Consultancy - Graphic Designer and Desktop Publishing Consultant

Overallobjective:to strengthen the quality, consistency, accessibility andvisibility of the GCF Knuckles Project’s knowledge products and communicationoutputs, so that Project evidence and results reach and are understood by theirintended audiences.

Specific objectives:

• Produce visually engaging, accurate and brand-compliant designs andlayouts for digital and print knowledge products, reports and informationmaterials.
  
• Ensure all outputs meet technical, accessibility and donor-visibilityspecifications and are delivered as print-ready and web-ready files witheditable source files.
  
• Support the maintenance of a coherent visual identity for the Projectand ICRAF Sri Lanka across platforms and products.
  
  

Summary of responsibilities

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Working arrangements

Workwill be requested through short written task orders, each stating the product,purpose, audience, length or format, source materials, review points anddeadline. The Consultant will confirm acceptance and feasibility of thedeadline within [one (1)] working day. Products vary in size and complexity;the scope, effort and fee for each are agreed before work starts, using theunit rates in the Consultant’s financial proposal.

TheConsultant will be responsible for the following tasks:

• Layout and desktop publishing of long-form and short-form knowledgeproducts, including technical reports, policy and practice briefs, manuals,training guides, factsheets, case studies, newsletters and annual and progressreports, using Project and ICRAF templates.
  
• Design of communication and visibility materials, including brochures,flyers, posters, roll-up banners, backdrops, signage, certificates, eventmaterials, presentation templates and social media and web graphics.
  
• Data visualization and infographics: convert data, maps, resultsframeworks, value-chain and process diagrams into clear, accurate andaccessible graphics, working with content and GIS outputs supplied by technicalstaff.
  
• Brand and donor-visibility compliance: apply the ICRAF, LandscapeAlliance, GCF and MoALLI logos, themes, acknowledgements and disclaimerscorrectly; maintain reusable templates and a simple brand and style kit; flagnon-compliant requests.
  
• Digital accessibility: produce tagged, accessible PDFs (reading order,alt text, colour contrast, document properties) and web-optimised files, inline with WCAG 2.1 AA and PDF/UA principles as far as practicable.
  
• Multilingual layout: typeset in, Sinhala and Tamil, ensuring correctUnicode fonts, text flow and consistency across language versions.
  
• Multimedia support (as required): basic video editing, subtitling, andanimated social media posts or short motion graphics.
  
• Pre-press and production: prepare print-ready files to the printer’sspecifications (colour mode, theme, resolution, bleed, marks), check proofs,and advise the Project on paper, finishing and file specifications. Procurementof printing remains with the Project.
  
• Asset management: organise and hand over source files,packaged fonts, links and images using an agreed naming convention, withimage credits and licence details recorded.
  
• Creative input: propose concepts and options, keep abreast of designtrends, incorporate consolidated feedback, and manage multiple concurrentprojects to deadline.
  
• Confidentiality: Consultant can only communicate or share any materialor data transferred from the ICRAF or derived from them with the nominatedstaff member of ICRAF.
  
• Corporate standards and quality: Apply the latest Landscape Alliancebrand, editorial guide, visual identity, templates, color palettes,digital/print publication standards to every deliverables.
  
  

Indicative products andturnaround

Thelist below is illustrative. Actual products, volumes and timelines will bespecified in each task order and may differ from product to product.

Indicative product

Socialmedia graphic or single-page visual

Indicative turnaround (fromcomplete inputs)

[1–2working days]

Indicative product

Brochure,flyer, poster or banner

Indicative turnaround (fromcomplete inputs)

[1–2working days]

Indicative product

Infographicor data visualization

Indicative turnaround (fromcomplete inputs)

[1–2working days]

Indicative product

Report,brief or manual layout (per [20–50] pages)

Indicative turnaround (fromcomplete inputs)

[3–7working days]

Indicative product

Report,brief or manual layout (per [51–100] pages)

Indicative turnaround (fromcomplete inputs)

[3–7working days]

Indicative product

Report,brief or manual layout (per [101–250] pages)

Indicative turnaround (fromcomplete inputs)

[3–7working days]

Qualitystandards and technical specifications

• Design and files: print outputswith bleed and crop marks, supplied as PDF/X for print; digital outputs in RGB,optimised for screen. Deliver editable native files (e.g. InDesign packageswith links and fonts, Illustrator and Photoshop files) alongside final exports.
  
• Responsible use of AI tools:unpublished, confidential or personal Project information must not be enteredinto public generative AI tools without prior written approval. Any AI-assistedcontent or imagery must be disclosed to the Project and checked by theConsultant for accuracy, originality and rights.
  
• Images and fonts: only original,Project-owned or properly licensed images, fonts and icons may be used, withlicences permitting the Project’s intended use and recorded for handover.
  
• Review rounds: each productincludes up to [three (3)] rounds of consolidated feedback within the agreedfee. Further changes arising from new content or a change of direction will beagreed in advance.
  
• Corporate review: to ensureconsistency in quality, all published materials must undergo quality review bythe COE team in Bogor before final release.
  

Reporting requirement:

• Tasktracker: a shared, up-to-date record of task orders, status, hours or unitsused and delivery dates, reviewed with the supervisor [weekly / fortnightly].
  
• Finalreport and handover: a short completion report and the full set of final files,source files, templates and asset register. Electronic copies only, submittedthrough [shared drive / email]; no hard copies required.
  
• Acceptance:the supervisor will provide consolidated feedback within [five (5)] workingdays of submission. A product is accepted when it meets the task order and thestandards set out in this ToR
  

Originally posted on Himalayas