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Call for Technical Editors/Writers – deadline 30 April 2016
WHO is seeking expressions of interests from individual technical editors/writers for WHO’s
work related to the Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality (GDWQ) and associated documents,
the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) and the Joint FAO/WHO
Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR).
The key tasks include:
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Scientific and technical editing (e.g.
http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/150883/1/9789241209908_eng.pdf?ua=1)
Rapporteur at meetings (e.g.
http://who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/meeting_reports/en/)
Report writing (e.g. ) http://www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/jecfa-summary/en/
Assurance of consistency between meetings and programmes
Education:
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Science background (post-grad degree, MSc in biology or chemistry or closely related
field)
Skills
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Excellent communication skills, both written and oral. (ideally meets requirements for
level 2 technical editing or level 3 rigorous, substantive editing)
Eye for detail, including assurance of consistency (for activities conducted within and
between meetings and the different programmes of work.)
Knowledge in food and water safety an asset
Knowledge of WHO house style an asset
The candidate must also be available to travel and willing to work irregular hours during critical
periods
If you are interested in applying, we would request you to send an expression of interest to
highlighting:
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Summary statement of the expertise and experience relevant for the role
Time availability in the next 24 months
Rate/1000 words for editing and daily rates for other activities (participating in meetings,
preparing reports, etc.)
References
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Selections will be made on the basis of the combination of experience/expertise, availability and
costing.
Background documentation:
GDWQ: http://who.int/water_sanitation_health/publications/dwq_guidelines/en/
JECFA: http://www.who.int/foodsafety/areas_work/chemical-risks/jecfa/en/
JMPR: http://www.who.int/foodsafety/areas_work/chemical-risks/jmpr/en/
Requirements for level 1, 2 and level 3 editing: Annex I
WHO Style Guide, 2nd edition
If you have questions, please contact:
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Jennifer De France, Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Health Unit (WSH) for the GDWQ
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Angelika Tritscher, Risk Assessment and Management Unit for JECFA and JMPR
Expressions of interest should be sent to Jennifer De France (defrancej@who.int) and Angelika
Tritscher (tritschera@who.int)
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Annex I: Qualifications for editors at Levels I-III
Level I. Basic copy-editing
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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 TRA.
(Optional) Mark up a hard copy of the text with all necessary instructions for the
typesetter/layout specialist.
Level II. 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 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,
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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).
Level III. Rigorous substantive (developmental) editing
Requires an experienced writer/editor. Also includes everything in levels I and II.
• 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