Background
The mission of the Bureau for Development Policy (BDP) is to strengthen national governments’ institutional capacity, so that developing countries are increasingly able to tackle the challenges within and across their borders themselves. As an active policy bureau, BDP produces world-class knowledge and advocacy products and reference publications and substantively influences current development debates advocating for transformational change in collaboration with partners and institutions around the globe.
BDP shall enter into anon-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. A specific Term of Reference (TOR) outlining the outputs for each assignment shall be provided and an Individual Contract (former SSA) would be issued to the consultant, detailing the time frame.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Draft and/or edit manuscripts to ensure clarity, consistency and readability of the text for the intended audience;
- Under the guidance of the UNDP task manager and authors/specialists, assemble all chapters/sections; suggesting re-writing as necessary, adding/editing boxes of interest, tables and charts bringing the manuscript to full completion including all necessary components (table of contents, foreword, preface, introduction, bibliography, tables, annexes, boxes, etc.), depending on the product and the tasks set in the Terms of Reference;
- 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;
- Ensure timely incorporation of feedback received from internal and external peer reviewers into draft manuscripts;
- 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 to ensure text and associated graphics are error free.
- Summarize, draft and edit succinct communications pieces in close cooperation with UNDP task managers;
- Produce draft succinct opinion articles for UNDP public website and other media channels, including blogs, based on key knowledge products, publications and other products under the responsibility of UNDP researchers and senior policy advisors; and
- Support the substantive revision of opinion articles and other materials aimed at media outreach in coordination with the author(s), and communications focal points within relevant UNDP teams.
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 at UN Headquarters in New York, Regional Centres and Country Offices;
- Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure.
Required Skills and Experience
- Master’s Degree in development studies and social sciences, journalism, communications, international relations or other development or communications-related area of study;
- 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 one or more of the following areas of specialization: poverty reduction and achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the process to define a post-2015 development agenda; democratic governance; sustainable development, environment and energy; HIV/AIDS, health and development; gender equality and women’s empowerment; and knowledge, innovation and capacity development;
- Proven record in advanced copy editing and/or producing knowledge in the area of sustainable, human development and international development;
- Knowledge of UN, including UNDP terminology, language and style an advantage.
Language:
- Complete fluency in English (written and oral).
Application process:
- Mandatory submission of UNDP Personal History form P11. A personal CV is welcome in addition.
- Samples of work you consider to be the best and most relevant examples of at least two of the following categories.
- An opinion/news article written and/or edited by the candidate;
- An advocacy or outreach-related product (brochure/booklet/press kit) written and/or edited by the candidate;
- A development-related publication or knowledge product written and/or edited by the candidate.
- The P11 form can be downloaded at the following web address: http://sas.undp.org/documents/p11_personal_history_form.doc;
- 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;
- Please note that if internet links are not available, the candidate must otherwise submit the relevant content by email to bdp.roster@undp.org with the subject line "Sample Work for Writer/Editor Long Term Agreement 2013”.
Other:
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.
An estimated volume of work for the individual consultant (s) for one year is expected to be around US$ 55,000, however, UNDP does not guarantee it will place orders for this quantity and is not bound by the LTA to purchase any minimum amount of services.
No travel is envisaged.
- Education: Master’s Degree in development studies and 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);
- Mandatory submission of UNDP Personal History form (P11).
- Competences and qualifications based on the UNDP P11 form submitted by each candidate; and
- Submitted samples of work.
- Writing as expressed in the work samples makes complex topics interesting and easy to understand with clear, coherent and concise argumentation and analysis – 45;
- Relevant experience in writing and /or editing – 30;
- Writing illustrates clear understanding and knowledge of the substantive issues covered by UNDP (as set out above) - 25.
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.
- Accuracy - 30;
- Organization, Structure and presentation – 30;
- Logical reasoning and analysis - 20;
- Tailored to audience – 10;
- Creative writing/style – 10.
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.
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%.