Spanish Translator

Role 

Accessibility is one of the eight effectiveness criteria for non-judicial grievance mechanisms, first introduced by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)’s Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. The IRM’s Procedures and Guidelines stipulate that complaints can be submitted in any language to the IRM, and also require the IRM to ensure that all publicly disclosed reports relating to complaints are translated into the local language of the complainant. In addition to these requirements, the IRM must do all that it can to ensure its accessibility in line with the effectiveness criteria for non-judicial grievance mechanisms.

In 2025, the IRM received three complaints related to concerns over GCF-financed projects in Colombia. The IRM determined the three complaints to be eligible,[1] and has initiated processes to handle the issues underlying the complaints. The complaints pertain to issues related to labour and working conditions, gender and stakeholder consultations.

The IRM requires translators who can translate from English to Spanish and Spanish to English to support ongoing casework. The consultant’s work will relate to the IRM’s ongoing cases in Colombia.

The translation assignment involves translating, reviewing, and editing reports or other relevant materials to be shared with the stakeholders. The initial contract will last one year, subject to extension based on the quality of work, and the consultant will be contacted for translation work on an as-needed basis. It is the consultant’s responsibility to confirm his/her availability for an assignment and complete the assignment within an agreed timeframe. The consultant will need to sign a confidentiality agreement agreeing not to share or disclose any information obtained while performing his/her tasks.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Translation of the IRM’s reports, communications, and other resources from English to Spanish and vice versa; and
• Reviewing and editing Spanish text.

Required Experience and Qualifications

• Master’s degree in linguistics, Spanish or related field. Sufficient experience may be substituted for a Master’s degree, in which the candidate must have at least a relevant Bachelor’s degree;
• translation certification in Spanish;
• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in translation
• Extremely high level of independence, integrity and impartiality;
• Demonstrated proven skills and experience in translating professional and legal documents;
• Experience in translating issues related to the environment, international relations, development, policy, human rights, complaints, and dispute resolution or demonstrated a good understanding of technical terms and terminology used in those areas is highly desirable;
• Ability to respond to IRM requests in a timely manner; and
• Fluency in English is essential.

Duration of the work

12 months