Service provision for ideation, design, and refinement of Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) materials

1. Who is the Danish Refugee Council?

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a leading international humanitarian displacement organization, supporting refugees and internally displaced persons during displacement, in exile, upon return, or when settling and integrating into a new place. DRC Ukraine delivers and supports humanitarian aid initiatives across Ukraine, employing more than 500 primarily national staff. With a main office in Kyiv, DRC is present in 19 oblasts across the country, working to provide targeted, timely, relevant, and efficient aid to displacement and conflict-affected communities.

DRC began programming in Ukraine in 1998, carrying out reintegration projects in Crimea, developing later, in 2014, to a larger-scale presence in the Donbas region. DRC scaled up its operations in response to the conflict in February 2022. It is now one of the largest international NGO operations in Ukraine, responding to the needs of conflict and displacement-affected communities across the country.

Today, DRC Ukraine implements a broad range of integrated and holistic programs both directly and through national partners, delivering emergency and longer-term support, helping to support people to rebuild and recover their lives, and improving access to durable solutions to displacement.

DRC delivers program activities in Protection, Economic Recovery, Humanitarian Disarmament & Peacebuilding, Shelter & Settlements, as well as support to improve access to safe Water, Sanitation & Hygiene services. DRC remains committed to continuing to support conflict and displacement-affected individuals and communities in Ukraine where vulnerabilities are deepening and where access to basic services and rights are at risk.

2. Background

Before February 2022, Ukraine already had high levels of mine and explosive ordnance (EO) contamination, with high landmine casualty rates in recent years – more than 2,700 victims between 2014 and 2019 according to DRC’s internal database. The escalation of the conflict in February 2022 led to a sharp increase in contamination across a wide and new area and continues to impact on the safety of the civilian population across Ukraine. In addition to the previously contaminated Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts, the recent conflict resulted in substantial destruction and EO contamination in Kyiv, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Sumy, Kherson, Zaporizhia, Mykolaiv, and Odesa oblasts. According to Human Rights Watch, there have been at least seven types of anti-personnel mines used in Ukraine, extensive use of anti-vehicle mines, cluster munitions in certain locations, as well as widespread EO.

The presence or fear of landmines and EO impacts humanitarian access, presents obstacles for safe movement of civilians on roads and paths as well as in residential areas and communities affected by conflict. EO are a threat to residents and IDPs, as well as to humanitarian actors, which may be undertaking assessments or providing humanitarian assistance in areas with contamination. Adult men are the most affected by EO presence in Ukraine currently due to their occupation (agriculture, construction and infrastructure repairs) and generally higher levels of risk-taking behavior. However, as more people return to conflict affected areas, all age and gender groups will be at risk of accidents.

Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) is an essential preventive activity seeking to reduce the risk of injury from EO by raising awareness among women, girls, boys, and men in accordance with their different vulnerabilities, roles and needs, and promoting behavior change. Core activities include interpersonal EORE sessions, distribution of EORE informational materials, and provision of RE safety messages through social and mass media campaigns.

3. Objective of the procurement

As a component of several humanitarian projects, DRC is seeking the services of a creative agency to collaborate on the development and design of various materials for an Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) campaign in Ukraine. The primary goal to effectively communicate essential safety messages related to explosive ordnance awareness and risk reduction to diverse target populations in Ukraine. The selected creative agency will play a critical role in the ideation, design, and refinement of materials that can educate and engage our target audiences through a lasting presence in affected communities.

4. Scope of work

The selected creative agency will work closely with DRC and its project team to execute the following scope of work:

4.1 Message Development

• Collaborate with DRC EORE experts to identify key safety messages related to explosive ordnance risks and safe behavior.
• Conduct research, as necessary, to understand the specific needs and challenges faced by communities in Ukraine affected by explosive ordnance.
• Develop clear, culturally sensitive, and easily understandable safety messages that resonate with the identified target audiences.

4.2 Ideation and Concept Development

• Brainstorm creative concepts and ideas for campaign materials that can effectively convey explosive ordnance risk education.
• Provide a range of innovative design concepts that appeal to the target populations.
• Ensure that the creative concepts align with the campaign’s overall objectives and visual identity.

4.3 Graphic Design

• Create visually compelling graphic designs and visual elements that enhance the impact and accessibility of the campaign materials.
• Apply the graphic design to appropriate items and objects.
• Ensure that the designs are inclusive and can be understood by individuals from different backgrounds and educational attainment.

Potential Deliverables:

• A2/A4 posters
• Notebooks
• Tote bags
• Reflective badges and bracelets
• Stickers
• Calendars
• Bookmarks
• Schoolbook covers
• Bracelets
• Pencil cases

4.4 Design Refinement

• Collaborate closely with DRC and its team to collect feedback on initial designs.
• Conduct focus group testing of materials to ensure relevance and comprehensibility of messaging among target audiences
• Make necessary revisions and refinements based on feedback received from subject matter experts and target audiences.
• Ensure that the final designs meet the highest standards of creativity, visual aesthetics, and messaging effectiveness.

5. Deliverables

The following are the expected deliverables from the selected creative agency:

• Clear and culturally sensitive safety messages related to explosive ordnance risk education.
• A range of creative concepts and design ideas for campaign materials tailored to diverse target populations.
• Tested, refined and finalized designs that incorporate feedback and adhere to the highest quality standards.
• Print-ready and digital files of all campaign materials, accompanied by design specifications and guidelines.
• Detailed design specifications and guidelines to ensure consistency in future campaign materials and adaptations
• Transfer of all copyrights and intellectual property rights to DRC for the developed materials.

6. Duration and timeline

The supplier must be ready to complete the task no later than end of March, 2024, according to the schedule:

• Project kickoff, research and target audience analysis – 5 days
• Message development – 3 days
• Concept ideation – 5 days
• Graphic design concepts – 4 days
• Feedback and iteration – 3 days
• Develop of campaign material samples/mock-ups – 3 days
• Material testing, iteration and validation – 3 days
• Design finalization – 2 days
• Presentation and approval – 1 day
• Handover and closing – 1 day

7. Proposed Composition of Team

A project manager, creative director and a small team of graphic designers, copywriters, UX designer, and research analyst.

8. Eligibility, qualification, and experience required

• Five years of progressive experience in graphic design and public communications with a track record of successfully executing similar public awareness or safety campaigns
• experience in creating materials for a wide range of audiences, including children, adolescents, adults
• experience in designing materials that are not only visually appealing but also user-friendly and accessible, especially for individuals with varying educational attainment and disabilities.
• ability to conduct audience research, gather data, and translate insights into effective messaging and design.
• ability to conduct user testing and gather feedback to refine designs and messages
• Ability to work on assignments according to the timeframe mentioned above.
• Knowledge of Ukrainian/Russian is required.

9. Technical supervision

The selected Services Provider will work under the supervision of:

• Olha Sydorova, DRC Ukraine Communications Manager
• Michael Aaron, DRC EORE Technical Coordinator

10. Location and support

Kyiv with online support

11. Travel

N/A

12. Submission process

According to RFP-UKR-002981 Invitation Letter.

13. Evaluation of bids

According to RFP-UKR-002981 Invitation Letter.