[country or region] Human Development Report [tentative year]:
[working title: state the theme]
[date of circulation]
The editor of the national or regional Human Development Report holds a position that is important to the success of the report because the editor is charged with ensuring the quality of the presentation and writing, but also supplies input on the logical framework and, ultimately, the content. The editor should therefore be familiar with the theme and related issues examined in the report. The theme of this HDR is [theme].
1. Position information
Job title: Editor
Department: [lead unit in the UNDP Country Office, Regional Bureau, or Regional Centre]
Activity: [country or region] Human Development Report : [theme]
Supervising team member: HDR team leader
Time-frame: [expected duration of contract]
Contract: special service agreement
2. Organizational context
Under the supervision of the report team leader and the local United Nations Development Programme focal point, the editor provides technical services in coordinating background papers and other contributions and documentation and helping to synthesize this material into a coherent narrative on the theme and issues covered in the HDR. The editor should maintain regular contacts with the UNDP focal point. [Add any other relevant information on the lines of authority and responsibility outlined in the project document.]
3. Functions and expected outcomes
The following are the functions of the HDR editor and the outcomes expected from the work of the editor:
a. In close consultation with the report team and the lead author, help review, consolidate and organize the material for the report. Check for the clarity and continuity of analysis and the policy focus. Ensure that the logical framework is followed. Help identify critical knowledge gaps.
b. Edit all narrative sections of the report. Apply the editorial guidelines identified in consultation with the report team, including the precepts contained in the UNDP style manual. Check spelling, country and city names, abbreviations and acronyms, the location of callouts and text references, and bibliographic material, making sure they follow UNDP conventions. Ensure stylistic consistency, general readability and the accessibility to a broad readership. Be aware in particular of the target audience.
c. Check and coordinate the presentation of all boxes, graphs and other artwork, photos, and tables and their consistency with the material in the text.
d. If there is no separate proofreader, examine and correct the proof-sheets of the report and any associated material, such as a separate executive summary.
4. Recruitment qualifications
a. Education: a recognized degree, preferably a master’s degree in journalism, economics, or another relevant social science
b. Language requirements: excellent command of [the language of the report] ; proficiency is desirable also in English or French and in [name of the major national or regional language]
Experience: at least 15 years of relevant experience as a writer or editor; proven experience in editing and writing in [the language of the report].
The editor should also have demonstrated the following:
