CORE Group Partners Project India Journal Supplement Consultant

Contracting Agency: CORE Group, Inc.

Program/Technical Contacts: India Secretariat Director, India M&E Specialist, Global Technical Director MEAL, Global Scientific Writer and Researcher

Duration of Project: April – September 2024

Location: Remote

CORE Group Partners Project Background

CORE Group Partners Project (formerly known as CORE Group Polio Project) is a USAID-supported consortium of US-based and national NGOs supporting polio eradication initiatives in ten countries. The CORE Group Partners Project (CGPP) has implemented community-based strategies designed to strengthen acute flaccid paralysis surveillance, routine immunization coverage, and supplemental polio immunization activities in high-risk and/or hard-to-reach areas since 1999. CGPP currently works in ten countries: Angola, Djibouti, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Nigeria, Niger, Somalia, South Sudan, and Uganda. A CGPP national secretariat, based in each country, coordinates, and ensures the quality of project activities, which are implemented by US-based PVOs and local NGOs.

Since 1999, CGPP’s India program has been supporting the government of India in strengthening immunization for polio, routine immunization, and COVID-19. Currently, CGPP India implements the project through a consortium of nine non-governmental organizations in 16 districts, covering Assam, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh states of India.

Over the years, CGPP India has developed many best practices/learning through implementing innovative approaches for effective community engagement. Some of the CGPP India’s programmatic approaches include deployment of local community mobilizers and capacity building of frontline workers, use of indigenous communication tools, and formation of community-based groups for community engagement and improvement of immunization outcomes. Many of these approaches are applicable outside of the India immunization context. The purpose of this consultancy is to lead the development of a peer-reviewed journal supplement, a collection of articles detailing lessons learned and innovative strategies for impact.

Purpose of the Consultancy

The consultant will lead the publication of a journal supplement containing a minimum eight journal articles documenting the best practices, results, and innovative interventions used by the project over the last 20 years. The consultant will act as a mentor, guide, and technical resource to CGPP staff, partners, and consultants in development and revision of the manuscripts. He/she will provide technical and editorial inputs and support to undrafted papers, and support the revision of all papers. S/he will ensure the publication of a comprehensive journal supplement document CGPP’s work in India.

The journal supplement will be a key legacy document for CGPP India, when the project closes in September 2024. It should provide useful and actionable information to global health practitioners, policymakers, and academics.

Specific Tasks of the Consultancy

• Kick-off meeting to understand the project and key stakeholders.
• Perform a desk review of pertinent documents.
• Identify potential journals to publish the supplement. With the guidance of the CGPP team
• Lead all necessary correspondence with the publication journal to ensure a mutually agreed contract is signed.
• Provide copy editing as per the guidelines and standards of the selected journal.
• Coordinate with peer reviewers and authors for timely completion of the review.
• Meet with authors of articles in process to understand the status of the articles, available data and information, and support needs.
• Provide editorial support including revisions, editing, and other necessary guidance to in-process articles.
• Work with secretariat and HQ teams to identify additional article ideas and support the development of these articles.
• Ensure that articles meet the journal style guidelines and word limits.
• Lead the revisions of articles following the peer review processes.
• Review final manuscripts prior to submission and provide technical and editorial feedback as needed. Confirm that all manuscripts meet the standards and requirements of the selected journals.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ph.D. in Public Health.
• Minimum of ten journal articles published as a lead author.
• Previous experience in a similar role is desired.
• Strong English language skills in reading, writing, and speaking.
• Strong strategic, analytical, systems thinking, and problem-solving skills, with the capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment and decisions.
• Very good project management abilities, including strong communication skills and attention to detail.
• Team leadership abilities with diverse/multi-disciplinary teams. Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented, and results-oriented.

Supervisory Responsibilities: No direct reports, project oversight only

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.