Open call: Sound Connects Fund reports editor and copyeditor

The SCF is a European Union (EU) and Africa Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP) funded 40-month project aiming to support creatives in nine Southern African countries (Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho and eSwatini). The project supports creatives and practitioners through sub-grants to improve their products and services.

Services required 

The company or freelancer shall provide services to edit and copyedit the two following reports:

• Good Practice Report (approx. 130-160 pages)
• CCI Report (approx. 60-65 pages).

The service provider will be responsible for making the reports understandable, coherent and functional for its readers. This assignment will incorporate substantive content and language editing – to improve the overall presentation of the products, its content, language, scope, length and structure.

This includes:

• Giving suggestions about content and structure to the authors (help them fill in the blanks).
• Eliminating repetition.
• Redrafting and combining different parts of the existing text.
• Ensuring that all content is free of spelling mistakes,
• Ensuring the reports are professionally and logically presented.
• Reviewing language usage, grammar, clarity and typos for consistency (British English). This includes checking the numbering of illustrations, tables, notes and any cross-references, as well as the consistency of bibliographical references.
• Copyediting all graphs and appendices.

NOTE: The first step will be the editorial process, which will include close collaboration with the authors. The second step will be the copyediting.

Required skills and experience of bidder(s)

• A degree in the area of communication, journalism, English literature or related field.
• At least five (5) years of relevant work experience in editing and copyediting reports and publications.
• Fluency in English.
• A good understanding of the cultural and creative sectors, and conversations, especially within Southern Africa.

Duration and working schedule

The assignment will start at the end of October and the required services need to be delivered no later than 10 December. The service provider is expected to give this assignment ample time in order to meet the final deadline by the end of December.

Submission of proposals 

Only qualified and experienced service providers capable of delivering services on time and at affordable rates with a proven track record will be considered. The contract will be signed with Goethe-Institut. 

Interested service providers should submit a detailed technical and financial proposal, including the following:

• Budget that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs.
• Overview of past experience of the bidding company/consortium of companies/freelancers covering at least the last three years (maximum the last six years).
• Clear indications of all personnel involved (by providing respective CVs).

General provisions

1. Goethe-Institut reserves the right not to appoint any service provider or to appoint the work to more than one bidder.
2. Goethe-Institut reserves the right to undertake reference, and other checks and by responding to this bid, the consultant(s)/service provider hereby gives Goethe-Institut consent/authority to undertake such checks.
3. Goethe-Institut reserves the right to withdraw this bid or amend these terms of reference by notice in writing (email or posting on the website) to only shortlisted bidders who will have responded to this call prior to the closing date.
4. The award of the contract will be based on best value for money – that being the best outcome for Goethe-Institut as a whole, considering price, economic, environmental and social benefits (if applicable).

Miscellaneous 

Costs incurred for the preparation and presentation (including travel expenses) for the bid cannot be reimbursed. Unless otherwise agreed, the documents, samples, etc. attached to the bid will pass into the ownership of the contracting authority; bidders cannot claim a reimbursement of any costs.

Applications 

Offers need to be submitted electronically (preferably in one PDF) in English to Ms Priscilla Mwasinga at priscilla.mwasinga@goethe.de with the subject line ‘SCF Editing Reports’ no later than 15 October 2023.

Late submissions will not be considered.

Contact for further inquiries 

Ms Priscilla Mwasinga, MEAL officer, at priscilla.mwasinga@goethe.de.