RFP/BW/AP/2026/00003

Accelerate Prosperity

Terms of Reference (TORs) 

Procurement of Media Production Firm for Photo Stories, Video Case Studies, and Design & Print of Impact Coffee Table Book for Accelerate Prosperity’s Supported Businesses in Gilgit-Baltistan & Chitral

1) Background

Accelerate Prosperity (AP) is a joint initiative of the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) and Industrial Promotion Services (IPS) of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED) in Central and South Asia. It aspires to work towards a society that is powered by innovative and successful young entrepreneurs. Through its services, AP extends tailored training, advice, and technical assistance to aspiring and existing entrepreneurs to help them launch or expand their innovative business ventures. It also extends tailored financing to start-ups and SGBs to help them unlock external investments by improving their bankability and investment readiness. 

2) About the Program

Through financing, business advisory, and technical assistance, Accelerate Prosperity supports entrepreneurs in building scalable, sustainable, and impact-driven businesses. In Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral, Accelerate Prosperity has supported several promising startups and small businesses that are creating jobs, promoting women’s economic participation, strengthening local value chains, and driving innovation in traditionally underserved markets.

This activity is supported under the BEST4WEER project which aims to improve women’s social and economic empowerment during the process of COVID-19 recovery and rebuilding in Gilgit-Baltistan province and the Chitral district in Pakistan.   

3) Purpose of the Activity

The purpose of this activity is to produce a repository of high-quality photo stories and case studies (in form of videos) that captures the impact of Accelerate Prosperity supported businesses across Gilgit Baltistan & Chitral. The series should creatively tell the stories of these entrepreneurs, highlighting their journeys, challenges, community impact, and how Accelerate Prosperity’s support enabled their growth.

The films will be used across Accelerate Prosperity’s digital platforms, donor presentations, events, and media outreach to showcase AP’s development impact and inspire further investment in entrepreneurship in remote regions.

4) Objectives

The key objectives of this engagement are to:

• Showcase the impact of Accelerate Prosperity’s interventions in strengthening entrepreneurship, innovation, and local economic growth.
• Highlight women and youth-led entrepreneurship and their role in enterprise development across the region.
• Create marketing-ready assets that businesses and AP can use to boost visibility, credibility, and sales.
• Capture the growing enterprise ecosystem of Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral in a way that reflects AKDN values of inclusivity, dignity, and sustainable development.

5) Scope of Work

The selected firm will be responsible for end-to-end production and publishing, including pre-production, production, post-production, design, print management, and final delivery of all assets.

AP will provide final list of selected businesses, coordination support, brand guidelines (where applicable), and review/approval at key stages.

A) Pre-Production

• Creative concept and visual style aligned with AP’s communications goals.
• Photo shot-lists and image storyboard planning per business (location, process, product, people, impact).
• Video story outlines, interview questions, and production plan per business.
• Travel planning, site coordination, and filming schedule across districts (Gilgit, Hunza, Skardu, Ghizer, and Chitral as applicable).
• On-site photography for each selected business (portraits, workplace/process, products, environment, community context).
• On-site videography: interviews + b-roll capturing business operations, founder story, and context.
• Drone footage (where feasible and permitted) for establishing shots and landscape context.
• Ensure ethical representation, informed consent, and adherence to AKDN/AP media guidelines (dignity-first storytelling).
• Photo stories
  • Curation, retouching, color correction, caption writing, and final photo sequencing into a storyboard-style set for each business.
  • Video teasers (business teaser format)
    • Editing, color grading, sound mix, music (licensed), subtitles, and exports in required aspect ratios.
  • Coffee table book
  • Editorial writing + copyediting (business profiles, founder stories, captions, intro sections).
  • Book layout and graphic design (typography, grids, photo treatment, infographics if needed).
  • Pre-press preparation (CMYK conversion, bleeds, print-ready PDFs, proofs).
  • Print vendor coordination, proof review, printing supervision, and final delivery of printed copies.

