[Consultancy] Storytelling Individual Consultant Expert

Position title: Storytelling Individual Consultant Expert

Position location: Hybrid - Remote & in person in Colombo with travel to Jaffna

Reports to: Project Director

Duration: 3.5 Months

Expected Start Date: 1st May, 2026

Application Deadline: 15th May , 2026

The WUSC is seeking the support of an external collaborator to tell the GRIT Entrepreneur story!

Terms of Reference (ToR) - Storytelling Individual Consultant Expert – Responsible for the preparation of communication products for GRIT Project - Sri Lanka.

Background:

WUSC is a Canadian global development organization working to catalyze positive education and economic outcomes for young people. We bring together and collaborate with a diverse network of partners (including students, volunteers, schools, governments, not-for-profits, and businesses) who share this mission. Together, we influence systems change, and foster inclusive, youth-centered solutions that enable young people to thrive and belong. We work with all young people, with a focus on women and displaced populations. WUSC currently operates in 28 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as in Canada, with an annual budget of approximately CAD $65 million. Our global team includes over 100 staff in Canada and more than 350 staff internationally, implementing a diverse portfolio of development projects in collaboration with numerous multilateral and bilateral donors, and philanthropic foundations.

The Growth, Resilience, Investment and Training (GRIT) program is a 6-year collaborative initiative with an ultimate outcome of improved economic well-being, especially among women in the North of Sri Lanka (SL). It will build sustainable pathways to enhance economic empowerment, well-being and inclusive growth by testing innovative, sustainable models to improve the enabling environment and reduce gender-specific barriers to increase equitable and sustainable growth of start-up, early-stage and growth-stage enterprises. GRIT aligns with Canada’s commitment made towards Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 (gender equality and empowerment), SDG 8 (decent work for all), Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy action area on growth that works for everyone and Whistler Principles to accelerate innovation for development impact.

The project is implemented in close collaboration between Sri Lankan partners, notably the Lanka Impact Investment Network (LIIN), Hatch, and YARL IT Hub. International support will be provided by DMZ at Toronto Metropolitan University.

To achieve this goal, the Project has identified five interrelated components and works on:

1. Increased gender-responsive incubation and acceleration services
2. Increased access to capital for entrepreneurs, especially women
3. Increased access to international markets, especially Canadian markets.
4. Increased capacity of ecosystem actors to offer gender–responsive business development support (BDS) and investments
5. Increased collaboration between ecosystem actors

In addition, the Project is supported by continuous research and identification of good practices arising from project implementation. Under Outcome 5 of the Project, an ecosystem knowledge management strategy has been developed. This strategy works to identify the areas and needs of knowledge to be generated and shared, the mechanisms for collecting, processing, and disseminating it, the communication channels, and the audiences for disseminating this knowledge. Outcome 5 covers a range of areas including visibility. Under this umbrella, the Project is requesting the production of communication products, focusing on results.

The external consultant will be provided with a series of reports and M&E data, which they should use to extract main results in quantitative and qualitative bases to produce final communication products on the Project implementation. The external collaborator will also receive all relevant information about project activities and initiatives from the project / country teams.

Objectives of the assignment:

The objective of the assignment is to provide advice and practical support to scale-up communications for the GRIT project components, especially focusing on specific events and the entrepreneurs’ journey within the ecosystem.

The deliverables of this assignment will enable GRIT and its partners to inform key audiences (national stakeholders, development partners, Canadian audiences, investors & entrepreneurial ecosystem actors) about envisioned and realised results and impacts of the Project. Communication products will embrace a human-centred and story-telling approach around women entrepreneurship.

Scope of work:

The scope of this assignment comprises a series of tasks as described below.

Note that for the entrepreneur profiles and video publications, professional copy-editing, layout/graphic design and translation services are expected to be performed by the consultant.

For online products, the consultant is expected to deliver ready-to-use products with appropriate language specifications as per the WUSC / Global Affairs Canada style guide.

Deliverables:

• 3 entrepreneur stories that, through a human-centred communication approach, will highlight the vision and results of a project component through the eyes of women entrepreneurs. The entrepreneurs for these stories will be provided the project team. The consultant should provide all required consent forms and approvals to use the story. Accompanying photographs/videos should be obtained for the story layout. The consultant should propose layout of the story, provide first drafts for review and final products in a three part series (preparation for a key event, during the event using materials provided by the Canada team [specifications to be provided by the consultant on sound bites/videos/etc.] and upon return from Canada). Further details to be provided during task orientation. Videos should be in a preferred language by the entrepreneur with subtitles as needed in either English or Tamil;

• 2 press releases covering the three stages through coordination with the project team and the three entrepreneurs. Media Contacts and coverage / dissemination plan to be provided by the consultant; The external consultant should pre-draft the press release by analysing meeting information, interviews, presentations, videos and others. These should be produced and released 1 week prior to the entrepreneurs’ departure to Canada and one after their return within two weeks upon arrival in Sri Lanka. The length of the release should be of at least 600 words each. Releases should be delivered in English and Tamil and published in both language media.

• 3 entrepreneur profile spotlights;

• 3 partner videos showcasing their engagement and contribution to the entrepreneurship ecosystem;

The external consultant will receive from the project team a number of reports and information related to the Project to be condensed into short results messages. The consultant is expected to analyse this information, focusing on specific results/positive changes produced by the Project. The consultant consults the project M&E officers on key results as per project output and will have the opportunity to engage in discussions with entrepreneurs, project teams, project partners, resource persons and relevant stakeholders / family members to develop stories and profiles.

