Aidspan, a Kenya-based international NGO with a global mandate, seeks to recruit a Senior Editor to manage Aidspan’s Editorial Department, and an Editor/Writer to contribute to the work of the Editorial Department.
- 1. Aidspan
Aidspan (www.aidspan.org) serves as an independent watchdog of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria. Aidspan also publishes Global Fund Observer, subscribed to by nearly 10,000 development professionals globally. Aidspan seeks to monitor, critique and explain the Global Fund, with the objective of increasing the effectiveness of the Fund and of the implementers of its grants. Aidspan has a worldwide reputation within the Global Fund community for performing high quality work and for producing clear, succinct, independent writing.
Aidspan is financed through grants from governments, foundations and corporations. Aidspan does not charge for any of its products or services, nor does it accept funding of any kind from the Global Fund. Donors and the Global Fund have no influence on the content of Aidspan’s publications. Aidspan’s budget for 2012, which is already fully funded, is nearly $2 million.
Aidspan’s impact is considerably greater than its staff size and budget suggests. The Global Fund currently spends c. $3 billion annually, and it estimates that over the past nine years, its grants have led to the saving of 7.7 million lives. If Aidspan can cause the Global Fund to raise 1% more money, or to have 1% more impact with the money it spends, it will have made a massive contribution.
- 2. Aidspan’s Editorial Department
The Editorial Department is responsible for two broad activity areas: (1) producing news, analysis and commentary articles on the Global Fund and related issues; and (2) publishing guides and reports on the Global Fund and related issues. Note: Aidspan’s Research Department also publishes reports on topics that fall within its area of expertise.
Producing news, analysis and commentary articles includes publishing Global Fund Observer (GFO), a newsletter provided free of charge to nearly 10,000 subscribers in 170 countries. In 2011, Aidspan published 36 issues of GFO, containing over 180 articles, of which more than 20 were analysis or commentary articles. Current and past issues of GFO can be found at www.aidspan.org/gfo.
Starting in 2012, Aidspan will introduce a service whereby the news, analysis and commentary articles are posted on its website as they are written, and whereby readers have an opportunity to comment on the articles. In addition, Aidspan will create discussion forums on its website where visitors to the site can discuss Global Fund-related issues.
Also in 2012, Aidspan will launch a programme to identify local correspondents and contributors who can write articles and/or feed information to Aidspan on developments related to the Global Fund in their countries.
Over the years, Aidspan has published a number of guides and reports. The guides provide detailed explanations of Global Fund policies and procedures, plus relevant guidance from Aidspan. The reports provide in-depth discussion of particular Global Fund-related issues. The guides and reports currently available are listed on the Aidspan website here and here.
Aidspan’s 2012 workplan includes producing a new guide on managing sub-recipients; extensively rewriting Aidspan’s guide to building an effective country coordinating mechanism (CCM) and Aidspan’s guide on understanding Global Fund processes for grant implementation; and updating Aidspan’s beginner’s guide to the Global Fund and its guide to CCM oversight of grant implementation. The workplan also includes updating Aidspan’s report on Global Fund grant ratings.
Aidspan is known for writing that is very clear and free of jargon, and it intends to maintain that standard. Aidspan’s Editorial Department has two full time positions (“Senior Editor” and “Editor/Writer”). The Department also uses the services of consultants.
- 3. Responsibilities
Senior Editor
The Senior Editor will report to the Executive Director. Note: Currently, Aidspan’s Senior Analyst is performing many of the duties of the Senior Editor. Initially, for a short period, the Senior Editor will report to the Senior Analyst.
In addition to managing the activities of the Editorial Department, which includes supervising the Editor/Writer position, the Senior Editor will, after a short time, also serve as “GFO Editor.” Note: “GFO Editor” is not a separate position; it is part of the responsibilities of the Senior Editor.
Further, the Senior Editor will be expected to:
- Manage the preparation of, and edit, all Aidspan guides, and all Aidspan reports that are produced by the Editorial Department.
- Research and write some of the content of the guides and reports.
- Mentor Editorial Department staff and consultants (and, upon request, other staff and consultants) regarding their writing.
- Write or edit much of Aidspan’s web content.
- Manage all web services where people comment on articles and contribute to discussion forums.
Editor/Writer
- The Editor/Writer will report to the Senior Editor. The Editor/Writer will be expected to assist the Senior Editor with his/her tasks, taking complete responsibility for some of them and doing a considerable amount of writing.
- 4. Qualifications, knowledge, skills and attributes
Senior Editor
Required:
(a) A post-graduate degree and at least five years’ experience as a writer OR a graduate degree and at least eight years’ experience as a writer.
(b) At least three year’s experience editing copy.
(c) Superb writing and editing skills.
(d) A proven track record of writing articles and reports that are clear and free of jargon.
(e) Excellent mentoring skills.
(f) Strong computer skills.
(g) Well organised self-starter, with attention to detail.
(h) Good team player, with excellent inter-personal relationships.
Preferred:
(i) Degree in journalism, communications or English.
(j) Significant knowledge of the Global Fund and/or the field of global health and development.
Shortlisted candidates will be asked to provide several samples of their work.
Editor/Writer
Required:
(a) A graduate degree.
(b) At least four years’ experience as a writer.
(c) At least two year’s experience editing copy.
(d) Excellent writing and editing skills.
(e) A proven track record of writing articles and reports that are clear and free of jargon.
(f) Good mentoring skills.
(g) Good computer skills.
(h) Good attention to detail.
(i) Good team player, with excellent inter-personal relationships.
Preferred:
(j) Degree in journalism, communications or English.
(k) Good knowledge of the Global Fund and/or the field of global health and development.
Shortlisted candidates will be asked to provide several samples of their work.
- 5. Job location
These positions, like most other Aidspan positions, are based at Aidspan’s office in Nairobi, Kenya. Applicants must be citizens of Kenya, or must have documented proof that they are permitted by the government to work in Kenya.
- 6. Salary and benefits
Aidspan staff are provided with two-year contracts, with the normal expectation that the contract will be renewed one or more times. Aidspan salaries are specified and paid in Kenya shillings.
The Senior Editor will be paid at Grade 12 on Aidspan’s salary scale. That will translate into a basic salary (before withholding of income tax and before addition of benefits) of approximately KSh 550,000 per month, which at the current exchange rate of KSh 83 per US dollar is equivalent to $6,650 per month, $80,000 per annum.
The Editor/Writer will be paid at Grade 9 on Aidspan’s salary scale. That will translate into a basic salary (before withholding of income tax and before addition of benefits) of approximately KSh 375,000 per month, which at the current exchange rate of KSh 83 per US dollar is equivalent to $4,500 per month, $55,000 per annum.
All Kenya-based Aidspan staff are eligible to receive the following benefits: pension equal to 8% of basic salary, generous health insurance for employee and eligible family members; housing allowance equal to 10% of basic salary; education allowance for eligible children equal to up to 10% of basic salary; group life insurance; group personal accident cover; and such other benefits as are required under Kenya law. Also, staff are eligible for an annual bonus, based on personal and organisational performance against targets, of up to 10% of basic salary. (Note: Eligibility for pension, education allowance and group life insurance only commences upon the completion of probation. Probation is for three months, occasionally extended by a maximum of two further months.)
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