Consultancy: English and/or French Editors/Writers. duration, 11 months (Part time), MENA Regional Office

 

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, commitment.

Consultancy title: Editor/Writer

Duration: 11 months (Part time)

20 July 2021 – 30 June 2022

Duty Station: Home based/Remote support 

The overall objective of this consultancy is to establish a standby arrangement with at least 1 English and 1 French writers/editors to be available at short notice to assist with the writing and editing of documents in English or in French with a focus on improving overall structure, clarity and style that conforms to the UNICEF Style Book.

 

Background

For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote

children’s survival, protection and development. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for

developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

 

UNICEF Middle East and North Africa Regional Office (MENARO) regularly produces documents of significance, such as: reports, strategies, plans, advocacy briefs, position papers, guidelines, case studies, communications materials, etc.

 

UNICEF publications and documents must meet a high-quality standard with respect to their

content, style and quality of writing both in English and French.

 

In order to meet these standards, MENARO will intends to set up a stand-by arrangement through

the present recruitment, comprising at least 1 individual consultant English writers/editors and individual consultant French writers/editors.

 

How can you make a difference?

UNICEF Middle East and North Africa Regional Office (MENARO) is seeking the services of committed professional Writers/Editors to render their services to MENARO at short notice.

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world’s leading children’s rights organization would like to hear from you.

 

The contract will specifically include the following services:

• Copy editing and copy writing of technical documents.
• Writing of documents based on reports, studies and notes provided by UNICEF
• Proof-reading, writing and editing original copy and content on UNICEF-related activities and programme, such as:

– CPDs, strategy notes, reports and publications, including annual corporate reports,

   brochures, meeting reports etc.

– Strategies, plans, guidelines and case studies

– Key messages, briefs, position papers

– Others as required

 

The contract will not extend to production and editing of communications materials such as press releases, media advisories, etc.

 

Deliverables and Schedules

The assignment will involve writing, editing and formatting of documents for review and final

clearance by the supervisor of the consultancy. This includes compliance with the UNICEF style and branding guidelines, grammatical accuracy, factual accuracy and coherence.

 

The specific scope, quality criteria, and estimated number of days and/or half-days required for each assignment requested of the consultant under the consultancy contract will be discussed and agreed in writing before the assignment is initiated.

 

Work will be assigned to the consultants on an as needed basis.

 

Timing

This consultancy is expected to be for a duration of 11.5 months starting from 20 July 2021 and

continuing until to 30 June 2022. The consultants must render themselves available to begin work

on assignments within 24 hours of the sending of a description of the assignment in writing (via

email) by UNICEF.

 

 

Payment requirement

The consultants will be paid for number of days and/or half-days of work, following submission of deliverables for each assignment, and following review of the deliverables against agreed quality criteria and acceptance by the supervisor. Following receipt of a deliverable, MENARO may send comments to the consultant for adjustments and improvement of the deliverable, and in such case the consultant will be required to resubmit the deliverable addressing UNICEF’s comments to its satisfaction prior to payment of the fee.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

 

Consultancy Requirements:

• Completion of an advanced university degree, in social sciences, law, humanities, public health, social work, public administration, or a related field.
• At least 10 years’ experience writing/editing professional and/or academic documents related to the above fields of advanced university study.
• Demonstrated experience with and/or knowledge of UNICEF and the United Nations, as well as the West and Central Africa region
• Excellent written and spoken English (for English consultancy) or French (for French consultancy).

Communication between UNICEF and the consultant will be done remotely via email, telephone, Skype, etc.

 

In her/his application, the candidate should specify whether s/he are applying for the English or French consultancy (s/he may not apply for both consultancies).

 

The application should include the following:

(i)         Curriculum vitae with at least 3 references who must be current or former supervisors

(ii)        Cover letter explaining the candidate’s reasons for applying

(iii)       3 examples of written assignments written exclusively or primarily by the candidate, either from a professional or academic context (preferably a mixture of both). For each assignment, the contact information of the supervisor (academic or professional) to whom the assignment was submitted should be provided.

 

A signed statement disclosing any other ongoing and/or expected employment and/or consulting services for which the candidate is currently and/or is expected to be under contract, and committing to disclose any other employment and/or consulting contracts entered into during the prospective consultancy assignment with UNICEF MENARO. In this statement, the candidate should explain how s/he will manage competing priorities from different contractual obligations to ensure that timely and quality services are rendered to UNICEF MENARO

Applicants are also required to indicate availability and financial quotation in USD to undertake the terms of reference above.

Payment Schedule:

Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed deliverables

Qualified candidates are requested to submit:

1. Cover letter
2. CV or P-11
3. Financial quote as a lump sum, inclusive of professional fees, travel/administrative/subsistence costs, if applicable
4. Names of three referees

Incomplete submissions will not be considered.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People, and Drive for Results.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children.

 

Remarks:

UNICEF only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.