Consultant for Documentary

1. Background

The Bridging the Gaps (BtG) project is a six-year initiative (September 2020 – June 2026) implemented across three states in Nigeria Imo, Lagos, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The project is led by Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative (MANI) and aims to strengthen mental health support for children and young people in Nigeria. It focuses on improving youth mental health through the establishment of Student Advocacy Networks (STAN), and the use of digital platforms to expand access to mental health information and support.

This project is funded by Comic Relief through CBM Global and implemented by MANI, working collaboratively to enhance community-based mental health initiatives and promote sustainable, inclusive mental health systems.

The project has four result areas which are:

• Strengthened organisational capacity of MANI, including core systems, structures, and personnel.
• Improved mental health literacy across four universities, driven by Student Mental Health Advocacy Network (STAN) members serving as mental health champions.
• Reduced stigma surrounding mental health among students and their support networks in the three project states.
• Young people nationwide have improved access to quality mental health services

2. Overall aim

The purpose of the stories collection exercise is to gather photographs and videos from project participants and stakeholders documenting major outcomes for use by the BtG partners (4 institutions in FCT, Lagos and Imo States (University of Abuja, University of Lagos, Federal University of Technology Owerri, Yaba College of Technology Lagos), Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs)- Ministry of Education (Lagos District IV, SEB, SUBEB), Ministry of Health, LagosMind and CBM UK).

Specific objectives in line with the overall aim are:

• To document thematic success stories across the mental health project, highlighting the tangible impact on the lives of persons with Psychosocial disabilities to serve as a benchmark for youth mental health programming
• To synthesize implementation insights and emerging evidence into a validated proof of concept, facilitating strategic engagement for the replication and large-scale adoption of the project model by national partners
• To produce a multi-audience video that translates project evidence into compelling narratives, strengthening engagement with policy makers, research institutions, and donors to drive institutional support for disability inclusion.

3. Target

The goal is to capture photographs and videos telling human angle stories and appeal to the humane side of different targets the video is meant for while advocating and showing the successes and challenges encountered.

This approach will provide real data, and case studies, and will highlight recommendations to the different targets that videos are meant for. In this way, the video can be used for varied purposes to engage funders, implementers and stakeholders involved in mental health programming.

The video is meant for but not limited to the targets listed below:

CBM Global, Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative, and other Implementers (the tertiary institutions engaged on the project): for learning and improvement in the ways of working and programming around youth and mental health

Comic Relief and Funding Agencies: donor agencies and funders of mental health and psychosocial disabilities program to see proof of concept for possible scale-up and improvement to grant-making

Stakeholders: to pick learning and make informed decisions in development of frameworks and programs around the persons with mental health conditions.

Public Awareness: to engage with public on the need for social attitudinal change towards persons with mental health conditions and psychosocial disabilities and to rally support.

4. Specific requirements

i. What Type of Video/Photograph

The video will be seamlessly edited to create a cohesive narrative that highlights the key components of the project, and the perspectives of various individuals involved.

The video documentary will involve conducting interview segments with all major parties involved in the project: Student Advocacy Network (STAN) members, MANI Community Advocacy Network (MANICAN), other project participants from the targeted education institutions (University of Lagos, Yaba College of Technology, Federal University of Technology (FUTO), University of Abuja, Secondary and Primary schools that were engaged in the project), Government stakeholders (Focal State Ministries of Health, Focal State Education authorities), MANI and CBM Global programme officers.

The aim is to provide a comprehensive overview of the project, with a strong focus on the project objectives, successes achieved, challenges prior to the intervention, what was delivered to address these challenges, and the resulting changes (impact). It will also highlight lessons learned, recommendations for future interventions, and how the intervention has strengthened the organisational capacity of MANI.

The documentary will be 6 to 8 minutes long, ensuring it is concise yet informative.

ii. Interview Questions and Objectives:

The questions asked during the interviews will be designed to gather insight into several key aspects of the grant-making process:

1. Objective of the project: Understanding the overarching goals and objectives of the project alongside the different components
2. Intervention model: Which aspects of the intervention model were most effective in addressing mental health stigma and improving access to services and support for young people in the university setting?
3. Success recorded: Highlighting the achievements and positive outcomes of the projects.
4. Recommendations: Gathering suggestions and recommendations from research and learning for improving future intervention and upscaling
5. Strengthened the organisational capacity of MANI: Highlight how MANI’s organisational capacity was enhanced to deliver this project. This should highlight the approaches and benefit of sustainably empowering youth-focused organizations in leading causes to tackle social problems that impact the mental health and wellbeing of young people.

