Background
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC or “the Federation”) is the world’s largest volunteer-based humanitarian network. The Federation is a membership organization established by and composed of its member National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Along with National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Federation is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The IFRC aims to enable healthy and safe communities, reduce vulnerabilities, strengthen resilience and foster a culture of peace worldwide. It works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.
The IFRC was founded in the aftermath of the 1918 Influenza pandemic. Since then, IFRC and National Societies have worked closely with key partners such as the World Health Organization to prevent, prepare for and respond to epidemics and pandemics.
Alignment to the IFRC’s objectives and strategy
Through the IFRC Plan and Budget 2021–2025, the Federation laid out ambitious goals and identified strategic priorities related to global health security:
- Goal 1: People anticipate, respond to, and quickly recover from crisis
- Goal 2: People lead safe, healthy and dignified lives and have opportunities to thrive
- Strategic Priority 2: Evolving crisis and disasters
- Strategic Priority 3: Growing gaps in health and well-being
Purpose
The consultant will provide high-quality copyediting and proofreading services to the IFRC Emergency Health Team in Geneva. In particular, the incumbent will perform the following tasks:
- Copyediting of IFRC tools and publications related to Global Health Security
- Review language usage, grammar, clarity, and typos, using IFRC’s style guide
- Ensure consistency with terminology used by IFRC in epidemic preparedness and response, disaster management, community engagement and accountability, and other related technical areas.
Required skills and experience
- A degree in the area of communication, journalism, literature or related field.
- Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of other IFRC languages (Spanish, French and Arabic) is an asset
- At least eight (8) years of progressively responsible relevant work experience in writing/editing of reports and publications
- Capacity to amend text to give straightforward, simple unambiguous English language that can be translated with ease
- Knowledge and capacity to provide high quality documents in line with IFRC writing style
- Prior experience working with Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies, IFRC and/or ICRC
- Good knowledge of humanitarian and development issues related to health and care
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- High degree of discretion, tact and sensitivity in dealing with internal and external clients and stakeholders at all levels
Timeframe
The consultancy will be for up to 60 days between January 2023 and September 2024.
Management of consultancy
The consultant will be managed by the IFRC Health and Care Department Epidemic & Pandemic Preparedness Programme Manager.
The consultancy is home-based and no travel is expected.
How to apply
Applications
Interested candidates should send their CV (including references), letter of interest, and daily consultancy rate in CHF (Swiss francs) to health.department@ifrc.org with the subject: English editing and proofreading services, Global Health Security.
Application deadline: 17 February 2023.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.