Introduction
The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) is an integrated set of activities funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and is intended to provide timely, accurate, evidence-based, and transparent food security early warning information and analysis. Created in 1985 in response to famines in East and West Africa, FEWS NET provides global coverage through a mix of presence and remote monitoring. FEWS NET’s work is implemented across several pillars by a team of partners that includes the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the United States Department of Agriculture, the United States Geological Survey, the University of California-Santa Barbara’s Climate Hazards Center, Kimetrica, and Chemonics International (Chemonics). Chemonics houses FEWS NET’s Early Warning Team (EWT), a team charged with integrated emergency food insecurity analysis through a Washington-based technical office and more than 20 field offices.
Based on an in-depth understanding of local livelihoods, the EWT monitors information and data on factors that affect food security, such as weather conditions and climate, crops, pasture, markets and trade, and nutrition. The FEWS NET EWT produces regular reports, including Food Security Outlooks and Outlook Updates, emergency alerts, market and price updates, and global weather hazards analyses. FEWS NET makes reports available at www.fews.net and distributes them globally to governments, relief agencies, and other organizations engaged in humanitarian response and development programs.
The seventh phase of FEWS NET began in 2019. The work of FEWS NET EWT relies on close collaboration with international, regional, and national partners on food security data and information gathering and analysis. Major activities include joint monitoring and assessments, data exchanges, collaborative analysis and reporting, and technical capacity strengthening. FEWS NET supports local and regional food security networks to contribute to achieving the global objective of food security for all.
Position Description
The editorial support consultant supports the EWT’s Washington DC-based technical team by providing substantive editing and rewriting services, including reformatting tables and graphics to improve cohesiveness and clarity of technical deliverables related to acute food insecurity and agroclimatology, as assigned, by the communications specialist and decision support advisor. The editorial support consultant will work in English and/or French, depending on their language proficiency. Additionally, the consultant will assist in finalizing reports to ensure their compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements and publish final versions to the FEWS NET website, as assigned. The Washington DC-based technical team works closely with colleagues in regional and country project offices to integrate M&T, nutrition, livelihoods, and other acute food insecurity-related analyses to develop regular, high-quality, early warning information.
Responsibilities
The main responsibilities of the editorial support consultant include, but are not limited to:
- Provide substantive high-quality editing and rewriting services of technical deliverables, such as final reports, in English and/or French as assigned, to improve cohesiveness and clarity of technical content.
- Verify the logical flow of information and make necessary adjustments for clarity.
- Reformat and or/recommend changes to tables and graphics for improved comprehension and visual representation.
- Support formatting and production of assigned reports in Microsoft Word and FEWS NET’s website content management system, ensuring conformance with FEWS NET’s brand, styles, and guidelines.
- Maintain accuracy and attention to detail while managing multiple assignments simultaneously.
- Ensure final report compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements, as assigned.
- Collaborate with relevant EWT colleagues on assignments. Seek clarification when necessary and ensure timely updates on deliverables in accordance with designated deadlines.
An illustrative summary of reports the consultant may be assigned includes but is not limited to:
Qualifications
- Advanced professional proficiency in English is required; advanced professional proficiency in and/or French is also required for consultants providing editorial support in these languages.
- Excellent writing and editing skills are required in English and French.
- Proven experience in substantive editing and rewriting, preferably with technical deliverables.
- At least two years of relevant experience (with PhD), four years of relevant experience (with Master’s degree), or six years of relevant experience (with Bachelor’s degree) is required. Relevant experience includes working in a professional capacity to produce external and/or internal written communications, including writing and editing experience, or in other related fields.
- Basic familiarity with food security concepts and related terminology used in the humanitarian sector is desired.
- Strong analytical and critical thinking skills to improve the clarity and coherence of ideas, is desired.
- Prior experience using Microsoft Word to copyedit and format reports to a high-quality standard is required; experience formatting tables and graphics is desired.
- Excellent computer skills including strong knowledge of Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat is required; familiarity working in SharePoint and Excel is desired.
- Strong attention to detail and a commitment to maintaining high-quality standards is required.
- Ability to work effectively under tight deadlines and manage multiple projects concurrently to ensure timely and high-quality delivery of prioritized tasks is required.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, to collaborate with diverse teams and with remote-based staff via telecommunications applications, e-mail, and other virtual means.
Location and Reporting
The editorial support consultant will work under the technical direction and supervision of the operations and communications manager or their designee for select assignments. This position is part-time and based primarily in Washington, D.C. but may be based in the U.S. remotely. The editorial support consultant will collaborate primarily with the EWT’s Washington-based technical team.
The consultant will invoice for up to 10 days per month. The total level of effort (LOE) will not exceed 60 days over the performance period unless a higher LOE for a given month is approved in advance by the EWT’s senior management team.