The interview segment will be backed with captured b-rolls to ensure the final product is engaging.

iii. Types of photos/Videos required for B-Rolls:

Photographs/Videos need to be engaging and candid with participants involved in action activities such as smiling to camera and positive interaction

• Please show project participants doing tangible things: Providing mental health talk in schools, MANI talk, Conversation café, radio shows, talking with MANI/Partner staff etc.
• Please show MANI staff/partner doing tangible things: talking with project participants.
• All photographs need to clearly be in a Nigeria context, so it is obvious that it is taken in Nigeria, or at BtG intervention.
• Where possible and relevant, please ensure video include young people who experienced mental health challenges share their experiences Ensure to include partner staff with project participants – listening, smiling, laughing, engaging, and sitting together.

iv. Types of photos/ videos required for interview segment.

Photographs/Videos needs to be engaging and candid with participants smiling to camera and displaying positive interaction during interview segment. Positive interaction includes but not limited to:

• Project participants at school/communities (STAN/MANICAN)- smiling to camera – facilitating MANI talks, Conversation café, curb walk etc at the Universities.
• Groups/community – smiling to camera, positive interaction, clearly showing improvement at home/livelihood and context.
• Executive Director of MANI speaking about the project’s expectations, impact.
• Government staff at the state/local level speaking about the project, and how they intend to sustain the gains in concrete terms.
• Staff of two of any of the targeted tertiary institutions speaking about the project, and how they intend to sustain the gains in concrete terms.

All project participants will be identified by MANI in advance. Consent forms will be required for all stories and photographs. For groups, this can be a recording of oral consent. MANI will supply forms and work with the consultant to ensure these are collected. The team will include MANI team, CBM Global Country Team (where possible) and specific partner staff (names to be confirmed)

v. Video Cut from Original Interviews:

In addition to the main documentary, shorter video cuts will be created from the original video.

This cut will have a length of 30 seconds to 1 minute, focusing on giving a concise overview of the original video.

This shorter video will provide avenue for more targeted dissemination or use in various digital communication channels, also for social media use.

5. Final Product and Deliverable

• The consultant will be expected to produce a script for the video documentary. The script will be reviewed and approved by MANI and CBM Global before launching out for the stories collection.
• The consultant will be expected to produce a three final cut version focused on the project experience in the South-West, South-East and North-Central.
• The video interviews should be shot with b-rolls as well as the raw clip version.
• One video documentary focused on the project implementation in FCT, Imo, and Lagos 6-8 minutes in length.
• Two final cut versions of short video 30 second – 1 minute in length produced from original documentary.

6. What Timeline Are We Looking At:

Within twenty working days.

7. Copyright:

Any data collected related to this assignment, including the draft documentary, will be full property and copyright of CBM Global and MANI, and must not be published or distributed to a third party without explicit permission.

8. Compliance with CBM Global Policies

The consultant will be expected to adhere to CBM Global’s policies and standards throughout the assignment. This includes signing and complying with:

• CBM Global Code of Conduct
• CBM Global Safeguarding Policy
• CBM Global Conflict of Interest Policy

These documents will be provided at the time of contracting.

9. Payment schedule:

The consultant will be paid upon presentation of invoices after each milestone under this consultancy has been completed. At the point of contracting, CBM Global will provide the Consultancy Invoice Information form, which gives the requirements for the formal content of such invoices. CBM Global will only settle invoices in the agreed currency (NGN).

The schedule of payment for this consultancy includes:

• Upon Signing Contract, submission of inception report and submission of script: First tranche – 50%.
• Submission of the initial production of the documentary: Second tranche – 25%
• Submission and acceptance of final documentary, consent forms, and all related video clips: Third tranche - 25%

How to apply

How to apply

Qualified and interested consultants should submit via email: EOI.Apply@cbm-global.org

• A cover letter expressing their interest in undertaking the assignment.
• Curriculum Vitae for individual consultants or a corporate profile for consulting firms.
• A summary demonstrating their understanding of the Terms of Reference (ToR).
• Three samples of previous documentary projects produced for Government institutions, INGOs, NGOs, or related organisations.
• A detailed documentary work plan, including the proposed timeframe and milestones for completing the assignment.
• A financial proposal, including a detailed budget for the assignment. This should outline daily rates for the documentary team, including professional fees and per-diems.
• A copy of a valid Tax Clearance Certificate covering the most recent tax year.

Please note: CBM Global will negotiate the final fees with the selected consultant in line with the available budget and the experience of the chosen candidate.

Apply on or before 1st May 2026.