International Consultant-Nutrition Reports Writer/Copy Editor at UNICEF

UNICEFAbuja, Nigeria Design, Graphics and Media

Full Time

UNICEF contributes to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals in Nigeria with a mandate to advocate for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. UNICEF’s Nigeria country programme: Aims to accelerate the realization of the rights of all children and women to survival, development, protection and participation. Promotes efforts to reduce infant, child and maternal mortality; expand access to quality basic education; and strengthen social and child protection systems. Uses a rights-based and gender-sensitive approach Plays a catalytic role in supporting federal, state and local governments in identifying key bottlenecks that hinder realization of the rights of disadvantaged children, supported by equity-focused, inclusive advocacy, planning, action and monitoring at all levels. Supports adolescent development.

Organizational Context and Purpose for the job

Nigeria is among the countries with a high proportion of people living in hunger and suffering from food insecurity. As a result, the prevalence of malnutrition remains high. Today, out of an estimated 49 million children under 5 years, about 20 million children in Nigeria are stunted, 10 million are wasted and 15 million are anaemic. These numbers underscore the need for effective nutrition programming and advocacy
The UNICEF Nigeria Nutrition Programme has an ambitious fundraising and advocacy strategy to support the achievement of results in the 2023-2027 Country Programme. UNICEF provides technical and financial support to the Government and partners. UNICEF communicates to advocate for the most disadvantaged children and to build a more coordinated, consistent, and cutting-edge global communication and public advocacy operation.
To facilitate communication and advocacy on child rights for nutrition, there is a need to create clear communication and publications that are aligned with UNICEF’s communication guidelines and brand. This requires editorial guidance and support, and therefore the services of writers, editors, copy editors, and proof-readers regularly. The nutrition programme relies mostly on external donor financing. This requires the use of data and evidence that are communicated in a clear and digestible format. As part of accountability, there is a need for high-quality donors and other periodic reports.
By investing in quality communication and publications, UNICEF Nigeria Nutrition Programme aims to:

Enhance Advocacy Efforts

Effectively communicate the importance of nutrition programming and advocate for policy changes and resource mobilization.
Improve donor reporting: Develop high-quality reports that demonstrate programme impact and accountability, ensuring continued donor support.
Strengthen programme visibility: Showcase the programme's achievements and lessons learned, contributing to a more coordinated and effective global response to malnutrition.

On a need basis, UNICEF is seeking to hire a consultant to provide quality, timely, and professional writing, copy-editing and proofreading services for the nutrition section

How can you make a difference?

Scope of work:

Category 1. Writing

Develop and finalize clear, concise, and well-structured documents (e.g., proposals, donor reports, human interest stories, advocacy material). This includes writing, reviewing, and editing to ensure clarity and a logical flow of core themes and narratives.
Review and consolidate material for knowledge products, in alignment with UNICEF nutrition programme.
Produce digital media content as required, including project factsheets, webpages, stories of change, forewords, prefaces, and website blurbs, all in strict adherence to UNICEF guidelines and the UNICEF Style Book.
Support the nutrition section by drafting clear and simple advocacy messages for meetings and public engagements, with initial drafts subject to technical review and fact-checking.

Category 2. Editing/Copy-editing

Review and edit reports, publications, and digital products for clarity, readability, and consistency of message, keeping in mind the target audiences and appropriate writing style.
Conduct comprehensive copy editing that includes checking for correct grammar, syntax, punctuation, and adherence to official UNICEF terminology and style conventions (e.g., spelling, capitalization, country and city names, acronyms, and abbreviations).
Verify the correct and consistent use of footnotes, endnotes, references, bibliographic entries, and URLs; ensure that titles, headings, and subheadings are clear, concise, and logically ordered with complete front and back matters.

Category 3. Proof-reading

Proofread layout files to ensure spelling accuracy, style consistency, and compliance with official UNICEF terminology and conventions.
Check for proper formatting elements such as callouts, layout issues, cross-references, footnotes, pagination, and taglines, ensuring that all references are correct and consistent.
Compare amended proofs against previous versions and incorporate any additional editorial alterations required, including ensuring that the table of contents accurately reflects the listed items within the text.

General Requirements

Be available for prompt feedback and input as needed by the office.
Deliver all assignments on tight, short timelines as required by project or office needs.

Deliverables/Outputs

Category 1: Writing/Editing/Copy-editing/Proofreading

Develop and finalize concise written and digital content across proposals, donor reports, human interest stories, advocacy materials, and knowledge products,
Review and edit reports, publications, and digital products for clarity, readability, and consistency; conduct copy editing for grammar, syntax, and
Proofread layout files, ensuring spelling, style, and formatting consistency.
Review and edit reports, publications, and digital products for clarity, readability, and consistency.

Category 2: Writing/Editing/Copy-editing/Proofreading

Develop and finalize concise written and digital content across proposals, donor reports, human interest stories, advocacy materials, and knowledge products,
Review and edit reports, publications, and digital products for clarity, readability, and consistency; conduct copy editing for grammar, syntax, and
Proofread layout files, ensuring spelling, style, and formatting consistency.
Review and edit reports, publications, and digital products for clarity, readability, and consistency;
Support with internal end year reports (RAM, COAR etc)

Category 3: Writing/Editing/Copy-editing/Proofreading

Develop and finalize concise written and digital content across proposals, donor reports, human interest stories, advocacy materials, and knowledge products,
Review and edit reports, publications, and digital products for clarity, readability, and consistency; conduct copy editing for grammar, syntax, and
Proofread layout files, ensuring spelling, style, and formatting consistency.
Review and edit reports, publications, and digital products for clarity, readability, and consistency.

Category 4: Writing/Editing/Copy-editing/Proofreading

Develop and finalize concise written and digital content across proposals, donor reports, human interest stories, advocacy materials, and knowledge products,
Review and edit reports, publications, and digital products for clarity, readability, and consistency; conduct copy editing for grammar, syntax, and
Proofread layout files, ensuring spelling, style, and formatting consistency.
Review and edit reports, publications, and digital products for clarity, readability, and consistency

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

A university degree in journalism, ommunication, politics, social sciences or a related technical field..
English as a mother tongue (or equivalent level) is considered an asset
Considerable (at least five years) writing/editing/copy-editing/proofreading experience on English language publications, preferably one or more United Nations or other multilateral or bilateral reports.
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.