National/International Consultancy: Photography Services

TERMS OF REFERENCE Hiring Office:Communications Purpose of Assignment:The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) East and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) works across 23 countries to advance gender equality, improve sexual and reproductive health, and empower youth. High-quality photography is essential for documenting impact, promoting key messages, and engaging stakeholders.

To support its communication and advocacy goals, UNFPA ESARO seeks to establish qualified photographers to provide professional services on a consultancy basis.

The objective is to maintain a pool of skilled photographers who can visually capture UNFPA’s work and impact through powerful, high-quality images on an on-demand basis.

Scope of work:

Photographers will be called upon to provide the following services:

Photography Assignments

• Document key activities, events, and field visits showcasing UNFPA’s work in East and Southern Africa.
• Capture compelling portraits of beneficiaries, stakeholders, and partners.
• Produce thematic photo series aligned with UNFPA’s communication priorities (e.g., gender equality, maternal health, youth empowerment).

Pre-Shoot Coordination

• Collaborate with UNFPA ESARO’s communications team to understand the objectives and scope of each assignment.
• Coordinate with the UNFPA team to plan shoot logistics, including locations, subjects, and shot lists.
• Ensure all subjects provide written consent in compliance with UNFPA guidelines.

Post-Shoot Processing

• Edit and enhance photographs to ensure high-quality, impactful visuals.
• Deliver photos in formats suitable for various platforms (e.g., print, web, social media).
• Provide metadata and captions for each image, including location, date, and description.
• Provide digital copies of all written consent forms.

Deliverables

• A minimum number of high-resolution, professionally edited photos per assignment, as specified in individual task orders.
• Raw, unedited files upon request.
• Captions and metadata for all images, provided in an accompanying document including all persons on the image appropriately identified, location, and context of the photo if necessary.

Duration and working schedule:The assignment needs to be completed between 01 February to 31 December 2025 Place where services are to be delivered:The completed work is to be submitted electronically to the hiring manager at UNFPA ESARO office. Delivery dates & how work will be delivered:The selected consultant will be expected to deliver all work electronically Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements, periodicity format and deadline:The selected consultant will be required to provide regular updates via email to monitor adherence to tight production schedules.

Supervisory arrangements: The selected consultant will work under the supervision of the hiring manager, the Regional Communications Advisor and/or Media Specialist. Expected travel:The consultant will be expected to travel to different locations within the East and Southern Africa Region(please add specific countries, areas, regions and communities when possible). Required expertise, qualifications and competencies, including language requirements:The c The selected consultant must meet the following minimum criteria: 

Experience

Essential:

• A license or certificate showing formal training and/orreference/s from previous work
• At least 3 years of relevant experience in the photography field or a Bachelor degree with 4 years of relevant experience.
• Alternatively, in lieu of the above.
• Portfolio of previous projects (please include a link, not attachment, in your CV)

Desirable:

• Experience photographing human stories through a human rights and feminist lens.
• Experience photographing for United Nations agencies and/or intergovernmental organizations.
• Knowledge of sexual and reproductive health and rights programming, particularly for adolescent girls and young women.

Skills:

Essential:

• Proficiency in photo editing software (e.g., Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop).
• Demonstrated ability to work in diverse and challenging environments.
• Excellent communication skills in English.
• Access to professional photography equipment.

Desirable:

• Experience working with UN agencies, NGOs, or international organizations.
• Ability to work in French or Portuguese (spoken and written) is an asset.
• Knowledge of gender, youth, and development-related themes.

Languages required

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.

Inputs/services to be provided by UNFPA, if applicable:UNFPA will provide key local contacts and liaise with field offices if needed. 

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