Long‐term Consultancy for International/National Consultants for English Writer and Editor (part‐time) with UNICEF Bangladesh

Heading:  Long‐term Consultancy for International/National Consultants for English Writer and Editor (part‐time) with UNICEF Bangladesh

Section in Charge:  All Programme and Operations Sections (As needed)

1.  Background:

The UNICEF Bangladesh Country Programme, produces several key documents: proposals, evaluations, research, case studies, and reports, including donor reports. While staff members and relevant consultants are directly responsible to produce these documents, the added task of final, standardized edition of documents for public dissemination cannot be managed internally as this is a labor‐intensive process requiring specialized skills. The Bangladeshi Country Office therefore needs to hire additional professional expertise to assist in these tasks. The ambition is to establish a Long-Term Consultancy with at least 3 individual English writers and editors to be contacted as needed.

Purpose of the consultancy: The overall objective of this consultancy is to hire at least 2 English writers and editors to be available at short notice to assist with the writing and copy editing of documents in English – with a focus on improving overall structure, clarity and style that conforms to the UNICEF Style Book. The contract will specifically include the following services:

·       Copy editing of documents;

·       Writing of documents based on reports, studies and notes provided by UNICEF.

2.  Location: Home based (either Dhaka based or outside)

3. Duration (including potential extension): This mid -term assignment is expected to be for a duration of 23 months starting from October 2017

4.  Supervisor: The Consultant will be supervised by the requesting Section Chief

5. Description of assignment: Editing, formatting and finalization documents for review and final clearance by the Chief of Section. This includes compliance with the UNICEF style and branding guidelines, grammatical accuracy, factual accuracy and coherence.

Tasks

Product/deliverables

1. Writing and/or editing of reports and documents for compliance with UNICEF style and branding guidelines, grammatical accuracy, factual accuracy and coherence.

The final expected deliverables will be based on the request of services from UNICEF. The written or edited documents should be submitted electronically to UNICEF by email to the focal point mentioned in the initial request.

2. Preparation of executive summaries and contents pages, as required.

3. Formatting of reports and documents in compliance with UNICEF style and branding guidelines.

6. Payment: Supervisor and Consultant will jointly establish an estimate of time required for each report/assignment. There will be monthly payments based on satisfactory completion of tasks assigned, and submission of bill for number of hours worked (agreed in advance)

7. Advertisement / Invitations / Request for Expression of Interest will be pursued through circulation through existing HR network, especially at country level and through UNICEF web‐site.

8. Selection process: Interested candidates will be requested to complete technical and financial proposals (see templates). The consultant will then be identified by UNICEF based on a competitive selection process, considering the candidate’s experience, qualifications, capacity, reference checks and the fees requested. If deemed opportune, UNICEF may additionally undertake a written assessment and/or telephone interview with shortlisted candidates.

9.  Qualification and specialized knowledge/experience required for the assignment:

 Education

· University degree in communication studies, journalism, social sciences or a related arts and humanities field;

·  Additional training in proofreading and editorial writing an asset.

 Work Experience

·  Minimum of 8 years of proven experience (both at national and international levels) in writing and editing reports and other communication materials (including human interest stories, advocacy booklets, brochures, concept notes and proposals) in English and Bangla;

·  Good interpersonal skills, including initiative, flexibility and patience

·  Organizational and coordination skills;

·  Computer proficiency including Internet and Microsoft office;

·  Ability to work independently and to meet tight deadlines to deliver products on time;

·  Fluency in English (oral and written); knowledge of other local languages is an asset;

·  Strong knowledge and understanding of the international development environment and related reporting styles and requirements)

·  Candidates who are English speakers and with the ability and flexibility to travel within Bangladesh will have an advantage

10. Other conditions

The consultant is expected to work at home, although desk space may occasionally be provided at the UNICEF office in Dhaka when required and where possible. The consultant is required to use his/her own laptop and submit all deliverables in paper and electronic format. Internet will be provided at UNICEF offices. Consultant will make his/her own arrangements for his/her local transport within Dhaka. UNICEF will pay domestic travel in Bangladesh (for travel to the field as necessary).

 Life and health insurance

UNICEF does not provide or arrange life or health insurance coverage for consultants and individual contractors, and consultants and individual contractors are not eligible to participate in the life or health insurance schemes available to United Nations staff members. Consultants and individual contractors are fully responsible for arranging, at their own expense, such life, health and other forms of insurance covering the period of their services as they consider appropriate. The responsibility of UNICEF is limited solely to the payment of compensation for service‐incurred death, injury or illness as per the provisions detailed below.

 Insurance for service‐incurred death, injury or illness

Consultants and individual contractors who are authorized to travel at UNICEF expense or who are required under their contract to perform services in a UNICEF or United Nations office shall be provided with insurance coverage, through a UNICEF‐retained third party insurance provider, covering death, injury and illness attributable to the performance of official UNICEF duties. Compensation in the event of service‐incurred death, injury or illness shall be equivalent to amounts stipulated in the agreement between UNICEF and the insurance provider.