Development Outreach and Communication Writer/Editor

General Statement of Purpose of the Contract

USAID programs approximately $400 million of U.S. foreign assistance each year to support development programs in Zambia.  Ensuring key stakeholders understand the impact of this assistance is a key objective of the USAID Mission in Lusaka.  The Editor provides timely and strategic writing and editing services to strengthen internal and public stakeholders’ understanding of the impact of this assistance.  The Editor will report to USAID/Zambia’s Program office Director or his/her designee and interact regularly with USAID and Embassy Lusaka staff, USAID Headquarters staff, and USAID implementing partners working in Zambia. 

Statement of Duties to be Performed

1. Editing: The Editor reviews various Mission products authored or sponsored by USAID/Zambia for style, design, layout, and editorial considerations before submission to Headquarters, Embassy Front Office or publication.  S/he edits or rewrites text for clarity and accuracy, applying USAID’s Style Guide requirements.  Edits speeches, talking points, statements, and other related messaging for mission and bureau use when addressing both internal and external stakeholders. Evaluates public resources and information and how they affect public perceptions and understanding of USAID programs, policies, etc. Examines reports, documents, and other material submitted for completeness and conformity with requests made and directives issued. S/he ensures that products for public dissemination are sensitive to American and Zambian audiences, engaging local populations as appropriate for additional perspectives.
2. Writing: S/he works closely with USAID/Zambia’s Development Outreach and Communications (DOC) Team and Technical Offices to design summary documents that communicate USAID’s progress to achieving its development objectives. This may include thematic cables, newsletters and journals, social media posts, and other reports or publications relevant to mission activities. Works on the production of publications (such as fact sheets), social media and website materials for both external and internal audiences.
3. Development Outreach and Communications: The Editor may be asked to develop publicly appealing social media campaigns and update USAID/Zambia’s websites and social media sites.  For high level events and delegations, the Editor may be called upon to assist the Mission with implementing public events. This includes being a point of contact for USAID at a launch, site visit or other public event to ensure proper branding and media coverage of the event.  

Supervisory Controls

The Editor reports directly to the Program Office Director or his/her designee. S/he will frequently interact directly with and take strategic direction from the USAID Front Office. The performance of the Editor shall be evaluated annually and will be initiated by the supervisor.

Supervisory Relationship

Supervision is provided by the USAID/Zambia Supervisory Program Officer.