1.  Background and context

Oxfam Kenya is an affiliate of Oxfam International; a global organization committed to ending the injustice of poverty. Through its programmes and advocacy, Oxfam Kenya works to address the structural drivers of poverty and inequality, with a particular focus on economic inequality, gender justice, and accountable governance.

Under the GINI (Global Inequality Influencing) Programme, Oxfam Kenya is implementing a multi-platform public advocacy campaign anchored in its flagship publication, Kenya's Inequality Crisis: The Great Economic Divide (November 2025). The report documents the scale and structural roots of economic inequality in Kenya, drawing on data from the World Bank, KNBS, the IMF, and other credible sources. Key findings include:

• The richest 125 Kenyans hold more wealth than 77% of the population — equivalent to 42.6 million people.
• In 2024, 68 shillings of every 100 shillings collected in taxes were used to repay debt — double the amount in 2017.
• Kenya's extreme poverty rate stands at 46%, the 16th highest in the world, with 7 million more people falling into extreme poverty since 2015.
• The Kenyan job market is 85% informal, with average real wages declining by 11% between 2020 and 2024.
• For every KES 100 a man earns, a woman earns KES 65, reflecting deep and persistent gender inequality.

The campaign seeks to translate these findings into accessible public conversations that reach and resonate with Kenyan audiences — particularly those who are directly affected by inequality and those with the power to influence policy change. Podcast media has been identified as a high-impact channel for this purpose, given its reach, conversational format, and ability to engage educated, urban, and economically active audiences.

2. Objective of the assignment

Oxfam Kenya seeks to engage a podcast service provider to co-produce and host a substantive episode that brings the findings of its Inequality Report to a wider Kenyan public audience. The episode should function as an advocacy communication product — informing, engaging, and motivating listeners around the themes of economic inequality, fiscal justice, and the policy changes needed to build a more equitable Kenya.

Specifically, the assignment aims to:

1. Reach a large, engaged Kenyan audience through an established podcast platform with a demonstrable listenership relevant to Oxfam Kenya's advocacy goals.
2. Host two Oxfam Kenya programme experts as guests in a structured, evidence-led conversation covering the report's key themes.
3. Produce and distribute content — including the full-length episode and derivative social media assets — in a manner that maximizes reach and audience engagement.
4. Amplify Oxfam Kenya's advocacy messaging on inequality, public debt, taxation, and social spending in a format that is accessible, relatable, and credible.
5. Generate a measurable communications output that can be reported against the GINI programme's visibility and advocacy indicators.

3.  Scope of work

The selected service provider will be expected to undertake the following:

3.1 Pre-production

• Hold a pre-production alignment meeting with Oxfam Kenya's communications and programme teams to agree on the episode's framing, key messages, and structure.
• Share a proposed episode outline or running order for Oxfam Kenya's review and approval prior to recording.
• Confirm logistics including recording date, format (in-studio or remote), and technical requirements.

3.2 Production

• Host and record a minimum 60-minute episode featuring two Oxfam Kenya programme officers as guests.
• Ensure the episode covers the following thematic areas, as guided by Oxfam Kenya:
  • Kenya's inequality landscape — income, wealth, and gender dimensions
  • Public debt and its impact on social spending — education, health, and social protection
  • Regressive taxation and the case for progressive fiscal reform
  • Policy recommendations and what a more equal Kenya would look like
• Conduct the conversation in an engaging, accessible style suited to the service provider's established format and audience.
• Allow Oxfam Kenya to review the episode prior to publication and raise any factual or messaging concerns.

3.3 Post-production and distribution

• Edit and produce the final episode to a professional broadcast standard.
• Publish the episode on the service provider's primary podcast platform(s) and distribute to all active listening channels (Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, etc.).
• Produce a minimum of two short-form social media clips or audiograms derived from the episode for distribution across digital platforms.
• Provide Oxfam Kenya with the full-length, unbranded video or audio file for use on Oxfam's own platforms and channels.
• Tag and credit Oxfam Kenya formally in all published content, including episode descriptions, social posts, and platform metadata.
• Amplify the episode through the service provider's own social media channels on the date of publication and for a minimum of one week following release.

4. Deliverables

The following deliverables are expected from the selected service provider:

5. Required qualifications and profile

Oxfam Kenya invites proposals from podcast service providers that meet the following minimum qualifications:

5.1 Mandatory Requirements

• An established podcast with a demonstrable and active listenership based primarily in Kenya.
• A track record of producing high-quality, long-form conversational content on topics related to economics, finance, governance, public policy, or social issues.
• Professional production capabilities — including recording, editing, and multi-platform distribution.
• Active presence on at least three major podcast and/or video platforms (e.g. Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube).
• Willingness to host guests from a civil society or advocacy background and to allow editorial review prior to publication.
• A registered business entity in Kenya with valid compliance documentation.

