Hivos is seeking a consultant (individual or organization) to design and deliver a capacity building training on Strategic Use of Emerging Technology (ies) for its R.O.O.M II East Africa partners

• Region: East Africa
• Location: Nairobi-Kenya
• Application deadline:  26th October 2023
• Duration of Consultancy: 7 days (within Nov 2023)
• Budget Amount:  Euro 2,100

Background

Hivos is an international development organization guided by humanist values. Together with local partners, we aim to contribute towards just, inclusive and life-sustaining societies where people have equal access to opportunities, rights and resources for development and can participate actively and equally in decision making processes that determine their lives. We work in partnership with others in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Latin America on three impact areas: civic rights; gender equality, diversity and inclusion, and climate justice. Our approach is solution driven, and we build wider movements for change by amplifying and connecting voices.

We believe that free exchange of information, space for expression and opportunities for the active participation of citizens are essential conditions for the development of a democratic society. Hivos was one of the first international NGOs that started working on the theme of ICT for Development and has been an international frontrunner ever since. Recognizing the potential of young people (18-35) as key drivers of free expression in the 21st century, we have been able to identify and build relationships with a new generation of change agents for free expression within our unique global network in the field of culture and media. As digital natives, they explore and appropriate opportunities to develop opportunities to develop new cultural and media content, thus contributing to a more thriving and dynamic cultural and media sector, engaging new audiences and contributing to diversification of dialogue, debate and dissent in society.

About Resource of Open Minds (R.O.O.M)

Resource of Open Minds (R.O.O.M) is a project of Hivos that supports the global creative work and projects of creatives in East, Southern and North Africa. We believe in the power of digital technologies to question dominant structures in society while appealing to a broad audience. Creatives play an important role in forging pluralism as a key facet of democracy in our societies. They do this through making content that encourages conversation about different issues in society and in some cases eventually leading to change and transformation in society. The ROOM project for example supports the production of audio-visual content that encourages dialogue, debate, and dissent in society.

Since 2017, the ROOM project has been working with creatives across East, Southern and North Africa to achieve the outcomes below:

• Makers become more self-sufficient
• Makers are more independent.
• Makers produce more critical content
• Makers reach wider audiences
• Creative hubs have increased capacity to facilitate audio-visual productions.

Currently, R.O.O.M partners are:

• young makers (between 18 and 35 years) across all genders who are creating culture and media productions that are critical of certain aspects of society thus leading dialogue, debate, and dissent, and
• the creative hubs and communities where these makers operate from; these range from studios, cafes, production houses, networks, platforms, collectives, libraries, and maker spaces.

Scope of the assignment

The convergence of digital (emerging) technologies and the creative economy is having what can be termed as a disruptive effect on society as a whole. Technology is now more accessible, more widely used and more seamlessly integrated than ever. The impact of artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality, and blockchain for creative activities is spilling over into domains such as politics, individual human behavior, law and policy. These fields have always contextualized creative activities, but are less often shaped by them directly. It speaks to the nature of change that the effect is being felt so strongly in both directions.[1]

How is production, distribution and consumption of creative content affected by emerging technology(ies)? What impact does this have on music, film and television, gaming, literature, fashion and arts? And how can these technologies and the tools they present be harnessed and strategically used for the benefit of the creatives’ community?

On this basis, the expert will be expected to provide technical assistance and support as follows:

• Development of context specific course modules or reference materials
• Conduct a technical support training on the Strategic use of Emerging Technology (ies)
• Expert guidance on other tasks as directed by the R.O.O.M East Africa Project Officer.

Timeframe

The following is an indicative planning to be agreed upon between the Consultant and Hivos;

7th-9th November 2023: Preparation of course module and reference materials
10th November 2023: Delivery of course module and Reference materials
14th & 15th November 2023: Deliver Training on Strategic use of Emerging Technology (ies)
16th November 2023: Delivery of Training Report

Session results

1. Partners who attend the session will have a basic understanding of emerging technology (ies)
2. Partners who attend the session will be able to distinguish the various types of emerging technology (ies) in the market and their regulation if any
3. Partners who attend this session will have sufficient knowledge and understanding on emerging technologies and how to strategically use them to improve their content

Consultant qualifications and experience

• A minimum of 5 years’ experience in the target area
• Extensive experience providing relevant technical support to content creators and creative hubs in target country (ies)
• Extensive experience in training or facilitation of workshops
• Extensive knowledge and experience from international development work and other contexts particularly in Africa
• Experience as technical advisor/manager of organizational development or similar issues
• Affinity to arts, culture, media, technology and freedom of expression

Remuneration

The Consultant will receive a daily fee of Euro 300 for a maximum of 7 days. This fee is subject to a withholding tax of 5%

How to apply

Your application should have the following:

1. An expression of interest demonstrating why yourself or your organization is the right fit for this consultancy;
2. A profile of your organization or yourself;
3. A technical proposal detailing a plan of action, approach and methodology, timelines aligned to deliverables;
4. Relevant weblinks to and /or at least 2 samples of similar work to support your expression of interest.

Please send these documents by 26th October 2023, 1700hrs East African Time. Applications after this date will not be considered. Please note that canvasing will lead to disqualification from the bid.

Send your application to  eastafricainfo@hivos.org  with the reference ROOM- Strategic Use of Emerging Technology (ies) Consultancy in the subject heading.

[1] Creative Disruption: The Impact of Emerging Technologies on the Creative Economy, World Economic Forum, February 2018.