1. Background and Purpose
FNF South Africa is launching a new storytelling initiative aimed at connecting South African and German audiences through authentic, human-centred narratives focused on freedom, innovation, and collaboration.
As part of this initiative, FNF intends to produce a short, impactful digital storytelling campaign surrounding the Falling Walls Summit 2025 in Berlin, a global platform celebrating science, innovation, and groundbreaking ideas.
This campaign will follow the journey of selected FNF-supported participants from South Africa and Zimbabwe as they travel to Berlin to present their work. Through their stories, the campaign will emphasise the potential of collaboration between Africa and Germany in promoting liberal values, innovation, and shared progress.
2. Objective
To create a short-form multimedia campaign (e.g., a 2–3 minute video along with social media cut-downs) that highlights the following:
- The experiences of 1–3 participants from Africa (specifically South Africa and Zimbabwe) attending the Falling Walls Summit in Berlin.
- Their stories of innovation, freedom, and collaboration.
- The symbolic and practical bridges between Africa and Germany in advancing science, ideas, and liberal values.
The content should be visually engaging, centred on human experiences, and adaptable for various platforms (e.g., Instagram, YouTube Shorts, TikTok, and X).
3. Target Audience
The primary target audience for this campaign is German individuals, particularly young professionals, policy enthusiasts, academics, and innovation-driven citizens who are interested in Africa’s potential as a partner in science, technology, and the advancement of liberal democracy.
We want German audiences to:
1. Understand why cooperation with African countries is essential for tackling shared global challenges, such as climate change, innovation gaps, and the need for democratic resilience, especially in countering Chinese narratives.
2. Recognise the value of African perspectives and creativity in developing global solutions.
3. Feel inspired by stories that illustrate how freedom, innovation, and collaboration can transcend borders.
Secondary audiences include African and international viewers who follow FNF’s digital platforms and global liberal networks.
4. Scope of Work
The selected influencer or content creator will be responsible for the following tasks:
1. Conceptualise and produce a short-form digital campaign focused on the Falling Walls Summit.
2. Pre-produce and coordinate with FNF’s Falling Walls Lab participants in South Africa and Zimbabwe prior to the Summit.
3. Film and document their journey and experiences at the Summit in Berlin or coordinate remotely if not travelling.
4. Edit and deliver the following content:
- One 2-3 minute hero video.
- Three 30-60 second social media clips optimised for digital platforms.
- A short campaign narrative along with visual assets (including still images, captions, and hashtags) for FNF's use.
5. Deliverables & Timeline
6. Profile of the Influencer / Content Creator
We are seeking a creative storyteller or micro-influencer who meets the following criteria:
- Has experience in video storytelling, digital campaigns, or social impact content.
- Demonstrates an understanding of African and/or German audiences.
- Is able to travel or coordinate remotely in line with the Falling Walls Summit timeline.
- Is active and credible on social media platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, etc with 10 000 or more followers (on at least one or more of the platforms, not combined)
- Brings a fresh, authentic, and human-centred tone aligned with liberal democratic values.
7. Budget
The total budget available is EUR 10,000, which includes all production, editing, and influencer costs. Proposals should contain a basic breakdown of how the funds will be allocated.
8. Proposal Submission
We invite interested individuals or teams to submit the following:
- A short proposal (maximum of 2 pages) outlining your creative concept and approach.
- Examples or links to previous storytelling or campaign work.
- A brief budget breakdown.
- Your contact details and social media handles.
Please send your proposals with the subject line: “RFP – Falling Walls Storytelling Campaign.”
9. Evaluation Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated based on:
- • Creativity and clarity of the concept.
- • Alignment with FNF’s liberal values and campaign goals.
- • Quality and impact of prior work.
10. Submissions
Please submit all proposals to Kwezi Sogoni (kwezi.sogoni@freiheit.org) by Friday, 31 October 2025. Successful candidates will be informed by the close of business on Monday, 3 November 2025.
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