Professional Translators on Long Term Arrangement (LTA)/Roster

 

1. BACKGROUND

UNFPA is the lead United Nations agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. The UNFPA Strategic Plan for 2026-2029 articulates the organization’s response to a complex global environment, providing a roadmap for resilience and renewal. It is designed to accelerate the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. This mandate is pursued through a focus on four interconnected outcomes: ending the unmet need for family planning; ending preventable maternal deaths; ending gender-based violence and harmful practices; and adapting to demographic change through evidence and rights-based policies.   

In the course of implementing its mandate in Uzbekistan, UNFPA regularly organises and participates in high-level meetings, international and national conferences, workshops, policy dialogues, trainings, field missions, and official events involving government counterparts, development partners, civil society, donors, and the media. These activities require accurate, timely, and professional translation and interpretation services to ensure effective communication and informed decision-making. 

To support these needs, UNFPA intends to establish a Long-Term Arrangement (LTA) with qualified individual translators and interpreters who can be mobilised at short notice to provide written translation, consecutive interpretation, and simultaneous interpretation services from English to Uzbek and English to Russian, or vice-versa, in line with UN standards and sensitivities.

1. PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The purpose of setting up the Long-Term Arrangement is to facilitate and expedite the process by which UNFPA in Uzbekistan will hire the services of individual translators to undertake written translations (Uzbek-English, Russian-English and vice-versa), consecutive and simultaneous translation for events and visits, and live translation for field visits.

1. PROGRAMME AREA AND SPECIFIC PROJECT AREA

The consultant under the LTA arrangement will support all UNFPA programme areas by providing professional translation and interpretation services. Specific contract managers will provide supervision for specific services contracted under the provisions of this LTA. Technical supervision will be provided by the Operations\Programme team.

1. OBJECTIVE(S)

The overall objective of setting up this Long-Term Arrangement is to facilitate and expedite the process by which UNFPA Uzbekistan country office will hire the services of translators.

1. MAJOR TASKS TO BE ACCOMPLISHED

This LTA is being established to serve the needs of all sections in UNFPA Uzbekistan country programme

related particularly to translation services to meet the office’s media and advocacy objectives. The translator will be responsible for the following:

• Under the guidance of Programme teams and supervision of direct Specialists, the translator/interpreter will provide high-quality written translations of press releases, booklets, human interest stories, reports, papers, subtitles/scripts, proposals and other materials. Provide direct editing/writing and proofreading support to programme sections in the compilation of donor reports, and other materials for advocacy
• Provide consecutive translations/simultaneous interpretations considering culture, gender and other diverse sensitivities as per UNFPA guidelines.
• Complete a comprehensive translation of the material provided, ensuring clarity and correctness while taking into account the sensitivity of alternative care jargon and respecting the intentions of the writers and experts.
• Verify that in the case of longer documents, each chapter or section reads well by establishing flowing tones, cohesion and proper structure and to deliver a final product in a timely manner and of publishable quality.
• Provide appropriate translation of terminology related to UNFPA mandate to ensure correct translation/interpretation and avoid misleading listeners
• Demonstrate a client-oriented approach, tact and ability to work with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
• Ensure effective and efficient provision of services, full confidentiality in all aspects of the assignment, management of information flow and follow-up on deadlines and commitments made.

RESPONSIBILITY OF CONSULTANT:

The consultants will use their own equipment (i.e. laptop) and source additional equipment that may be required for this task.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF UNFPA:

To provide a thorough briefing, information and technical update as required by programme colleagues.

 

1.  DELIVERABLES:

At the end of each assignment, the translator/interpreter will deliver high-quality translations of documents in English, Uzbek, and Russian language(s); and interpretation services within the given time, ensuring clarity and correctness:

 

#	Type of Service	Deliverables
1	English-Uzbek/Russian-English (consecutive interpreting)	Accurately translated and adapted for the target audience, ensuring linguistic and cultural appropriateness. This can include various formats, depending on the document type (e.g., Word, PDF, or specific software formats).
2	English-Uzbek/Russian-English (simultaneous interpreting)
3	English-Uzbek/Russian-English (written translation per page, 1 page = 2000 characters with spaces)
4	English-Uzbek/Russian-English of Power Point presentations per characters with spaces, applicable rate of the regular document translation. 1 page = 2000 characters with spaces

1. TRAVEL:

Payment of travel costs including tickets, DSA, etc. should be agreed upon, between UNFPA and the consultant as part of the quotation for each specific assignment and included in the respective purchase order. All air travel will be by economy class irrespective of the duration of travel. Travel expenses will be reimbursed as and when they take place in accordance with UNFPA rules and regulations.