Final Comms Assets to be produced:

3 before and after video stories of the selected entrepreneurs

2 partner videos showing their work

3 entrepreneur profiles / spotlights

2 press releases

1 dissemination plan

2 reach report (results of dissemination plan)

Assignment deliverables and timeframe:

The proposed assignment is not full time. The assignment is expected to take around 35 working days to be completed.

These days will be distributed in a contract period from 1st May to 15th August, 2026.

No - Deliverable - Deadline - LOE / Days (total 35)

1. Implementation / Work Plan, including the following:

(a) Project orientation meeting and planning - 10th May - 0.5 Days

(b) Inception report including draft story board & field visits plan - 15th May - 2 Days

(c) Dissemination plan - 30th May - 1 Day

2. First Comms Package

(a) First draft of the pre-departure press release - 10th June - 2 Days

(b) First draft of pre-departure videos - 15th June - 5 Days

(c) Final draft of the press release after incorporating edits - 18th June - 0.5 day

(d) Final pre-departure videos incorporating requested edits - 20th June - 2 Days

(e) Entrepreneur Profile Spotlights - 25th June - 2 Days

(f) Dissemination of pre-departure videos and press release - 25th June - 0.5 Day

3. Second Comms Package

(a) 1st reach report and comms products submission - 10th July - 1 Day

(b) First draft of partner videos - 15th July - 5 Days

(c) Final partner videos after incorporating edits - 20th July - 2 Days

4. Third Comms Package

(a) First draft of the post-arrival press release - 25th July - 2 Days

(b) First draft of post-arrival videos - 30th July - 5 Days

(c) Final draft of the press release after incorporating edits - 1st of August - 1 day

(d) Final post-arrival videos - 3rd of August - 2 Days

(e) Dissemination of post-arrival videos and press release - 5th August - 0.5 day

5 Final Report & Submissions

(a) 2nd Reach report and final user-friendly comms products submission, rights and access editable files - 10th August - 1 Day

Schedule of payments:

Payments will be made in relation to this contract as follows based upon submission of deliverables to the satisfaction of WUSC and upon presentation of an invoice:

Payment (% of total contract value)

Deliverable 1: 15%

Deliverable 2: 25%

Deliverable 3: 25%

Deliverable 4: 25%

Deliverable 5: 10% (Final Payment)

Reporting and specific clauses:

The consultant will report to the Project Director, GRIT project and coordinated by the district office and WUSC Sri Lanka Country Office technical team as required.

Throughout the course of this assignment, the consultant will remain in regular exchange with WUSC for coordination and follow-up. For this purpose, a detailed implementation / workplan will need to be presented at the beginning of the assignment. If it appears necessary to modify work tasks, the consultant must discuss the circumstances with the WUSC and obtain prior written approval.

All data and information received from the WUSC for the purpose of this assignment are to be treated confidentially and are only to be used in connection with the execution of these Terms of Reference.

Key values and compliance:

DO NO HARM

WUSC is committed to a Do No Harm ethical mandate to avoid causing harm. It requires practitioners to prevent or minimize unintended negative impacts of their interventions on program participants, communities, partners and stakeholders, ensuring actions do not worsen existing conflicts or create new dangers.

Safeguarding WUSC also expects compliance to safeguarding by those undertaking interventions / activities to protect vulnerable children and adults from harm and abuse. These principles ensure that responses are person-centered, proactive, and collaborative, aiming to support independence while ensuring safety.

Anti-Discrimination, Diversity & Inclusion at WUSC

WUSC is strongly committed to anti-discrimination, diversity, and inclusion in our organization’s operations, practices, programming, and public-facing work. In our 2025 update to our Gender, Age, and Diversity policy, we committed to taking an intersectional approach to our understanding of diversity and inclusion. As the policy defines, the interconnected nature of social categorizations such as race, gender, and class (see image for more) as they apply to a given individual or group creates overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination, disadvantage, power, and privilege.

Required skills and experience:

Post-graduate qualification in a relevant field (journalism, communications, or social science with proven experience in communications).

• At least 5 years of progressive experience in communications for development interventions in the areas of work of economic outcomes, especially entrepreneurship, gender equality, social inclusion and story-telling
• Excellent English communication writing skills, visual designing & video production skills

• At least working knowledge of Tamil required

• Proven by providing written communications samples and story-telling videos

• Ability to work independently to meet deadlines.

• Knowledge of the WUSC / GAC branding guidelines is an asset and style guide are an asset

Application Process

WUSC’s activities seek to balance inequities and create sustainable development around the globe; the work ethic of our staff, volunteers, representatives and partners shall correspond to the values and mission of the organization. WUSC promotes responsibility, respect, honesty, and professional excellence and we will not tolerate harassment, coercion, sexual exploitation or abuse of any form. Successful applicants will be required to undertake an enhanced criminal record check where appropriate.

WUSC is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities. Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. No telephone calls please.

Independent consultants interested in the assignment are invited to apply and provide the following by 1st May 2026:

1. Technical proposal (maximum 4 pages) to include:

• The consultant’s proposed methodology and approach
• Work plan and timeline
• Relevant experience delivering similar work

2. Financial proposal, to include:

• Consultancy fee broken down by deliverable

3. Consultant CV

4. Work Samples

• • At least three writing samples
    and two visual samples

5. References: Two reference contacts