Terms of Reference (ToR): Editorial and Publications Consultant at AfricaNenda Foundation

Job Description

• Type: Part-time consultancy, three days per week
• Duration: 6 months renewable subject to satisfactory performance and needs.
• Location: Remote (Africa-based)
• Reporting To: Communications Director
• Requirement: Fluency in English and French

Background

AfricaNenda Foundation is an Africa-based, African-led nonprofit working with central banks and payment ecosystem stakeholders to accelerate the design, development, launch, and improvement of inclusive instant payment systems.

Through this work, we aim to help deliver the power of seamless and affordable digital payments to 260 million financially excluded Africans by 2030.

As part of its communications work, AfricaNenda seeks an Editorial and Publications Consultant to lead the development and production of its reports and other priority publications. Reporting to the Director of Communications, the consultant will work with the communications and technical teams to turn research and program insights into clear, accessible publications for AfricaNenda’s audiences. The consultant will coordinate external providers and oversee each stage, from editing manuscripts and guiding design to preparing final files for digital publication and print. At the start of the assignment, the consultant and the Director of Communications will agree on publication priorities and a production schedule aligned with AfricaNenda’s communications calendar.

Scope of work:

1. Lead editorial development

• Work with the communications and technical teams to define each publication’s audience, purpose, structure and key messages.

• Review and edit manuscripts for narrative flow, clarity and consistency. Make technical findings accessible while preserving their meaning and refer substantive questions to the relevant technical leads for validation.

• Coordinate internal reviews and consolidate feedback into a single set of instructions for authors and providers. Track outstanding decisions and approvals.

• Oversee copyediting, proofreading and, where applicable, translation and review of English and French editions. Check consistency across the main report, executive summary, key takeaways and other agreed companion products.

2. Oversee design and production

• Prepare clear briefs for designers, including publication objectives, brand requirements, audience needs and deliverable specifications.

• Guide the visual treatment of the publication, including page layout, charts, tables, infographics and photography. Review design concepts and proofs for readability, accuracy and consistency with AfricaNenda’s brand.

• Consolidate design feedback and follow up with providers through each revision.

Check final proofs against the approved manuscript, including figures, captions, references, credits and links.

• Coordinate final sign-off and handover of digital and print-ready files, editable source files and supporting assets, as applicable.

3. Coordinate providers and manage the publication schedule

• Serve as the day-to-day contact for assigned editors, designers, translators, proofreaders and printers.

• Maintain a production schedule with milestones, responsibilities, review rounds and approval deadlines. Flag delays, dependencies and proposed changes to scope or cost early.

• Track provider deliverables against agreed briefs and deadlines. Coordinate with the communications team on publication dates and handover for the website, Knowledge Hub and other relevant channels.

• Keep manuscripts, proofs, approvals and final assets organized in AfricaNenda’s shared workspace.

Working arrangements

The consultancy is expected to average three days per week. The consultant and Director of Communications will agree with the publication priorities and how to allocate those days across review and production milestones.

Any additional days required during peak production periods will be agreed in advance.

The consultant will lead day-to-day editorial and production coordination. AfricaNenda’s technical leads will validate research findings and data. The Director of Communications will approve key messages, creative direction and final release.

Qualifications and Experience:

• At least five years of relevant experience in editorial management and publication production, including taking research reports, policy publications or similar products from manuscript through design to publication.
• Professional proficiency in both English and French, with the ability to edit and review publications in both languages. Proficiency in Arabic is an asset.
• Strong editorial judgment and the ability to make technical material clear and accessible while preserving its meaning.
• Experience briefing and coordinating external editors, designers, translators and other production providers, consolidating feedback and managing deadlines.
• A strong eye for layout, typography and data visualization, with experience reviewing proofs for digital and print publications.
• Familiarity with financial inclusion, digital payments, public policy or international development is an advantage.

How to Apply

Application Process:

Interested candidates should submit their applications by email to: applications@africanenda.org no later 23 November 2026

Only highly qualified candidates will be considered, and only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

• Document: Terms of Reference (ToR)- Editorial and Publications Consultant