Project Translator Associate (NPSA6) for Parliament Project
Contract
This is a NPSA-6 contract. This kind of contract is known as National Personnel Services Agreement. It is normally only for nationals. It usually requires 6 years of experience, depending on education. More about NPSA-6 contracts.
Background
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Country Office in Timor Leste has been working to support the country to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and reduce human poverty. UNDP’s on-going Country Programme Action Plan 2015-2019 (CPAP) is positioned within the overarching objective of the Timor-Leste United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) 2015-2019, which elaborates on four outcomes and seventeen sub-outcomes to respond to the evolving needs within each sector. The formulation of the UNDAF in turn has been guided by the SDGs and the National Development Priorities which were defined in the Government’s Strategic Development Plan 2011-2030. One of the current Governance Programme’s projects is the Parliament Project.
PARLIAMENT PROJECT
Since the inauguration in 2002, the National Parliament has successfully fulfilled its constitutional mandates – legislative, oversight, representational functions - which led the political, economic, and social development in Timor-Leste.
Despite the considerable progress, the National Parliament is facing with several challenges in terms of its institutional capacity which constrain it to perform its mandates the best. These challenges are namely insufficient technical expertise and systemic training mechanism, low digital capacity, absence of effective engagement with citizens, and weak in international relation management.
To address the abovementioned challenges, the project will focus on the National Parliament’s further institutional development particularly in training and capacity building, technical expertise, regulatory impact analysis, digital transformation, citizen engagement, communication, and international relations. The project will also ensure that all the support are mainstreaming gender, human rights, environment, and SDGs.
Pro PALOP-TL SAI
Additionally, the Parliament Project is supporting the UNDP-EU Project for Strengthening technical and functional skills of Supreme Audit Institutions, National Parliaments, and Civil Society for the control of public finances in the PALOP and Timor Leste (Pro PALOP-TL SAI in implementing the COVID-19 Mitigation Plan to favor relevant national counterparts in each beneficiary country, including Timor Leste.
Within this context, the Parliament project is seeking to engage a consultant for provision of professional interpretation services for the vast webinars/dialogues programme that is project has. The consultant’s work will aim to ensure that all events, internal documents, and publications issued by each of the projects have a coherent and uniform understanding by the different counterparts involves in the initiatives.
Duties and Responsibilities
The interpreter/translator will work under the direct supervision of the Parliament Project’s Chief Technical Advisor, and for the above-mentioned projects, and he/she will be requested to deliver the services below:
1. Translation Services (Portuguese/Tetum to English, English to Portuguese/Tetum)
- Produce 100% accurate translation from Portuguese/Tetum to English or vice versa of various documents, written / recorded speeches, talking points, presentations, brochures, fact sheets, reports, website content, press releases, etc. as assigned by UNDP.
- Use the appropriate terminology considering the style and nuances of the original text. Areas frequently covered by such documents include legal, public relations and Business texts, etc.
- Quality check and proofreading of translation ensuring no typographical errors in the final text.
- Make necessary corrections or changes required by UNDP or its partners and re-submit corrected text within the agreed timeframe.
- Deliver the translated documents as per the plan developed by the Chief Technical Advisor of the Project, as per each specific assignment.
2. Consecutive Interpretation Services (Portuguese/Tetum to English, English to Portuguese/Tetum)
- Provide consecutive interpretation during project events (ceremonies, workshops, webinars, trainings, conferences, informative community events, etc.) and meetings (technical working groups meetings, meetings between international advisors/experts or UNDP representatives and local counterparts, etc.).
3. Simultaneous Interpretation Services (Portuguese/Tetum to English, English to Portuguese/Tetum)
- Provide simultaneous interpretation during project events (ceremonies, workshops, webinars, trainings, conferences, etc.) and meetings (technical working groups meetings, meetings between international advisors/experts or UNDP representatives and local counterparts, etc.).
Competencies
Core
Achieve Results:
LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
Think Innovatively:
LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
Learn Continuously:
LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
Adapt with Agility:
LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
Act with Determination:
LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
Engage and Partner:
LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
Enable Diversity and Inclusion:
LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies (insert up to 7 competencies)
Thematic Area
Name
Definition
Business Management
Result based Management
Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results
Business Management
Partnerships Management
Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies
Business Management
Communication
Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience
Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels
Business Management
Operations Management
Ability to effectively plan, organize, and oversee the Organization’s business processes in order to convert its assets into the best results in the most efficient manner.
General (across the functions)
Public relations
Ability to build and maintain an overall positive public image for the organisation, its mandate and its brand, while ensuring that individual campaigns and other communications and advocacy initiatives are supported in reaching the public
External Relations and Advocacy
Creative direction and copywriting
Ability to creatively communicate concepts in an engaging and simple way
Partnership management
Relationship management
Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding
Required Skills and Experience
Min. Academic Education
High school graduate or bachelor degree in the field of literature, international development, or relevant field.
Min. years of relevant Work experience
Secondary education with minimum of 6 years or University degree with 3 years of relevant working experience in Interpretation and translation services, programme or management support in an international organization and/or a non-governmental organization and/or the private sector;
Required skills and competencies
- Experience of working with a wide range of stakeholders, from non-governmental organizations to international organizations and government institutions, is an advantage.
- Experience in performing translation services (Portuguese/Tetum to English, English to Portuguese/Tetum)
- Experience in Consecutive Interpretation Services (Portuguese/Tetum to English, English to Portuguese/Tetum)
- Simultaneous Interpretation Services (Portuguese/Tetum to English, English to Portuguese/Tetum)
Desired additional skills and competencies
Experience of working with UNDP and National Parliament Timor-Leste is an advantage.
Previous work experience as interpreter/translator is an advantage.
- Excellent interpersonal skills: being able to listen and collaborate with a wide range of players, being able to work independently, being pro-active and taking initiative.
- Ability to manage workload individually and collaborate with a wide range of colleagues while meeting deadlines.
- Excellent writing skills, as well as strong analytical aptitude and strong communication skills
Required Language(s) (at working level)
- Fluent in Portuguese and Tetum (speaking, reading, and writing skills); excellent knowledge of English (speaking, reading, and writing skills).