Research Writer & Proof-Reader (Consultancy) at Aga Khan University (AKU)

The Brain and Mind Institute (BMI) is a newly minted entity at the AKU, with key hubs in Nairobi (for East Africa) and Karachi (for South and Central Asia). The BMI seeks to build capacity in the domains of mental health and neuroscience. In collaboration with partners, the Institute is advancing research leadership capacity and support service delivery across East Africa and South Asia, and other regions served by the AKU. The Institute supports a hub for scholarship exchange and action on mental health issues, as well as educational, clinical, and community-based programs. BMI’s research focuses on the context of today’s youth in Africa and South Asia, while our programmatic offerings address mental health related and brain health issues, including stigma and resiliency. A significant area of interest is the implementation of science-based programming in hospital and community settings that translate new discoveries into prevention and treatment programs.

Responsibilities

• The BMI plans to launch a series of Mental Health Ambassadorship micro-certification courses to raise awareness about mental health. The intended outcomes of the micro certification courses are to facilitate (a) early detection and recognition of mental illness, (b) reduction of stigma and (c) empathetic and supportive responses. In addition, the Mental Health Ambassadorship aspires to encourage people to seek treatment and support for mental illness rather than suffering in silence.
• These courses will start in September 2022 with an innovative engagement strategy that includes a webinar series and didactic modular components involving expert and peer discussion sessions. Further, the courses require no prerequisites to register, allowing a general audience to undertake it. The idea is to create a movement of mental health ambassadors that will identify those in need and support them, promoting mental well-being for all.
• BMI is seeking a Research Writer and Proof-reader, to review five modules for the Mental Health Ambassadorship courses and re-write the language in the modules for a general audience, while still retaining its meaning and preserving the core message relayed. 
• The entire reworking on the modules is expected to be completed in a period of one week from its commencement, with an expected turnaround of two days for the first draft. Any reworks should proceed after feedback from the BMI team and should not take more than two days to execute.

Requirements

• Minimum Bachelor’s Degree in a mental health or any related field
• Diploma in communications or any related field
• Experience in communicating mental health and an understanding of language that encircles the topic
• Demonstrated experience communicating science and medicine to a non-scientific audience 
• Experience writing and editing for a variety of audiences
• A deep understanding of the organization’s target audience and its ideal language 
• Demonstrated skills and competency in communicating with target audience on mental health
• Exceptional writing, editing and proofreading skills 
• Capacity to understand content in modules and simplify for ease of understanding of the target audience
• Demonstration of a non-stigmatizing attitude towards mental illness
• Excellent capacity to handle and deliver within strict deadlines
• Understanding of the module preparation process
• Willingness to work flexible schedules as deemed necessary including weekends and evenings
• Ability to take a collaborative, team-oriented approach