Consultant - Translation, Copyediting, Proofreading and Finalization of Curriculum Materials

OVERVIEW

Grade :

Parent Sector : Field Office

Duty Station: Yangon

Job Family: Education

Type of contract : Non Staff

Duration of contract : From 7 to 11 months

Recruitment open to : External candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 15-May-2025

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Under the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) Education Sector Program Implementation Grant (ESPIG), UNESCO is implementing activities towards the attainment of the undermentioned three outcome areas.

• Outcome 1: Ensuring safe and equitable access to learning for children and youth in Myanmar;
• Outcome 2: Ensuring quality teaching and learning for children and youth in Myanmar by strengthening the capacities of education staff and fostering context-responsive, equity-focused learning resources and modalities adapted to the evolving situation; and
• Outcome 3: Ensuring systems strengthening, management, coordination, and monitoring.

UNESCO, through the Education Sector Program Implementation Grant (ESPIG) project, continues this effort addressing the needs for both pre-and in-service teacher education under ESPIG Outcome Area 2: Ensuring quality teaching and learning for children and youths in Myanmar by strengthening the capacities of education staff and fostering context-responsive, equity-focused learning resources and modalities adapted to the evolving situation. As an effort to deliver quality teacher education, UNESCO brings Myanmar Teacher Platform (MTP; www.mmteacherplatform.net) to offer continuous learning for educators, learners and other interested parties to access quality learning materials, videos and other resources in a safe and secure environment and provide online courses by themes.

In collaboration with a local ethnic education provider, UNESCO is supporting the redevelopment of its existing pre-service teacher training curriculum to closely align with the newly enhanced Teacher Competency Framework (TCF, 2022). In 2023-2025, UNESCO has been supporting the development of a curriculum framework, seven module syllabi and teacher training curriculum modules and translation of the first three modules in accordance with the competencies introduced in the TCF. As such, UNESCO extends its support for the translation of the remaining four modules of ethnic education service provider’s pre-service teacher training curriculum materials including teacher training textbooks, manuals and templates, all of which are listed as follows:

1. Understanding Children’s Learning and Development
2. Effective Environments for Learning
3. Teaching Across the Curriculum
4. Teaching Practicum Placement

PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The objective of this ‘Call for Consultancy’ is to translate, copyedit, proofread and finalize the translation of ethnic education service provider’s pre-service teacher training curriculum materials including textbooks, manuals and templates from English language into Myanmar language.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the overall authority of the Regional Director of the UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok (hereinafter called UNESCO), the direct supervision of the Head of the UNESCO Yangon Antenna and in close collaboration with the ESPIG project team, the individual specialist will support UNESCO’s efforts in improving education in Myanmar through the GPE-ESPIG project, which focuses on enhancing access, quality and strengthening education systems. To strengthen pre-service teacher capacity development, the individual specialist will translate, copyedit, proofread and finalize the translation of ethnic education service provider’s pre-service teacher training curriculum materials including textbooks, manuals and templates from English language into Myanmar language.
The individual specialist will undertake translation, copyediting, proofreading and finalization of the pre-service teacher training curriculum materials as outlined below:
a) conduct review of ethnic education service provider’s existing pre-service teacher education curriculum and training materials, Teacher Competency Framework (TCF), curriculum review and mapping report, curriculum framework and module syllabi, teacher professional development training manual, UNESCO’s pre-service teacher education curriculum, and other relevant materials;
b) get familiar with the materials in (a) as well as UNESCO Myanmar’s pre-service teacher education curriculum/training materials and other reference materials such as common terminologies and common errors in Myanmar language;
c) translate all the materials as described in the table below into Myanmar language;
1. Understanding Children’s Learning and Development – 440 pages
2. Effective Environment for Learning – 380 pages
3. Teaching Across the Curriculum – 470 pages
4. Teaching Practicum Placement – 300 pages
Total number of pages to be translated: est. 1,590 pages.

