Introduction

The Aga Khan Foundation is a leading global development organisation working to tackle the root causes of poverty. For more than 50 years, we have helped create strong community institutions that support sustainable, locally driven initiatives to improve the lives of millions of people. By combining local knowledge with global best practices, we strive to bring about transformative and long-lasting improvements to quality of life. Working alongside the agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network and through partnerships with local communities, civil society and business as well as governments and international aid agencies, we are building a future where we all thrive together.

Background
Now entering its second phase (January 2025–December 2026), the Swahili Coast Community Foundations Initiative (SCCFI) – co-funded by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and the Aga Khan Foundatio, champions locally led, gender-inclusive development across Kenya’s Swahili coast. Phase Two will transform 16 community groups in Kilifi, Mombasa, Kwale, and Lamu into fully fledged, sustainable Community Foundations (CFs) through legal establishment, inclusive governance, capacity building, and local resource mobilisation.

Purpose
Aga Khan Foundation communications rely on narrative and visual content to illustrate our work. This content is collected by external professionals as well as AKF staff and is used to communicate with a range of internal and external audiences. People are at the centre of these narratives. We anchor our communications in the individuals and communities who take part in or benefit from our programming – their challenges, their triumphs, and what drives them to work towards a better life for their families and communities.

Scope of work
AKF is seeking a partner consultant or organisation to support the documentation of AKF programming with a specific focus on the SCCFI programme across Lamu, Kilifi, Mombasa and Kwale counties.

The consultant is expected to:

• Demonstrate a client-oriented approach, tact and ability to work with people of different cultural backgrounds.

• Ensure effective and efficient provision of services, full confidentiality in all aspects of the assignment, management of information flow and follow-up on deadlines and commitments made.

• Ensure dignity of subjects, particularly in the context of children and vulnerable groups.

• Ensure all footage is labelled with time, date and location, and that we capture all subjects’ names, location and job title (or age in the place of children). This can be shared separately as a word document.

• Always ensure alignment to AKF’s global safeguarding policy.

• Ensure informed consent forms are signed by parents, teachers and subjects as appropriate and submit these consent forms to AKF along with images.

• Work in close coordination on the assignment with the AKF Communication Officer/or the AKF programme staff team on the ground.

Deliverables
Overall storyline: Community Foundations along Kenya’s Swahili Coast are transforming development by shifting power to local people, enabling communities to mobilise their own resources, build partnerships, and shape sustainable, inclusive futures from the ground up.

Video series
Four short-form videos (approx. 5-7 minutes each) forming a cohesive narrative on Community Foundations along Kenya’s Swahili Coast. Each video should have a distinct focus while contributing to the overall storyline:

Episode 1: When communities and local government work together, stronger outcomes follow
Focus: Partnership and public accountability; development works best when communities organise and governments respond.

Story: Ribe Community Initiative mobilises residents to identify clean water as the community’s top priority. Through meaningful engagement and dialogue, in-kind community contributions, and sustained engagement with Kilifi County Government, a water project is funded and implemented transforming access to safe water in Ribe.

Episode 2: From saving to investing – the rise of community capital in Jomvu
Focus: Internal financial systems and self-financing; when communities lend to themselves, capital circulates locally and opportunity grows.
Story: As the only group in its cohort to formally register as a Self-Help Group, Jomvu builds on Kenya’s Harambee tradition by moving beyond savings into structured lending. Through disciplined financial management and loan disbursement, the group transforms pooled contributions into investment capital, supporting micro-enterprises and strengthening economic resilience.

Episode 3: Following the money: How community funds shift power
Focus: Financial control as leverage and influence
Story: Across three communities, structured financial mechanisms are placing decision-making power in the hands of locals.

• Amidzi – established CBSG, environmental income streams, formal banking systems

• Rome ra Guro – community fund, goat initiative, and advocacy influencing county water budgeting

• Changamwe – registration to become a Trust in progress, bank account, digital contribution systems, laying the groundwork for future leverage

Each group demonstrates a different stage in building financial legitimacy from establishing systems to influencing public resource allocation.

