Lowongan Consultant for Web Content Writer and Publication Abstracts, Jakarta

Background

Program Representasi (ProRep) is a USAID-supported project designed to help civil society organizations (CSOs), public policy research centers and other institutions become more representative, effective and responsive to citizens’ needs. Initiated in April 2011 and expected to run until April 2016, ProRep has two overarching objectives:

• To improve representation by increasing the inclusiveness and effectiveness of groups, networks, and institutions that seek to represent citizens’ views, interests, and aspirations to government; 
• To  improve  the  responsiveness,  effectiveness  and  transparency  of  legislative  and policymaking processes.

ProRep is entering the fifth and final year of the project (April 2015 to April 2016) and will continue to focus on the following program areas to accomplish the above objectives: 

• Building the capacity of membership-based and constituency-based CSOs so that they can better represent their members’ and constituents’ interests in undertaking advocacy on key issues and engaging with Government, including the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR); 
• Building the capacity of universities, think tanks and CSOs to conduct and disseminate policy-relevant research and analysis on key policy and governance issues; 
• Working with those concerned to ensure that legislation and policy processes become more evidence-based, effective, responsive and transparent. Specifically in this program area, ProRep is facilitating the establishment of policy communities – groups involving civil society organizations, think tanks, policy makers and other actors – to work together to identify and take the opportunities to learn and act in a strategic and collaborative manner to influence policy; 
• Undertaking special initiatives to protect or advance democratic governance.

Through a “policy community” approach, ProRep seeks to make policymaking in Indonesia more inclusive and evidence-based by promoting regular CSO, think tank, and policymaker interaction focusing on specific policy reform agendas. As government and parliaments commence a new term, there are new opportunities for Indonesian organizations to impact policies and aid in bringing tangible benefits to Indonesian citizens. As such, this is a critical moment to collaborate on plans to improve policies. ProRep, in partnership with ten Indonesian think tanks and CSOs, advances policy improvements in three specific areas - education, health, and environment.

 

Education

Partners are developing policy alliances to improve the quality of education for Indonesian youth by encouraging the equitable distribution of teachers across Indonesia, strengthening educational services, and promoting transparent school budgeting and spending.

Health

Partners are developing policy alliances to improve the quality of health care for Indonesians by aiding the effective implementation of the national health insurance program, and strengthening services offered by community health centers and health workers.

Environment

Partners are developing policy alliances to safeguard Indonesia’s natural resources by encouraging the enactment of implementing regulations on important environmental laws and Constitutional Court rulings, and by promoting improved management of forest areas, including those inhabited by indigenous communities.

Improved in 2014, the ProRep website serves as a main tool in promoting ProRep’s and its partners’ activities to relevant local, national, and international stakeholders, providing accountability to donors, government, and other stakeholders regarding the project. It also serves as a platform for communication between ProRep and relevant stakeholders particularly with those who are working on the same policy issue or improved representation. Other important tools for communicating with stakeholders are the project’s newsletter and one-page success stories. With growing demands on communication technical support, ProRep will require external support to develop success stories, articles, and other content for the website, newsletter, progress reports, etc. In addition, the project is developing a compilation of resources and training materials developed for CSOs, think tanks, and other relevant policy actors, entitled the Representation Toolkit. This toolkit will be made public for the benefit of policy actors even beyond the life of the ProRep project. For this product, ProRep will require support to develop concise, clear abstracts of each of the materials to be showcased in the toolkit.

Objective

The objective of hiring a freelance content writer is to write quality content for ProRep website, newsletter, reports, etc. and develop abstracts of individual modules in the Representation Toolkit series. The writer will generate well-written and persuasive human-interest articles/stories for website content that taking into account how the SEO works and bring more visitors to the website. Content may also be featured in the ProRep newsletter and reports. The writer will also write concise “fast-facts” and abstract on the individual training modules as part of the Representation Toolkit series. Through the exercise, ProRep aims to:

• Update ProRep website and social media, and other communication tools, that highlight activities, progress, stories, and achievements of ProRep and its partners related to certain policy issues and/or processes, promoting good practices of effective representation in Indonesia. 
• Finalize the Representation Toolkit consisting of approximately 30 individual training modules intended for policy actors and advocates, including members of CSOs, researchers, and public policy makers.

Duration and Scope of Activity

The work duration is 30 workdays. The consultant will be required to structure and write a draft article and develop an abstract including summarizing the key messages from individual training modules as per template provided by ProRep. Within the timeframe, the consultant will:

• Collect information through desk-research and interview relevant people (including partners and stakeholders), and/or attending the event.
• Write articles/stories for the website, newsletter, and reports in English and Indonesian.
• Develop an abstract in Indonesian for individual training modules in the Representation Toolkit series. 
• Work with editor and ProRep Communication team to improve the articles and abstracts.

Deliverables

Below is the list of the expected deliverables during the estimated 30-workday assignment:

• Articles/stories for the website, newsletter, and reports in English and Indonesian. The consultant should write at least four (4) articles per month (total eight 8) that might include but not be limited to features on the relevant policy issues and human- interest stories. 
• Abstracts for Representation Toolkit. The consultant shall write an Indonesian version of abstract for each of the approximately 30 training modules / resources which may consist of the following information: 
• Introduction: Background – about the modules, WHY the module is needed, objective of the module, use of the module (what is it designed for)
• Key messages on the issue (max. 3)

Interested applicants are invited to send a cover letter and complete curriculum vitae (CV) and Two ( 2) samples article in English and Indonesia (preferably related to issues: Environment, Health, Education and Democratic governance.

To: recruitment@prorep.co.id  by March 26,2015. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. No telephone or email inquiry. If you do not hear from us within 2 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.