Consultancy: Book Publishing Project Lead – Senegal
Application Deadline: April 30, 2026
May – December 2026 | Fixed-term
Room to Read is seeking a Book Publishing Project Lead to drive delivery of a children’s book publishing project in Senegal. This consulting role will lead coordination of local authors, illustrators, and publishers to develop and produce 10 French-language children’s storybooks for distribution in schools.
This is a hands-on, delivery-focused opportunity for someone who can manage partners, move work forward, and ensure high-quality outputs are completed on time.
What You’ll Do
Lead identification and engagement of local publishers, authors, and illustrators
Drive the selection process for partners and creatives, including application review and coordination
Plan and deliver writers’ and illustrators’ workshops, ensuring strong execution and outcomes
Coordinate and actively follow up with writers, illustrators, editors, and designers to keep manuscripts and illustrations moving to completion
Support review and refinement of content to ensure quality and readiness for layout and printing
Oversee timelines and dependencies across all workstreams to ensure on-time delivery of all outputs
Coordinate field testing and ensure feedback is incorporated into final materials
Liaise with designers and review book layouts prior to final production
Identify and coordinate with local printers to prepare for printing and distribution
Ensure all deliverables are quality checked, completed, and properly documented
Support vendor coordination and payments
Deliver a final report summarizing outcomes and key learnings
What Success Looks Like
Strong, engaged cohort of local writers and illustrators
Workshops that result in high-quality draft content
10 completed, approved storybooks ready for printing
Clear coordination across all partners with minimal delays
All deliverables completed on time and to standard
Qualifications
The qualified consultant will be a Senegalese national currently living in Senegal and demonstrate the following:
Bachelor’s degree in a related field of study, e.g., Education, Literacy or related field
Full professional fluency in spoken and written English and French
Experience leading or managing projects with multiple stakeholders and firm deadlines
Strong knowledge of the publishing, education, or creative sector in Senegal
Ability to identify, engage, and manage authors, illustrators, and publishing partners
Experience planning and delivering workshops or structured group sessions
Experience supporting content development workflows (writing, editing, illustration, or production)
Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple workstreams and push work forward
Proven ability to drive deliverables to completion and maintain momentum across contributors
Experience working with external vendors (e.g., designers, printers) and coordinating outputs
Strong attention to detail with the ability to review drafts/layouts and provide actionable feedback
Terms of Contract
The contracted amount will be a fixed fee, not to exceed $2,000.00 USD.
Please submit a CV and cover letter outlining your qualifications for the consultancy.
A detailed Scope of Work will be shared with shortlisted candidates.
Child Protection Principles
Room to Read is committed to the education and welfare of children and protecting them from abuse and exploitation
Room to Read has zero tolerance for child abuse and exploitation.
All children have the right to be free from abuse and exploitation, including neglect, maltreatment, and physical, mental or sexual violence, injury or abuse.
All children should be treated with respect and dignity.
The well-being of the child is Room to Read’s first priority when dealing with all identified or suspected cases of child abuse.
Room to Read shall integrate child protection into all its organizational strategies, structures and work practices.
Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Principles
Room to Read Representatives must create and maintain an environment that prevents sexual exploitation and sexual abuse.
Room to Read has zero tolerance for adult sexual exploitation and abuse.
Sexual exploitation and abuse are serious violations of fundamental human rights and will not be accepted or tolerated.
All adults should be treated with respect and dignity.
Room to Read implements a survivor-centered approach, putting the survivor’s rights and dignity at the forefront.
Survivors referred to available professional assistance (e.g. mental health counselling), upon consent.
About Room to Read:
Founded in 2000 on the belief that World Change Starts with Educated Children®, Room to Read envisions a world free from illiteracy and gender inequality, where all children have room to read, learn and grow – creating lasting change. Through our Literacy Portfolio, we train and coach teachers of the early grades in literacy instruction; create and publish quality books and curricular materials in local languages; and establish children’s libraries filled with diverse children’s books that can be enjoyed at school and home. Our Gender Equality Portfolio supports adolescents, particularly girls, in developing life skills that promote gender equality, helping them to pursue lifelong learning and make informed decisions.
We support young people of all genders to overcome gender biases and build the knowledge and skills to create a gender-equal world. Room to Read collaborates with local communities, partner organizations, publishers, and governments to test and implement innovative models that can be integrated into the education system to deliver positive outcomes for children at scale. To date, Room to Read has benefited more than 50 million children in 28 countries.
Learn more at www.roomtoread.org.