Position Title: Volunteer – UX Writer & Researcher

Position Duration: 12-22 months

Position Location: Uganda, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, Tanzania or Ethiopia

Reports to: Managing Specialist, Digital Innovation (Product Manager)

Works closely with: UI Designer, Digital Innovation Officers, Data Engineer, Front and Backend Developers, Country Representative

BACKGROUND

Farm Radio International (FRI) is a Canadian non-profit organization using radio, mobile telephony and other digital tools and services to meet the information and communication rights – at scale – of rural and marginalized communities in sub-Saharan Africa. For rural families in Africa, access to information and communication, e.g. about agriculture, climate change, livelihoods, health and nutrition, are critical needs. FRI is committed to gender equality and inclusion as a cross-cutting priority as well as an end in itself. Our communication solutions are designed to respond to and transform gender relations and the participation of women, youth and marginalized groups at each stage of program design and delivery processes. Obtain more details from the Farm Radio website.

With funding from the Wehubit program of ENABEL, Farm Radio International (FRI) is implementing the Longa – Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) for African Languages (Longa) project from September 1, 2024, to August 31, 2026. The aim of the project is to transform speech into actionable text with high accuracy and contextual awareness. The project is being developed by FRI with support from CGIAR, leveraging advanced machine learning and natural language processing techniques. For instance, Longa will be used to analyze and respond to the growing number of voice messages that FRI’s radio station partners receive from small-holder farmers through interactive radio programs on our Uliza interactive application. The ‘primary users’ of Longa are the radio station staff – radio presenters or producers, and FRI or other organisations who are gathering voice-based information from farmers/listeners. The ‘end-users’ are the people who listen to the radio programs – the project participants that FRI targets: men and women small-scale farmers. The anticipated outcomes of the project are as follows:

• Improve accuracy for Luganda language and accents recorded via phone call
• Replicate the ASR model for the Bambara language
• Integrate ASR application in FRI’s communication cloud platform for broadcasters

MANDATE

To enhance the performance and reliability of the ASR system and to create seamless, intuitive user experiences through our web application. Farm Radio is looking for a UX Writer & Researcher to join our team and contribute to the design and enhancement of the Uliza web application. The ideal candidate will possess an understanding of UX writing principles, combined with strong research skills to gather user insights and improve the overall user experience. During that time the volunteer will:

SCOPE OF WORK

• Craft clear, concise, and user-friendly copy for various parts of the web application, including onboarding processes, error messages, and instructional content.
• Develop and maintain a consistent voice and tone that aligns with the brand and enhances the user experience.
• Collaborate with designers and developers to ensure that copy is effectively integrated into the design and functionality of the application.
• Conduct user research to gain insights into user needs, behaviors, and pain points related to ASR technology and the Uliza web application.
• Use methods such as interviews, surveys, and usability testing to collect qualitative and quantitative data.
• Analyze research findings to inform UX writing and design decisions.
• Develop content strategies that support user goals and enhance the overall user experience.
• Create content guidelines and standards to ensure consistency and quality across the application.
• Work closely with the UI designer, product manager, and developers to align content with design and functionality.
• Participate in brainstorming sessions, design reviews, and cross-functional team meetings to provide input on content and user experience.
• Document research findings, content strategies, and writing guidelines.
• Prepare reports and presentations to communicate research insights and content recommendations to stakeholders.

DELIVERABLES

• UX Copy:
  • Clear and user-friendly text for web application components, including buttons, labels, forms, error messages, and onboarding content.
  • Engaging and informative content for tutorials, help sections, and other user-facing elements.
• Research Reports:
  • Comprehensive reports summarizing user research findings, including insights into user behavior, needs, and preferences.
  • Actionable recommendations based on research to inform UX writing and design improvements.
• Content Strategy Documents:
  • Content strategy plans outlining the approach to creating, managing, and maintaining content across the application.
• Usability Testing Results:
  • Summaries of usability testing sessions, including identified issues, user feedback, and suggestions for content improvements.
• Content Guidelines & Best Practices:
  • Documentation of best practices for UX writing and content creation, tailored to the needs of the Uliza web application.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Able to work effectively in English
• Bachelor’s degree in English, Communication, UX Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Strong writing and editing skills, with a keen eye for detail and a knack for creating user-centered content.
• Experience conducting user research and usability testing, with the ability to analyze and synthesize data into actionable insights.
• Excellent intercultural communication skills

EXPENSES

FRI will cover costs related to the delivery of the volunteer assignment, including transportation and monthly stipends.