Objectives

The overall objective is to set up a Long-Term Agreement to facilitate and expedite the process by which UNICEF Kenya will hire writers and editors as required for specific writing, editing, and proofreading assignments as and when the need arises in a high-demand context.

Successful consultants will provide writing, editing/proofreading services to produce quality   communication, visibility and advocacy products, including but not limited to:

• Write and/or edit, proofread and finalize a variety of UNICEF Kenya communication, advocacy and visibility products including press releases, speeches, talking points, OpEds, human interest stories, reports, fact sheets, briefing notes, knowledge products, case studies and other written products. Editing may require rewriting, abridging and restructuring text for greater readability, better logical sequence, and elimination of repetitions and jargon.
• Review, organize, copy-edit, fact-check and consolidate material for knowledge products ensuring consistency, clarity of structure and communication of key messages. Proof-read materials, including checking spelling, use of acronyms and other abbreviations to conform to the UNICEF Style Book.
• Edit programme related documents such as annual reports, donor proposals and reports, policy briefs and other documents for clarity, readability, consistency and quality.
• Develop key messages from complex reports, programme documents and other resources for public consumption. This may be in the form of compelling copy writing for public advocacy campaigns such as scripts for public service announcements (PSAs), or videos.
• If required, work in close collaboration with photographers and videographers to capture relevant powerful images for stories and photo essays and/or with graphic designers to finalize the layouts, texts and illustrations to ensure high-quality production of various printed products.
• Be available for feedback and inputs on submitted drafts of written communication products as per the requirement of the office. Be available for up to a maximum of three rounds of writing and editing of all products before final approval by UNICEF.

Responsibilities of the Consultant: 

• The consultant will use their own equipment; laptop, software and other accessories and software that may be required for this task.
• The consultant will not give the content/material or any part thereof, to any third party without the written permission of UNICEF. All components will be a property of UNICEF, and the consultant will not share the same with anyone else.
• The consultant will not put their own name or logo/emblem on the content / final product.

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

• University degree in journalism, communication, creative writing or similar discipline is required.
• A minimum of five (5) years of recent related professional experience in writing, copyediting and/or proofreading.
• Proven experience in writing, editing communication materials and editorial processes.
• Knowledge of UNICEF programmes and its goals. Experience in copy-editing publications on issues of child rights, particularly human-interest stories in development and humanitarian contexts. Familiarity with UNICEF’s work and children’s issues, and UNICEF’s reporting, writing and story-telling guidelines.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and flexible attitude.
• Ability to meet tight timelines and deliver quality work within the required timeframe.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.