Result of Service
The communication consultant will coordinate communication and advocacy activities for the Ecosystem Services Economics Unit (ESEU) for 2022 as they pertain to the IKI and EUPI projects.
Work Location
Home based
Expected duration
The duration of the contract should be for twelve (12) months, starting on January 10th 2022 and ending on January 9th 2023.
Duties and Responsibilities
Org Setting:
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations system’s designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional level. It is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. UNEP Ecosystems Division works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and capacity development for the implementation of environmental policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition.
The Communication Specialist will support the Ecosystem Services Economics Unit (ESEU). ESEU hosts The Economics of Ecosystem and Biodiversity (TEEB), and the sub-initiative termed TEEB for Agriculture and Food (TEEBAgriFood). TEEBAgriFood seeks to provide a comprehensive economic evaluation of the “eco-agri-food systems” complex, and demonstrate that the economic environment in which farmers operate is distorted by significant externalities, both negative and positive, and a lack of awareness of dependency on natural, human and social capital.
ESEU has two separate but related projects that apply TEEBAgriFood and the Communications Specialist shall support each of these projects under specific deliverables. The two projects are as follows: (i) BMU-funded project entitled “Supporting Biodiversity and Climate-Friendly land management in agricultural landscapes” (henceforth ‘IKI project’); and (ii) EU Partnership Instrument-funded project entitled “Promoting a sustainable agriculture and food sector” (henceforth ‘EUPI project). The Communication Specialist shall work under the guidance and overall supervision of the UNEP ESEU Head.
Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will work on a part-time basis (70% of a Full Time Equivalent). The consultant will be home based. Responsibilities of the consultant will include, but are not limited to:
Coordination
• Work with the Ecosystems Division Advocacy and Communication Group to improve the coordination and efficiency of the advocacy and communication efforts, as advocacy focal point for the Biodiversity and Land Branch at UNEP; mainstreaming of TEEBAgriFood activities via this Advocacy and Communication Group
• Ensure effective knowledge management by coordinating the flow of information, communication and advocacy products from country partners to global ESEU and UNEP workstreams, and as such connecting work across silos
• Ensure smooth workflow between the Ecosystem Services Economics Unit and the UNEP Communication Division
• Work with partners to identify and coordinate key moments for advocacy and public-facing communication activities for ESEU
• Liaise with Head ESEU .to oversee the day-to-day work of those contributing to ESEU communications, e.g. communication intern/s, IT, graphic design and data visualization experts.
Content creation
• Oversee the development of impact stories for IKI and EUPI projects through a wide variety of communication tools and products (e.g. infographics, geospatial platforms, storymaps, dynamic blog pieces, human interest stories), using data and insights from ESEU workstreams.
• Develop country policy briefs jointly with IKI and EUPI ESEU country leads and national country institutions.
• Develop social media content in collaboration with IKI and EUPI partners, at country level as well as at global level, through UNEP and TEEB social media channels
• Reach out to and liaise with media/journal outlets in IKI and EUPI partner countries to arrange news stories and press releases.
• Support the development of materials and media briefings for IKI and EUPI advocacy events
• Develop TEEBAgriFood content for blog articles, audio-visual materials, newsletters and website updates, based on identified user needs from national project partners and global end users
Qualifications/special skills
Academic Qualifications: Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Communications, International Relations, Journalism, or Environmental related areas is required. A first university degree with a combination of two (2) years professional and academic qualifications may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.
Experience: A minimum of four (4) years of relevant work experience in the field professional experience in communication is required. Previous work with UN System or International Organization is desirable.
Language: English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position fluency in oral and written English is required.
No Fee
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.
