JOBS

UN Women is Looking for Homebased Individual International Consultant – Copy Editor (4 individuals)

Ednah Carrick August 15, 2024

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Closing Date: 16 August 2024

UN Women is Looking for Homebased Individual International Consultant – Copy Editor (4 individuals)

Background

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.

UN Women’s Pacific Office (MCO) works with governments and civil society organisations across 14 Pacific Island countries and territories to address gender inequality, empower women and build more inclusive societies. Over the last 10 years, Pacific Island countries have taken significant strides towards committing to the protection and promotion of human rights.

Despite this, discrimination against women and gender inequality are widely known as the most pervasive and prevalent human rights violations in the Pacific. There remains much work ahead. UN Women in the Pacific region is currently seeking a proficient Copy Editor to optimize written content, ensuring all publications and written outputs are of high quality, clear and engaging.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Copy Editor Consultant under this contract is responsible for:

Editing a variety of content types to produce high-quality, reader-friendly, accessible, timely, results-based donor reports, programme and corporate communications materials, articles, blogs, op-eds, features, policy research reports and other materials to ensure clarity, coherence, accuracy, and adherence aligned with UN Women’s style and messaging guidelines.

Maintaining consistent writing style, tone, and voice across different content formats.
Conducting thorough fact-checking and verification of facts, references, and data to uphold credibility in all edited materials.
Adapting writing styles to suit diverse formats and target audiences, from academic and formal to promotional and advocacy focused.

Collaborating closely with content creators and stakeholders to refine content and align with project objectives.
Effectively managing multiple projects, meeting deadlines, and delivering edited content promptly.
Maintaining confidentiality, handling sensitive information with discretion, and upholding professional integrity.

Expected Deliverables

The expected deliverables for the Copy Editor Consultant include:

Edited articles, blogs, op-eds, features, publications, and other written materials that demonstrate clarity, coherence, accuracy, and adherence to UN Women’s style and messaging guidelines.
Verified and fact-checked references, ensuring credibility and accuracy in all edited content.

Consistent writing style, tone, and voice across different formats, tailored to diverse audiences and communication objectives.
Timely delivery of edited materials, meeting project deadlines and ensuring high standards of quality assurance.
Adapted writing styles that effectively communicate UN Women’s initiatives and priorities, enhancing contextual relevance where applicable.

Documented feedback and recommendations to improve content quality and alignment with project goals.
Maintained confidentiality and adherence to ethical standards in handling sensitive information and maintaining professional integrity.
Commitment to ongoing professional development and staying updated on industry trends and best practices in editing.

Institutional Arrangement

The Individual International Consultant role will be carried out under the guidance and direct supervision of the UN Women Communications and Media Specialist, in close collaboration with communication officers in programme teams. UN Women will provide the consultant with background information, contacts, scripts and concept suggestions when required.

The Individual International Consultant is expected to work remotely using his/her own computer but may access the UN Women Office for printing of relevant documents or should he/she be required to work on-site at any point during the assignment.

Duration of the Work

The duration of this assignment will be 200 working days on a non-consecutive basis over a 36-month period of work assignment.

Duty Station

This is a remote based position. Any travel costs outside of home-based location will be covered separately by UN Women with prior approval based on agreed upon routing and in conformity with UN Women applicable travel rules and regulations.

Performance Evaluation

Contractor’s performance will be evaluated based on timeliness, responsibility, initiative, communication, accuracy, and quality of the products delivered.

Financial Arrangements

Payment will be disbursed on a monthly basis upon submission of report with carried out activities and timesheets and certification by the Supervisor that the services have been satisfactorily performed.

Required Skills and Experience

Education and Certification:

Master’s degree or equivalent in English, Journalism, Social sciences, or other related fields is required.
A first-level university degree with two (2) additional years of progressively responsible experience at the national and/or international level may be accepted in lieu of Master’s degree.

Experience:

At least 2 years (Master’s degree) or 4 years (first-level university degree) of relevant working experience in writing, journalism, copy-editing and media production.
Demonstrated experience in editing similar types of written content, supported by a portfolio, P11 form, or CV.

Experience collaborating with UN agencies or other international organizations is beneficial.
Strong communication and editorial skills are advantageous.
Proven experience in copy-editing, particularly with materials similar to those handled by UN Women.

Portfolio demonstrating proficiency in editing various content types, including articles, reports, op-eds, and publications.
Mastery of grammar, punctuation, and syntax, ensuring clarity, coherence, and adherence to UN Women’s style guidelines.
Proficiency in editing software (e.g., Microsoft Word, Google Docs) and familiarity with content management systems.

Ability to work with live documents efficiently, meeting quick turnaround times and adapting to project requirements.
Knowledge or experience with Pacific region contexts, cultures, and issues is desirable for enhanced editorial relevance.
Strong organizational skills, capable of managing multiple projects, meeting deadlines, and adapting to diverse content needs.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, collaborating effectively with content creators, stakeholders, and UN Women personnel.
Adherence to copyright laws and ethical standards in editing and handling sensitive information.
Offering additional editorial services, such as formatting and document preparation, is advantageous.

Experience working in the Pacific region is beneficial for contextual understanding and relevance.

Languages:

Strong command of English both written and oral.

Good command of Pacific vernacular is an asset, as evidenced through P11.
Computer literacy and ability to effectively use office technology equipment, MS Office, ability to build/adapt databases using accessible software.

Evaluation

Initially, individual consultants will be short-listed based on the following minimum qualification criteria:

Master’s degree or equivalent in English, Journalism, Social sciences, or other related fields is required. A first-level university degree with two (2) additional years of progressively responsible experience at the national and/or international level may be accepted in lieu of Master’s degree.
At least 2 years (Master’s degree) or 4 years (first-level university degree) of relevant working experience in writing, journalism, copy-editing and media production.

Technical evaluation of shortlisted candidates will be done through desk review of applications on the basis of responsiveness to the Terms of Reference (TOR). Interviews and/or written tests will be organised if needed only, depending on the short-listed candidates’ qualifications.