UNDP Jobs - 67473- Professional Editor for the Kerosene Study Report

Professional Editor for the Kerosene Study Report

Location :

Home-based, TURKEY

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

02-Aug-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

estimated 12 August – 12 September 2016

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

approximately 18 working days

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

UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub (UNDP-IRH) is seeking the services of a professional editor to review and edit “The Kerosene Study Report”, a global study that was completed recently, ensuring language and style consistency in strict compliance of the UNDP Style Manual and serve, and prepare accompanying briefs as strong advocacy tools.

UNDP’s development efforts are defined by its current Strategic Plan 2014-2017. Sustainable energy is presented as an engine for poverty eradication, social progress, gender equality, enhanced resilience, economic growth and environmental sustainability that evidences the direct impacts on people, communities and countries. Sustainable access to energy is highlighted as scalable target with a focus on policy, legal and regulatory frameworks as well as institutional capacities that can lower investment risks, and strengthen capacities to expand investments at the national and sub-national levels.

Globally, 1.1 billion people still lack access to electricity and another 1.2 billion have unreliable access. By region, the deficit remains overwhelmingly concentrated in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. The majority of this underserved population either depends on kerosene for poor quality lighting or spends most of their nights in darkness. Significant development, climate, health and economics related research presents evidence that the continuation of kerosene usage extends the cycle of energy poverty, environmental degradation, chronic illness and premature deaths, and restricts economic growth in developing countries. Despite this continued documentation on negative impacts, the use of kerosene for basic lighting in rural areas and cooking in urban areas continues to be widespread in many developing countries, propelled by both the continuing lack of alternatives and the government support for kerosene availability, mainly for lighting and intended for poor populations.

To affect systemic change in the use of kerosene and its accordant subsidies, in 2016 UNDP is proposing to launch the global ‘Clean Light For Life’ Initiative which would initially focus on selected high impact developing countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia Pacific, the Arab States and Latin America & the Caribbean. The initiative would aim to advocate, develop and implement a global partnership platform for accelerating the transition away from the use of kerosene for lighting through the offering of affordable, reliable and sustainable off-grid lighting products and services. UNDP’s strong country presence would enable it to effectively work with partners at both the global and national levels.

In order to support the development of a strong global advocacy platform and network, UNDP has recently completed an assessment of kerosene consumption and subsidy for selected countries. This assessment lays the foundation to engage with partner Governments on a kerosene transitioning programme as part of the “Clean Light for Life” Initiative. The intent is to provide evidence to support decision-makers as they strive to protect and enhance both the environment and the lives of the energy poor.

As part of its communications and advocacy plan of the kerosene transition initiative, UNDP would like to produce an advocacy oriented report and briefs that aim to present the findings and recommendations of the kerosene study. A professional writer/editor is, therefore, needed to review and edit the report and prepare three accompanying briefs to draw the attention of the busy managers and policy-makers.

The Kerosene Study Technical Report is available for review at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5iN6Fqc7pyPLVVDRHV0UTF3SDg/view

Objectives of the assignment: To provide a thorough review and edit of “The Kerosene Study Report” (a 91-page document) and produce its accompanying briefs (3), ensuring language and style consistency across all reports, in strict compliance of the UNDP Style Manual and presenting them as strong advocacy tools.

Duties and Responsibilities

Review and edit the final draft of The Kerosene Study Report (91-page document) and produce an executive brief of no more than 3 pages, as per the UNDP Style Manual and guidelines on publication standards - as provided by UNDP. This will include stylistic and language changes of the text, wherever necessary;
In finalising the editorial work, ensure the sequencing of the sections follow a structure that any external reader is able to follow easily;
Produce an abridged Kerosene Report that will serve as a standard reference document of no more than 30 pages and a brief that will serve as an advocacy document for policy-makers of no more than 10 pages;
Address at least two rounds of review to the final reports based on relevant UNDP feedbacks;
Liaise with the primary supervisor to obtain additional inputs and verification/validation;
The editor is expected to deliver an electronic version of the final language edited documents - The Kerosene Study Report with a 3-page executive summary, the abridged Kerosene (reference) Report (maximum 30 pages), and the brief for policy-makers (10 pages);
The consultant will be under the overall supervision and guidance of the UNDP’s Global Energy Policy Advisor.

The consultant is expected to be home-based and thus required to communicate with UNDP colleagues the kerosene study. No travel is required for this assignment.

Competencies

Corporate competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Functional competencies:

Strong interpersonal skills, communication and diplomatic skills, ability to work in a team;
Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations;
Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities;
Excellent public speaking and presentation skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications/Education:

Bachelor’s Degree in social sciences, pure sciences, energy, natural resource management, development, journalism, or communications.

Experience:

Minimum 7 years of professional experience in editing, report writing or research;
Work in the area of sustainable development, energy access, energy or environmental policy will be an asset;
Previous experience with UN/international agencies is an advantage.

Language skills:

Excellent writing and editing skills in English.

Evaluation of Applicants:

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ qualifications and financial proposal.
The award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Only the highest ranked candidates who would be found qualified for the job will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Technical Criteria - 70% of total evaluation – max. 35 points:

Criteria A (Degree in social sciences, pure sciences, energy, natural resource management, development, journalism, or communications) – max points: 5;
Criteria B (Minimum 7 years of professional experience in editing, report writing or research) – max points: 10;
Criteria C (Work in the area of sustainable development, energy access, energy or environmental policy) – max points: 5;
Criteria D (Writing/editing samples in the area of sustainable development, energy access, energy or environmental policy – 3) – max points: 10;
Criteria E (Previous experience with UN/international agencies) – max points: 5.

Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation – max. 15 points.

Application procedures:

Qualified candidates are requested to apply online via this website. Please note that only 1 (one) file can be uploaded therefore please include all docs in one file. The application should contain:

Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position. Please paste the letter into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application.
Samples of your recent writing/editing work, preferably in the area of sustainable development, energy or environmental policy (3);
Filled P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees (blank form can be downloaded from http://europeandcis.undp.org/files/hrforms/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc ); please upload the P11 instead of your CV.
Financial Proposal* - specifying a total lump sum amount for the tasks specified in this announcement. Applicants are instructed to submit their financial proposals in US Dollars. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal should be all-inclusive and include a breakdown.
Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials. Please group all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document.

*Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant/contractor during the contract period (e.g. fee, health insurance, vaccination and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services...).

Payments will be made only upon confirmation of UNDP on delivering on the contract obligations in a satisfactory manner.

Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director. Consultants are also required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under dss.un.org
General Terms and conditions as well as other related documents can be found under: http://on.undp.org/t7fJs.

Qualified women and members of minorities are encouraged to apply.
Due to large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.