Terms of Reference Content Writer (Individual Consultant)

Who We Are

Girl Effect is an international non-profit organization dedicated to addressing challenges faced by adolescent girls and youth in Ethiopia. Operating in the country since 2013, the organization leverages Social and Behavior Change (SBC) strategies, combining media and on-the-ground interventions to tackle various societal issues and empower young people. Girl Effect Ethiopia created the youth brand Yegna in 2014, since then has reached over 10 million people through multiple products, outreach programs, girl networks, and research pieces done all for the betterment of adolescent lives.

We create safe spaces for girls, sharing facts and answering questions about health, nutrition, education, relationships, etc. And we use innovative technology so we can reach girls at scale. We arm girls with the skills to negotiate and redefine what they are told is possible, so every girl can choose to be in control of her body, her health, her learning and livelihood.

When a girl unlocks her power to make different choices that change her life, it inspires others to do so too. She starts a ripple effect that impacts her family, community, and country. 

That’s the Girl Effect.

Background

Yegna, Girl Effect’s branded multi-media platform established in Ethiopia in 2014, focuses on empowering adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) through fun, factual and fictional content using role-modeling and storytelling to inspire them to think and behave differently. 

Meaning “Ours” in Amharic, Yegna brings young people together to overcome life’s challenges and realize their ambitions. Our platform comprises a national TV drama, music, digital and social media channels, and club activities. All our content is research-driven and co-designed with our audience. Testing, tracking and learning are critical to our design process. We aim for our content to be authentic, relevant, relatable to our audiences, and as engaging as possible.

What we are looking for 

We are seeking a versatile and imaginative content writer to join our creative pool on a retainer basis. The selected writer will work across multiple high-impact initiatives, developing content that is engaging, relevant, and appropriate for adolescent girls and the communities around them.

The ideal candidate will:

• Have demonstrated experience writing for diverse youth-focused audiences.
• Be skilled in creating content across formats, including scripts, articles, educational manuals, flashcards, social media posts, and community engagement tools.
• Be confident in developing digital-first content, including captions, carousel posts, threads, short-form videos, and other social-native formats tailored for platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Telegram.
• Possess a strong narrative instinct, cultural sensitivity, and the ability to translate research and behavioral insights into clear, motivating content.
• Be highly adaptable and able to tailor messaging across platforms and delivery channels.

Scope of Work

The content writer will be responsible for:

• Crafting messaging for internal and external campaigns.
• Writing scripts for audio, visual, and live-format content.
• Developing educational content, including school manuals, fact sheets, flashcards, and safeguarding materials.
• Drafting content for community discussion sessions and facilitation guides.
• Creating marketing collateral such as posters, banners, and flyers.
• Write and adapt content for social media platforms, including captions, short-form narratives (reels, threads, carousels), video scripts, and social-friendly adaptations of longer content.
• Ensuring all content is audience-appropriate, gender-sensitive, and aligned with Girl Effect’s voice and brand guidelines.

Responsibilities

Deliverables will be assigned based on project needs and timelines. The writer is expected to:

• Produce high-quality, clear, and culturally relevant content tailored to the target audiences.
• Submit all outputs within the agreed timelines.
• Ensure all written materials align with our editorial tone, brand guidelines, and values.
• Collaborate closely with GE’s team to understand briefs and adapt content for specific audiences and platforms.
• Participate in feedback cycles and iterate based on feedback.

Deliverables

Specific deliverables will vary by project and may include:

• Original scripts and storyboards
• Finalized print-ready materials (e.g., manuals, flyers, posters)
• Social media content calendars and caption sets
• Short-form narrative or educational content for digital channels
• Community session outlines and facilitator guides
• Content adaptations (e.g., turning media scripts into social posts)

Management

The individual will have a primary point of contact within GEE’s Create team. 

Procurement Timeline

• Terms of Reference Published:  May 27, 2025
• Deadline for Proposal Submission:  June 11, 2025

Expected Commitment

This is a retainer-based engagement. The initial agreement will be for 6 months, renewable based on performance and project pipeline. Payment will be made based on submitted and approved deliverables, as per agreed timelines and retainer terms.

Location

The agency must be based in Ethiopia and have extensive experience in the country. The Assignment will be carried out in Ethiopia.

Proposal Submission

Your proposal, should you be interested (Max 5 pages), should cover:

• Writing Samples/Portfolio - As part of your application, please include a link or PDF with samples of your recent writing that demonstrate your ability to craft clear, engaging, and audience-relevant content. We’re particularly interested in examples that show how you approach storytelling, structure ideas, adapt tone for different platforms, and translate complex topics into accessible language.
• Please note that we are unable to consider applications submitted without writing samples.
• Credentials/Profile - Please showcase any previous work that you consider relevant to what we are trying to achieve, how we approach our work, and the audience we cater to. Describe the qualifications, experience, and capabilities of the firm or consultant in providing the requested services.
• Reference - Provide at least three references for similar contracts with a description of the service provided, the value of the contract, and the contract periods of performance.
• Individuals should provide a detailed financial proposal based on daily/hourly billing rates, clearly identifying all applicable taxes and additional charges. The proposal should outline the retainer rate and any assumptions related to scope and availability.
  • All applicable taxes must be itemized separately.

In their 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.

GE 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 GE.

VALIDITY of the proposal shall be for 90 days from the date of bid closure.

Evaluation Criteria

The criteria against which proposals will be evaluated are listed below.

Technical Evaluation

• Interpretation and understanding of this TOR - 10%
• Writing Sample/portfolio - 25%
• Showcases relevant experience in having done previous similar work with relevant agencies or organizations - 15 %
• Geographical Experience in Ethiopia- 10%
• Experience and Qualification, share your CV/Credential- 15 %

Financial Evaluation

• Value for money/proposed budget breakdown - 25%

How To Apply

To apply for this opportunity, please submit a proposal by email with the subject line “Content writer - Ethiopia” to  suppliers@girleffect.org by June 11, 2025.

Copyright

All materials/documents arising from this consultancy work shall remain the property of Girl Effect.

Equal Opportunities

Girl Effect is committed to equal opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity, or expression. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.

We are committed to building an organization that is truly representative of the communities that we serve. To this end, due regard will be paid to procuring consultancy services of organizations and individuals with a deep understanding and experience of our programming markets and diverse professional, academic and cultural backgrounds.

Safeguarding

You may be required to undertake safeguarding checks. Shortlisted consultants will be assessed on our organizational values at the interview stage. The successful consultant will be expected to adhere to our safeguarding policy. We encourage you to read and understand our safeguarding policy, the executive summary of which can be found here. We have zero tolerance for all forms of violence against children, beneficiaries and staff. 

Tax

Girl Effect Ethiopia is obliged by the Ethiopian tax authorities to ensure all taxes are charged where applicable. Applicants are advised to ensure that they have a clear understanding of their tax position regarding provisions of Ethiopian tax legislation when developing their proposals.

Disclaimer

GE reserves the right to determine the structure of the process, the number of shortlisted participants, the right to withdraw from the proposal process, the right to change this timetable at any time without notice and reserves the right to withdraw this tender at any time, without prior notice and without liability to compensate and/or reimburse any party. GE shall inform the ONLY successful applicant(s). The process of negotiation and signing of the contract with the successful applicant(s) will follow.