 

1.  ESTIMATED DURATION OF LTA:

Twelve (12) months with optional extension of twenty-four (24) months (36 months in total)

 

1. QUALIFICATIONS / SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE / EXPERIENCE/ LANGUAGE SKILLS REQUIRED

Competencies:

• Proven ability to consistently deliver high-quality translation/interpretation in English, Uzbek,

and/or Russian, and/or Karakalpak languages to be confirmed through the written exam and

reference check;

• Ability to pursue high standards of work effectively with minimum supervision to be confirmed

through the reference check;

• High level of cultural, gender, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability to be confirmed

through the reference check;

• Excellent communication skills with ability to speak and write clearly and concisely to be

confirmed through the written exam and reference check;

• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines to be confirmed through the reference

check.

 

Education/Experience/Language:

• Preference for a university degree in English/Russian Linguistics and/or Literature and Journalism, or an accredited qualification in translation and interpretation.
• At least five years of proven experience in the field of translation/interpretation.
• Previous experience with the UN and other international agencies is an asset.
• Professional Certificates (IELTS or TOEFL) is desirable.
• Excellent knowledge of and fluency in English, Uzbek and/or Russian, and/or Karakalpak (both verbal and written);
• Computer literacy, especially good knowledge of Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint);
• Preference for familiarity with social issues terminology, with strong focus on/specialization in a particular subject (i.e. reproductive and maternal health, law, economics, public administration, education, etc.);
• Appropriate work samples are a requirement.

 

1. TECHNICAL EVALUATION CRITERIA (WITH WEIGHTS FOR EACH CRITERIA)

The selection of consultants for the LTA will be based on technical evaluation. The criteria for technical evaluation will be as follows:

Criteria	Marks
	Min	Max
1) Cover Letter – explaining the motivation for applying and explaining how the qualifications and skillset of the candidate are suitable for this position	0	20
2) Relevant work experience (minimum 5 years)	25	20
3) Experience of working with UN and/or other international organizations	0	10
4) Technical assessment (language skills)	25	45
5) Professional Certificates (IELTS or TOEFL)	0	5
Total	50	100
TOTAL TECHNICAL SCORE The minimum overall qualifying score is 50. Only those candidates who meet the overall qualifying marks of 50 and score the minimum cut-off in each of the above sub- criteria, including the interview, will be considered technically responsive

 

1. PAYMENT SCHEDULE

The LTA to be signed will have a fixed fee rate for three years (should there be a change in the UN establishment of common rates for translation services, the variation agreement is signed). However, UNFPA in Uzbekistan does not warrant that any quantity of services will be purchased during the term of the LTA as this will depend on forthcoming needs.

Payment will be made after completion of deliverables and submission of invoices for the actual work completed, subject to satisfactory performance.

 

1. HOW TO APPLY

Applications shall be submitted through the designated online application link and must include the following four (4) separate attachments:

• A Cover letter explaining the motivation for applying and explaining how the qualifications and skillset of the candidate (to be uploaded online)
• Curriculum Vitae (CV) (to be uploaded online)
• Professional Certificates (IELTS or TOEFL) (to be uploaded online)
• Three Work Samples –It is critical to submit work samples as you will observe from the advertisement that marks have been assigned to these criteria for arriving at the most suitable candidate (to be uploaded online)

 

Without all the above 4 documents, your application will be considered incomplete and invalid and will not be considered further.

 

• Any attempt to unduly influence UNFPA’s selection process will lead to automatic disqualification of the applicant.
• Joint applications of two or more individuals are not accepted.
• Please note that UNFPA does not charge any fee during any stage of the process.
• Female candidates meeting the requirements are strongly encouraged to apply.

• UNFPA is committed to diversity and inclusion and encourages qualified candidates from all backgrounds including persons living with disabilities to apply.