The “United Voices in Action” program, implemented by IREX in Ukraine with the support of the U.S. State Department, works to enhance stabilization in Ukraine by promoting the integration of civil society and increasing community cohesion. As part of this program, a game for children ages 10-14 will be created with the aim of developing critical thinking and information resilience skills in children, as well as training game facilitators who can later pass on these skills to teenagers for further game sessions. 

To achieve this, VIA is announcing a competition for the procurement of consulting services for the following tasks: 

• Development of an educational game for children and teenager ages 10-17 in the form of a quest and board game. The game will be developed in partnership with a media literacy specialist. Development will include creating tasks aimed at developing children’s media literacy; instructions for hosts and players; lists of necessary game materials and equipment; game methodologies; and any other necessary elements of the game.  
• Adaptation of the game to an online format. 
• Close communication with the IREX team (email, online meetings). 
• Preparation of reports in accordance with instructions provided by IREX. 

 Requirements for candidates: 

• Experience developing educational games for children and teenagers. 
• Understanding of the needs, interests, and psychological characteristics of children ages 10-14. 
• Understanding of the Do No Harm approach, gender equality principles, social inclusion concepts (working with people of different backgrounds, ages, genders, religious beliefs, places of residence, and disabilities, as well as with civil society organizations and others), and their application in developing materials and conducting training sessions. 
• Responsibility and the ability to meet deadlines are important qualities for this job. Flexibility and adaptability in work are also valued. 
• If the candidate has a work portfolio, this will be considered an advantage. 

The estimated timeline for game development is March-May 2023. The following documents are required to participate in the competition: 

1. Letter of interest (up to 1 page) with a brief description of the candidate’s experience in game development and understanding of the requirements and tasks of the competition. 
2. CV (up to 2 pages) with relevant experience in game development, highlighting experience in creating educational games for children and teenagers. 
3. Portfolio of works, if available (links to previously developed games or materials). 
4. Contact information for two references. 
5. Expected cost estimate (in USD) for the provision of consulting services, indicating the amount of time and specific tasks to be performed. 

The deadline for submitting resumes and other documents is March 23, 2023, and they should be sent to tender-ua@irex.org with the subject line “Expert/Game Designer Position for Development of an Educational Game for Children.” 

The competition will take place in two stages. The first stage is an evaluation of resumes and other submitted documents. The second stage is interviews with candidates invited based on the results of the first stage, as well as the verification of recommendations.