Individual Contractor – Editor

Result of Service Specific tasks to be performed by the consultant:

Under the direct supervision of Irmgard Zeiler, Programme Officer, the contractor will work in close collaboration with relevant staff from PDMU. S/he will be expected to achieve the purpose of the assignment through working on a draft provided by PDMU. (S)he is expected to ensure that the information contained is presented in a concise, but non-technical language and will ensure consistency in structure, tone and format. Additionally, (s)he will assist with the finalization, including proofreading, of the Report and the of the material to be prepared for its launch.

Work Location Home-based

Expected duration 10 January 2022 to 31 January 2022

Actual work time: 10 working days

Duties and Responsibilities Background of the assignment:

UNODC works with the main drug-growing countries in the world - Colombia, Peru and the Plurinational State of Bolivia for coca, Afghanistan, the Lao People's Democratic Republic and Myanmar for opium and Nigeria for cannabis − to monitor the extent and evolution of illicit crops. The illicit crop surveys are conducted under the technical framework of UNODC’s illicit crop monitoring programme, which is located in the Programme Development and Management Unit of the Research and Trend Analysis Branch of UNODC. The findings of illicit crop surveys are based to an important part on images obtained through remote sensing techniques, i.e. satellite imagery sensors or aerial photography acquired from planes or helicopters. The monitoring systems also include socio-economic surveys which help to understand better the drivers of illicit cultivation and support Governments in their policy development and in planning how to tackle the illicit crops.

Purpose of the assignment:

The purpose of this assignment is to contribute to the finalization of the Nigeria Cannabis Cultivation Survey 2019 by proofreading and editing a report on the findings from the analytical work carried out in Nigeria with aerial photos and other geospatial data, as well with data from other sources. The contractor will editorially appraise and revise a draft provided by PDMU, harmonizing the style to create a coherent final document.

Qualifications/special skills Academic Qualifications:

• An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business administration, international relations, social science law, political science, economics, international relations or criminology, and statistics is required. A first level university degree in similar fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• At least 5 years of experience in writing, editing, proofreading and publishing is required. Experience with writing for the UN, preferably on topics related to UNODC’s mandates is required.
  • Excellent drafting skills is required.
  • Experience working with UN editorial guidelines is required.
  • Evidence of prior professional editorial/writing experience is required.
  • Professional training in journalism or editing is required.

Language:

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English, with excellent drafting and communication skills, is required. Knowledge of another United Nations official language is an advantage.

  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.