UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, answers

UNICEF Innocenti produces publications for the web and for print. These products are required to meet a high standard of quality and adherence to the UNICEF style and branding.
UNICEF Innocenti’s Editorial and Flagship (E&F) unit is involved in more than 120 products a year, including 10 to 15 major products. Over the coming 12 months, a significant number of these products (42 in total) will be linked to the GRASSP Project.
GRASSP stands for gender-responsive and age-sensitive social protection. Innocenti is undertaking this five-year research programme, generously funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and other partners, to examine how such social protection systems can sustainably reduce poverty and achieve gender equality. As this programme comes to an end in 2023, 23 reports and 19 briefs will be issued, including at least one major synthesis report.
UNICEF Innocenti’s Editorial and Flagship Unit seeks a consultant to undertake copyediting and proofreading of these publications. Note that not all publications will require copyediting. Further, some publications will be in languages other than English. The consultant will report to the Project Manager for GRASSP publications and will liaise closely with the UNICEF Innocenti Communications Specialist (Managing Editor) and the UNICEF Innocenti Design Specialist.

How can you make a difference?

The consultant will provide copy editing and proofreading services in English to the highest possible standards (please see list of publications in the attachment)

42 GRASSP Products.pdf

Copy Editing
Copy editing of the publications should be to the highest professional editorial standards in accordance with the UNICEF Style Book and United Nations Editorial Manual, ensuring correct grammar, syntax and punctuation; accuracy and consistency in spelling, capitalization and abbreviation/acronyms; correct terminology and United Nations country names; correct and consistent use of footnotes, endnotes, references and other bibliographic entries; accuracy of all URLs; readability and consistency of logic and flow; clear and concise titles, headings and subheadings; complete and correct front and back matter.

Responsibilities
Copy editing of the publications (including frontmatter, the main narrative text, boxes, figures, graphics and endnotes and footnotes, data annex introduction, executive summary and regional briefings to the highest professional editorial standards, to ensure:
• Accuracy and consistency in spelling, capitalization and abbreviations/acronyms
• Adherence to UNICEF in-house style
• Correct terminology and United Nations country names
• Correct and consistent style of footnotes, endnotes, references and other bibliographic entries;
• Accuracy of all URLs
• Complete and correct back matter

Proofreading
Proofread designed PDF pages of main report, executive summaries and other outputs against original manuscripts, Word documents and PDF files and provide final check of text for spelling, grammar, punctuation, and spacing.

Responsibilities
Proofread against the final copy-edited manuscript, a Word document, to ensure complete transfer of the text, graphics, photos, illustrations and other elements into the designed PDF pages.
• Check and correct, as needed, cross-references within text, endnotes and footnotes
• Check endnote and numbering and placement to ensure consistency with the manuscript
• Proofread for correct positioning of all graphs/charts, tables and maps, and accuracy of cross references
• Make sure photographs, illustrations, captions and credits are complete and presented in complinance with UNICEF style
• Proofread for proper use and consistency of colours, fonts, heading size, line spacing, capitalization, etc.
• Check for adherence to UNICEF style and brand guidelines
• Provide at least three rounds of proofreading to ensure corrections are accurately inserted and editorial alterations are accurately transferred
(Note: Proofreading will require full editing capacity to mark up PDFs.)

Deliverables
• Copy-edited Word documents of 19 briefs and 1 report
• Three rounds of Proofread PDFs of 19 briefs and 23 reports

Tasks
• Copy-edit Word documents of 19 briefs and 1 report
• Proofread PDFs up to 3 times of 19 briefs and 23 reports

Timeline
• 15 November 2023 – 30 September 2024
• Detailed timeline to be provided by project manager, the Editorial and Flagships team and the GRASSP research team
• Most of work expected between November and June

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have:

• Education: Advanced university degree in Communication, Journalism, Public Relations.
• Experience: Five years of progressively responsible and relevant professional work experience in copy/editing, proofreading, writing. International and national work experience. Background/familiarity with Emergency situations.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

  ● Proven capacity to provide accurate copy editing and proofreading.
  ● Familiarity with UNICEF in-house style and UN country-naming conventions and political sensitivities.
  ● Familiarity with academic standards for editing of references.
  ● Extensive experience in providing copy editing and proofing for long-form reports.
  ● Flexibility to handle last-minute changes in scheduling and inclusion of additional components.

For every Child, you demonstrate:

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit  here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles 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.

Remarks: 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.