Interpreter(s) / Translator(s) – Guatemala

Aninver Development Partners SL (www.aninver.com) is looking for a Interpreter(s) / Translator(s) for a agriculture, monitoring evaluation consultancy assignment financed by FAO in Guatemala.

Aninver Development Partners is currently preparing a competitive proposal for an upcoming evaluation assignment commissioned by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Guatemala. The initiative focuses on assessing resilience building, agricultural livelihoods, and vulnerable smallholder farming communities across the country's dry corridor and indigenous regions. To ensure effective stakeholder engagement and precise data collection during the mid-term evaluation, we are looking for a qualified professional to join our field team.

We are currently seeking an experienced Interpreter and Translator to facilitate clear communication between evaluation teams and local communities. The successful candidate will play a critical role in bridging linguistic gaps during qualitative and quantitative data collection activities, ensuring that local voices are accurately captured and interpreted in accordance with FAO standards. This is an exciting opportunity for an expert fluent in Spanish and relevant Maya languages to contribute to impactful agricultural development and monitoring and evaluation efforts in Guatemala.

Aninver is preparing a proposal for this assignment. The selected expert will be part of the proposed team; the engagement is conditional on the contract being awarded to Aninver. The full Terms of Reference for the position are shared with shortlisted candidates.

Objectives of the assignment

• Facilitate accurate and culturally appropriate communication between international and national evaluation experts and local indigenous communities.
• Translate qualitative and quantitative research instruments, guides, and field documentation as required.
• Ensure the precise preservation of meaning, intent, and technical terminology during interviews, focus groups, and surveys.
• Support the broader monitoring and evaluation team in gathering reliable field data across designated intervention areas.

Scope of work

• Review evaluation instruments and background documentation to familiarize with specific agricultural and development terminology.
• Provide simultaneous or consecutive interpretation during key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and stakeholder meetings.
• Translate field notes, qualitative transcripts, and select project documentation between Spanish and relevant Maya languages.
• Assist field enumerators and evaluation specialists in clarifying questions and responses with local respondents during data collection.
• Participate in coordination briefings and debriefings with the evaluation team to report on linguistic or cultural nuances encountered in the field.

Your role as Interpreter(s) / Translator(s)

• Deliver professional interpretation services during field missions in assigned regions including Alta Verapaz, Baja Verapaz, Chiquimula, and Petén.
• Translate interview guides, survey questions, and brief reports accurately between Spanish and local Maya languages (Q'eqchi', Poqomchi', Ch'orti', and Achi).
• Maintain strict confidentiality and neutrality when handling sensitive stakeholder information and evaluation data.
• Collaborate closely with data collection teams to resolve terminology challenges and ensure contextual accuracy.
• Ensure timely delivery of all translation outputs to support the synthesis of evaluation findings.

Requirements

• Fluent command of Spanish and the relevant Maya language (Q'eqchi', Poqomchi', Ch'orti' and Achi) for assigned areas.
• At least 3 years of relevant professional experience in interpretation or translation, preferably within research, social development, or evaluation contexts.
• Demonstrated capacity to preserve meaning, nuance, and specialized terminology during complex discussions.
• Familiarity with the geographic and cultural context of the designated intervention zones in Guatemala.

Desirable

• Prior experience working with United Nations agencies or international cooperation organizations on agricultural or rural development evaluations.
• Demonstrated background in translating quantitative and qualitative research tools.

An experienced linguistic professional with fluency in Spanish and specific Maya languages, offering a strong background in translation and interpretation for social research or agricultural evaluations in Guatemala.

Assignment details

• Location: Guatemala
• Financed by: FAO
• Sector: Agriculture, monitoring evaluation
• Estimated duration: 3 months
• Contract: individual consultancy (conditional on award)

About Aninver Development Partners

Aninver is an international development consulting firm headquartered in Spain. It supports governments, development banks, UN agencies and bilateral donors with feasibility studies, technical assistance, evaluations and capacity building across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia and Asia-Pacific, working with a network of international and national experts.

Why apply

• Join a multidisciplinary team on a FAO-financed project in Guatemala.
• Individual consultancy: flexible, output-based engagement with an experienced proposal team.
• Your CV stays in Aninver's expert network for future assignments that match your profile.

How to apply

Sign in (or create a free account) and upload your CV in English. Add your LinkedIn profile, indicative daily rate and availability to speed up the assessment. Aninver will contact the shortlisted candidates.

Frequently asked questions

Is the position confirmed? The engagement depends on the contract being awarded to Aninver. Shortlisted experts are included in the proposal with their consent.

Can I apply if I am not based in the country? Yes, unless the requirements say otherwise; relevant regional experience is an asset.

What happens with my CV? It is used to assess your fit for this and future positions and is not shared with third parties without your consent.