Online Volunteers for Editing and Proofreading

Job Posting Organization:
The Bureau de l'UNESCO à Dakar, also known as the UNESCO Regional Multisectoral Office for West Africa, represents UNESCO in fifteen countries across West Africa. These countries include Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. The office covers all areas of UNESCO's competencies, which include education, natural sciences, social and human sciences, culture, as well as communication and information. The mission of the office is to promote peace and sustainable development through international cooperation in education, the sciences, culture, and communication. Established to address the unique challenges faced by the region, the office works collaboratively with various stakeholders to implement programs and initiatives that align with UNESCO's global objectives and the specific needs of West African countries.

Job Overview:
The position of Online Volunteers for Editing and Proofreading involves a critical role in ensuring the quality and integrity of reports produced for the governance of digital platforms in West Africa and the Sahel. The volunteers will be tasked with editing and proofreading documents that serve as a practical guide for regulatory bodies in the region. This guide aims to assist these bodies in implementing a Policy Framework and Action Plan for Information Integrity, which is essential for promoting accurate and reliable information in the digital age. The volunteers will work collaboratively to ensure that the reports are not only grammatically correct but also coherent and logically structured, making them accessible and useful for the intended audience. This role requires a keen eye for detail and a commitment to maintaining high standards of language and presentation.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Online Volunteers will have a comprehensive set of duties and responsibilities that include:

• Editing and proofreading assigned reports to ensure grammatical accuracy, correct spelling, punctuation, and overall language quality.
• Ensuring consistency in terminology, style, and formatting across all reports to maintain a professional standard.
• Checking for clarity, coherence, and logical flow of content, and making suggestions for improvement where necessary.
• Verifying that references, footnotes, and annexures are correctly formatted according to UNESCO/UN guidelines.
• Coordinating regularly with each other to align on editing standards and resolve any discrepancies in the editing process.
• Ensuring that the final versions of the reports are ready for publication, adhering to the established guidelines and standards set by UNESCO.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates for this position should possess strong editing and proofreading skills, with a solid understanding of grammar, punctuation, and style conventions. They should be detail-oriented and capable of maintaining a consistent tone and style across multiple documents. Familiarity with UNESCO's guidelines and standards for publication is highly desirable. Additionally, candidates should demonstrate the ability to work collaboratively and communicate effectively with team members to achieve common goals.

Educational Background:
A background in linguistics, communications, journalism, or a related field is preferred for this position. Candidates should have a strong command of the language in which they will be editing and proofreading, as well as an understanding of the subject matter related to information integrity and digital governance.

Experience:
While specific years of experience may not be required, candidates should have prior experience in editing and proofreading documents, preferably in a professional or academic setting. Experience working with international organizations or on projects related to information integrity, digital governance, or similar fields will be considered an asset.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory, as the reports will be edited in this language. Proficiency in French or other languages relevant to the West African region is considered a plus, as it may enhance the volunteers' ability to understand and edit documents that may include multilingual content.

Additional Notes:
This position is for Online Volunteers, which means that the work can be done remotely. The contract duration is until the completion of the editing and proofreading tasks, with a deadline for submission of the final reports set for April 15, 202

• The role is part-time and flexible, allowing volunteers to manage their time effectively while contributing to an important initiative aimed at enhancing information integrity in West Africa and the Sahel.