Episode 4: Anchored in hope: Building institutional resilience in Lamu
Focus: Continuity, stability, and institutional evolution; leadership and structures may evolve, but community commitment endures.
Story: Across Lamu County, community groups continue to organise, invest, and deliver, even as leadership evolves and structures formalise.

• Lamu Central Initiative Group – leadership transition, mobile banking platform, CBO registration in progress

• LECODI – registered CBO investing in youth mentorship and education

• Lamu Anchor of Hope – food security initiative generating income for reinvestment

These groups demonstrate the impact steady commitment has on momentum-building.

Deliverables include:

• Final edited films (5-7 minutes each)

• Subtitled versions (English and Swahili)

• Short teaser clips (30-60 seconds) for digital promotion (social media cuts)

• Still frames and soundbites for cross-media use

Each video should be filmed and edited according to AKF’s video guidelines. The Aga Khan Foundation retains copyright over all footage shot during the course of an assignment. Copyright will appear as name of AKF Country/Year/Videographer.

The footage and videos taken should be usable for diverse audiences and have universal appeal. They should always demonstrate optimism, energy, inclusivity and enthusiasm and must never show images of sickness, sadness, fighting, anger or other negative or inappropriate imagery.

Timelines
Activity - Timeline (Aug - Sept 2026)

1. Introduction meeting to discuss assignment

2. Submission of story concepts based on insights from the introductory meeting

3. Community foundations impact stories

4. Submission of final edits and raw footage

Contract duration
The partnership will be valid from 1st August 2026- 30th September 2026

Qualifications Required
The consultant or organisation is required to demonstrate evidence and experience of:

• Videographer/Production team with demonstrated expertise in film and video creation and photography and photo exhibitions, with at least 5 years of relevant working experience in professional photography in similar field;

• Experience in editing videos and photos for humanitarian settings;

• Bilingual skills (English/Kiswahili) are preferred;

• Work with Media Agencies, International Organizations, NGOs an asset

• Availability and willingness to travel to different villages in selected locations where the project sites are.

Procedures and Logistics

• The AKF team will regularly monitor the progress of the consultant’s work through check-in calls.

• Consultant will work from her/his private space

• Consultant will use her/his computer and other equipment if necessary

• Consultant will submit final report in an electronic form.

Conditions

• The nature of the contract will be temporary.

• The consultant is expected to conduct all work independently, in accordance with professional standards.

• The consultant is expected to proactively engage with the AKF visibility and branding guidelines.

Payment Terms

• Payment is linked to receipt and satisfactory acceptance of deliverables;

• Payment will be made in instalments with 40% paid upon signing of the contract; and the remaining upon agreement with consultant based on deliverables. Final payment will be based upon completion of the deliverable(s) and subject to approval by AKF communications officer and AKF Programme Manager.

Criteria for selection
All submissions will be assessed on the following criteria:
Technical proposal 40%
Technical experience 30%
Value for Money 30%

How to apply

Consultants or organisations interested in this opportunity with AKF should submit:

Please submit your online application by 25th July ,2026 through akfkenya.procurement@akdn.org

Your online application should contain the following:

1. A Cover letter explaining the motivation for applying and also explaining how the qualifications and skill set of the candidate are suitable for this position and Curriculum Vitae (CV) of the team;

2. Your past experience handling similar activities including links to work samples and/or portfolio.

3. A financial proposal indicating deliverable-based professional fee;
   NB. The submission of work samples is critical to the evaluation of your application.

   Only complete applications will be considered. Regret letters will only be sent to shortlisted candidates.
   Applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

AKF is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is Committed to Safeguarding and Promoting the Welfare of Children and Vulnerable Adults and Expects all Staff and Partners to Share this Commitment.

The Aga Khan Foundation is an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network (www.akdn.org)