National Consultant : Sign Language Interpreter - 3.5 months, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Organizational Context

UNICEF operates in over 190 countries, dedicated to saving children's lives and defending their rights. In Ethiopia, the second most populous African nation, UNICEF addresses complex emergencies like conflict and drought. It implements vital programmes in Child Protection, WASH, Health, Nutrition, Social Policy, and Education, serving over 15 million children to improve their lives.

Job Purpose

The purpose of this National Consultant role is to ensure effective and inclusive communication for a staff member within UNICEF Ethiopia, particularly in a professional context. This position is vital for upholding the principle of accessibility and ensuring that all team members can fully participate and contribute. The consultant will bridge communication gaps by expertly interpreting discussions, announcements, conversations, meetings, and various events using appropriate manual sign language systems. This includes accurately interpreting spoken word into sign language and signs into fluent Ethiopian sign language. The role is crucial for enabling the staff member to engage effectively in all aspects of their work, from internal team collaborations to external engagements with partners and stakeholders, and especially in critical emergency situations. By facilitating seamless interaction, the consultant directly supports UNICEF's mission to promote the rights of every child, ensuring that communication barriers do not hinder participation or impact.

Responsibilities

The National Consultant will be responsible for providing comprehensive and high-quality sign language interpretation services to a UNICEF staff member, ensuring full participation and understanding in all professional settings. This encompasses accurately interpreting a diverse range of spoken word situations, including informal discussions, official announcements, daily conversations, formal meetings, workshops, and public events, by employing the most appropriate manual sign language system. A core responsibility is to precisely interpret signs received from the staff member into fluent Ethiopian sign language, thereby facilitating clear, accurate, and unambiguous communication with colleagues, supervisors, and external partners. The consultant will also play a crucial role in critical or emergency contexts by providing timely and accurate information and orientation to the staff member, enabling them to comprehend and respond effectively to urgent situations. Furthermore, the role involves actively facilitating effective two-way communication between the staff member and their colleagues within UNICEF, as well as with external stakeholders and partners, fostering an inclusive and collaborative work environment. When necessary, the consultant will utilize available technology to transcribe speech to text, further enhancing accessibility and communication for the staff member across various platforms and interactions.

Work Experience

A minimum of three years of demonstrated experience in providing sign language interpretation within the public sector or a professional context is required. Experience in emergency contexts is considered a valuable asset.

Skills

Sign Language Interpretation, Ethiopian Sign Language Fluency, Effective Communication, Emergency Communication Support, Speech-to-Text Transcription, Accuracy and Precision, Professional Ethics, Interpersonal Skills, Partnership Building, Problem Solving, Adaptability

Explore related opportunities