Request for Proposal Production Partner - Digital Micro Drama Series

Who We Are Girl Effect is an international non-profit that builds media and technology that girls want, trust and need. We use youth-centred storytelling, behaviour-change science and digital engagement to help adolescent girls make informed choices about their health, education, relationships and futures. In India, our initiatives include Chhaa Jaa and Teeka Talk. These programmes provide trusted information and support on health, relationships, empowerment and HPV vaccination through social media, digital content, chatbots and community engagement. Background and Objective Girl Effect India seeks an experienced production partner to develop and produce a compelling digital-first micro drama series for Instagram, YouTube and other short-form platforms. The series will follow interconnected adolescent girls and the family members, friends, peers, boys and community members who influence their lives. It will use relatable family-drama storytelling to entertain audiences and promote positive role modelling, agency, empathy and informed decision-making. The story will integrate themes including: - Girl empowerment; - Menstruation; - Nutrition; - Mental health; - Gender-based violence; and - HPV immunisation as a central theme. These messages must be woven naturally into engaging stories rather than delivered as direct instruction. The production must be youth-friendly, gender-inclusive, body- and sex-positive, trauma-informed, rights-based and culturally credible. Required Outputs Output Included Base Quantity Requirement Micro-drama episodes 25-30 Each episode will be 60–90 seconds, serialised, digital-first and supplied in approved platform formats. Optional additional episodes Up to 5 Separately priced per episode and produced only following written authorisation. Original song and music video 1 each Original composition, production, master and agreed promotional cutdowns, with all rights cleared. Series trailer 1 Up to 60 seconds, including an agreed vertical version. Promos 3 Short-form campaign promos in agreed aspect ratios. Cast interviews 5–6 Edited short-form interviews with approved cast members. Behind-the-scenes and shoulder content Minimum 10 clips Edited clips suitable for episodic amplification. Episode thumbnails and stills Thumbnail sets and a curated stills package for all episodes Editable templates and final exports. Regional-language versions Up to 3 languages Optional and separately priced by language and episode or as a full-series package. The quantities above constitute the base scope. Any additional output must be approved through the change-control process before production begins. What You will do The selected production partner will be responsible for the end-to-end development and production of the series, including but not limited to: - Concept & Story Development: Develop the overarching concept, story universe, and narrative arc for across all episodes of the micro-drama series featuring multiple adolescent girl protagonists and an interconnected universe of characters. - Character & Story Arcs: Develop detailed character profiles and individual arcs, ensuring each girl’s and character's journey explores relatable adolescent experiences while contributing to the larger narrative. - Scriptwriting: Develop episode-wise scripts that organically integrate key themes and messages around girl empowerment, menstruation, nutrition, mental health, gender-based violence, and a strong focus on HPV immunisation. - Creative Development: Translate programme objectives and key messages into engaging, emotionally resonant, culturally relevant stories with strong role modelling and positive behavioural shifts. - Digital-First Storytelling: Ensure episodes are structured, paced, and formatted for 1–1.5-minute short-form consumption, with strong hooks, narrative continuity, and platform-appropriate storytelling. - Pre-Production: Casting of actors, location scouting, costume and production design, scheduling, shot planning, and all other pre-production requirements. - Production: End-to-end filming of all episodes in conversational Hindi, incorporating appropriate regional and cultural nuances to ensure authenticity and relatability. - Post-Production: Editing, sound design, music, colour grading, subtitles/captions, graphics, and final mastering of all episodes for digital distribution. - Series Identity & Packaging: Develop the visual identity, title treatment, opening/closing elements, thumbnails, and other creative assets required for multi-platform release. - OST & Music Video: Conceptualise, compose, produce, and deliver an original song/OST and accompanying music video that captures the spirit of the series and can be used across marketing and promotional campaigns. - Language Adaptations: Support adaptations/dubbing/subtitling in up to three additional regional languages, as required and quoted separately. - Final Deliverables: Provide all final episodes, scripts, character/story bibles, episode breakdowns, promotional assets, OST/music video, and relevant production/master files in agreed formats. - Promotion Plan - A suggestive plan to amplify the series with an on-ground and digital component Technical and Delivery Standards The agency must: - Capture and master content at a minimum resolution of 4K unless Girl Effect approves otherwise. - Frame footage safely for all agreed platform aspect ratios. - Deliver files using the codecs, audio standards, naming conventions and folder structure agreed at inception. - Ensure that dialogue, sound, music, colour, subtitles, captions and graphics meet professional digital-broadcast standards. - Check all names, logos, health information, translations and on-screen text for accuracy. - Use only properly licensed footage, music, fonts, graphics, photographs and other third-party materials. - Retain project settings and original-quality production files throughout post-production. - Securely store and maintain recoverable copies of production files until Girl Effect confirms final handover and acceptance. No generative-AI material may be used without Girl Effect’s prior written approval. Any proposed AI use must be disclosed and must not compromise intellectual property, consent, privacy, safeguarding or authenticity. Approvals, Revisions and Change Control The following provisions will apply: - Corrections required because an output does not meet the approved brief, script, technical specification or quality standard will not count as creative revisions and must be