B) Production

• On-site photography for each selected business (portraits, workplace/process, products, environment, community context).
• On-site videography: interviews + b-roll capturing business operations, founder story, and context.
• Drone footage (where feasible and permitted) for establishing shots and landscape context.
• Ensure ethical representation, informed consent, and adherence to AKDN/AP media guidelines (dignity-first storytelling).

C) Post-Production and Publishing

• Photo stories

  • Curation, retouching, color correction, caption writing, and final photo sequencing into a storyboard-style set for each business.

• Video teasers (business teaser format)
  • Editing, color grading, sound mix, music (licensed), subtitles, and exports in required aspect ratios.
• Coffee table book
• Editorial writing + copyediting (business profiles, founder stories, captions, intro sections).
• Book layout and graphic design (typography, grids, photo treatment, infographics if needed).
• Pre-press preparation (CMYK conversion, bleeds, print-ready PDFs, proofs).
• Print vendor coordination, proof review, printing supervision, and final delivery of printed copies.

6) Deliverables

Shoot Locations

This is a list of shoot locations, separated for photography and videography.

7) Duration & Timeline

The assignment will be carried out over 5-6 weeks

8) Required Qualifications and Experience

• The firm must demonstrate capability across photography + video storytelling + print publishing.
• SECP-registered media/creative production firm (or legally registered entity) with proven delivery of multi-format communication products.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in documentary-style storytelling, development communications, brand storytelling, or similar work (NGOs, donor programs, social impact sector preferred).
• Strong portfolio demonstrating visual storytelling through photo essays / photo stories, not only standalone photography.
• Proven portfolio of short-form video storytelling optimized for social media (reels/teasers/case studies).
• Demonstrated capacity to design and produce print publications, preferably coffee table books, annual reports, magazines, or high-end catalogues (must share samples or links).
• Team capacity must include (at minimum):
  • Creative Director / Producer
  • Photographer (with documentary/portrait experience)
  • Videographer
  • Video Editor / Post-production lead
  • Graphic Designer / Publication Designer (print layout)
  • Copywriter / Editor (for profiles, captions, book text)
  • Access to professional-grade equipment for photo and video production (camera, lenses, sound, lighting). Drone access is an advantage.
  • Ability to operate in remote terrains (GB & Chitral), with demonstrated logistics planning and field coordination.
  • Familiarity with ethical storytelling standards (consent, dignity-first representation) and alignment with AKDN/AP guidelines is an advantage.
  • Ability to manage print production workflows: pre-press, proofing, paper selection, binding options, and delivery coordination.

9) Payment Terms

10) Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on:

• Technical expertise and experience of the applicants (70%)
• Financial competitiveness (30%)

11) Ownership and Copyright

All footage, photographs, and creative content produced under this engagement will remain the intellectual property of Accelerate Prosperity. The firm will not distribute or repurpose any content without written consent from Accelerate Prosperity.

12) Proposal Submission Requirements

The bids are to be evaluated on the following grounds, meeting the following criteria which are mandatory.

Interested applicants must submit the following:

1. A.    Technical Proposal:

• The company must provide a certificate of company/firm registration with SECP and an active NTN number.
• The company must submit the company profile that outlines that it has 3 years of experience in documentary-style storytelling, development communications, brand storytelling, or similar work (NGOs, donor programs, social impact sector preferred). 
• The company must submit their portfolio demonstrating visual storytelling through photo essays / photo stories, not only standalone photography.
• The company must provide detailed profiles/CVs with links to their portfolios of the proposed team members for the assignment for below staff (min):
  • Creative Director / Producer
  • Photographer (with documentary/portrait experience)
  • Videographer
  • Video Editor / Post-production lead
  • Graphic Designer / Publication Designer (print layout)
  • Copywriter / Editor (for profiles, captions, book text)
•  The company must prepare at least a 1-3 pages description of the proposed methodology and work plan for performing the assignment. 
• Potential Firm/company are required to signthe RFP document along with annexes, and it should be submitted along with the proposal.  

1. Financial Proposal:

The financial proposal should be submitted using the attached financial proposal format with a valid signature and stamp.