Editor / Proofreader (Roster of Consultants, Belarus) - Req#577796

The purpose of this consultancy is to provide professional editing and proofreading services to UNICEF in Belarus, ensuring the highest quality, accuracy, and adherence to UNICEF Style Book standards of the office’s written materials, produced in English, Russian, Belarusian, Arabic, Farsi, and French. The consultant will review and correct various documents – including but not limited to reports, publications, articles, booklets, and official correspondence – to ensure the linguistic quality and literature style of texts (their structure, coherence of content, syntax, presentation) and to eliminate grammatical errors, typographical mistakes, and inconsistencies. This assignment aims to enhance the clarity, coherence, and overall effectiveness of UNICEF Belarus’s written communications, thereby supporting the organization’s mission to advocate for the rights and well-being of children in Belarus.

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, information 

Consultancy Title: Editor / Proofreader (Roster of Consultants, Belarus)

Section/Division/Duty Station: Communications section, UNICEF Belarus CO

Duration: January – December 2025 (about 12 months)

Home/ office Based: Remote/Home-based

About UNICEF

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. Over 75 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and abuse. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations, and governments.

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

The purpose of this consultancy is to provide professional editing and proofreading services to UNICEF in Belarus, ensuring the highest quality, accuracy, and adherence to UNICEF Style Book standards of the office’s written materials, produced in English, Russian, Belarusian, Arabic, Farsi, and French. The consultant will review and correct various documents – including but not limited to reports, publications, articles, booklets, and official correspondence – to ensure the linguistic quality and literature style of texts (their structure, coherence of content, syntax, presentation) and to eliminate grammatical errors, typographical mistakes, and inconsistencies. This assignment aims to enhance the clarity, coherence, and overall effectiveness of UNICEF Belarus’s written communications, thereby supporting the organization’s mission to advocate for the rights and well-being of children in Belarus.

Scope of Work:

The scope of work includes, but is not limited to, the following tasks:

1. Editing and proofreading:

• Improve clarity, readability, and overall flow of the text without altering the original meaning;
• Carefully review written content for errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and typographical errors;
• Ensure that the content is consistent in terms of terminology usage, tone, and style;
• Verify that formatting is consistent and adheres to UNICEF's Style Book and any specific guidelines provided for individual projects;
• Reformulate sentences without losing meaning in the name of easier perception or more logical content;
• Evaluate the text for simplicity and clarity.

2. Quality assurance:

• Verify the accuracy of facts, figures, names, and titles mentioned in the documents;
• Ensure that all citations and references are accurate and correctly formatted.

3. Collaboration and communication:

• Work closely with UNICEF Belarus staff, authors, and translators to clarify ambiguities and resolve any issues related to the text;
• Participate in virtual or in-person meetings as required to discuss project requirements;
• Provide constructive feedback and suggestions for improvement to enhance the overall quality and structure of the documents;
• Deliver edited/proofread documents within agreed-upon timeframes, accommodating urgent requests when necessary;
• Provide regular updates on the status of assignments to the designated supervisor.

4. Confidentiality and Data Protection:

• Maintain strict confidentiality of all documents and information accessed during the consultancy;
• Abide by UNICEF's policies on data protection and confidentiality agreements.

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables / Delivery Deadline:

Travel (if required as per TOR):

No travels within this TOR.

Qualifications

Education:

• At least Bachelor’s degree in the Philology, Linguistics, Translation, Journalism, Communication, other related disciplines.

Work experience/Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• A minimum of five years of relevant proven professional work experience in editing and proofreading;
• High level of proficiency in Russian and Belarusian/English/ Farsi/Arabic/French languages (one additional language is necessary);
• A working experience within the United Nations or other international organizations would be an asset;
• Experience with documents related to development program, children’s rights, education, social policy, or humanitarian work is highly desirable
• Good knowledge of the MS Office;
• Knowledge of UNICEF Style Book.

Competencies:

• Ability to work under pressure while strictly meeting deadlines;
• Analytical and conceptual thinking;
• A high level of accuracy and attention to details;
• Ability to work in a multicultural setting;
• Highest standards of integrity, discretion, and loyalty

Requirements: 

Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and

• Interested consultants should provide a letter of interest (Cover Letter) describing how they can contribute to the interventions listed under roles and responsibilities and why they should be selected for this position. In addition, they should share their latest CV/Resume and financial proposal  Financial Offer template_Editor_Proofreader Consultancy.docx to undertake this job.
• Samples of the related job/tasks done/portfolio
• Upload copy of academic credentials
• Financial proposal: all-inclusive lump-sum cost (including travel and accommodation cost for this assignment as per work assignment) that will include/ reflect:
  • the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.
  • travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
  • Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
  • Indicate your availability
• Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.
• At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.
• Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process

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 committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

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 visa (applicable) and 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.