d) ensure the logical flow of the language is adequate, professional and consistent throughout the entire documents;
e) ensure translation of key terms is accurate, appropriate and are consistently used throughout the documents;
f) translate all text in the original language version including text in tables, graphs, pictures, charts and maps;
g) retain the content, meaning and tone of the original materials;
h) cross-reference specialized dictionaries and translation tools to check quality of translation;
i) carry out copyediting and proofreading all text in the translated version documents, including but not limited to text in tables, graphs, charts, and maps;
j) when copyediting the curriculum materials, make sure to correct grammar, syntax, and accuracy and consistency in spelling, and abbreviation/acronyms; correct terminology; correct and consistent use of footnotes, endnotes, references, and other bibliographic entries; accuracy of all URLs included in the text; readability and consistency of logic and flow; and clear and concise titles, headings and subheadings as per the UNESCO Style Guide;
- when proofreading the materials, double check the corrections made during the copyediting process, while ensuring that all UNESCO feedback are addressed; complete cross-references within text, tables, graphics, maps and footnotes; read amended proofs against previous proofs and incorporate additional editorial alterations as required; check pagination and correlation of table of contents with listed items in text;
- provide comments, suggestions and changes from the copyediting and proofreading in track changes, including concrete input on how the text should be changed;
- when finalizing the materials, and for quality assurance, ensure the structure of courses are the same format as in original version; and ensure overall quality meets required standards as mentioned above;
- comply and inform queries at the earliest opportunity to UNESCO. Queries can be forwarded via email, compiling as a list on the separate document;
- communicate with UNESCO regularly to provide updates on the working documents to make clarifications related to the assigned tasks. UNESCO has the rights to request for corrections, re-copyediting and re-proofreading for specific parts of the original document within the agreed timeline to meet the required quality standard; and
- complete the translation to the satisfaction of UNESCO.

2. PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

Deliverables and Timeline:
The translation, copyediting, proofreading and finalization process takes place a 6-month period. Accurate and high-quality translation of the documents from the original language version into translated text with Pyidaungsu Myanmar font, size 12 points, single line spacing and 1-inch margin in Microsoft Word format in electronic copy (by email). All deliverables shall be submitted with original, editable files to UNESCO such as MS-Word. The assigned tasks must be submitted by the following deadlines:

Deliverables Deadline 1. Draft translation of Understanding Children’s Learning and Development, textbook, manual and template 29 May 2025 2. Final translation of Understanding Children’s Learning and Development, textbook, manual and template after addressing UNESCO’s feedback 19 June 2025 3. Draft translation of Effective Environments for Learning, textbook, manual and template 17 July 2025 4. Final translation of Effective Environments for Learning, textbook, manual and template after addressing UNESCO’s feedback 7 August 2025 5. Draft translation of Teaching Across the Curriculum, textbook, manual and template 4 September 2025 6. Final translation of Teaching Across the Curriculum, textbook, manual and template after addressing UNESCO’s feedback 25 September 2025 7. Draft translation of Teaching Practicum Placement, textbook, manual and template 16 October 2025 8. Final translation of Teaching Practicum Placement, textbook, manual and template after addressing UNESCO’s feedback 31 October 2025

The work shall be completed by 31 October 2025.

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial) Accountability (C)Communication (C)Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C)Planning and organizing (C)Results focus (C)Teamwork (C)Building partnerships (M)Making quality decisions (M)

- For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• A Master’s degree in the field of education, language and linguistics, or related field;
• At least 3-5 years of experience in the field of translation of educational materials and/or training provision;
• Excellent language, communication and writing skills in English and Myanmar;
• Ability to work with flexibility and collaboration; and
• Excellent knowledge on Myanmar context.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• Previous experience international organizations, and/or the UN organizations are preferred; and
• Previous experiences in translating pre-service teacher education materials will be an advantage.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested candidates should click on “Apply Now” and upload the following documents as a single PDF document in place of the Employment History Form.

• Technical Proposal clearly referencing “Translation, Copyediting, Proofreading and Finalization of Ethnic Education Provider’s Pre-service Teacher Training Curriculum Materials (Myanmar Language)”, indicating 1) qualifications and experiences that make suitable for the assignment, 2) the methodology/ approaches and workplan to be adopted to carry out the assignment, and 3) updated Curriculum Vitae (CV).

• Financial Proposal indicating the proposed daily or monthly rates, or the amount/budget to be charged for the assignment.

  UNESCO places great emphasis on ensuring that the objectives of the work assignment, as described in the Terms of Reference, are met. Accordingly, in evaluating the proposals for the assignment, attention will focus first and foremost on the technical elements. From those proposals deemed suitable in terms of the criteria in the Terms of Reference, UNESCO shall select the proposal that offers the Organisation the best value for money.

  SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

  Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information. To apply, please visit the UNESCO careers website. No modifications can be made to the application submitted.

  The evaluation of candidates is based on the criteria in the vacancy notice, and may include tests and/or assessments, as well as a competency-based interview.

  UNESCO uses communication technologies such as video or teleconference, e-mail correspondence, etc. for the assessment and evaluation of candidates.

  Please note that only selected candidates will be further contacted and candidates in the final selection step will be subject to reference checks based on the information provided.

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