Introduction
Since its establishment in 1985, the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) project aims to sustainably prevent food insecurity and famine across the globe by delivering to the U.S. Government and partners early warning on the location, causes, and magnitude of current and future food insecurity; improving the quality and timeliness of information and analysis useful for achieving sustainable food security; and strengthening innovative local, national, regional, and international capabilities to understand and appropriately address current, recurrent, and likely future food insecurity. Chemonics has been implementing FEWS NET since 2000, beginning its eighth phase (FEWS NET 8) in 2024.
FEWS NET 8 Knowledge Base (KB) is a $65 million project which will, among others, create and update FEWS NET’s knowledge base about market systems on which FEWS NET’s acute food insecurity early warning analyses are predicated.
These updated products will better equip FEWS NET analysts to monitor key commodity markets and assess food availability, affordability, and access to project food security status. Updated market information for commodities key to food and/or income data will ensure that FEWS NET scenario development and decision support are based on accurate and time-relevant understandings of people’s capacity to access food throughout the year, the capacity of the market system to operate in a competitive way to meet the population’s needs and to provide relevant services, and to efficiently distribute key commodities throughout the country. More explicitly, Market Fundamentals (MF) research explores the market conditions and market dynamics during a typical year, for commodities that represent the most significant sources of food kilocalories or income for poor households. This market knowledge base will be valid for at least the next five to ten years, barring structural shifts in the overall market system and its enabling environment.
Chemonics is building a pool of technical editors (consultants) for FEWS NET 8 KB to support the project’s Market Fundamentals research activities by providing substantive and on-demand high-quality editing and rewriting services of technical deliverables resulting from market-related or other research in various countries around the world. Editorial activities will start in May 2026 and increase after June 2026. It is expected that several reports will require editing at the same time. Individuals that become part of the pool of editors will be engaged under a consultant agreement on an “as needed” basis.
Position Description
Market Fundamental Reports are lengthy technical reports and include several annexes. Past examples can be found here. The editors/consultants will collaborate closely with the FEWS NET KB MF team throughout the drafting and finalization of the reports and other technical materials. The editors will improve cohesiveness and clarity of technical content while ensuring consistency across products. The editors will also ensure deliverables conform to the task order Branding Implementation Plan and Marking Plan and FEWS NET’s Style Guide.
Responsibilities
- Editors will work under the technical direction of the Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) for Market Fundamentals or a designee. Editors will collaborate with other KB staff to ensure alignment between products.
- Responsibilities of the editors include, but are not limited to:
- Providing ad-hoc substantive, high-quality editing and rewriting services of FEWS NET’s technical deliverables related to market fundamentals and other research to improve cohesiveness and clarity of technical content
- Ensuring spelling and grammar are accurate and in accordance with the FEWS NET Style Guide and verifying the logical flow of information
- Reviewing citations and references to ensure adequate documentation of the resources and bibliography used
- Collaborating closely with the FEWS NET team to review, edit, and finalize technical materials
Providing recommendations for formatting tables and graphics to enhance comprehension and visual representation in accordance with the FEWS NET Style Guide - Assisting the FEWS NET team in rolling out and managing a review and editing process to ensure the quality of FEWS NET reports and other deliverables, as assigned, before finalization and publication to the FEWS NET website Materials to be edited will be available predominantly as Microsoft Word or Google documents. Editors might be requested to work on shared platforms as they conduct their review.
- In addition to items listed, editors are expected to follow organization policies, adhere to organization processes and programs, and perform other editorial duties as assigned.
Timeline of Activities - The timing of activities will be determined in consideration of the overall activity/research timeline. The Market Fundamentals team will coordinate with the editors to ensure coverage of the various products at a given point in time.
- Editorial activities will start in May 2026, increase in July 2026 and continue throughout 2026.
Deliverables
Each document provided for editing will constitute a separate deliverable. Deliverables will only be marked as complete until they are finalized and/or transitioned to publication.
Requirements:
- Minimum 5 years of editorial experience, which includes working in a professional capacity to produce and edit written materials of a technical nature (reports, factsheets, concept notes);
bachelor’s degree required, Masters preferred; - Excellent writing and editing skills in English are required. Strong writing and editing skills in Spanish, French, or Arabic are not required, but would be an asset.
- Strong editorial judgment; ability to rapidly absorb complex ideas and distill them into accessible language for global audiences, including proven experience in substantive editing and rewriting, preferably with technical deliverables;
- Experience using reference management software (e.g., Zotero, End Note, Mendeley) for organizing and using bibliographic resources;
- Experience using the Chicago Manual of Style. Familiarity with other style guides is desired;
Basic familiarity with agriculture, economics, and food security concepts and related terminology used in the humanitarian sector is desired; - Strong analytical and critical thinking skills to improve the clarity and coherence of ideas are desired;
- Prior experience using Microsoft Word and Google Docs to copyedit and format reports to a high-quality standard is required; experience formatting tables and graphics is desired;
- Excellent computer skills including strong knowledge of Microsoft Word, Google Workspace, and Adobe Acrobat are required; familiarity working in SharePoint and Excel is desired;
- Experience writing and editing for USG decision-makers, humanitarian organizations, and similar audiences is an asset;
- Strong attention to detail and a commitment to maintaining high-quality standards are required;
- Ability to work effectively under tight deadlines and manage multiple projects concurrently to ensure timely and high-quality delivery of tasks is required;
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate with diverse teams and with remote-based staff via telecommunications applications, e-mail, and other virtual means; and
- Capable of operating in unstructured settings, adept at navigating uncertainty and demonstrating a proactive approach in seeking guidance when necessary.
Location
This consultancy is US-based and fully remote. The Consultant must be authorized to work in the United States. No domestic or international travel is required. All coordination and collaboration with the FEWS NET 8 KB Market Fundamentals team will be conducted virtually.
Length of Assignment
This assignment is expected to last for six (6) months, with variable level of effort, depending on the volume of reports to be edited.
Supervision
The editor will report to the FEWS NET 8 Base Knowledge Deputy Chief of Party for Market Fundamentals, unless otherwise notified.
Application Instructions
Please apply via this this form by April 17, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET. No telephone inquiries, please. Chemonics will contact short-listed candidates.
