Result of Service

Revisions of technical content:

– Central America study on regulatory frameworks for resilient infrastructure in Spanish words:
– Situation Analysis overview in the Caribbean, English, 5,500 words
– Early warning best practice compendium Central America in English, 15,000 words
– MCR2030 Brazil guides and tools, 100,000 total words
– Preparedness Reports, 30,000 words
– Early Warnings tools for South America and Brazil, 15,000 words
– Nature Based Solution material for Brazil, Portuguese, 30,000 words
– Gender perspective reports, guides and tools, Spanish, English and Portuguese 30,000 words

Work Location

Home based

Expected duration

5 months

Duties and Responsibilities

Background

Created in December 1999, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) is the designated focal point in the United Nations system for the coordination of efforts to reduce disasters and to ensure synergies among the disaster reduction activities of the United Nations and regional organizations and activities in both developed and less developed countries. Led by the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction (SRSG), UNDRR has over 100 staff located in its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and in regional offices. Specifically, UNDRR guides, monitors, analyses, and reports on progress in the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, supports regional and national implementation of the Framework and catalyzes action, and increases global awareness to reduce disaster risk by working with the United Nations Member States and a broad range of partners and stakeholders, including civil society, the private sector, parliamentarians, and the science and technology community.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the guidance and supervision of the Communications Unit, the incumbent will:

Publications:

– Draft, edit and proofread publications, reports, proceedings, and papers as required for internal and external distribution.

– Identify content that can be turned into high-impact infographics, data visualizations, or other visuals.

– Determining the stages in the life cycles of documents in order to identify potential areas for efficiency gains and technical improvements. (*)

Editing:

– Edit all publications and reports, including workshop proceedings, special publications, selected decisions of meetings, conference papers, working papers, and any other documentation as required; especially revised translated text in English & Spanish and text that has been proofread.

– Rewrite and restructure texts for greater readability and a better logical sequence where required.

– Consult with experts within the Secretariat to clarify any ambiguities and rectify substantive errors in all publications.

– Check the language version to be edited against the language of the original draft, redraft incorrect or unclear passages and translate and insert any passages that have been omitted.

– Edit all material normally without revision to ensure accuracy, clarity, cohesion, and conformity with UNDRR’s standards, policies, and practices.

– Ensure that all published material is accurate and conforms with the standards, policies, and practices of the UNDRR.

– Provide authors or others submitting documentation with information on specific aspects of editorial policy and practice and assists them in the preparation of manuscripts.

– Ensure timely publication of all materials.

– Make editorial decisions with reasonable speed and communicate them in a clear and constructive manner.

– Develop new terminology for use where none exists in the target language; carry out linguistic research and participate in the preparation of online terminology records and glossaries, technical vocabularies, and related reference tools for use in the Section.

(*)Special attention to technical terms in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and according to the UN Style Guide (https://www.un.org/dgacm/en/content/editorial-manual).

Qualifications/special skills

A first-level university degree in Translation, Publishing, Media or related fields is required.
At least 2 years of proven experience in editing reports and publications in English or Spanish is required.
Experience in digital workflow and knowledge of printing-related software such as Adobe, CS4, In-Copy, and InDesign, as well as print production experience and familiarity with cost control measures is desirable.
Experience or knowledge in disaster risk reduction and with the UN system is desirable.
Experience working in Americas and the Caribbean is an advantage.

Languages

Fluency in English and Spanish is required. Knowledge of another UN language is desirable.

Additional Information

*FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY*. UNDRR values diversity among its staff. We welcome applications from qualified women, men, and people with disabilities.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.