Biovision Africa Trust (BvAT) is pleased to announce a consultancy opportunity for skilled individuals or firms with demonstrated experience in professional proofreading, editing, synthesis, and publication design. The Trust is seeking a qualified consultant to finalize the Strategic Plan 2025 – 2028 and deliver both the full and abridged versions in accordance with its branding and communication standards.
This consultancy presents a unique opportunity to contribute to the strategic direction of a mission-driven organization committed to agroecology and sustainable development across Africa. The consultant will play a critical role in transforming a strategic planning draft into a polished, accessible, and visually compelling document that reflects the organization’s identity and goals.
About Biovision Africa Trust
Biovision Africa Trust (BvAT) is a not-for-profit organization established in 2009 by the Biovision Foundation for Ecological Development, headquartered in Switzerland. Based at the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) in Nairobi, Kenya, BvAT is dedicated to sustainable development and the promotion of ecological solutions for rural African communities.
The Trust’s mission is to sustainably improve the livelihoods of people in Africa while conserving the environment. This is achieved primarily through the promotion and facilitation of agroecological practices among smallholder farmers. BvAT actively collaborates with a wide range of stakeholders including national governments, regional networks, continental initiatives, research organizations, and civil society institutions.
Its key programmes include:
- Farmer Communication Programme (FCP)
- African Union Ecological Organic Agriculture (EOA) Initiative
- Knowledge Hub for Organic Agriculture and Agroecology in Eastern Africa (KHEA), as part of the KCOA
- Agroecology Promotion Programme (APP)
- Additional projects in ecological and sustainable development
Scope of the Consultancy
The purpose of this consultancy is to refine and finalize the Biovision Africa Trust Strategic Plan 2025 – 2028, ensuring the content is professionally presented and aligned with the organization’s branding guidelines. The document currently spans approximately 35 pages and contains a mix of narrative and graphical content.
The consultant will be expected to undertake two main components of the assignment:
1. Proofreading and Editing of the Strategic Plan
The first and foundational task is to ensure that the Strategic Plan document is linguistically accurate, logically structured, and stylistically consistent. Specific responsibilities include:
- Reviewing the Strategic Plan to ensure consistency in the flow of content and alignment of ideas
- Conducting substantive editing to rearrange content where necessary for coherence and clarity
- Performing copy editing to address grammar, spelling, syntax, and punctuation errors
- Removing redundancy, improving sentence structures, and correcting omissions
- Final proofreading to ensure the document is error-free and ready for layout and design
- Synthesizing the full version to develop an abridged version suitable for broader distribution
Deliverable:
- A professionally edited and error-free version of the Strategic Plan 2025 – 2028
- An abridged version reflecting key highlights, strategic objectives, and outcomes
2. Design and Layout of the Strategic Plan and Abridged Version
Following the editorial work, the consultant will take on the responsibility of designing and laying out both the full Strategic Plan and its abridged version. This includes ensuring aesthetic appeal and adherence to BvAT’s brand identity.
Specific tasks include:
- Designing the layout of the Strategic Plan in line with the Biovision Africa Trust branding manual
- Recommending and incorporating suitable photographs and illustrations that complement the document
- Performing tasks such as photo editing, scanning, or new photography if needed (in consultation with BvAT)
- Implementing any revisions or corrections suggested during the design approval process
- Preparing the final documents in print-ready format as well as in web-friendly versions
- Providing the final artwork files in both PDF and InDesign formats
- Supplying all supporting media including fonts, graphics, photos, and other assets used
- Maintaining editable templates for future updates or reprints
Deliverables:
- Print-ready versions of both the Strategic Plan and abridged document
- Digital versions optimized for email and web sharing
- Editable InDesign templates for both documents
Expected Outputs
The consultant is expected to deliver the following outputs within the assignment timeline:
- An edited Strategic Plan document with tracked changes to highlight all revisions
- Finalized and designed Strategic Plan in print-ready format
- Finalized and designed abridged Strategic Plan in print-ready format
- Web and email-friendly versions of both documents in PDF and InDesign formats
- All associated design and content files in editable formats (text, images, fonts, etc.)
Timeframe for the Assignment
The consultancy is expected to be conducted over a short-term, intensive period. The timeline is as follows:
- Start Date: 15th August 2025
- End Date: 25th August 2025
The consultant must demonstrate the ability to deliver high-quality outputs within these strict deadlines.
Consultant Requirements and Qualifications
To be eligible for this consultancy, applicants must meet the following minimum requirements:
For the Team Leader:
- A Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Strategic Management, Organizational Development, or other related fields
- At least five (5) years of proven experience in proofreading, editing, summarizing, and designing strategic or policy documents
- Excellent command of English, with strong grammar and editing skills
- Impeccable attention to detail and ability to structure and refine complex documents
For the Design Team:
- Demonstrated proficiency in graphic design using software such as Adobe Design Premium, InDesign, CorelDraw, Dreamweaver, Flash, and Adobe Acrobat
- Practical experience in layout and template development for print and digital media
- Understanding of printing processes and colour management
- Strong sense of design aesthetics aligned with development or non-profit sector communications
- Familiarity with evolving digital publishing technologies and standards
- Ability to produce visually engaging content that complements the narrative
- Knowledge of Microsoft Office tools (Word, Access, Visio) for document formatting and integration
Preferred Attributes:
- A track record of working with non-profit, development, or humanitarian organizations
- Ability to interpret brand guidelines and apply them to editorial and design tasks
- Strong organizational and time-management skills to work within tight deadlines
- Capability to integrate team skills (editorial and design) to deliver cohesive and comprehensive deliverables
Application Procedure
Interested individuals or consultancy firms are invited to submit their expressions of interest containing the following:
- A company or individual profile highlighting relevant experience
- A detailed technical proposal outlining the approach and methodology for executing the assignment, including the CVs of the team leader and supporting members
- A one-page statement indicating why the applicant is the best fit for the assignment
- At least three (3) references from past clients with similar assignments
- Samples or catalogues of previous work that demonstrates editing and design competence
- A financial proposal with a detailed breakdown of all projected costs related to the assignment
Submission Deadline
All applications must be submitted by 10th August 2025 at 11:59 PM EAT. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for further engagement.
How to Apply
Applicants should send their complete application package via email to:
[email protected]
Subject line: CONSULTANCY FOR PROOFREADING, DESIGNING AND LAYOUT OF BvAT STRATEGIC PLAN 2025 – 2028
This is a unique opportunity to support Biovision Africa Trust in articulating its mission, vision, and strategic direction in a professional and engaging format. We welcome proposals from highly qualified consultants who are committed to excellence and who have the creativity and technical expertise to meet the Trust’s publication standards.
Let your work support transformative agroecological change in Africa. Ensure your application is submitted before the deadline for consideration.
