Deadline extended - Long-Term Agreement: Translators (National Individual), Chisinau, Moldova

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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, results

UNICEF’s mission in Moldova is to make sure every child in the country is healthy, educated and safe from harm, therefore having the best start in life and a fair chance to reach her or his full potential and benefit from the country’s prosperity. We believe children have a right to live in a more equitable society, where their voices are heard, and needs met as a matter of priority in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. More information on what we do in Moldova is available at: https://www.unicef.org/moldova.

In order to reach out to the larger audience and create an understanding of UNICEF’s mission and work in the Republic of Moldova, it is essential that all key documents and meetings should be translated into several languages.

How can you make a difference?

In order to support their needs, UNICEF and other UN Agencies in the Republic of Moldova are procuring a large volume of translation services, and have decided to enter into a Long Term Agreement with qualified translators to provide professional simultaneous, consecutive and written translation services from/into English and Romanian (vice versa) and from/into English and Russian (vice versa).

The LTA(s) will establish standard procedures and costs for frequently ordered services to simplify the ordering process.

UNICEF reserves the right to discontinue the use of the LTA with a selected individual, if the service or performance delivery level is not satisfactory to UNICEF or the pricing becomes uncompetitive in the marketplace.

1. Objectives of the consultancy

The overall objective of setting up the LTAs is to facilitate and expedite the contracting of individual translators to provide translation services for UNICEF Moldova. The individuals to be engaged in LTAs, through a competitive process, shall provide services during the LTAs duration on a fixed price basis.

The LTAs signed will be made available to other UN Agencies offices in Moldova, as well as their projects and implementing partners, which will be considered as contract party by the Contractor(s) and will be offered similar treatment and contractual conditions. The orders under the signed LTA(s) will be placed directly by the requesting Agency/Project/Partner (referred further to as “Order Placer”).

2. Details of how the work should be delivered

The LTA(s) will be signed for the provision of the following translation services:

1. Consecutive interpretation off-line and on-line (Zoom/Microsoft Teams):

• English – Romanian, and vice-versa
• English – Russian, and vice-versa

2. Simultaneous interpretation off-line and on-line (Zoom/Microsoft Teams):

• English – Romanian, and vice-versa
• English – Russian, and vice-versa

3. Whispered simultaneous interpretation (chuchotage):

• English – Romanian, and vice-versa
• English – Russian, and vice-versa

4. Written translation, including basic spellchecking and proofreading:

• English – Romanian, and vice-versa
• English – Russian, and vice-versa
• Romanian – Russian, and vice-versa

5. Desktop publishing services, applicable for some written translations

Extra hours fee can be applied when the translations services are provided outside standard working hours (8:00-18:00) and when the total service time exceeds 8 hours.

Order Placer will use hard copies or electronic versions of materials to be translated. Editable electronic documents (Power Point *.ppt, Word *.doc(x), Rich Text Format *.rtf, Excel *.xls(s), Notepad *.txt, InDesign *.indd, HyperText Markup Language *.html) will be quantified and processed based on the standard 1800 characters conventional page (without spaces) in the source document, including textboxes, footnotes and endnotes of source text.

The text contained in source non-editable electronic documents such as Adobe PDF files, image files, other non-editable file formats which require document recognition and conversion into editable formats before translating, will be quantified for invoicing purposes based on the standard 1800 characters conventional page (without spaces) in the target (translated) document, including textboxes, footnotes and endnotes of source text.

The Contractor will use desktop publishing tools – scanning, image processing, page layout, graphic design – to ensure the original document formatting is followed in the target document. The desktop publishing services will be quantified and invoiced based on a separate per-page DTP (desktop publishing) services fee.

The reference term for one order execution from the moment of its acknowledgement shall be as follows:

• 48 hours (equivalent to two working days) for the orders up to 8 pages;
• for larger orders, the term of execution shall be agreed upon with the Order Placer considering the specific characteristics of the text, degree of complexity of graphic elements and other execution related aspects.