completed at no additional cost. - Reshoots or rework resulting from agency error, poor technical quality, missing coverage, continuity failures, rights failures or unauthorised deviations will be undertaken at the agency’s cost. - Changes requested by Girl Effect that materially alter an already approved quantity, output, duration, language, cast, location, schedule or specification may be treated as additional scope. - Before starting additional work, the agency must submit a written change request describing the reason, deliverables, cost, schedule and impact on the existing work. - No additional fee, expense or deadline extension will be valid without written approval through an authorised change order or contract amendment. - General discussions, meetings or emails with project team members do not authorise additional expenditure unless approved by Girl Effect’s authorised contract representative. - The agency must continue delivering the unaffected parts of the approved scope while a proposed change is being reviewed. Deliverables - Development - Creative vision and promotional strategy document - Series concept, overarching storyline, characterisation and narrative universe - Detailed episode-wise narrative breakdowns - Development plans, timelines, and production processes - Regular progress reports and production meetings - Pre-Production - Finalised scripts for all episodes and promotional content - Storyboards - Cast/talent contracts, release forms, usage rights, and due diligence documentation - Pre-production plan for CTAs, social content, cast interviews, and other promotional assets - Production - Pre-production deck and plan - End-to-end shoot of all episodes and agreed promotional assets - Original OST/song and accompanying music video - Relevant permission and licensing documents [rights to rest with Gift Effect] - - Post-Production - Episodic master files - release ready - Series visual identity, packaging, and promotional assets - Comprehensive promotional package including Teasers, Promos, BTS, Cast interviews [5-6] - Final OST/music video and associated assets - Weekly production status reports - Final Handover - Final master files, clean files, open files, raw footage of all episodes, music video and promotional assets on Google Drive as well as physical HDD. - Complete rights, releases, licenses, and usage documentation - Hosting & Amplification - Cast-led videos for amplification of episodes across their social media handles, with usage and promotional rights. - Episode-level BTS, cast bytes, shoulder content, teaser and other promotional content for audience engagement and amplification with usage and promotional rights. - Weekly performance reports covering reach, impressions, views, likes, shares, saves, comments, and reposts for all episodes and promotional content. Who You Are We are looking for production houses that have fulfilled either all or at least two of the following criteria: - Have extensive knowledge of creating PAN India serialised content at scale with a regional flavor while maintaining authenticity and relatability. - Developed fictional content for the development sector, but with a youth-friendly content focussed approach. - Worked with brands targeting younger audiences - A portfolio of award-winning fictional storytelling work on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and WhatsApp will be a plus. - Capacity to work on tight timelines. Skills and expertise: - You are based in India, preferably in Delhi or Mumbai, and have worked on fictional content with regional nuances. - Fluency in English, conversational Hindi and Hinglish. - Experience in creating health-related /behavior change content production in the field of gender based tech violence, mental health, health and immunization, sexual and reproductive health and rights and economic empowerment would be a massive bonus. - Strong understanding of local trends, media landscape, and cultural nuances to tailor creative solutions that resonate with the target audience in the Indian market. - Proficiency in creative and strategic thinking, project/time/budget management. - Proficiency in creating content and branding for diverse platforms such as digital, social media, and emerging media channels, leveraging each platform's unique features to engage the target audiences. - Experienced with the latest creative production tools and technologies, including design software, video editing tools, and content management systems, to ensure efficient and high-quality output. - Basic safeguarding and digital safeguarding knowledge are a plus. - Most importantly, we need you to ensure that you have a lens that is youth-friendly & fun, body and sex-positive, gender inclusive, trauma-informed and adopts a rights-based approach towards girls and young women. Expected Commitment - The project is expected to have a duration of 3 months. Location The Agency must be based in Delhi or Mumbai and have extensive experience in the country. Management - The consultant will have a primary point of contact within our India Create team. - The language of the materials and reports shall be English. - The contract supervisor shall approve all deliverables submitted before any payment is made. Procurement Timelines - Terms of reference published: 8th October 2026 - Questions/Clarification Deadline: 11th October 2026 - Deadline for proposal submission: 19th October 2026 Proposal submissions Your Technical Proposal, should you be interested (Max 10 pages), should cover the following in the form of a deck. - Your approach - Your understanding of the requirement, outlining your approach and vision for the series. - Portfolio - Please showcase previous work that you consider to be relevant. This can be related to our brand or similar brands, similar target audience, with the government, etc. Please share clickable links of published or completed works. - The proposed production methodology. - A creative vision and indicative story approach. - A brief scan of relevant public-health, behaviour-change or commercial short-form content. - Team capabilities - Describe the team size, their qualifications, experience, and capabilities in providing the requested services. - Reference - Provide contact information of at least three references for similar contracts serviced in the past, with a description of the service provided and the contract periods of performance. - A detailed schedule showing approval stages, script batches, shoot days, post-production workflow and delivery dates. - The agency’s approach to quality