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Call for Application: Professional English-Hausa Translator (Retainer)

Search for Common Ground
On-site
Abuja, Nigeria

Terms of Reference: Call for Application: Professional English-Hausa Translator (Retainer)


Introduction and Background

Search for Common Ground (Search) is an international non-profit organization dedicated to transforming conflict by shifting individuals, groups, and governments from adversarial approaches toward cooperative solutions. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., and Brussels, Belgium, Search operates in over 30 countries globally. In Nigeria, Search implements multifaceted, culturally appropriate, and conflict-sensitive programs using media and training to promote dialogue and effect positive behavioral change.


The Project

Search Nigeria has multiple projects in various states, ranging from conflict-sensitive programs to events and activities. One of them is "The Hustle" - a youth-focused reality TV show, funded by the European Union, designed to empower young people in Katsina, Zamfara, and Sokoto (KZS) states. The show aims to develop entrepreneurial skills and foster peace by showcasing youth innovation and cooperative leadership. 

Effective communication in Hausa is critical to ensuring complex messages on conflict sensitivity, entrepreneurship, and youth empowerment are conveyed accurately and resonate with the primary local audience.


Geographic Locations and Project Activities


Location: The role is primarily Virtual but requires proven expertise in the cultural and linguistic context of the KZS states to ensure high-quality localization.


Coordination: The Consultant must be available for regular virtual check-ins with the Communications and Marketing Coordinator (CMC) based in Abuja during standard Nigerian working hours.


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Key Responsibilities
  • Social Media and Ad Translation: Translate all English ad copy, captions, calls-to-action (CTAs), and video subtitles for the daily and weekly paid ad campaigns across all platforms (Meta, TikTok, X, etc.).
  • Visibility Translation: Provide final, high-quality Hausa translations for all project visibility assets, including slogans for banners, promotional flyers, T-shirts, and official documents.
  • Content Specificity: Translate captions for social media posts and in-text graphics for a wide range of short-form content related to:
  • Teasers and promotional fliers.
  • Call for application videos/announcements.
  • Key activity summaries and announcements.
  • Captions and hashtags for posting each 1-minute episodic summary video (13 episodes).
  • In-show task videos intended for audience participation and money-winning.
  • Short clips on evicted contestants and major achievements/endorsements/journeys.
  • Ads and posts for countdowns, the grand finale, and post-show winner announcements.


Deliverables and Milestones
  • Deliverable: Hausa Posts, Ad Copy & CTAs
  • Milestone: Translation and localization of all content for posts and paid ad campaigns.
  • Frequency/Timeline: Daily/Weekly (Responsive)
  • Deliverable: Episodic Video Summary Captions & hashtags
  • Milestone: Hausa captions and hashtags for posting all 1-minute episode summary videos (13 episodes).
  • Frequency/Timeline: Weekly (Following episode editing)
  • Deliverable: Key Event Announcements
  • Milestone: Translation of formal press releases, national/state launch announcements, and official project endorsements.
  • Frequency/Timeline: As Needed (High Priority)
  • Deliverable: Final Visibility Assets
  • Milestone: Hausa translation of all text for non-digital visibility materials (e.g., banners, T-shirt slogans).
  • Frequency/Timeline: One-off (Project Start-up/Initial Procurement Phase)
  • Deliverable: Audience Engagement Content
  • Milestone: Translation of tasks, money-winning contest details, and evicted contestant farewell clips.
  • Frequency/Timeline: Weekly (Responsive to show schedule).


Qualifications and Experience
  • Fluency: Native-level fluency in both Hausa and English is mandatory.
  • Experience: A minimum of 3 years of professional translation experience, with proven specialization in media, social marketing, content creation, or development.
  • Cultural Knowledge: Deep contextual and cultural understanding of the North West Nigerian states (KZS) is required to ensure translations are highly accurate and conflict-sensitive.
  • Technical Skills: Proven ability to translate and adapt short-form, high-impact ad copy and familiarity with transcription/subtitling tools.


Skills
  • Linguistic Precision: Strong grasp of grammar, idiomatic expressions, and specialized terminology (peacebuilding/entrepreneurship) in both languages.
  • Time Management: Exceptional ability to deliver high-volume, quality work under strict, media-driven deadlines.
  • Attention to Detail: Meticulous approach to cross-checking facts, figures, and maintaining brand consistency across translated materials.


