I. WCS ORGANIZATION BACKGROUND
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a US non-profit, tax-exempt, private organization established in 1895 that saves wildlife and wild places by understanding critical issues, crafting science-based solutions, and taking conservation actions that benefit nature and humanity. With more than a century of experience, long-term commitments in dozens of landscapes, presence in more than 55 nations, and experience helping to establish over 150 protected areas across the globe, WCS has amassed the biological knowledge, cultural understanding, and partnerships to ensure that vibrant, wild places and wildlife thrive alongside local communities.
Working with local communities and organizations, that knowledge is applied to address species, habitat, and ecosystem management issues critical to improving the quality of life of vulnerable rural people whose livelihoods depend on the direct use of natural resources.
II. WCS MONGOLIA PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Established in Ulaanbaatar in 2003, WCS Mongolia has dedicated over two decades to the conservation of Mongolia’s rich wildlife and expansive landscapes. The organization focuses on science-driven, landscape-level conservation, with key efforts in the Southern Gobi and Eastern Steppe, alongside initiatives in Central Mongolia.
At the national level, WCS Mongolia collaborates with government, community groups, civil society organizations, and the private sector to promote biodiversity preservation, landscape connectivity, and sustainable natural resource management. In 2024, WCS Mongolia launched a five-year strategy focused on three key pillars: enhancing ecological function, strengthening landscape connectivity, and building resilience to climate change. These pillars guide the organization’s work, with the overarching vision of ensuring Mongolia’s ecological integrity for future generations.
III. ASSIGNMENT BACKGROUND
At the global level, ecological connectivity is recognized as a critical component for conserving migratory and wide-ranging species. The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) highlights the importance of maintaining connected landscapes to allow species to move freely through their habitats. As a Party to CMS, Mongolia has committed to protecting migratory species and maintaining connectivity across ecosystems. However, increasing infrastructure development and land-use change pose growing risks to wildlife movement, making it essential to strengthen awareness and promote practical connectivity solutions.
The Government of Mongolia has established an inter-sectoral Working Group on wildlife-friendly infrastructure to improve coordination between conservation and development sectors. During the Working Group’s annual meeting on January 22, 2026, members reached a consensus on the 2026 work plan and identified the need to increase public and cross-sector understanding of ecological connectivity. As a result, raising awareness through documentary and other communication tools was included as a key activity to support informed planning and decision-making.
At the organizational level, maintaining connectivity for wildlife is a key conservation priority of the WCS Mongolia program. Ensuring connected habitats enables threatened species to move freely across Mongolia’s steppe and mountain ecosystems. This documentary is therefore needed as a practical communication tool to raise awareness among policymakers, private sectors, and the public on the necessity of habitat connectivity and wildlife-friendly infrastructure in Mongolia.
IV. OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT
The objective of this consultancy is to produce a high-quality short film/documentary film that communicates the importance of habitat connectivity in Mongolia and highlights practical solutions for wildlife-friendly infrastructure and landscape management.
V. SCOPE OF WORK
This consultancy covers the development and production of a character-driven documentary film of approximately 30 minutes communicating the importance of habitat connectivity in Mongolia and highlighting both conservation challenges and practical solutions for maintaining wildlife movement across landscapes. The film will be produced primarily in Mongolian with English subtitles and designed for use in public outreach, policy engagement, and international audiences.
The short film/ documentary should present the issue through compelling visual storytelling, combining wildlife footage, landscapes, interviews with scientists and local communities, and examples of conservation solutions such as wildlife-friendly infrastructure and improved land-use planning.
The assignment will include the following tasks.
Task 1 – Concept Development and Production Planning
- Development of the creative concept and narrative structure for the documentary in coordination with WCS Mongolia. This includes defining the storyline, key messages, filming locations, and potential interview subjects.
- Preparation of a concept note outlining the narrative approach, visual style, filming plan, and production schedule. The concept will translate the scientific concept of habitat connectivity into an accessible and engaging story for a broad audience.
Task 2 – Pre-Production Preparation
- Preparation of the detailed production plan including storyboard, filming schedule, logistical arrangements, and identification of interviewees and filming locations.
- Coordination with WCS Mongolia staff and partners to identify appropriate field locations and filming opportunities related to wildlife movement, conservation initiatives, and landscape management.
- Ensuring all required filming permissions and logistical arrangements are secured prior to field production.
