Closing date: 04 Mar 2016
The WHO programme on HIV is located in the HIV, TB and Malaria Cluster (HTM). The HIV and Hepatitis programme is guided by the Global Health Strategies for HIV and Hepatitis 2016-21. The new strategies are submitted to the Executive Board and World Assembly in respectively January and May 2016 for approval. The goal of the Secretariat’s draft strategy on HIV and Viral Hepatitis is to end the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030, within the context of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages. Furthermore, it is aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: its focus is on ensuring financial security and health equity through its commitment to universal health coverage.
The WHO Department of HIV/AIDS, which includes the Global Hepatitis Programme (the Department), works to provide evidence-based, policy and technical support to Member States in scaling up HIV and hepatitis treatment, care and prevention services in developing countries. The Department located at the headquarters in Geneva coordinates organization-wide efforts on these health areas, working with regional and country offices as well as relevant departments at the Headquarters.
Advocacy and communication is a key pillar of the Department's work, and focuses on promoting the latest norms and standards, and implementation experiences through effective launch events, information products, publications and websites. During 2015, the Department developed over 80 publications, including normative guidelines, policy briefs, technical and meeting reports and scientific posters. These publications were launched at key events such as global HIV and Hepatitis conferences and congresses, and were disseminated among national and international partners, implementing agencies, policymakers, and WHO staff.
WHO guidelines and information products play important roles in improving and implementing effective HIV and hepatitis policies and programmes in developing countries. It is essential that these information products are conveyed in good quality and consistency of style, ensuring accuracy of the technical content resulting from professional writing, technical, copy-editing and proofreading.
The contractors will be required to work with Department staff upon receiving specific instructions for the nature of assignment. For writing of the publications, instructions should be provided on the nature of the document, objectives, target audiences, expected results, deadlines as well as background content. For editing and proofreading assignments, draft documents, their attachments as well background content should be provided along with specifications on the expected quality requirements and timelines for the assignment. While requirements for writing may be individually arranged depending on the product, for editing and proofreading, there are 4 accepted levels of such assignments established by WHO Press unit. WHO House Style should provide the editing guidance and contractors will be remunerated based on standard fees agreed by WHO. Here are the requirements for 4 levels of editing assignments:
Level I: Basic copyediting
• Enter editorial changes to text and tables electronically (using track changes if requested).
• Prepare a list of proposed changes to figures in Microsoft Word, or enter changes manually on a printed copy.
• Check spelling for correctness, conformity to WHO house style and consistency.
• 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 spelled out at the first mention.
• Delete excessive italic, boldface and quotation marks.
• Ensure that numbers and units of measurement (SI units) are used appropriately and consistently, in accordance with WHO house style.
• Check spelling and presentation of Member States' names.
• Check other proper names (for cities, international conventions, conferences, nongovernmental organizations, named individuals, etc.).
• Edit chapter titles, subheadings and 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 WHO house style has been used for reference lists/bibliographies and that the information for each reference is complete.
• 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.
• Check for and eliminate or query discriminatory language.
• Edit or prepare a table of contents.
• Respond to queries from WHO translation unit if the document is being translated.
• (Optional) Mark up a hard copy of the text with all necessary instructions for the typesetter/layout specialist.
Level II. Technical editing
• In addition to requirements for the Level I, the editor should:
• 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 and in accordance with the recommendations of WHO and other international bodies.
• 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 WHO or any of its Member States.
• Improve the presentation and wording so that the text is easier to read and understand. Check 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.
• Complete a style sheet as a record of decisions taken concerning spelling, hyphenation, format, etc.
• 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.
• (Optional) Draft or edit a back-cover text (blurb), if applicable.
Level III. Rigorous substantive (developmental) editing
In addition to requirements for the Level I and II, the editor will be required to:
• Monitor overall structure for logical flow and balance and advise/consult on how to rectify if necessary.
• Rewrite, reorganize or shorten the text as needed to improve its logical structure or argument and make communication more effective, taking into account the target readership.
• Write new text as needed.
• Suggest different ways of presenting material when necessary.
• Revise the material to take account of comments of reviewers and additional material supplied by the author.
The detailed timeframe and production plans will be arranged individually for each product.
Key requirements for this assignment:
Essential: Previous track record of writing, editing or copy-editing for WHO/ or international agencies. Familiarity with WHO House style and editing rules.
Desirable: Inclusion in WHO Press roster for recommended writers and editors. With excellent communication and writing skills in English, familiarity and experience with WHO publishing rules, and experiences or in the field of HIV or hepatitis would be an asset.
The work is estimated for a period between 1 April 2016-31 December 2016.
How to apply:
Submission of proposals: (please refer to the link below for all RFP required documents)https://www.ungm.org/Public/Notice/42845
No later than 4 March 2016, 17:00 (CET), the bidder shall complete and return by either email or hard copy to WHO:
a) Covering letter signed by the bidder or the respective authority when the bidder is not an individual.
b) Proposal (including, but not restricted to, technical and financial documents).
c) “2016HTMHIV005_3_RFP Confidentiality Undertaking (PDI editing)” form completed/signed.
d) “2016HTMHIV005_4_RFP Acknowledgement Form (PDI editing)” form completed/signed as confirmation of the bidder's intention to submit a bona fide proposal and designate its representative to whom communications may be directed, including any addenda.
e) “2016HTMHIV005*5* RFP Acceptance Form (PDI editing)” form completed/signed.
f) “2016HTMHIV005_6_RFP Completeness Form (PDI editing)” form completed/signed.
A prospective bidder requiring any clarification on technical, contractual or commercial matters may notify WHO via email at the following address no later than 26 February 2016, 12:00 CET.
· Email for submissions of forms and/or proposal: pdifin@who.int (use subject: Bid Ref 2016HTMHIV005)
· Mailing address for submission of proposal:
World Health Organization Mr. Jerome Peron HQ/HIV, PDI/FIN, D45034 Bid Ref: 2016HTMHIV005 20, Avenue Appia CH-1211 Geneva 27