(TOR) Request for quotations to produce and air TV and Radio Talk-Shows/programs for the project “Advocating for Improved Access to Educational Materials in Accessible Format”: ( Deadline: 16 October 2020 )

(TOR) Request for quotations to produce and air TV and Radio Talk-Shows/programs for the project “Advocating for Improved Access to Educational Materials in Accessible Format”: ( Deadline: 16 October 2020 )

I.           Background   

Millions of people with visual impairment and print disabilities, including children and learners, are being denied access to books and other published materials. Less than 10% of published works are made into accessible formats in developed countries.

 In developing countries, the situation is even worse as less than 1% of books are ever made into accessible formats. Many students are unable to receive a full education in large part due to the lack of accessible materials. Over 90% of all published materials cannot be read by people with visual impairment or print-disabilities, leading to a “book famine”. There is a need to be able to reproduce published materials into accessible formats, such as Braille, large print, and audio, editions, to address the book famine; however, current copyright law within most countries prevents this.

This global lack of accessible published materials is known as the “book famine”. To overcome this, a treaty known as the Marrakesh Treaty to facilitate access to published works by Visually Impaired Persons and Persons with Print Disabilities) entered into force in September 2016 to directly address the book famine in two important ways. Firstly, it will enable “authorized entities,” such as blind persons’ organizations and libraries, to more easily reproduce works into accessible formats (Braille, DAISY, audio, large print, e-books, etc.), for non-profit distribution. Secondly, the Treaty will permit authorized entities to share accessible books and other printed materials across borders with other authorized entities.

The Marrakesh Treaty builds up a relationship between intellectual property treaties and human rights conventions, especially the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). In view of this, the MT’s main objective is to enhance the human rights of persons who are blind, visually impaired or print-disabled by facilitating their ability to create, read, and share books and other cultural materials in accessible formats

II.    About RUB

Rwanda Union of the Blind (RUB) is a local non-governmental organization legally operating in Rwanda since 1995 to work towards the improvement of the living conditions of persons with visual impairment in Rwanda. It represents an estimated number of 3000 members in Rwanda who are blind and partially sighted and these members are grouped into 64 branches which are located across the country. The organizational activities and interventions aimed at improving the living conditions of persons with visual impairment through advocacy, promoting the education of children with visual impairment, capacity development of members, and rehabilitation program/service.

RUB promotes the rights of people with vision disabilities through advocacy assistance, education, and outreach to build the Rwandan society awareness and support for inclusion. Its members are supported in a wide range of situations, including cases where they have been denied their right to education, to work, to live independently, to access a good standard of healthcare, and to enjoy participating in family and community life.

RUB envisages having a situation where all necessary services for people with visual impairment are provided as a right of the individual and expect to see education and employment opportunities as well as all other welfare services being as available to those who are visually impaired as they are to all other citizens.

The organization utilizes advocacy and lobbying, and other various strategic mechanisms including collaboration with media in order to advocate for access to necessary services and inclusion of persons with visual impairment and improved legal and institutional framework in Rwanda.

Advocacy is RUB’s instrument in ensuring that the views, wishes, and aspirations of visually impaired people are heard when decisions are made about their lives. It aims to legitimize the needs of persons with visual impairment as rights holders as declared in CRPD and uses the Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA) as its main national rights advocacy to address the denial of human rights to persons with visual impairment in Rwanda.

III. About the project

To ensure that the rights of persons with visual impairment arte realized, and to hold the government accountable for its commitments towards the inclusion of PWDs including those with visual impairment, RUB works to address the needs and rights of persons with visual impairment and strives for the improvement of corresponding adequate legal and institutional framework.

It is in this context that in December 2019, RUB was awarded a grant by  Disability Rights Advocacy Fund (“DRAF”) to implement a 1-year project entitled, “ADVOCATING FOR IMPROVED ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS IN ACCESSIBLE FORMAT’’ to advocate the Rwandan government to ratify the Marrakesh Treaty, which will enable persons with visual impairments to have access to educational content on an equal basis with others, in line with CRPD Articles 9 (Accessibility), 21 (Freedom of expression and opinion, and access to information), and 24 (Education). Ratification is also a critical and strategic step towards the fulfillment of the government’s 2018 Global Disability Summit commitments

 IV.THE PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVE OF THE SERVICE REQUIRED

To ensure that RUB keeps serving as a watchdog for the realization of the rights of persons with visual impairment in Rwanda, and to end the book famine among its beneficiaries that are blind and visually impaired persons, would like to raise awareness among the general public on the Marrakesh treaty, its relevance and objectives in order to support RUB in its advocacy work towards the treaty ratification, domestication, and implementation.

The objective of the radio and TV shows/programs is:

The overall objective of the radio and TV talk-shows is to raise awareness of the general public about the Marrakesh Treaty, its relevance, and benefits in order to actively motivate their engagement in calling for the ratification, domestication, and implementation of the  Treaty by the government.

 V. DESCRIPTION AND SCOPE OF THE SERVICE  REQUIRED

RUB would like to invite competent firms/companies to perform the following tasks:

 VI. EVALUATION / SELECTION CRITERIA

All interested firms/companies should meet the following criteria:

All interested firms/companies should meet the following criteria:

• Be registered as an official company/firm in Rwanda and in possession of full registration documents and  TIN number;
• Have the valid tax clearance form and possess EBM to provide official receipts;
• Demonstrate the proof that the bidding firm/company has the ability to air the above-mentioned programs/shows on RBA and TV/Radio 1;
• An organizational profile containing evidence of the work done in this area;
• Expression of interest outlining how the firm/company meets the selection criteria and their understanding of the TOR.;
• Include in the proposal dedicated team members having relevant experience with names and CVs;
• Propose a methodology on how the work will be conducted and the work plan with time frame;
• Experience of working with disability organizations would be an added advantage;
• Have the commitment to submit the most economically advantageous which includes a reasonable price, delivery time, and good quality;
• Have experience in doing similar work( at least 2 references/proofs to be attached )
• A financial proposal detailing itemized fees, production/airing/ and taxes
• Only registered firms/companies will be considered.

V.    CONTENT AND HOW TO SUBMIT  QUOTATIONS

The proposals (both technical and financial) should be in English languages and should indicate the all firm/company’s detailed addresses.  Interested firms/companies should send their signed proposals marked‘’ Request for quotations to produce and airing TV and Radio Talk-Shows/programs for the project “ADVOCATING FOR IMPROVED ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS IN ACCESSIBLE FORMAT”. Due to COVID-19 restrictions; all quotations will be submitted in soft copies to RUB through [email protected] with a copy to [email protected]  not later than Friday, 16^th October 2020 at 4 pm.

Only soft copies will be accepted and both successful bidder and unsuccessful ones will receive feedback on their proposals.

In case further clarifications might be needed during the period of the bid evaluation; RUB may require this in writing to tenderers and responses might be in same channel of communication.  No unsolicited communications from tenderers will be accepted before or during the evaluation period and any queries relating to this tender should be directed to [email protected] and copy [email protected]

Done at Kigali on 9^th October 2020

Dr. Donatilla KANIMBA

Executive Director, RUB