Qarib: Production of media content for the local elections in Palestine

Invitation to tender: Production of media content for the local elections in Palestine

Background

The Palestinian authorities have divided the local elections into two phases according to a 2021 decision of the Palestinian Authority Council of Ministers. The first phase was held in December 2021 while the second phase will be held on 26 March 2022 and include the remaining 66 local authorities in Gaza larger municipalities in the West Bank.

Local elections in Palestine provide an opportunity to strengthen democratic processes and citizen participation in light of the cancellation of parliamentary and presidential elections in May 2021 and the Palestinian authorities' decision to dissolve existing local councils in July 2021 due to the expiry of their mandates. The last municipal elections in 2017 were also held only in the West Bank, as they were boycotted by Hamas.

In this context CFI is looking for service providers to produce media maintaining a high level of professionalism, accuracy, and impartiality. This media coverage shall contribute to a participatory process where voters engage in public debate and have adequate information about parties, policies, candidates, and the election process itself to make informed choices and to safeguard the transparency of the process. The topics should especially relate to local issues and concerns with the aim of giving citizens a stronger voice.

CFI's Qarib programme encourages Palestinian media (radio, newspapers, television and digital media) to submit offers for services that address the above contexts, and particularly encourages the development of initiatives in collaboration with civil society organisations and think tanks.

Objectives

The services requested under this invitation aim to:

• support well informed decision making at the ballots through the production of high-quality content of Palestinian media (TV, Radio, websites) related to local issues such as health, employment, education, citizens’ rights, gender equality.
• provide a platform for the public to communicate their concerns, opinions, and needs, to the parties/candidates, the government, and to other voters, and to interact on these
• support public participation and to contribute to social cohesion by creating opportunities and channels for dialogue, for instance through public debates involving the whole spectrum of election candidates.
• enhance the participation of women and youth in the public debate by making their voices heard, and by raising and discussing their issues of interest.
• encourage media organizations and social media accounts to be innovative in addressing issues and presenting their stories.

Eligibility Criteria, Budget, and Application Process

• The service provider must be licensed in Palestine or registered elsewhere, as radio or TV stations, online or print platforms.
• The applicant must submit the complete online form which includes a brief description of the media organization, description of the proposed activities (for instance, radio/ TV program, podcast, video, or any other journalism type) and details of the targeted audience, broadcasting channels and necessary statistics regarding number of listeners/readers/followers.
• The offer should include an Activity Based Budget, see form. It should be organized around the costs related to the deliverables linked to outputs and activities of the service, such as public debates and training workshops. Costs may include fees for journalists, technicians, audio-visual producers, and field visits expenses. The offer shall not exceed a maximum of EUR 30.000 and is subject to a rigorous cost-benefit analysis.
• The implementation period can cover the period from pre- to post-elections and should not exceed a duration of 6 months.
• The offer should demonstrate that gender equality, women and youth perspectives and representation will be taken into consideration on all levels.
• The service provider may be requested to provide additional details, information, or documents.

Please submit your completed offer (narrative and budget)
using the form not later than 15 February 2022.

About

The Qarib programme is a regional project, implemented by CFI, a subsidiary of the France Média Monde group. CFI actively promotes the development of media in Africa, the Arab world, and South-East Asia. CFI has a long record of supporting media, especially during crises, to enable them to play their indispensable role in democracies and to provide information and high-quality reporting.

The overall objective of the Qarib Project is to encourage social cohesion at regional, national and local level and, through better media coverage, to promote the inclusion of people, particularly women, in society and public debate.