Arabic Translator & Editor

Professional highly skilled Arabic Translator & Editor (on free-lance basis)
Individual Contract OCHA oPt

Background
In order to ensure accurate Arabic translation and high level Arabic composition of OCHA outputs
and reports, OCHA oPt office requires a highly professional free-lance Arabic translator and editor of OCHA outputs translated from English to Arabic. The candidate must be a practicing journalist in the Arabic media.
-OCHA will use the services of the translator/editor on ad hoc free-lance basis, pending on its needs and is not obliged to provide any predefined quantity of work per month.
-The translator/editor will not be obliged to accept translation/editing work when he/she are not available.
The translator/editor will report directly to OCHA Media and Communications
Analyst/translations focal point in the Advocacy Unit and be tasked with translation and/or editing
translated outputs within an allotted time frame to be agreed upon before beginning any specific job.
Editing includes the following steps:
A-First review: Content accuracy
Ensuring accurate translation from English. This entails detailed comparison of content, facts and
figures and tracing possible omissions.
Check Footnotes/Endnotes, captions under photographs, lists etc.
Ensure accurate exact translation of UN agencies and title.
Ensure accurate UN terminology.
B-Second review: Arabic composition/language
To ensure excellent Arabic language, expression and grammar is used and no typographical errors
are left.

Timeframe:
A-Deadline for translation only:
2500 words a day
B-Deadline for editing only:
First and second review: Up to 3,000 words in one day, 3,000-6,000 words in two days, 6,000-
10,000 in three days from time of receipt, unless agreed otherwise.
C-Translation and editing:
-Up to 2500 words – one day
-More than 2500 words: 1500 a day.

*Weekends are counted as working days
Required Qualifications:
-Excellent Arabic and English language writing and typing skills.
-At least 10 years of proven experience in journalism (writing and editing): the candidate must be an active journalist currently publishing and editing articles published the Arabic media on a regular basis.
-At least 5 years of proven experience in English to Arabic translation and Arabic editing of articles or reports published in the Arabic media – newspapers, journals or periodicals.
-Relevant higher education: at least BA in Arabic language and/or literature or Journalism.
Technical qualification: ensured electronic communication mechanism to include facility for
downloading large reports.
Samples of previous work: at least three recently published articles in the Arabic media will be
required (within the last three months).

How to apply:

All applicants are requested to email the following to the OCHA oPt Office by using the following
e-mail address: [email protected]
1-A short cover letter in English (Max 300 words) explaining why you think you are qualified for this offer.
2-Detailed CV highlighting relevant Arabic Language education and work experience in translation and editing and being a currently practicing journalist in the Arabic Media.
It would be appreciated your stating your full name and the OCHA vacancy notice number (2011-
012) as the subject in your e-mail application.
Only qualified candidates should apply and only those who have been short listed will be
contacted.

Applications received after this date will not be considered.