Writer-Editor - authorship work - GEM REPORT

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

IMPORTANT: APPLICATION PROCEDURES
 

In place of the Employment History Form, please upload required documents. The whole package needs to be uploaded as a single PDF document (CV, Technical and financial proposal):

1. an updated curriculum vitae
2. a technical proposal including an approach and methodology for the assignment (maximum 3 pages)
3. a financial proposal: The amount to be charged for the assignment, which should be quoted in US dollars, GBP or Euros only for the period: 1st March 2024 – 31 December 2024 as a monthly fee.

The position will be carried out remotely.
 

Please explain how your profile and experience meet our mandatory requirements.
 

Please submit your supporting documents in English.
 

UNESCO places great emphasis on ensuring that the objectives of the work assignment, as described in the Terms of Reference, are met. Accordingly, in evaluating the proposals for the assignment, attention will focus first and foremost on the technical elements. From those proposals deemed suitable in relation to the criteria set forth in the Terms of Reference, UNESCO shall select the proposal that offers the Organization best value for money.
 

Only complete applications will be considered.
 

UNESCO is inviting written proposals from Individuals for the work assignment described in Annex A.
 

ANNEX A

1. BACKGROUND

The Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report is an editorially independent, evidence-based annual report hosted and published by UNESCO. Established in 2002, its current mandate derives from the 2015 World Education Forum and focuses on monitoring education in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the implementation of the strategies outlined in the Education 2030 Framework for Action. Accordingly, each report has two parts: 
 

•    a monitoring part reviews the SDG 4 targets, education in the other SDGs and education finance.
•    a thematic part focuses on a relevant theme in the international education agenda, which is selected by the GEM Report’s Advisory Board; the last six themes in the GEM Report series have been: education and the other SDGs (2016), accountability (2017/8), migration and displacement (2019), inclusion (2020), non-state actors (2021/2) and technology (2023).
 

Alongside the annual report, the GEM Report team publishes summary, youth, gender and regional editions, policy papers, background papers, and three online resources on inequality in education, monitoring of SDG 4 progress, and descriptions of national education systems.

Long Description

2. OBJECTIVES

The draft text of the Reports is authored by the research team and is occasionally overly technical. The consultant will need to revise and rewrite parts of the report accordingly in order to make it more accessible to its readers, which include decision-makers: ministers, policy- makers, parliamentarians and planners.
 

The work of the consultant has two main objectives with respect to the GEM Report Team publications and related outputs:
 

•    Adapt and rewrite the draft text of GEM Report publications and related outputs to ensure that their key messages are drawn and made clear for its wide, diverse and often non-technical readership.

•    Carry out standard editorial tasks in the English versions of the Reports and related outputs.
 

This work will involve close collaboration with the researchers and the communications specialist during the drafting process. During the final editing of the Report, the consultant will work closely with the Director of the GEM Report, in close liaison with the publications manager and the copy-editor.

3. TASKS

The Consultant’s tasks consist of editing the reports and rewriting sections of the reports and all other material produced by the team as detailed below. The estimated word counts below are based on the 2024/5 cycle and are to be considered as a rough estimate. These are provided as an indication of the workload, and to enable applicants to provide an accurate monthly cost proposal over a 10-month period.
 

•    The GEM Report (550 pages) approximately 15 months between each cycle. 
•    Summary Report (40 pages), approximately 15 months between each cycle.
•    Youth Report (20 pages), approximately 15 months between each cycle.
•    Gender Report (60 pages), approximately 15 months between each cycle. 
•    Spotlight Report (120 pages), one per year.
•    Spotlight Country reports (30 pages), six per year.
•    Regional Reports (100 pages), one per year. 
•    Policy papers: (16 pages each) 6 per year.
•    Management reports (between 2 and 4 per year).
•    PEER Profiles (12 pages each), 60 per year).
•    Blogs (3 pages each), approximately 12 per year.

Long Description

Specifically, the consultant will be responsible for the following tasks/duties:
 

Adapt and rewrite the draft text of the Reports and related outputs to ensure that their key messages are drawn and made clear for its wide, diverse and often non- technical readership.
 

The draft text of the Reports is authored by the research team and is occasionally overly technical. The consultant will need to revise and rewrite parts of the report accordingly in order to make it more accessible to its readers, which include decision-makers: ministers, policy- makers, parliamentarians and planners.
 

In collaboration with the Director, the researchers and the communications specialist, help identify key policy messages.
Ensure that these messages stand out clearly in the relevant text of the Report and related outputs and are communicated effectively and consistently.
Ensure that the text is well written and logically structured.
Rewrite text when necessary to communicate messages in the best possible way.
Provide advice, when necessary, to researchers for restructuring or rewriting text to communicate messages in the best possible way.
 

Carry out standard editorial tasks in the English versions of the Reports and related outputs:
 

Ensure that the text is well written and logically structured.
Make in-depth grammar and stylistic corrections, even re-writing full sentences to obtain the best written English;
Ensure that text is in line with the United Nations and GEM Report style guides, notably with the use of country names and that hyphens and capital letters are used consistently.
In collaboration with the publications manager, copy-editor and proofreader, update the GEM Report style guide when new stylistic decisions are made.
Correct typographical errors, punctuation and spelling.
In collaboration with the researchers, ensure that all references and sources are accurately and consistently stipulated.
Check that illustrations and captions are correct and sources are clearly referenced.
Check that figures and tables are consistently and accurately referred to in the main text.
Review and incorporate the work of the copy-editor into the final text; liaise with copy- writer to resolve any issues.
Ensure that the Word document is sent to the graphic designers in the correct format (consistent line spacing and paragraph/table formatting).

Long Description

4. DELIVERABLES
 

a)    Drafting of sections and/or editing of GEM Report materials (up to 190 pages)
b)    Drafting of sections and/or editing of GEM Report materials (up to 190 pages)
c)    Drafting of sections and/or editing of GEM Report materials (up to 190 pages)
d)    Drafting of sections and/or editing of GEM Report materials (up to 190 pages)
e)    Drafting of sections and/or editing of GEM Report materials (up to 190 pages)
f)    Drafting of sections and/or editing of GEM Report materials (up to 190 pages)
g)    Drafting of sections and/or editing of GEM Report materials (up to 190 pages)
h)    Drafting of sections and/or editing of GEM Report materials (up to 190 pages)
i)    Drafting of sections and/or editing of GEM Report materials (up to 190 pages)
j)    Drafting of sections and/or editing of GEM Report materials (up to 190 pages)

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

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REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education of expert(s)
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Education in communications, journalism, writing, international affairs or similar
 

Work experience
At least 10 years of work experience in journalism, writing content, and editing UN, academic and other reports
 

Skills/Competencies
Experience working on education issues and the United Nations is a plus.
Attention to detail and familiar with the latest trends in journalism and writing for international organizations
Ability to multitask under pressure while proactively communicating progress and any emerging constraints and maintaining a high level of responsiveness.
Ability to work independently, often within tight timelines, to meet strict deadlines.
Experience working in an international, multi‐cultural environment.
Examples of current and past edited publications to provide.

Languages
Fluency in writing and communicating in English required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is desirable.

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS