Freelance Opportunity

Freelance Opportunity: One-Minute TV Spot Production, Translation, and Sign Language Interpretation

Organization: Population Media Center–Ethiopia (PMC-E)
Contract Type: Freelance / Short-Term Assignment
Production Languages: Amharic, Afar, and Somali
Application Deadline: Seven working days from the publication date of this announcement

About PMC-Ethiopia

Population Media Center–Ethiopia (PMC-E) uses storytelling and entertainment-education to inspire positive social and behavioral change. Through radio, television, digital media, and community engagement, PMC-E promotes health, human rights, gender equality, and the empowerment of women and girls.

In partnership with Save the Children and with support from NORAD, PMC-E implements communication and community engagement activities to help end female genital mutilation (FGM) and child marriage in the Afar and Somali regional states.

Assignment Overview

PMC-E invites qualified freelance professionals or production teams to translate, culturally adapt, and produce a compelling one-minute television spot in Amharic, Afar, and Somali, incorporating sign language interpretation and subtitles.

PMC-E will provide the original Amharic script. The selected freelancer or team will refine it for audiovisual production, translate and adapt it into Afar and Somali, and produce three language versions using live-action footage, illustrations, or a suitable combination of both.

The spot will address the project’s agreed messages on preventing FGM and child marriage and promoting women’s empowerment and girls’ rights. Each version must communicate a clear, culturally relevant message and a practical call to action.

Key Responsibilities

• Review the supplied Amharic script and recommend refinements to improve clarity, visual storytelling, and suitability for a one-minute TV spot, subject to PMC-E’s approval.
• Translate and culturally adapt the approved script into Afar and Somali, preserving its meaning, key messages, and intended call to action.
• Develop and submit a storyboard and production plan for PMC-E’s approval before production begins.
• Arrange all necessary production inputs, including performers where required, voice-over artists for illustrated sequences, translators, qualified sign language interpreters appearing on screen, locations, equipment, and illustrations.
• Produce high-quality visuals, voice-overs, sound, and graphics suitable for television broadcast and digital platforms.
• Integrate accurate, clearly visible, and properly synchronized sign language interpretation and readable subtitles into each language version. Agree with PMC-E on an interpretation approach that meets the needs of the intended Deaf audiences.
• Incorporate approved PMC-E, Save the Children, and donor branding, acknowledgments, and closing messages.
• Coordinate closely with PMC-E’s communications and project teams, incorporate consolidated feedback, and obtain approval of all final versions before delivery.
• Apply safeguarding, informed consent, and ethical storytelling standards throughout production, with particular attention to protecting children and sensitive personal information.
• Secure all necessary permissions, licenses, and usage rights for footage, music, illustrations, performances, and other production materials.

Expected Deliverables

1. A production plan, storyboard, and proposed delivery schedule.
2. Reviewed Amharic production text and approved Afar and Somali translations.
3. Draft versions of the spot in all three languages for review.
4. Three final TV spots, one in Amharic, one in Afar, and one in Somali, each with a total runtime of 60 seconds, including branding and closing messages.
5. Sign language interpretation, subtitles, and a clear call to action in each final version.
6. Broadcast-ready Full HD files, digital copies, and editable project files with associated assets, in formats agreed with PMC-E.

The production schedule, review stages, and number of revision rounds will be agreed upon before the assignment begins.

Required Qualifications and Experience

Applicants should demonstrate:

• Proven experience producing short television spots, public service announcements, or social and behavioral change videos.
• Strong skills in audiovisual storytelling, filming, editing, sound production, and graphics or illustration.
• Demonstrated capacity to deliver accurate Amharic, Afar, and Somali versions through qualified translators, language reviewers, and voice-over artists.
• Access to qualified sign language interpreters and experience integrating interpretation into video content.
• Proficiency in relevant production tools, such as Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, Photoshop, Illustrator, or equivalent software.
• Ability to manage the complete production process and deliver within an agreed schedule.

Experience addressing FGM, child marriage, gender equality, GBV, or girls’ rights is an advantage. Applicants may propose a team with complementary skills.

Application Requirements

Interested applicants should submit:

• An application letter explaining their suitability for the assignment.
• An updated CV and, where applicable, brief profiles of key team members.
• Copies of relevant qualifications or credentials.
• Links to three previous TV spots or comparable short video productions, indicating their role in each.
• A brief technical proposal describing the production approach, translation and language review process, sign language interpretation arrangements, and proposed timeline.
• An itemized financial proposal in Ethiopian birr covering translation, cultural adaptation, sign language interpretation, voice-over, filming or illustration, editing, subtitles, revisions, and final delivery. Applicants should indicate any applicable taxes.

Original scriptwriting is excluded from the financial proposal because PMC-E will provide the Amharic script.

How to Apply

Send applications to rahelbernardo@populationmedia.org and copy ashenafia@populationmedia.org.

Email subject: Application – Freelance One-Minute TV Spot Production in Amharic, Afar, and Somali

Deadline: Within seven working days of this announcement’s publication.

Qualified female applicants are strongly encouraged to apply.