Task 3 – Field Filming and Production
- Filming of landscapes, wildlife where feasible, and conservation activities relevant to habitat connectivity in Mongolia. Recording interviews with scientists, conservation practitioners, government partners, and local communities to illustrate the conservation challenges and solutions related to habitat connectivity. Collection of sufficient supporting footage (B-roll) to support the documentary narrative.
- Filming activities must follow ethical wildlife filming practices and must not disturb wildlife or alter animal behavior. The production team should ensure that all filming is conducted in accordance with conservation best practices and relevant regulations. Sensitive species and research activities must be treated with particular care.
Task 4 – Post-Production and Editing
- Professional editing of the documentary including video editing, sound design, color correction, graphics where appropriate, and preparation of subtitles.
- Development of a draft version of the film for review by WCS Mongolia, followed by revisions based on feedback.
Task 5 – Final Production and Delivery
- Preparation of the final documentary film and supporting materials suitable for use in public screenings, online distribution, educational platforms, and conservation outreach.
- Provision of recommendations for dissemination opportunities such as film festivals, digital platforms, and outreach events.
VI. DELIVERABLES
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Deliverable
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Standard of Quality
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Due Date
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Deliverable 1.
Storyline + script + shooting schedule
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Finalized narrative arc and interview list.
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June 2, 2026
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Deliverable 2.
First draft of videos with subtitle
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First draft of 30-min and 10-min video with English subtitles
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Dec 1, 2026
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Deliverable 3.
Final delivery and Premiere
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Launch-ready files in all required formats including:
• One finalized documentary film (approx. 30 minutes) in Mongolian with English subtitles
• One shortened advocacy version (approx. 10 minutes) with English subtitles
• Subtitle files in English and Mongolian
• All raw footage and project files
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February 28, 2027
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Deliverable 4.
Multi-channel dissemination plan
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Strategy for digital, broadcast, and community reach.
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May 31, 2027
The consultant will provide a "Post-Release Impact Report" three months after the launch, detailing view counts, media mentions, and qualitative feedback from key stakeholders.
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Engagement Framework & Target Metrics of the Multi-Channel Dissemination Plan:
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Channel
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Primary Target Audience
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Target Reach (Est.)
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Data Source / Verification
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National TV (Mongolia)
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General Public & Policy Makers
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100,000+ Viewers
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Broadcast Station Rating Reports
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International Festival(s)
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Global Conservation Community
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2+ Submissions
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Laurels/Selection Certificates
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Social Media (FB/YT)
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Youth & Urban Population
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50,000+ Views
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Meta Business Suite / YT Analytics
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Community Screenings
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Local Herders & Regional Gov.
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100+ Attendees
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Signed Attendance Sheets/Reports
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Educational Portals
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Students & Researchers
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2+ Institutions
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Download/Access Logs
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VII. REPORTING AND SUPERVISION
The consultant will report to the WCS Mongolia Communications Manager and work closely with the WCS Mongolia program team. Regular weekly progress updates will be provided during production and key deliverables will require approval from WCS Mongolia before proceeding to the next phase.
VIII. DURATION OF THE WORK
The assignment is expected to take place between 1 May 2026 and May 31, 2027.
IX. CONSULTANT QUALIFICATIONS
The consultant or production team should demonstrate:
- Proven experience producing short film/documentary films
- Experience filming ethical wildlife or environmental stories
- High-quality cinematography and editing capabilities
- Ability to work in remote field conditions
- Experience producing films for international audiences or festivals
- Drone filming capability (licensed where required)
- Prior experience with wildlife photography and videography is preferred
X. PAYMENT SCHEDULE
Payments are performance-based and released upon the approval of milestones:
- 20% upon approval of Deliverable 1
- 35% upon approval of Deliverable 2
- 35% upon approval of Deliverable 3
- 10% upon approval of Deliverable 4
XI. SUBMISSION DETAILS
Interested consultant teams are invited to submit a single PDF document containing:
- Technical Proposal – Creative approach, equipment list, and production methodology.
- Financial Proposal – An itemized financial proposal presenting a full cost breakdown of the assignment, inclusive of all applicable taxes, fees, and incidental expenses.
- Profile/Legal Documents – including company registration (for firms) or proof of legal status (for individuals).
- Examples of similar work conducted; Links to previous short film/ documentary work of similar scale.
- References – at least two references from similar assignments with contact details.
All proposal must be submitted electronically to WCS Mongolia by 20 April 2025 via email at procurementmongolia@wcs.org and please include the subject line: “Habitat Connectivity Documentary”
Only complete applications submitted by the deadline will be considered. Shortlisted candidates may be invited for an interview or follow-up discussion.