagement, and social media.
- Translated/subtitled versions in English, Kiswahili, and relevant local languages.
- All raw footage in high-resolution format.
- Media kit with stills, synopsis, and trailer.
Timeline
- Contract Award: Early September 2025
- Pre-production: September 2025 (week 1–2)
- Filming: September 2025 (week 3–4)
- Editing: October 2025
- Final Delivery: By 31st October 2025
Qualifications
- Minimum 8 years’ proven experience in professional documentary production, with at least 3 high-quality productions in the last 5 years.
- Proven understanding of ethical considerations in filming survivors of violence.
- Strong portfolio in advocacy-driven documentaries with cinematic quality.
- Capacity to support distribution and outreach within Kenya, including linkages with local broadcasters and cinema networks.
- Ability to work within tight timelines and deliver multiple versions for different platforms.
- Experience in producing SGBV-related content and working with vulnerable communities is an added advantage.
Application Process
Interested production teams should submit:
- Company profile / CVs of key personnel.
- Links to at least 3 relevant past productions (including SGBV or advocacy-based work).
- Technical proposal outlining approach, methodology, and work plan.
- Distribution experience and networks within SGBV advocacy spaces.
- Detailed budget.
Applications should be sent to: recruit@covaw.or.ke with the subject line “Cinematic Documentary Production – AWDF Project” by 29th August 2025.
Ethical Considerations
The consultant must adhere to COVAW’s values and policies, including confidentiality, safeguarding, and prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (PSEAH).
Note: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.