Communication Coordinator

Result of Service

The service will deliver a comprehensive communication strategy and production plan, and a set of audience-ready communication products, that effectively communicate the results and impact of the EAS project, the NBSAP/7NR project and the Unit’s wider portfolio under the Nature Action Thematic Programmes. In particular, the service will:

1. strengthen stakeholder engagement and messaging across countries, UNEP, UNDP, the CBD Secretariat, the GEF, donors and the public;
2. promote the dissemination of knowledge, best practices and project results in support of KMGBF implementation, including syntheses of country experience from NBSAP updates and national reports;
3. foster alignment, transparency and collaboration among implementing and executing partners; and
4. embed communication practice in how the Unit plans, implements and reports on its projects, so that results and stories are captured as they occur.

Priorities across the EAS project, the NBSAP/7NR project and the wider Nature Action portfolio will be agreed with the supervisor and project teams in the communication strategy, based on communication needs, project milestones and available resources. For projects at or near completion, the emphasis will be on documenting results, lessons and country experience. The primary audiences are national focal points and project teams, the CBD Secretariat, the GEF Secretariat and implementing partners. The wider public is a secondary audience.

Work Location

Nairobi

Expected duration

12 Months

Duties and Responsibilities

Organizational Setting

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) 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's 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.

UNEP’s Ecosystems Division drives conservation, restoration and sustainable use of ecosystems to achieve benefits for nature and people: today and future generations. The division works with Member States and partners to strengthen resilience by providing policy and technical support to catalyze sustainable social and economic transformation for biodiversity, people and peace. This position will support the work of the Nature Frameworks Support Unit (NFSU) in the Biodiversity and Land Branch, Ecosystems Division. NFSU supports countries in implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) through Global Environment Facility (GEF)-funded projects and manages a diverse portfolio under the Nature Action Thematic Programmes, and also supports countries in delivering their commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) as well as other Multilateral Environmental Agreements (e.g. CITES, CMS). The Unit serves as the technical/substantive lead in guiding UNEP delegations to relevant COPs and meetings. The Unit also liaises closely with UNEP’s Secretariat for the Kunming Biodiversity Fund, serving as the primary technical focal for in-house coordination of UNEP’s potential delivery under the fund. This position is located at UNEP, Ecosystems Division, Biodiversity and Land Branch, Nature Frameworks Support Unit at Nairobi duty station. , the consultant will carry out the following tasks and perform the duties and responsibilities outlined below that are organized in three phases in line with the monthly deliverables:

Phase 1 – Inception and planning (Months 1–3)

• Become familiar with UNEP Communication Division guidelines, processes, costs and quality standards.
• Conduct a rapid gap analysis of existing communication systems, tools, assets and practices for the EAS and NBSAP/7NR projects and the Unit, including interviews with PMOs, staff and partners to understand needs and challenges.
• Map and categorize key internal and external stakeholders and audiences and develop audience-specific key messages.
• Develop a draft communication strategy, in consultation with Communication Division and within available budgets, building on existing communication plans and efforts of UNEP, UNDP and the CBD Secretariat, and aligned with the UNEP Medium-Term Strategy, the Programme of Work and the Nature Action Thematic Programmes, with a simple results framework including baseline metrics and indicators. Finalize the strategy by Month 3.
• Develop a rolling editorial calendar, updated quarterly, identifying priority products, formats, responsible parties and key deadlines.
• Develop communication guidelines for project teams by Month 3 to support consistent messaging across the portfolio. These should also include Communication Division processes and quality standards.
• Develop and deliver at least one communication product during the inception period to initiate content production while the strategy is being finalized.

Phase 2 – Production and engagement (Months 3–11)

• Produce at least two communication products per month in line with the editorial calendar, in diverse formats (e.g. web and case stories, results briefs, factsheets, infographics, opinion pieces, photo stories and short videos), with accompanying social media content, working with PMOs, country focal points and partners.
• Produce at least one knowledge product synthesizing country experience and lessons from NBSAP updates and national reports.
• Conduct a mid-term review of strategy implementation in Month 6, with reach and engagement metrics against the baseline, and update the editorial calendar.
• Keep a reference set of portfolio figures, verified with the PMOs, so that figures used in communication products are current and consistent.
• Identify and use appropriate channels, platforms and networks to reach specific audiences, in line with corporate policy, and maintain a repository of communication materials, photographs, video and assets.
• Ensure all products adhere to UNEP and GEF visibility policies and branding guidelines.
• Organize and deliver at least two capacity-building sessions (e.g. workshops or webinars) for project teams and partners, to strengthen their ability to capture and communicate results throughout implementation, including field-level content collection, ethical storytelling, photography and UNEP/GEF visibility requirements.
• Prepare event follow-up and topical, newsworthy content and visual highlights and disseminate through UNEP corporate and partner digital platforms and social media.
• Coordinate closely with UNDP, the CBD Secretariat, the GEF and UNEP’s Communication Division and communication focal points to ensure consistent and coherent joint communication.

Phase 3 – Review and handover (Months 11–12)

• Review implementation of the communication strategy, including reach and engagement metrics for products delivered under Phase 2, and prepare recommendations for next steps.
• Prepare the Final Report consolidating results, lessons learned and outstanding needs, including a sustainability section on the templates, guidelines, calendar format and asset library the Unit can continue to use.
• Organize and hand over all communication assets, materials and the repository to the Unit.

Throughout the assignment

• Plan and deliver communication support for key global and regional events and meetings relevant to KMGBF implementation, including speaking points, briefing notes, concept notes, slide decks and stakeholder briefs.
• Track communication outputs and reach and contribute data and inputs to reporting on communication results and portfolio progress.
• Follow Communication Division processes, costs and quality standards for global communication assets.
• Respond to ad hoc communication requests from the Unit and UNEP, as prioritized by the supervisor, and perform other related duties as assigned.
• Submit a one-page progress note with each monthly deliverable.
• Apply accessibility standards (alt text, captions and plain language) and arrange translation of priority products into French and Spanish within available budget.
• Secure informed consent and image rights for all people and content featured. All materials produced remain the property of UNEP.

This position is office-based at the UNEP Headquarters (HQ) in Gigiri, Nairobi. This consultancy is located in the Nature Frameworks Support Unit of UNEP’s Ecosystems Division, Biodiversity and Land Branch. The consultant will be under the direct supervision of the Head, Nature Frameworks Support Unit, Adriana Rivera Brusatin, and in coordination with the PMOs of the EAS and NBSAP/7NR projects.

Qualifications/special skills

Master’s degree or equivalent in communication, journalism, international relations, international development, environmental studies or a related field. A first-level university degree in combination with additional 2 years qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in strategic communication, public information, advocacy or related fields is required. Proven experience in developing communication strategies and production plans and delivering against them, including digital and multimedia content, in multicultural teams is required. Demonstrated experience producing a range of communication products (web stories, factsheets, briefs, opinion pieces, infographics, social media content, video storyboards) for varied audiences is required. Skills in visual communication, including infographics, data visualization and basic video editing, and in using digital analytics to track reach and engagement, are desirable Experience in delivering communications within the UN system and on environmental, biodiversity or climate programmes is desirable. Familiarity with the CBD, the KMGBF, the GEF and NBSAP and national reporting processes, and experience working with developing-country partners are desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in oral and written English is required. Working knowledge of French or Spanish is desirable.

Additional Information

Not available.

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.