Metaglossia: The Translation World

Said Salah
Is a poet from Somalia/Somaliland who writes in Somali.
Said Salah is a highly-esteemed playwright, poet, and educationalist who has used his skills as a writer to press for peace in his country. His famous play, Aqoon Iyo Afgarad (Knowledge and Understanding), was written in collaboration with other major Somali poets, including Hadraawi and the late Gaarriye and Musse Abdi Elmi.
Said’s work has received several awards; one of his songs, ‘Midwife’, was voted one of the top four in the United Nations International Year of the Child Children’s Song Contest; in 2005, he was awarded the Virginia McKnight Binger award for Human Service.
He lives in the United States.

legal translator/interpreter english-Somali, Hargeisa, Somalia
Closing Date: Wednesday, 25 April 2012

Hargeisa, Somaliland

LEGAL TRANSLATOR/INTERPRETER ENGLISH-SOMALI/SOMALI-ENGLISH
Location : Hargeisa, SOMALIA Application Deadline : 25-Apr-12 Type of Contract : Individual Contract Post Level : National Consultant Languages Required :
English Duration of Initial Contract : Retainer contract for one year Expected Duration of Assignment : One year
Background
UNDP Somalia’s Programme is strongly focused on post conflict recovery and consolidation of peace. It is composed of three main Programme portfolios:
(i) Governance and Rule of Law
(ii) Poverty Reduction and Environmental Protection

The GROLS Programme has six main components: Access to Justice, Civilian Police, Joint programme for local governance, Somali Institutional Development Programme, Constitution and Armed Violence Reduction. The overall goal is to strengthen rule of law, governance and security. Integral to this strategy is the recognition that when progress is lacking in one of these areas it has a detrimental effect on the sustainability of achievements in the others.

Over the past several years, the Access to Justice component has strengthened institutions through training and infrastructure rehabilitation. These initiatives were complemented by an approach which included legal empowerment and confidence-building of the Somali public, including legal clinics, legal aid , translation and awareness raising at community levels. The Project will prioritize initiatives that support the prevention and prosecution of sexual and gender based violence cases; and strengthening of institutions and civil society to monitor the situation of human rights in the country and make recommendations to address such issues. The Access to Justice Project is engaged in building and improving the capacities of the criminal justice system.
Duties and Responsibilities
Under the IC retainer contract, the Legal Translator/Interpreter directly supports Access to Justice and UNDP Somalia’s programmes. The Translator/Interpreter works as part of the Access to justice project as well as other Programme support and closely with Access to Justice team and Programme and Operations teams in Hargeisa/Somaliland and other the CO in carrying out Translation/Interpretation assignments.

Scope of work

The contractor will:

Translate legal documents and reports on a variety of subjects for UNDP Access to Justice Project
Provide legal and general interpretation from English to Somali and Somali to English
Provide interpretation at events and conferences as required
Provide interpretation and translation support to legal training and legal aid / legal empowerment mentoring activities in Somaliland

Monitoring and Progress controls

Under the direct supervision of the Area Project Manager, the consultant will submit progress reports depending on the duration and agreement on that particular assignment to the Area Project Manager.

Final product/Deliverables

In collaboration with international consultants, draft and interpret legal documents as requested
Translate legal Access to Justice documents as requested
Provide legal and general interpretation English to Somali and Somali to English at events and conferences as required.
Provide interpretation and translation support to legal training and legal aid / legal empowerment
mentoring activities in Somaliland.

Review/approval time

Each assignment will be reviewed upon completion before undertaking a fresh assignment.
Competencies
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, team oriented work style, interest and experience of working in multi-cultural environment with minimum supervision
Excellent writing, analytical, and presentation skills.
Experience in working with multiple stakeholders and across UN agencies is an asset.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
Completion of university degree in law, foreign languages, or any other relevant discipline.

Experience:
5 years experience translating texts in at least one of the areas listed above (democratic governance, rule of law, poverty reduction, environment and energy, crisis prevention and recovery, gender, HIV/AIDS, or capacity development translation and interpretation of documents from English to Somali and Somali to English.
Good translation skills with capacity to detect and understand nuances in the original text; knowledge of agreed terms for international and Government organizations and development concepts; good grasp of the subject matter; ability to use all sources of reference; attention to detail and ability to maintain an adequate speed and volume of output.
Good knowledge and working experience on Somaliland legal and justice system
Two samples of recent, relevant translation work will be requested for, each not being longer than three pages.
Good knowledge of computer applications.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in both oral and written English and Somali

Other Information
The expert will be required to have a personal lap top computer