Consultant: Provision of Services for Copy Editor and Writer

[Admin]

Organization: Alliance for Financial Inclusion

Closing date: 17 Dec 2020

1. Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI) & Project Background:

AFI is the world’s leading organization on financial inclusion policy and regulation. Roughly 100 member institutions make up the AFI network including central banks, ministries of finance and other financial regulators from 90 developing and emerging countries. AFI works on empowering policymakers to increase access and usage of quality financial services for the underserved through formulation, implementation and global advocacy of sustainable and inclusive policies.

AFI publishes information on all aspects of financial inclusion policies and regulations, with topics including SME finance, global standards proportionality, financial inclusion strategies, financial inclusion data, digital financial service, consumer empowerment and market conduct, green finance and climate change, women’s empowerment and gender equality, as well as financial inclusion and forcibly displaced persons. AFI’s publications vary from case studies, guidelines, factsheets, reports, infographics, newsletters, frameworks; the method of dissemination can be either print and electronic or electronic only.

The nature of the language used in AFI publications varies. While AFIs style guide and terminologies form the basis of the style used by AFI, a more journalistic style is used for much of the advocacy material produced by the Communications Unit, with a more formal style being used for scientific and technical material.

AFI’s house style is based on the spelling, usage, and style rules laid out by the Associated Press (AP) Stylebook. AFI uses US spelling.

2. Objective:

AFI is seeking to engage copy editors/writers to provide to provide copy editing/writing services as and when needed in the upcoming 12 months (Retainer).

Under the guidance of AFI Communications Unit, the contractor should adhere to AFI style guides and should be accurate, punctual and able to work with short deadlines to create expected output.

The objective of a freelance editor working for AFI is that she/he critically reviews, edits and revises documents in order for ideas to be expressed clearly, presented in a consistently high standard of quality and according to AFI’s style and presentation. The editor will be responsible for both editing and proofreading the layout of documents that she/he works on. When specific project requires, the editor/writer should be able to write the document based on notes provided by AFI.

3. Scope of Work:

The following describes the types of work an editor/writer may be expected to undertake.

Level 1. Basic copy-editing

· Enter editorial changes to text and tables electronically (using track changes).

· Prepare a list of proposed changes to figures in Word.

· Check spelling for correctness and conformity to AFI Style Guide (to be provided upon agreement signing).

· Check grammar (verb–subject agreement, dangling participles, incorrect or unclear use of pronouns, etc.) and punctuation for correctness and consistency.

· Check that word usage is appropriate.

· Eliminate abbreviations as far as possible and ensure that essential abbreviations are spelt out at the first mention.

· Delete excessive italic, boldface, and quotation marks.

· Check the spelling and presentation of AFI Members names.

· Check other proper names (cities, international conventions, conferences, nongovernmental and/or international organizations, government institutions, named individuals, etc.).

· Edit chapter titles, subheadings, table and figure legends for brevity, consistency and parallel construction, and check numbering if appropriate.

· Check formatting of chapters, sections, subsections, paragraphs, lists (e.g. with bullet points) and table and figure captions for consistency.

· Check that references have been cited in the correct sequence.

· Ensure that all cross-references to chapters, sections, subsections, tables and figures are correct.

· Monitor paragraph length and content. Eliminate verbatim repetition of text, tables or figures and cut out redundant passages.

· Review and eliminate or query discriminatory language.

· Edit or prepare a table of contents.

Level 2. Technical editing

· Requires an experienced editor. Also includes everything in level I.

· Establish the purpose and intended readership of the material to be edited and ensure that the writing style is appropriate.

· Ensure that technical terms are used precisely.

· Question possible factual errors.

· Consider and query what might have been omitted, with the aim of achieving a balanced and effective document.

· Identify and take appropriate action regarding material that shows undue bias, is politically or legally sensitive, or whose publication would be prejudicial to the best interests of AFI.

· Improve the presentation and wording so that the text is easier to read and understand. Check the overall structure and suitability of headings. Simplify technical language, eliminate jargon and introduce definitions when needed. Rewrite long, complicated sentences. Eliminate verbosity, pomposity and discriminatory language. Ensure that there is no ambiguity in the language used— English is not the mother tongue of many readers and the text may be translated into other languages.

· Eliminate unnecessary and repeated material.

· Check that the titles of references cited correspond to the subject matter in the text at the point of citation.

· Advise on the selection and effective use of tables, illustrations, text boxes, footnotes and annexes. Ensure that they prove their point and that any text included is edited (for technical reasons it is preferable to edit figures only on hard copy and not on screen). Make the presentation of similar data consistent. Check that any tables, figures and annexes are correctly cited in the text. Check that the main text correctly reflects the information given in tables and figures, and that any simple mathematical calculations (e.g. column totals) are correct.

· Make suggestions on layout, as appropriate.

· Compile a list of queries (e.g. regarding technical errors and ambiguities, inconsistencies and faulty logic) for the author as a separate list or embedded in the text using the comments facility, as requested. For long or complex assignments, it is advisable to send a list of queries after editing each chapter or section, as appropriate.

· Revise the material to take into account the author's responses to editorial queries.

4. Deliverables

The items will include but not exhaustive: technical reports, fact sheets, quarterly and annual project reports, newsletters, articles for newspaper printing, project information sheets

When require by the specific project draft reports based on notes, writer, audio or video material provided by AFI:

• Proofreading
• Copy editing
• Content editing
• Manuscript Assessments
• Copywriting

5. Qualification and Experience:

· Bachelor’s Degree.

· Proof of exceptional skills in grammar, spelling, punctuation, syntax and vocabulary.

· Minimum 5 years professional experience as an English-language editor with demonstrated experience working on technical texts in finance, economics and development.

· Proof of familiarity with Associated Press Style Book is required

· Professional experience as an English-language editor with demonstrated experience working on technical texts in finance or economics and development.

· Experience with graphics design and/or experience with information visualization approaches is desired.

· Provide at least three work samples, preferable previously edited work, attach the before and after.

6. Reporting:

The consultant will report to AFI’s Head of Communications and will work closely AFI’s Communications Manager and AFI’s Social Media Manager.

How to apply:

Interested applicants are expected to submit a proposal with updated CV and using template given by email to AFI’s Procurement & Contracts Office at rfp2061@afi-global.org by 17th December 2020.

The final decision on selection of a consultant/consulting firm for this project rests with AFI management team and with the Inquiry. Only shortlisted and successful consultants will be contacted.

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