[FoME] Consultancy assignment: toolkit for evaluating information projects

[Christoph Dietz]

CTA is looking for a content editor for the second version of the CTA
smart toolkit for evaluating information projects, products and
services

BACKGROUND TO THE SECOND VERSION OF THE TOOLKIT
In October 2007, CTA in collaboration with IICD, KIT and BLE held an
editorial consultation meeting to discuss and exchange ideas on the
second draft version of the Smart Toolkit, the first version of which
was published back in 2005. The objectives of the meeting were to:
- Exchange ideas and experiences from the application of first toolkit
to feed into the production and finalisation of the second toolkit.
- Discuss editorial and publishing issues with regard to language
style, consistency, user-friendliness, format, production etc and make
recommendations for improvement of the text.
- Discuss and make recommendations for outreach and collaboration.
A cartoonist was also present to capture discussions in the form of
illustrations for eventual use in the publication.
Working group discussions took place along the following themes:
Content Development, Editorial/Publishing, and Outreach and
Collaboration, resulting in substantive recommendations:

- Content and development: Ensure that the basics of evaluation are
clear and revisit the “tools” themselves; revise sections according
to proposed recommendations.
- Editorial/Publishing: Ensure that content is appropriate for target
audience, and that editorial, design and dissemination take into account
proposed recommendations.
- Outreach and Collaboration: Obtain commitment from partners;
communicate through closed Wikis, and address specific topics through
D-Groups and gather comments from partners (ongoing).
Another key recommendation coming out the discussions was that although
the Toolkit contained a lot of relevant information, navigation of the
document needed to be improved (i.e. simplicity and clarity).

CURRENT STRUCTURE AND STATUS OF THE REVISED EDITION

Part 1: Project planning, monitoring and evaluation and impact
assessment
Part 2: The Evaluation Process
Part 3: Activity “tools”. These are in the process of being put
together and will comprise about 12 “tools” each on average 15-20
pages long.
Part 4: Support “tools” for conducting an effective evaluation e.g.
logframe, logic model etc.
Resources: These will include web links and sources for further reading
(to be compiled).
Annexes: Glossary, Acronyms, etc.

Revision of the toolkit based on the technical recommendations has been
carried out to a large extent and we currently require the assistance of
an editor to review and edit the toolkit and improve navigation within
the document. Please visit the Smart toolkit website at
http://www.cta.int/smart_toolkit/ and click on ‘(DRAFT) 2nd Edition
of the Smart Toolkit’ to see the draft documents produced to date.

SPECIFIC TASKS OF THE CONTENT EDITOR
* Review the toolkit in terms of text organisation/flow, diagrams, and
make recommendations for CTA and its partners’ consideration.
* Edit the whole toolkit for content, style, clarity, consistency,
etc.
* Raise and clarify queries/issues on content with CTA and the
authors.
* Provide the edited toolkit to CTA by email.
* Stay involved with the project up to book design stage - mainly to
comment on text design and layout.


QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
Key requirements for this assignment:
University degree or equivalent
Experience in planning, monitoring and evaluation
Excellent command of written and spoken English (knowledge of French
would be an advantage)
Editing experience
Working experience with ACP countries
National of an ACP or EU state.
DURATION OF THE ASSIGNMENT
The successful applicant will be expected to start the editing at the
latest end May 2008. The whole exercise should be completed by end July
2008. This will allow time for liaising with authors and CTA during the
editing and finalisation process.

SUBMISSIONS OF EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
Interested persons having the relevant experience are invited to submit
their letter of application by 5 May 2008 with a CV outlining their
capacity to undertake the assignment. The letter and CV can be sent, by
post, fax or email, to:

Dr Ibrahim Khadar
Manager, Planning and Corporate Services
CTA
P.O. Box 380
6700 AJ Wageningen
The Netherlands
Email: Khadar at cta.int; Fax; +31 317 460067
CTA website: www.cta.int