5.2 Desirable Attributes

• Prior experience working with NGOs, INGOs, development organisations, or public institutions on content partnerships.
• An audience profile that includes professionals, policy stakeholders, urban youth, and economically active Kenyans.
• Strong social media presence and an established practice of clip-based content distribution.
• Demonstrated ability to handle technically complex or data-driven topics accessibly without oversimplifying the content.
• A host or presenting team known for rigorous, intellectually engaging interviewing.

6. Evaluation criteria

Proposals will be evaluated on the following criteria. Only technically compliant proposals will proceed to financial evaluation.

Note: A minimum technical score of 70% is required before the financial proposal is opened. Oxfam Kenya reserves the right to negotiate terms with the highest-scoring technically compliant bidder.

7. Financial proposal requirements

Bidders are required to submit a detailed financial proposal that clearly itemises costs associated with each deliverable outlined in Section 4. The financial proposal should include:

• A line-item budget covering all production, distribution, and administrative costs.
• A clear indication of what is included in the quoted fee and what, if any, costs would be additional.
• Payment terms proposed by the service provider.
• Any in-kind or co-promotion contributions the service provider is willing to bring to the partnership.

Financial proposals should be submitted in Kenyan Shillings (KES). All quoted fees must be inclusive of applicable taxes.

Proposals will be assessed on the basis of value for money — the relationship between cost and the scope, quality, and reach of deliverables proposed. Oxfam Kenya does not commit to accepting the lowest-priced proposal.

8. Proposal submission requirements

Interested service providers must submit a complete proposal package comprising the following:

8.1 Technical Proposal

1. A company or organizational profile, including founding date, team structure, and a brief overview of the podcast's history and growth.
2. An audience overview: follower/listener numbers across all platforms, demographic breakdown (age, location, income profile) where available, and engagement rates.
3. A proposed episode concept including suggested title, thematic framing, proposed structure, and how the service provider would approach making the content accessible and engaging for their audience.
4. A sample of at least two previously produced episodes, preferably covering economic, financial, or social policy themes.
5. A list of at least three comparable partnerships or institutional collaborations, with brief descriptions.

8.2 Financial Proposal

1. A detailed, itemized budget as described in Section 7.
2. Proposed payment schedule.

8.3 Administrative documents

1. Certificate of incorporation or business registration.
2. Valid KRA PIN certificate.
3. Tax compliance certificate.
4. Any other relevant certifications or accreditations.

All proposals must be submitted electronically to the contact details provided in Section 10 by the deadline indicated in the cover page of this TOR. Late submissions will not be considered.

9.  General conditions and ethical requirements

• The selected service provider will be required to sign Oxfam Kenya's standard service agreement, which includes provisions on intellectual property, confidentiality, safeguarding, and reputational risk.
• All content produced under this assignment must be reviewed and approved by Oxfam Kenya's communications team prior to publication. Oxfam Kenya reserves the right to request amendments to ensure factual accuracy and messaging alignment.
• The selected service provider must comply with Oxfam's safeguarding and code of conduct requirements. Engagement with any Oxfam staff or programme beneficiaries must adhere to these standards.
• Oxfam Kenya retains the right to use all produced content — including the full episode, clips, and audio files — on its own platforms without further restriction or additional payment.
• Oxfam Kenya is committed to working with service providers that uphold ethical business practices, including fair treatment of employees and contractors.
• Oxfam Kenya reserves the right to cancel this procurement process at any stage without obligation to any bidder.
• This TOR does not constitute a commitment by Oxfam Kenya to award a contract.

10.  Contact and submissions

All queries and submissions related to this TOR should be directed to:

Our values and commitment to safeguarding

Oxfam is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, adults and beneficiaries with whom Oxfam GB engages. Oxfam expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.

The post holder will undertake the appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding policies of the organisation.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. Oxfam GB also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.  In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.

We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organisation and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

About us

Oxfam is a global community who believe poverty isn’t inevitable. It’s an injustice that can be overcome. We are shop volunteers, women’s right activists, marathon runners, aid workers, coffee farmers, street fundraisers, goat herders, policy experts, campaigners, water engineers and more. And we won’t stop until everyone can live life without poverty for good.

Oxfam GB is a member of international confederation of 21 organisations working together with partners and local communities in the areas of humanitarian, development and campaigning, in more than 90 countries. 

A thriving diverse Oxfam:

It’s people power that brings about change. To play our part as a global organisation working to overcome poverty and inequality, we need equality, diversity and inclusion across our community of staff, partners and volunteers. Together, we’re committed to becoming a more diverse workforce, better able to tackle the global challenges that face our world today.

To do that:

• We need to dismantle the unequal power structures that exist everywhere, this including Oxfam and the wider development and charity sectors.
• We need an inclusive Oxfam where everyone can bring who they are to our work and feels celebrated for the differences they bring.
• We want and need everyone, and that means we need you.