Terms of Reference
for a Science Writer- Consultant
I. Organizational Context
The African
Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS, www.nexteinstein.org)
is a pan-African network of centres of excellence for p
ostgraduate training,
research and outreach in mathematical sciences. Its mission is to enable
Africa’s brightest students to flourish as independent thinkers, problem
solvers and innovators capable of propelling Africa’s future scientific,
educational and economic self-sufficiency. The first AIMS centre opened in Cape
Town, South Africa in 2003; since 2011, AIMS has opened additional centres in
Senegal, Ghana, Cameroon and Tanzania. AIMS is preparing to open its 6th
Centre in Kigali, Rwanda. The goal of the AIMS Next Einstein Initiative
(AIMS-NEI) is to build a pan-African network of 15 centres of excellence across
the continent by 2023.
The African
Institute for Mathematical Sciences produces cutting edge research and thought
leadership in science, and is well positioned to contribute to the global
scientific knowledge base. The science writer will research, write and edit
scientific news, articles and features based on AIMS’ portfolio of programs,
initiatives, and outcomes. He/She will write for a variety of mediums including
newspapers, magazines, business, trade and professional publications, as well
as specialist scientific and technical journals to ultimately influence and
enhance the reputational equity as an institution with significant impact to
the scientific community in Africa and beyond.
This
assignment is for a contractor to provide expert science journalism skills to
the AIMS communications team.
The services sought are indicated in these terms of reference.
Generals
Requirements
Overall, the
contractor is required to accomplish the following:
1. Content Development
· Establish regular,
streamlined contact with AIMS academic leaders, alumni and students to mine
content on latest research accomplishments and thought leadership.
· Gather scientific
content from AIMS academic leaders, students and alumni, and, interpret, understand
and convey complex scientific information, theories and practices in a manner
that can be appreciated by appropriate audiences.
· Build and keep up
to date a pan-African and global science media list.
· Build and maintain
relationships with science editors that lead to fruitful collaborations and
placement of content in publications and broadcast where appropriate.
2. Writing & Editing
· Write and edit
solid, well-written and accurate content for a scientific audience about AIMS
programs, initiatives, and outcomes, with a specific focus on the network’s
scientific research output.
· Write
for/communicate to, traditional and non-traditional media outlets,
communicating scientific research to a professional audience, specifically for
scientific journals.
· Set and reach
targets of minimum science publication placements on a quarterly basis.
· Develop a
framework for and monitor/report on coverage and more broadly on AIMS
reputational equity as an institution with impactful scientific output.
Social
Media
Identify
science-related social media influencers, and work with in-house Content and
Community Manager to create engaging, science-focused content for these
audiences.
Work
with the AIMS communication team to develop and grow a digital community of
science stakeholders that buy into and champion AIMS’ mission, vision and
impact online.
II. Scope of work
· Mine content for
and write articles authored by AIMS President and CEO based on interviews,
covering, amongst others, the following subjects:
Why
and how AIMS’ model is unique/the distinctive features of AIMS
Scientific
contributions of AIMS to the development of Africa (including stories of
alumni)
The
flaws of nations- tackle some clichés about Africa.
· Propose, mine
content for and write articles focusing on science and research coming out of
AIMS, speaking to some of the organization’s academic leaders and researchers.
· Conduct media
relations with both scientific and traditional media outlets to ensure
placement and coverage of the above articles.
· Develop final
coverage report including AVE.
· Advise on content
and approach for social media content and community management to
science-related and focused audiences (including curation and original content
development)
III. QUALIFICATIONS
The contractor is
required to have:
· A Bachelor degree
in communications or journalism.
· A minimum of 5
years’ experience in a similar role; an equivalent combination of education and
experience may be considered.
· Excellent writing
skills.
· Demonstrated
accomplishments as a science writer with a writing portfolio of published body
of work with science publications.
- Must be
a self-starter with a proven ability to exercise considerable initiative,
judgement, tact and diplomacy. - Ambitious
professional personality with the ability to be nimble and creative. - Excellent
communications and interpersonal skills, together with the ability to work
collaboratively across multiple geographic regions, time zones and
cultures. - Superb
English and French language skills, both written and oral to articulate
thoughts, concepts and the perspectives of AIMS, with an emphasis on
complex scientific information, theories and concepts. - Demonstrated
ability to plan, prioritize, implement, oversee and manage multiple
demands simultaneously - Savvy
proficiency with MS Office applications, internet applications (i.e.
Dropbox, Skype, Google Docs) and social media.
IV. Format of
Proposals
The Contractor is
expected to describe his/her understanding of the objectives of the project and
the Scope of Work.
Contractors are
requested to structure proposals as follows and provide complete details as
indicated:
Personal
Profile/Biography;
Understanding of the
Scope of Work;
Proposed Methodology
/ Approach and detailed Timeline with Deliverables;
Detailed Target
Media List (Science and traditional media, focused on print and broadcast);
Detailed portfolio
with traceable references (please list active web address);
Proposals should not
exceed 3-4 pages. Incomplete proposals will be disqualified and not considered
for evaluation.
Please send your
proposals latest by 7 September 2016 at: procurementpanel@nexteinstein.org
- Media/Communication
- Rwanda
- Kigali
- African
Institute for Mathematical Sciences
- Education
- 5-10
years
- Consultancy