control, safeguarding, rights management, health and safety, data security, risk and contingency planning. - Information on additional Services – Please provide any information on additional services that you believe would be pertinent and align with the project Financial Proposal The financial proposal must be submitted in Indian Rupees and include: - A fixed, all-inclusive base price for: - 25 episodes; - One original song; - One music video; - The defined promotional package; and - Final handover of all required files and rights documentation. - Detailed costs for: - Creative development and scripting; - Key personnel; - Cast and contributors; - Shoot days; - Equipment; - Studios and locations; - Production design, props and wardrobe; - Travel, accommodation, catering and transport; - Insurance and permits; - Editing and post-production; - Music production; - Graphics, titles, subtitles and captions; - Data storage and backup; and - The physical hard drive. - A separate unit price for each of the five optional episodes. - Separate prices for regional-language dubbing, voice-over and/or subtitling, including translation, talent, studio, quality assurance and revised masters. - Applicable taxes, licences, talent renewals, pass-through costs and reimbursable expenses shown separately. Any cost not expressly excluded or separately priced will be treated as included in the agency’s fixed base price. Evaluation Criteria Proposals will be evaluated in the following order: - Mandatory pre-screening; - Technical evaluation; and - Financial evaluation. The criteria against which proposals will be evaluated are listed below: Technical Evaluation - Interpretation and understanding of this TOR, and a Creative Scan of similar content formats existing for public health /social behaviour change/ commercial health products (not necessarily their own production) - [10%] - Your vision and approach based on the shared brief - [10 %] - Methodology, workplan, scope control and delivery capacity [10 %] - Proposed team, cultural capability and technical resources [5 %] - Safeguarding, rights, quality assurance and risk management [10 %] - Portfolio of past works - [10%] - Company profile and organizational capacity [10%] - Evidence of a minimum of three contactable references - [5%] Financial Evaluation - Value for money/proposed budget breakdown - 30% Girl Effect may request clarifications, creative presentations, interviews, reference checks, due diligence or best-and-final offers. The lowest-priced proposal will not necessarily be selected. Technical and Financial proposals will need to be submitted as separate documents. Financial bids will not be opened until the technical evaluation, and then only for those proposals deemed qualified and responsive. In their Technical proposal, the bidder must demonstrate an understanding of the requirements described in the TOR and demonstrate how the bidder will meet the requirements of the evaluation criteria. Please note that Girl Effect is not liable for any costs incurred during the award/contract preparation, submission, or negotiation of the award/contract. All submitted documentation and/or materials shall become and remain the property of Girl Effect. How To Apply Email the technical and financial proposals as separate attachments to: [email protected] Use the subject line: Production Partner – Micro Drama Series – India Proposals must be received by 19 October 2026 Submissions that do not follow the stated application process may not be evaluated. Only successful bidder or bidders will be notified. General and Commercial Terms - Contracting and Payment: The successful agency will sign Girl Effect’s standard agreement. Payments will be linked to satisfactory delivery and written acceptance of agreed milestones. The agency may not exceed the approved budget or commit Girl Effect to third-party costs. - Fixed Price and Taxes: The base price must remain firm for the approved scope and proposal-validity period. Taxes, optional services, licences, talent renewals and approved pass-through costs must be itemised separately. Girl Effect will deduct or account for taxes as required by Indian law. - No Unapproved Costs: No additional fee, expense, pass-through cost or commitment will be payable unless approved in writing by Girl Effect’s authorised contract representative before the cost is incurred. - Rights and Ownership: Subject to the final agreement and payment, Girl Effect will own the commissioned materials and approved outputs. The agency must secure and document all contributor, talent, location, music, archive and third-party rights required for the agreed territories, media, term, editing, adaptation, promotion and paid-media use. - Talent and Contributor Rights: Talent agreements must clearly address filming, editing, dubbing, subtitling, still-image extraction, social media, radio,broadcast, digital advertising, promotional use, territory, duration and any renewal costs. Restrictions and expiry dates must be disclosed before contracting. - Safeguarding and Consent: The agency must protect the dignity, privacy and safety of all contributors. Anyone under 18 must be engaged through approved safeguarding procedures, legally valid parent or guardian consent and the young person’s assent. Sensitive topics must be handled using trauma-informed and do-no-harm practices. - Confidentiality and Data Protection: The agency must protect scripts, unreleased content, personal information and other confidential materials and use secure transfer and storage methods. - Insurance and Compliance: The agency is responsible for applicable permits, employment and labour obligations, production insurance, equipment insurance, public-liability cover and compliance with health, safety and other applicable laws. - Personnel and Subcontracting: Material subcontractors and changes to key personnel require prior written approval. The lead agency remains responsible for all subcontracted work. - Conflicts of Interest: Bidders must disclose any actual or potential conflict of interest. - Equal Opportunity: Girl Effect welcomes proposals from agencies with diverse professional, creative and cultural backgrounds and a strong understanding of the communities and audiences we serve. - Right to Award: Girl Effect may clarify, negotiate, amend or cancel the process, reject any or all proposals, award all or part of the requirement or make no award. Girl Effect is not liable for proposal-preparation or negotiation costs. - Proposal Validity: Proposals must remain valid for 90 days from the submission deadline.