CONSULTANT - FRENCH EDITOR

OVERVIEW

Parent Sector : Natural Sciences Sector (SC)

Duty Station: Perugia

Job Family: Natural Sciences

Type of contract : Non Staff

Duration of contract : From 7 to 11 months

Recruitment open to : Internal and external candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Duty Station Time) : 05-NOV-2025

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

Within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding between UNESCO and the Government of Italy for the implementation of the UNESCO World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP), WWAP seeks the services of a qualified individual specialist to support the 2026 edition of the United Nations World Water Development Report (UN WWDR 2026), tentatively titled "Water and Gender Equality" for editorial management, translation oversight, copyediting, proofreading, and layout, in accordance with UNESCO standards and production timelines.

Scope of work and deliverables

Under the overall supervision of the WWAP Coordinator and direct supervision of the responsible officer and in close coordination with the Publication Assistant and WWAP Secretariat, the Individual Specialist shall:

A. Oversee Editorial and Layout Process - French Edition (UN WWDR 2026)
• Finalize the terms of reference for translation services in coordination with the WWAP secretariat.
• Support the WWAP secretariat in the selection of the professional translation company.
• Transmit the final English text of the UN WWDR 2026 (full report, Executive Summary, and Facts and Figures for translation with clear instructions).
• Serve as the focal point with the translation company throughout the process, handling all terminology and technical queries.
• Liaise with the graphic designer to ensure that the layout adheres to the English template and that the French version is finalized on schedule for ISBN application.
• Submit ready-to-print French files to the WWAP Secretariat in accordance with WWAP's production calendar

Long Description

B. Copyedit and Proofread the French Edition (UN WWDR 2026 and related material; approx. 120 000 words/approx. 220 pages in layout version)

• Copyedit the translation and all related materials prior to layout, ensuring linguistic accuracy, coherence, and compliance with UNESCO/UN editorial standards; clarify meaning where interpretation may be ambiguous; improve readability and flow; and confirm consistency across tables, figures, references, and acronyms in full alignment with the English version.
• Verify technical and referential consistency, ensuring that all captions, notes, disclaimers, figure texts, and in-text references are accurately translated and formatted; confirm that institutional names, acronyms, and terminology follow official UN usage; and adapt citations and bibliographic entries to French style conventions where applicable.
• Proofread the layout version by reading page proofs against the approved Word manuscript to confirm completeness, accuracy, and fidelity to the source; correct typographical, grammatical, and spelling errors; and ensure uniformity in punctuation, word breaks, spacing, and style throughout the publication.
• Ensure final design and visual quality, reviewing typography and layout to confirm correct use of typographical conventions; eliminate visually distracting elements such as widows and orphans; and verify that all figures, maps, photographs, and tables are visually accurate, properly labeled, and free from design inconsistencies.

Long Description

C. Translation and Editing of Related WWAP Materials (French)

• WWAP website and news content;
• Communication materials for the Call for Action campaign and UN WWDR 2026;
• Water and Gender materials (scripts, PPTs, flyers, agendas);
• Other short text as needed

Long Description

D. Oversee and support the production of the UN WWDR 2026 in the Spanish by:

• Providing continuous editorial and production support to the responsible officer and the Publication Assistant throughout the preparation of the Spanish version;
• Transmitting the final English text of the UNWWDR 2026 (including the full manuscript and all text embedded in figures and tables) to the partner institution, ANEAS (Mexico), with precise and comprehensive instructions regarding translation requirements, terminology, and formatting standards;
• Acting as the primary focal point with the translator or the designated focal point of the partner during the entire translation and proofreading process, addressing all technical and linguistic queries, and, where necessary, preparing lists of key references, relevant hyperlinks, and specialized terminology to ensure uniformity and accuracy;
• Ensuring that the translated text received from the partner is complete and fully corresponds to the English original, with no omissions or discrepancies in text, references, figures, or tables;
• Coordinating the integration of all corrections and complementary comments from the WWAP Team and ensuring that these are duly implemented by the graphic designer; and
• Liaising closely with the graphic designer to ensure that the layout of the Spanish edition conforms to the established template used for the French version, and that the finalized files are delivered on time for ISBN application, in accordance with the production schedule defined by the WWAP Secretariat.

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

Accountability (C)
Communication (C)
Innovation (C)
Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C)
Planning and organizing (C)
Results focus (C)
Teamwork (C)
Professionalism (C)

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For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

Academic Qualifications

University degree in scientific/technical disciplines (such as hydrology, environmental sciences), or in a relevant field.

Technical Competencies and Experience Requirements

• Proven track record in editing and proofreading of scientific publications, books, reports, etc. on environmental affairs and water resources management; and proficiency in technical document editing and layout coordination.
• Strong knowledge of water and environmental terminology and relevant scientific lexicons.
• Good knowledge of terminology related to gender equality.

• In-depth knowledge of UN (and specifically UNESCO) style guides and editorial standard.

• Excellent grammatical knowledge in French and Spanish
• Excellent grammatical, stylistic, and organizational skills.
• Capacity to meet tight deadlines and manage concurrent workflows.
• Ability to work as part of a team.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested candidates should click on "Apply Now", download and complete the following:

• Employment History form (Word file). At the end of the Word file, insert extra pages with the following required information.
• A concise approach and methodology for the assignment and a work plan.
• A financial proposal (in EURO) indicating a competitive monthly fee;
• An updated CV highlighting relevant experience.

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information. To apply, please visit the UNESCO careers website. No modifications can be made to the application submitted.

The evaluation of candidates is based on the criteria in the vacancy notice, and may include tests and/or assessments, as well as an interview.

UNESCO uses communication technologies such as video or teleconference, e-mail correspondence, etc. for the assessment and evaluation of candidates.

Please note that only selected candidates will be further contacted and candidates in the final selection step will be subject to reference checks based on the information provided.

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UNESCO recalls that paramount consideration in the appointment of staff members shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, technical competence and integrity. UNESCO applies a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of harassment. UNESCO is committed to achieving and sustaining equitable and diverse geographical distribution, as well as gender parity among its staff members in all categories and at all grades. Furthermore, UNESCO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Candidates from non- and under-represented Member States (last update here) are particularly welcome and strongly encouraged to apply. Individuals from minority groups and indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality. Worldwide mobility is required for staff members appointed to international posts.

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