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₦5,000 - ₦8,000 a day
This is a virtual position

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To Apply

Interested individuals or agencies must submit the following:


Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Company Profile: Highlighting relevant experience, particularly in media and development work.

Price Proposal (Financial Bid): A clear breakdown of your professional rates 

Work Samples: Provide at least two samples of past English-to-Hausa translations of public announcements, marketing material, or media content.


Search for Common Ground (Search) is an international non-profit organization that promotes the peaceful resolution of conflict. With headquarters in Washington, DC and Brussels, Belgium, Search’s mission is to transform how individuals, organizations, and governments deal with conflict—away from destructive approaches towards cooperative solutions. With more than 600 staff worldwide, Search implements projects in more than 30 countries across the globe.



As job descriptions cannot be exhaustive, the position holder may be required to undertake other duties that are broadly in line with the above key responsibilities. 


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Only applicants invited for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls, please. Please see our website www.sfcg.org for full details of our work. All Search Employees must adhere to the values: Collaboration- Audacity - Tenacity - Empathy - Results. In accordance with these values, Search enforces compliance with the Code of Conduct and related policies on Anti Workplace Harassment, Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Conflict of Interest, and Anti-fraud. Search is committed to safeguarding the interests, rights, and well-being of children, youth, and vulnerable adults with whom it is in contact and to conducting its programs and operations in a manner that is safe for children, youth, and vulnerable adults.  Search for Common Ground does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. View our code of conduct here and our privacy policy here.


Les descriptifs de pouvant ne pouvant être exhaustifs, le titulaire du poste pourra être amené à entreprendre d'autres tâches qui correspondent globalement aux responsabilités clés ci-dessus.

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Seuls les candidats invités à un entretien seront contactés. Pas d'appels téléphoniques s'il vous plaît. Veuillez consulter notre site Web www.sfcg.org pour tous les détails de notre mission.


Tous les employés de Search doivent adhérer aux valeurs de Search : Collaboration- Audace - Ténacité - Empathie - Résultats. Conformément à ces valeurs, Search fait respecter le code de conduite et les politiques connexes sur la lutte contre le harcèlement au travail, la protection contre l'exploitation et les abus, la protection des enfants, les conflits d'intérêts et la lutte contre la fraude. Search s'engage à préserver les intérêts, les droits et le bien-être des enfants, des jeunes et des adultes vulnérables avec lesquels elle est en contact et à mener ses programmes et ses opérations d'une manière qui soit sûre pour les enfants, les jeunes et les adultes vulnérables.

Search for Common Ground ne fait pas et ne doit pas faire de discrimination fondée sur la race, la couleur, la religion (croyance), le sexe, l'expression de genre, l'âge, l'origine nationale (ascendance), le handicap, l'état matrimonial, l'orientation sexuelle ou le statut militaire, dans aucune de ses activités ou opérations.

Consultez notre code de conduite ici et notre politique de confidentialité ici.


Dado que la descripción de funciones no puede ser exhaustiva, el titular del puesto puede tener que realizar otras tareas que coinciden en líneas generales con las responsabilidades clave mencionadas.

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Sólo se contactará con los candidatos invitados a una entrevista. Se agradece no recibir llamadas telefónicas. Consulte nuestro sitio web www.sfcg.org para conocer todos los detalles de nuestro trabajo. Todos los empleados de Search deben adherirse a los valores de la organización: Colaboración - Audacia - Tenacidad - Empatía - Resultados. De acuerdo con estos valores, Search hace cumplir el Código de Conducta y las políticas relacionadas con luchar contra el acoso en el lugar de trabajo, la protección contra la explotación y el abuso, la protección de la infancia, los conflictos de intereses y la lucha contra el fraude. Search se compromete a salvaguardar los intereses, derechos y bienestar de los niños, jóvenes y adultos vulnerables con los que está en contacto y a llevar a cabo sus programas y operaciones de una manera que sea segura para los niños, jóvenes y adultos vulnerables.  Search for Common Ground no discrimina ni discriminará por motivos de raza, color, religión (credo), género, expresión de género, edad, origen nacional (ascendencia), discapacidad, estado civil, orientación sexual o condición militar, en ninguna de sus actividades u operaciones. Consulte nuestro código de conducta aquí y nuestra política de privacidad aquí.


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