WOMEN IN GLOBAL HEALTH (WGH)
Consultancy: Copyeditor and Graphic Designer – Gender Transformative Leadership and Intersectionality (GTLI) Handbook and Toolkit
Terms of Reference
| Assignment Details | Description |
|---|---|
| Location | Home-based / Remote |
| Proposed Start Date | 30 November 2026 |
| Duration | 15 working days (ending 18 December 2026) |
| Application Deadline | 18 November 2026, 17:00 GMT |
1. Background
Women in Global Health (WGH) is a women-led movement that promotes women’s leadership and advances gender equity. WGH is committed to strengthening its Chapters’ capacity, skills, and knowledge in Gender Transformative Leadership and Intersectionality (GTLI).
To this end, the organisation developed the GTLI Handbook and Toolkit to guide practitioners, partners, and stakeholders in applying gender-transformative and intersectional approaches to leadership development.
To ensure the GTLI Handbook and Toolkit meet high-quality standards and are coherent, accessible, easy to understand, and user-friendly, WGH seeks to engage a consultant to support the finalisation and refinement of the documents.
The GTLI Handbook and Toolkit comprise:
- The Handbook, together with a set of tools, templates, and annexes, totalling approximately 80–100 pages.
These Terms of Reference (TOR) therefore outline the requirements for professional copy-editing, proofreading, design, and production of the GTLI Handbook and Toolkit for print and digital use.
2. Purpose and Objectives
WGH seeks to engage a consultant to copy-edit and design the GTLI Handbook and Toolkit. This includes reviewing, refining, and finalising the language, as well as developing a professional visual design and layout to produce a polished, publication-ready resource that preserves the technical accuracy and intended messaging of the content.
The overall objective of the consultancy is to produce a high-quality, professionally edited, and visually engaging publication.
Specific objectives are to:
- Copy-edit, proofread, and format the final, reviewed, and validated Handbook and Toolkit content.
- Design and produce the publication in print-ready and digital formats.
- Ensure the final documents meet professional publication standards and are ready for dissemination to practitioners, partners, and other stakeholders.
3. Scope of Work
The consultant will be responsible for both the copy-editing and the design and layout of the GTLI Handbook and Toolkit, working under the supervision of the Director, Movement Building.
The work comprises the following:
A. Copy-editing and Proofreading
- Conduct a comprehensive copy-edit of the GTLI Handbook and Toolkit, including all narrative text, tools, templates, and annexes.
- Ensure consistency of language, tone, and voice throughout.
- Check and correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, and syntax.
- Standardise formatting, headings, numbering, and terminology in line with the organisation’s style guide.
- Ensure consistent and appropriate use of gender-sensitive and inclusive language.
- Flag any sections that are unclear, repetitive, or inconsistent, and propose edits for clarity without altering the technical content or intended messaging.
- Verify consistency of acronyms, technical terms, tables, figures, numbering, cross-references, and referencing and citation style.
- Proofread the final laid-out files against the approved edited text, checking spelling, punctuation, typographical errors, page numbers, table of contents, headings, captions, cross-references, and hyperlinks.
- Apply all edits using the Track Changes function in Microsoft Word, and provide both a clean, copy-edited version and a tracked-changes/comments version for review.
- Incorporate feedback from the project team following review of the first edited draft.
B. Design, Layout and Production
- Develop a visually engaging and professional design concept for the Handbook and Toolkit, in line with the organisation’s brand guidelines (colours, fonts, and logo usage).
- Apply the agreed final Microsoft Word and PDF templates (where provided) and WGH’s brand guidelines, including the colour palette, fonts, and logo usage, for all final outputs.
- Design a cover page and section divider pages that reflect the tone and purpose of the GTLI Handbook and Toolkit.
- Design and format all tables, charts, infographics, and diagrams for clarity and visual consistency.
- Ensure consistent use of headings, typography, spacing, and colour throughout.
- Incorporate design feedback from the project team and revise the layout accordingly.
