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, 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 East and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) produces several knowledge products that must undergo quality assurance process that include editing and proof reading before design and dissemination. The Knowledge Management and Research unit is soliciting for interested and qualified candidates (individuals, not firms) to be considered for editing, writing/drafting and proofing consultancy for UN Women ESARO Knowledge Products on a continuous basis. As a result, UN Women ESARO is seeking to contract a qualified individual consultant that will provide a range of editorial and writing services, including editing, writing/drafting and proofreading in English. In this regard, UN Women seeks to employ the services of professional and technical editors to support with this role.

Working under the guidance of the Knowledge Management and Research Specialist and in close collaboration with the programme focal point, the editor’s primary tasks may include the following, among others:

The main objective of the assignment is to offer editorial, technical writing/drafting and proofing services for UN Women ESARO publications

Scope of Work

• Access to internet connection during the period of the contract to send and receive electronic communications and assignments;
• The standard software used at UN Women is Microsoft Office;
• Edited and/or written documents must be returned to UN Women with tracked changes where possible;
• The consultant is responsible for acquiring the necessary software licenses, UN Women will not pay for software licenses or connectivity fees.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Edit, copy-edit and proof-reading of draft regional knowledge products (using track changes) – Edit, the regional knowledge products and generate final versions that will be ready for design and publication. The editing process will include a revision of the current text with tables and figures, references and citations to achieve an optimal flow of information and presentation of the findings;
• Substantively re-drafting and synthetizing of sections of the drafted text, writing abridged versions, executive summaries and other requested text to attain easy readability and understanding, particularly, to non-expert audiences in consultation with UN Women focal persons;
• Prepare a list of proposed changes to figures in Word;
• Check that word usage is appropriate;
• Eliminate abbreviations as far as possible and ensure that essential abbreviations are spelt out at the first mention;
• Delete excessive italic, boldface and quotation marks;
• Ensure that numbers and units of measurement are used appropriately and consistently;
• Check the spelling and presentation of Member States’ names;
• Check other proper names (cities, international conventions, conferences, nongovernmental organizations, named individuals, etc.);
• Edit chapter titles, subheadings and table and figure legends for brevity, consistency and parallel construction, and check numbering if appropriate;
• Check formatting of chapters, sections, subsections, paragraphs, lists (e.g. with bullet points) and table and figure captions for consistency;
• Ensure that UN Women style Guide has been used for reference lists/bibliographies and that the information for each reference is complete, in the correct sequence and formatted correctly;
• Ensure that all cross-references to chapters, sections, subsections, tables and figures are correct;
• Monitor paragraph length and content. Eliminate verbatim repetition of text, tables or figures and cut out redundant passages;
• Check for and eliminate or query discriminatory language.

Level 2 editing and proofing:

• Establish the purpose and intended readership of the material to be edited and ensure that the writing style is appropriate;
• Ensure that technical terms are used precisely and in accordance with the recommendations of UN Women Style Guide and other international bodies;
• Identify possible factual errors and bring to attention to UN Women;
• Identify and take appropriate action regarding material that shows undue bias, is politically or legally sensitive, or whose publication would be prejudicial to the best interests of UN Women;
• Improve the presentation and wording so that the text is easier to read and understand. Check the overall structure and suitability of headings. Simplify technical language, eliminate jargon and introduce definitions when needed. Rewrite long, complicated sentences;
• Eliminate verbosity, pomposity and discriminatory language. Ensure that there is no ambiguity in the language used – English is not the mother tongue of many readers and the text may be translated into other languages. Eliminate unnecessary and repeated material;
• Check that the titles of references cited correspond to the subject matter in the text at the point of citation;
• Advise on the selection and effective use of tables, illustrations, text boxes, footnotes and annexes;
• Ensure that they prove their point and that any text included is edited (for technical reasons it is preferable to edit figures only on hard copy and not on screen);
• Make the presentation of similar data consistent. Check that any tables, figures and annexes are correctly cited in the text. Check that the main text correctly reflects the information given in tables and figures, and that any simple mathematical calculations (e.g. column totals) are correct;
• Make suggestions on layout, as appropriate;
• Compile a list of queries (e.g., regarding technical errors and ambiguities, inconsistencies and faulty logic) for the author as a separate list or embedded in the text using the comments facility, as requested. For long or complex assignments, it is advisable to send a list of queries after editing each chapter or section, as appropriate;
• Revise the material to consider the author’s responses to editorial queries;
• Draft new text if requested.

Deliverables:

1. Draft tracked edited versions of the respective knowledge products shared with the consultant for their editorial services;
2. Final copy-edited and proofread versions of the above knowledge products sent to UN Women;
3. Technical writings/drafts of written works whether abridged versions, key messages, fact sheets, executive summaries, background papers, journal papers, policy briefs among other products written from various UN Women shared reports/publications.

Consultant’s Workplace and Official Travel:

This is a home-based consultancy. There is no official travel.

Competencies

Core Values: 

• Respect for Diversity
• Integrity
• Professionalism

Core Competencies: 

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues
• Accountability
• Creative Problem Solving
• Effective Communication
• Inclusive Collaboration
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Leading by Example

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Core Values and Competencies: https://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/employment/application-process#_Values

Functional competencies : 

• The ability to research and check facts and to question the validity of statements in the text;
• Sensitivity to the message that the author is typing to convey and the ability to judge the level of intrusiveness necessary in relation to institutional style guide;
• Demonstrated experience on gender and development;
• Demonstrated communication skills in English.
• Excellent editing & writing;
• Good understanding of gender and development issues in Africa;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Highest standards of integrity, discretion and loyalty;
• Thoroughness and loyalty;
• Adaptability and flexibility and the ability to work under pressure and to short deadlines;
• Good IT skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education and Certification:

• Masters degree in social science, education, communications, english, development or any other relevant field;
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• At least Seven years of work experience in development of content, writing, editing, proof reading, reporting and documentation of publications and knowledge products with development institutions in line with institutional style manuals;
• Previous work with international institutions in the field of editorial services preferred;
• Experience working for international organizations.

Languages:

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required;
• Knowledge of the other UN official working language is an asset.

All applications must include (as an attachment) a completed UN Women Personal History form (P-11) which can be downloaded from https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/2022-07/UN-Women-P11-Personal-History-Form-en.doc

Please note that the system will only allow one attachment and candidates are required to include in the P-11 form links for their previously published reports and articles completed within the last two years. Applications without the completed and signed UN Women P-11 form will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment.

Notes:

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Diversity and inclusion:

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.

If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.

UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.