The translation/interpretation services provided shall be:

• Accurate – reproducing as exactly as possible the meaning of the source text.
• Natural – using natural forms of the receptor language in a way that is appropriate to the kind of text being translated;
• Communicative – expressing all aspects of the meaning in a way that is readily understandable to the intended audience.
• Sensitive – keeping in mind culture, gender, and other sensitivities as per UNICEF guidelines.
• Confidential – in no event shall the contents of documents or any information known or made known to the translator by reason of its association with the UNICEF Moldova be made known by the translator to any unauthorized person without the written approval of UNICEF Moldova. The obligations in this article shall not lapse upon termination of the LTA.

3. Performance indicators for evaluation of results

The performance of work will be evaluated based on the following indicators:

• Completion of tasks specified in ToR;
• Compliance with the established deadlines for submission of deliverables;
• Quality of work;

• Demonstration of high standards in cooperation and communication with UNICEF and counterparts;

• Demonstration of a client-oriented approach, tact and ability to work with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.

4. Provision of services under the LTA

The established LTA fee rates will be applied for the entire contract validity duration. A change of the rates may be considered, if justified by market conditions and agreed upon by the parties.

The modality used for provision of services under the LTA(s) shall be the Translation Services Order, which shall constitute the triggering event for the provision of services. The order will be sent via e-mail, by authorized personnel from UNICEF, or other entities listed in the “Purpose of Assignment” section, providing the materials to be translated, the order-specific requirements, and the reference to the LTA number.

The Contractor will acknowledge the receipt of the Order within 24 hours and reply with the confirmation of the service provision or request additional details. The Contractor will immediately inform the Order Placer and ensure alternative and back up arrangements when a delay or obstruction for service delivery is foreseen.

Upon receipt of confirmation from UNICEF or Order Placer, a Purchase Order or Low Value Contract will be issued.

The translated materials will be delivered, as requested in the Order, before the agreed deadline. In case of foreseen delays in service delivery, the Contractor will inform the Order Placer as soon as the delay is anticipated and make efforts to minimize the delays finding alternative solutions.

The oral translation services orders will be placed via e-mail, by authorized personnel from the entities listed in the Background section, providing the order-specific requirements and details (what, when, where, for how long, other key details), and the reference to the LTA number.

No cancellation fees will be applied by the Contractor.

Once the services were delivered and have been received and accepted by the Order Placer, the Contractor will issue and submit the detailed invoice to the Order Placer for payment purposes referring to the UNICEF Long Term Agreement and the corresponding service order.

Payments made by Order Placers will be done in accordance with their own corporate rules and procedures. The Contractor shall comply with invoicing requirements set by the respective Order Placer.

5. Definition of supervision of agreements

The LTA(s) signed under this ToR will be managed by the Operations Manager of UNICEF Moldova. Each individual Translation Services Order under the LTA will be supervised by the responsible person, from any of the entities listed in the Background section. The Contractor will provide a liaison person who will be responsible as focal point and manage the relationship with the Order Placers for delivering the service orders under the LTA.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have

Academic Qualification

• University Degree in foreign languages, international relations or other relevant fields;

Experience

• At least 3 years of progressively responsible experience in providing written and/or oral (consecutive and simultaneous) translation services in development sector or related fields;

Competencies

• Familiarity with UN Terminology and UN’s specific acronyms;
• Strong communication, writing and translation skills;
• Proven commitment to the core values of the United Nations, in particular, respecting differences of culture, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, language, age, HIV status, disability, and sexual orientation, or other status

Language requirements

• Proficiency in written and spoken Romanian, English and/or Russian.

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.

For more details on deliverables and minimum requirements, please refer to attached Terms of reference (ToR)

2023 TOR_LTA Individual Consultant_Translator_VA.docx

HOW TO APPLY: Your online application should contain the Technical Offer and Financial Offer (templates below).

Technical Offer_LTA Translators.docx

Financial Offer_LTA Translators.xlsx

Applications for this assignment must be received no later than: 18 September 2023

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 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.

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Added 11 months ago - Updated 9 months ago - Source: unicef.org