Title of Assignment: Project Management Consultant , ABC Secretariat (Part-Time)
Name of unit/sector: Accessible Books Consortium (ABC) Secretariat, Copyright Management Divisionย
Place of Assignment: Remote work with a maximum time zone difference of seven hours from CETย
Expected places of travel (if applicable): As needed and requested by the Head, ABC
Expected duration of assignment: Starting as soon as possible until December 31, 2025, with possibility of renewal under proposed framework agreement
1.Organization Contextย
The Accessible Books Consortium (ABC) was established in June 2014 to implement the goals of the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled.ย ABC is a publicโprivate partnership led by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) that brings together key stakeholders. The Marrakesh Treaty benefits persons who are blind, have low vision, are dyslexic or have mobility impairments that impact their ability to read the printed word (โpeople who are print disabledโ).
ABCโs goal is to increase and make available books in accessible formats (such as braille, audio and e-text) through three main activities:
โข the ABC Global Book Service (โthe Serviceโ), which is a centralized catalogue of over one million accessible format books in 80 languages available for cross border exchange under the framework of the Marrakesh Treaty;
โข training and technical assistance provided in developing and least developed countries for the production of accessible format books; โข the promotion of inclusive publishing practices with publishers.ABC has an Advisory Board that is currently comprised of the representatives of 16 organizations, which meet with the ABC Secretariat regularly.ย ย
2.Assignment
Under the supervision of the Head, ABC Secretariat, the Project Management Consultant (PMC) will:ย ย
1) be involved in the establishment and implementation of a new AI initiative for accessible book production that is being discussed;ย
2) develop and implement new Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) Projects in developing and least developed countries and monitor TTA activities by partner NGOs until completion and;ย
3) explore and implement new partnerships with assistive technology companies.ย ย
The PM will work in collaboration with the ABC Secretariat, expert trainers and partner NGOs in each region.
3.Tasks/Activities
The PMC shall:
(a) explore and assist in developing an AI Tool for the production of accessible books, including the development of position papers and business specifications, as well as liaising with internal and external partners and testing the AI Tool outputs;ย (b) deliver new Training and Technical Assistance Projects in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean or Latin America. Tasks shall include:ยย ย (i) identifying new countries where an ABC Project could be established and successfully delivered within the timeframe allocated;ย ย ย (ii) developing detailed proposals and work plans together with the identified partner NGOs serving people who are blind, visually impaired or otherwise print disabled in the agreed countries; ย ย (iii) defining the deliverables of the Projects, including timelines and monitoring output throughout the duration of the TTA contract with the partner NGO; ย ย (iv) drafting standard agreements and terms of reference (based on existing templates) with the selected partner NGOs; ย ย (v) providing interim and final reports on the Projects, including lessons learned; andย ย ย (vi) financial monitoring and evaluation of the outcomes of the Projects.
(c) work with assistive technology partners to make available the ABC Global Book Service catalogue to people who are print disabled. (d) participate in international meetings or events to promote ABC, as requested by the Head, ABC. (e) perform any other related tasks as requested by the Head, ABC.
4. Reporting
The PMC will report to the Head, ABC Secretariat.
5. Profile
The PMC requires the following:ย
(a) An advanced university degree in development studies, education, accessibility studies or library sciences or related field;ย (b) At least six to eight years of experience in the area of project management; (c) Extensive understanding of challenges faced by authorized entities and people who are print disabled, particularly in low income countries; (d) Knowledge of AI tools, accessible format standards including braille tactile reading and the technologies required to produce accessible format copies of books, as well as knowledge of reading devices for people who are print disabled; (e) Excellent drafting skills in English and Spanish;ย (f) Sound political judgment and experience working in a multicultural environment. (g) Knowledge of ABC activities; and (h) Experience implementing international technical development projects in low-income countries would be an advantage.6. Duration of assignment and payment
Applicants are requested to provide an indication of their remuneration expectations of a daily rate in either Swiss francs, Euros, British Pounds or USD.ย
This part-time assignment will run until December 31, 2025, with the possibility of renewal, subject to the availability of funds. The consultant will be engaged through a framework agreement for the provision of services as and when needed by WIPO. The proposed duration of the Framework Agreement is five years. It is expressly understood that WIPO does not guarantee any minimum quantity of services under the Framework Agreement and the Consultant shall be engaged only as and when required.
Services shall be provided within the context of a Framework Agreement at a daily rate for a maximum of 60 days until December 31, 2025 (or 170 days over a 12 month period). The ICS provider shall submit a monthly invoice for services rendered, together with a time sheet.ย ย
7. Additional information
ICS providers fall outside the coverage of employment contracts for WIPO Staff members and are not subject to the WIPO Staff Regulations and Rules. The ICS provider has no entitlement to vacation or sick leave (except for WIPO official holidays), or to medical insurance or a staff pension.ย