UNDP Jobs - 62371- Editor Cum Proof Reader for Health Related Project

Editor Cum Proof Reader for Health Related Project Material on Long Term Agreement - (Open to Indian Nationals Only)

Location :

New Delhi, INDIA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-Jan-2016

Application Deadline :

19-Dec-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

One year

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

Two years

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

A series of reviews conduced for Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) (organized by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) on a regular basis) have noted that while UIP performance in India has improved overtime, there still remain a number of key constraints impacting immunization coverage in the country.

UNDP under the GAVI HSS Project 2014-2016, is currently working to overcome some of these key constraints for improving UIP.

UNDP under the GAVI HSS Project 2014-2016, is currently working to overcome some of these key constraints for improving UIP

Context

UNDP seeks to hire consultants on long-term basis for a period of initially 1 year (with potential extension for one + one year based on satisfactory performance) for editing and proof reading of Health related project material.

UNDP shall enter into a non-exclusive long term agreement (LTA) with the selected consultant(s) and shall provide specific deliverables and time frames for each task, as and when required. Prospective individuals are requested to take note of the following:

Long Term Agreement is a mutual arrangement between UNDP and an individual to provide the required services at prescribed prices or provisions over a period of 12-24 months, with potential extension of one year. UNDP reserves the right to rescind the agreement during that period should performance of the consultant not meet its requirements;

Under a Long Term Agreement, UNDP does not warrant that any quantity of services shall be purchased during the term of this agreement. Where a request for services arises, UNDP shall directly contract the consultant based on its need to carry out those activities. Report contents will be shared with the selected Consultant/s for editing & proof reading.

The consultant will be awarded a rate contract for the period of one year and are thus required to quote their daily fee rates valid for the duration.

Duties and Responsibilities

UNDP will inform the consultant on the requirement of services with the scope of work (raw material). Estimation on the total number of days of Level of Effort (LoE) will be provided by the Consultant/s and agreed with the Technical Monitor of UNDP. Upon agreement, the consultant will be awarded the work and paid as per the agreed fee rates upon satisfactory completion of work.

Key deliverables:

The consultant will

Read copy or proof to detect and correct errors in spelling, punctuation;
Edit copy to improve fluency;
Plan contents of publications according to the UNDP style guide and publishing requirements;
Point out factual inconsistencies, inconsistencies in arguments, political nuances, faulty logic, and awkward or unclear passages and suggest solutions;
Ensure all references are in order, requesting source information for tables and figures when such information is missing;
Review and approve proofs of print ready versions.
Suggest titles, text for call-outs and other ways to improve the visibility of key messages in the text
As appropriate, work closely with the consultant graphic designer to develop ideas for infographics, charts and images that creatively convey key messages/data in the manuscript;
Proof-read final texts as laid out by designer in .pef file to ensure text and associated graphics are error free.

As the first project, the consultant is required to edit 3 reports (approx.. 70 pages) and one training module (approx.. 120 pages).

Competencies

Excellent analytical and writing skills demonstrating complete fluency in English language;
Demonstrated accuracy and attention to detail;
Ability to be flexible and respond to changes as part of the review and feedback process;
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate and work well with diverse and multicultural supervisors and staff members
Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree in health, development studies and social sciences, journalism, communications, international relations or other development or communications-related area of study.

Experience:

Minimum 5 years of experience as a writer/editor producing/editing relevant publications and products;
Experience in writing for media outlets, development-related organizations, research centres, think-tanks or multilateral institutions required;
Substantive understanding of and/or background in Health and related development areas of specialization.
Consultants should have experience in providing consultancy support to development sector and/or Indian Government sector.
Knowledge of UN, including UNDP terminology, language and style an advantage.

Language:

Complete fluency in English (written and oral).

Important:

The UN P11 form is mandatory and will be sought from the shortlisted candidates;
The candidate must specify if she/he was solely responsible for producing or editing each of the above materials;
Please provide the samples in a document with internet links.

Application process:

Interested individuals must submit the following as proposals in order to demonstrate their qualifications:

Personal CV;
3 to 4 Samples of work you consider to be the best and most relevant examples.

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

Step I : Screening & shortlisting by Desk Review

Applications will be screened and only candidates meeting the following minimum criteria will progress to the pool for shortlisting:

Education: Master’s Degree in health, development studies, social sciences, journalism, communications, international relations or other development or communications-related area of study;
Experience: minimum 5 years as a writer/editor of significant, relevant publications and products;
Samples of original works by the candidate;
Language: Complete fluency in English (written and oral);

UNDP will conduct a desk review to produce a shortlist of candidates by evaluating:

Competences and qualifications based on the CV form submitted by each candidate; and
Submitted samples of work.

Candidates will be assessed and scored against the following evaluation criteria.

Evaluation of Candidates (max 70 points):

Writing as expressed in the work samples makes complex topics interesting and easy to understand with clear, coherent and concise argumentation and analysis – 40;
Relevant experience in writing and /or editing – 30;

Up to 5 candidates who score the highest in the desk review and also meet the minimum threshold (70% - 49 Points) will be invited to take part in a written test to assess their writing and editing skills.

Step II: Written test

The written test will be submitted to the shortlisted candidates via e-mail and they will be given a deadline to respond to the required questions.

The written tests will be evaluated as per the following criteria:

Evaluation of Written Tests (max 70 points)

Accuracy - 25;
Organization, Structure and presentation – 25;
Logical reasoning and analysis - 20;

The threshold to pass the written test is 70% - 49 points.

Step III: Financial Proposals

The candidates invited to sit on a written test will be also requested to provide their financial proposals, which shall contain a daily rate (or an hourly rate) where applicable.

Step IV : Final evaluation

The final evaluation will combine the scores of desk review, written test and financial proposal with the following weights assigned to each:

Shortlisting/ Desk review: 30%;
Written test: 40%;
Financial proposal: 30%.

Contract award

1 to 2 candidates obtaining highest score in the final evaluation will be considered technically qualified and will be offered to enter into a Long Term Agreement with UNDP.

Evaluation timeline

It is expected that the evaluation steps will be undertaken following the below tentative timeline. Candidates must be aware that the timeline can be changed according to the number of applicants and level/quality of responses and written tests.

Screening and shortlisting by desk review – December 2015;

Written test – December 2015;

Final evaluation – January 2016;

Contract award – January 2016.

Payments:

Payments shall be made to the Individual Consultant based on the prescribed rates and upon successful achievement of the tasks and approval of work by task managers.

Notes:

Any kind of miscellaneous charges i.e. internet, phone etc. would not be reimbursed;
Individuals working with institutions may also apply, contract would be issued in the name of institution for the specific services of individual;
Please note proposals without financial proposal will not be considered;
CV and Financial proposal can be clubbed in one file for uploading;
The consultants must bring his/her own computing equipment.

Please group all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document.