- Deliver the final, publication-ready Handbook and Toolkit, copy-edited, proofread, and professionally designed, in the agreed formats: print-ready PDF, digital/web-optimised PDF, and editable source files.
- Hand over a Source Files and Asset Pack containing all original editable files (e.g., Adobe InDesign and Illustrator files), linked images, font information, and a folder with all custom icons and illustrations created.
4. Key Deliverables
Work will commence immediately after the agreement is signed. The consultant will work closely with the Director, Movement Building, who will provide technical guidance, content review, and approval of deliverables, with support from the Communications Manager.
The consultant is expected to produce the following deliverables:
- Inception Report: Confirming understanding of the assignment, proposed approach, work plan, and proposed design concept/mock-up (sample layout, cover concept, colour and font palette).
- First Copy-edited Draft: The GTLI Handbook and Toolkit, with tracked changes/comments.
- Revised Copy-edited Draft: Incorporating feedback from the project team.
- First Designed/Laid-out Draft: Applying the approved design concept to the final edited text.
- Revised Design: Incorporating feedback from the project team.
- Final Publication-ready Version: The Handbook and Toolkit, copy-edited and professionally designed, delivered in editable source files, print-ready PDF, and digital/interactive PDF.
5. Selection Criteria
Essential Qualifications
- A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in English, Communications, Journalism, Publishing, Graphic Design, or a related field.
- Proven experience in professional copy-editing, proofreading, and publication design.
- Evidence of at least two (2) similar assignments completed (e.g., handbooks, toolkits, or reports), particularly for development sector, gender, or leadership-related publications.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Adobe InDesign, Canva, or equivalent design software.
- Strong attention to detail, with the ability to work independently, meet deadlines, and respond promptly to feedback.
Competencies, Skills and Experience
- Demonstrated graphic design and desktop publishing skills, with expert proficiency in the Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop) or equivalent tools such as Canva (professional/Pro tier).
- Proven track record of turning heavy text into clear charts, infographics, and layouts that improve readability.
- A strong design portfolio showing prior layout work on handbooks, toolkits, reports, or similar publications.
- Experience working with international NGOs (INGOs), NGOs, foundations, or donor-funded projects is highly desirable.
Language Requirements and Proficiency
- Excellent command of English grammar, style, and usage, and the ability to apply editorial standards consistently.
6. Payment Terms
The consultancy covers 15 working days of copy-editing, proofreading, layout, and design of the training manual and accompanying toolkit, including formatting, quality assurance, and agreed revisions.
The fee will be confirmed with the selected consultant before the contract is signed.
Payment will be made in three instalments, subject to submission and approval of the corresponding deliverables:
- 30% upon submission and approval of the inception report, work plan, and proposed design concept.
- 40% upon submission and approval of the copy-edited drafts and first designed/laid-out versions of the Handbook and Toolkit.
- 30% upon submission and approval of the final publication-ready deliverables, including print-ready and digital PDFs, editable source files, and relevant design assets.
Payments will be processed upon approval of the relevant deliverables and receipt of the required invoice, in accordance with WGH’s applicable financial procedures.
7. Intellectual Property and Confidentiality
- All outputs produced under this assignment, including edited text, designs, layouts, custom icons and illustrations, and source files, will be the property of Women in Global Health.
- The consultant will treat all draft materials and information as confidential and will not share or publish them.
- Use of generative AI tools in editing or design requires prior written approval from WGH.
8. Application Requirements
Interested consultants should submit the following documents by 18 November 2026, at 17:00 GMT to [email protected]:
- A cover letter outlining relevant experience and suitability for the assignment.
- A brief technical proposal outlining your understanding of the task, methodology, and work plan.
- An updated CV demonstrating relevant experience.
- A sample of previous copy-editing work (preferably from a development, gender, or leadership-related publication).
- A design portfolio or links to samples of previously designed/laid-out documents (e.g., handbooks, reports, toolkits), including at least two similar assignments.
- Contact details of at least two professional references.
Application Email: [email protected]
Application Deadline: 18 November 2026, 17:00 GMT