date: 30 Sep 2016
Purpose: Produce child-friendly songs: educational
songs for children under 6 years of age
Location: Kigali,
Rwanda
Duration: 3 months
Start Date: October 2016
Radio is the most popular media
in Rwanda,
reaching many people from all socio-economic categories. According to the
recent Rwanda Demographic Health Survey 2014-15, 62% of the population listen
to radio at least once a week. Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA), with UNICEF’s
support, launched an education programme for children called Itetero to support children’s
cognitive, social, and emotional development. Itetero’s primary target audience
is young children below 6 years of age and their parents. It teaches children
about hygiene, nutrition, health, good manners, and cultural values in a
child-friendly manner through dramas, songs, and games.
An audience assessment conducted
with young children revealed that the music segment, along with the animal
drama, is the most popular segment of the programme. These young children were
responsive to music and able to learn new words from the lyrics. In order to
make the programme more entertaining, the production team has been searching
for appropriate songs in Kinyarwanda. There are very few songs, however, which
are composed especially for young children and recorded for broadcasting. It is
necessary for the programme and for the preservation of cultural assets in Rwanda to
create an archive of songs to educate children in a playful manner on a variety
of topics. It is because of this need that UNICEF is seeking a qualified
institution (e.g. music production company, art company, etc.) to record
existing songs and compose children’s songs for Itetero Radio programme. UNICEF received an
official request from RBA to support this process.
Justification
The skill set required to create
effective lyrics and songs to stimulate and educate children is not found
within the UNICEF office. The vendor will help bring in the artistic talent and
the knowledge of local music and artists to create and sing the songs while
UNICEF and RBA will supervise to ensure the quality and appropriateness of the
lyrics and melody.
Specific Tasks
The selected company will perform
the following tasks:
- Identify available children’s songs in the local
language (e.g. names of the month, names of the week, etc.) and select the
best to be reproduced in consultation with UNICEF and RBA. The copyright
related information for each song needs to be presented, including the
necessary cost to obtain permission for reproduction and use. Upon
approval of the songs, record at least 12 such songs in a studio. - Engage at least four local musicians (two females and
two males) to develop short and playful children’s songs in Kinyarwanda
with a variety of themes specified by UNICEF and RBA (e.g. numbers, sounds
of animals, appreciating nature, Rwandan culture etc). Each piece should
be between 30-90 seconds. Upon approval of the songs, record at least 12
such songs in a studio. - Produce at least five transitional songs/music
introducing the main segments of the Itetero Radio program (Animal drama,
family drama, number of the day, letter of the day, story of the day).
Deliverables
- Detailed work plan
- Draft songs for approval by the production team (RBA,
UNICEF, MIGEPROF and Imbuto Foundation) for review - Adapt at least 12 songs for children based on the
existing songs - Produce at least 12 new songs
- Produce at least 5 new songs/transitional music
introducing Itetero’s five segments - Submit all the songs recorded in high quality and ready
for broadcast
Reporting
The company will work under the
supervision of the UNICEF Communication for Development specialist and in
consultation with the head of Radio Rwanda.
Expected background and Experience
A
company with at least three years of relevant professional work experience in
Communication for Development, music and art, and/or management experience
working with local artists to produce high quality songs.
Fluency
in Kinyarwanda and working knowledge of English.
The
company must be legally registered with the relevant authority.
Experience
in working with children and knowledge of early childhood development
Work
experience with a UN agency and/or government would be an asset.
Proposed Payment Schedule
30%
payment upon submission of approved work plan.
30%
payment upon production of at least 12 songs based on the existing songs
40%
payment upon production of at least 12 new songs and 5 new songs/transitional
music introducing Itetero’s five segments
How to apply
Interested institutions should
submit:
- A clear timeline for the deliverables set out above;
- A clear presentation of budget breakdown;
- A sample music for children produced by the company;
- A proposed list of local musicians to be engaged in the
production of children songs.
The proposals will be assessed as
follows:
Fluency
in Kinyarwanda and working knowledge of English (must have)
At
least three years of relevant professional work experience in Communication for
Development, music and art, and/or management experience working with local
artists to produce songs (15 points)
Experience
in working with young children (5 points)
Knowledge
of early childhood development as demonstrated in the proposal (10 points)
Quality
of sample song(s) for children submitted (15 points)
Work
experience with a UN agency and/or government (10 points)
Clear
timeline and deliverables in the proposal (5 points)
Financial
proposal (40 points)
Please submit your proposal to rwasupply@unicef.org,
not later than 30th September, 2016 at 5:00pm Kigali Time.
