Adaptation Communications Coordinator

Contract

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Result of Service

The main objective of this consultancy is to: a) Produce efficient and strategic communication products. b) Collaborate with the national and regional coordinators of adaptation projects with the dissemination of communication strategies and communication activities. c) Enhance outreach and communication practices in Climate Change Unit.

The main objective of the position of Adaptation Communications Coordinator is expected to provide efficient and strategic communication advice, develop awareness raising material and campaigns to increase climate change adaptation knowledge among various project/programme stakeholders.

In addition, the Adaptation Communications Coordinator is expected to collaborate with the Unit in the development and implementation of other related activities, including planning, organizing, and documenting national, regional, local meetings, preparing materials as required, and to assist in the preparation, elaboration, and dissemination of knowledge products.

The Adaptation Communications Coordinator main duties and responsibilities will include:

1) Provide technical advice to prepare and propose recommendations for the communication strategy, communication plans and workplans / action plans of the adaptation programme, subprogrammes (cities, national adaptation plans, rural resilience, coastal resilience, mountains, climate finance) and national and regional projects. 2) Prepare documents to promote national projects results and activities in a wide array of formats, including but not limited to speech drafts, presentations, letters, reports, brochures, posters, videos, National Factsheets and Case Studies. 3) Ensure the link and coordination between the adaptation team and the communication team of the Climate Change Unit and, when necessary, between the adaptation team and UNEP’s regional or global communication team. 4) Lead the organization and communication aspects of the participation of UNEP (adaptation) in the Adaptation Action Weeks/Days, LAC Regional Climate Weeks, COP29 and any other relevant virtual and in-person events. 5) Lead and coordinate the group of national project communicators on the generation and dissemination of content between countries and at the regional level in both UNEP’s own channels and external channels. 6) Identify opportunities for capturing and sharing knowledge and disseminating information about major progress and results, working proactively with programme and project teams. 7) Translate documents, videos, tools and other materials and provide interpretation services when needed. 8) Develop and maintain an events calendar, ensuring that major events are identified early; support project management units (PMU) and relevant programme teams to develop and manage messages and information material to ensure the success of major events. 9) Lead the generation and editing of content for the Regatta - Climate Action platform and all the adaptation-related activities within the platform in coordination with the regional team. This might include the development and implementation of the publication’s series ‘cápsulas climáticas’, thematic stories, informative notes, vacancies, newsletter, series of webinars, podcasts, etc. 10) Ensure the coherence and synergies between the multiple Communities of Practice and websites (CoP CityAdapt, CoP Andes, CoP Youth, Regatta – Climate Action) and keep the information updated. 11) Develop and lead the communication and dissemination strategy for the involvement of local youth stakeholders in the CoP Youth. 12) Advise in the elaboration and evaluation of the communication tool developed by the CoP Youth work teams that will be disseminated through the social network channel of this initiative. 13) Plan a communication strategy for the Adaptation Observatory and lead the creation of its platform and other communication materials. 14) Propose and organize specific awareness raising activities aligned with the adaptation portfolio. These activities should include the production of promotional materials: leaflets, brochures, social media posts, and their distribution at different events. 15) Ensure the presence and communication of the adaptation team’s work and results in internal and external, regional and global relevant newsletters. 16) Advise the projects on branding and publications policy/procedures and assist in their dissemination. 17) Ensure that all outreach information material is written in a way that concepts and issues can be readily understood by the public and adapt each material to reach multiple target audiences. 18) Participate in the preparation of publications, tools, written and audiovisual material and contribute to the dissemination at regional and national level of publications, press releases, news, reports, project results and others, through social media, press, digital and printed platforms targeting key audiences and stakeholders, considering the region’s varied audience as well as UNEP’s communication style and guidelines. 19) Coordinate with the UN Environment Programme Regional Communication Unit the use of the organization´s logo and branding, and any activity directly related to external communication outreach and traditional (TV, newspaper, radio) or social media. 20) Develop and maintain contacts with key print and electronic media (including radio, TV, news websites and blogs) to supply them with newsworthy material about the projects in the countries. 21) Travel on mission to the required countries where adaptation projects are being implemented to create communications materials and disseminate activities and achievements.

Detailed specifications for each assignment will be given to the selected Adaptation Communications Coordinator.

Work Location

Panama City, Panama

Expected duration

9 MONTHS

Duties and Responsibilities

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.

The UNEP Latin America and the Caribbean Office (LACO), located in Panama City, works closely with the 33 countries of the region and its activities are integrated into the Medium-Term Strategy and the Programme of Work approved by the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA).

UNEP LACO oversees the implementation of several UNEP’s projects in the region of Latin America and the Caribbean. These projects are implemented by partners at national level in several countries, commissioned by the relevant government authorities. In terms of supporting countries in the region attain the global commitments signed within the framework of the Paris Agreement, UNEP’s Latin America and the Caribbean Sub-programme on Climate Change aims at strengthening the ability of countries to move towards climate-resilient and low emission strategies for sustainable development and human well-being. In this framework, the UNEP Sub-programme on Climate Change, through its Climate Change Unit leads and supports several initiatives oriented at designing, promoting and implementing innovative mitigation and adaptation solutions at the national and subnational level, and strengthening the transparency framework of the countries. The expected accomplishment regarding climate change adaptation is that adaptation approaches, including the ecosystem-based approach, are implemented and integrated into key sectoral and national development strategies to reduce vulnerability and strengthen resilience to climate change impacts. Furthermore, UNEP’s Sub-programme on Climate Change is also committed to ensure that cross-cutting issues such as gender equity and women empowerment are effectively integrated in the development of its tasks to guarantee an equitable development in line with its adaptation objectives.

The main objective of the position of the Adaptation Communications Coordinator is to contribute to the communication activities of the adaptation portfolio related to Ecosystem based Adaptation projects, both in rural and urban areas, National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), and related activities including regional and global events, communities of practices and other.

The Adaptation Communications Coordinator will work closely to the UNEP climate change communication’s team and will be supervised by the Climate Change UNEP Adaptation Programme Officer for Latin America and the Caribbean. The consultant will work at the UNEP LACO office, Panama City, Panama, from Monday to Friday, 40 hours per week, full time.

Qualifications/special skills

ACADEMIC:

• Bachelor’s degree in communication, journalism, translation, social sciences, marketing, event management or a closely related field is required. • Master’s degree in environment, climate change or a closely related field is required.

PROFESSIONAL:

• At least 5 years working experience in communications management, journalism, events organization, translation, or similar fields are required. • Experience in leading the development of communication strategies for environmental and social development projects is desirable. • Experience in the creation of creative content in written and visual formats and stakeholder engagement is desired. • Experience in leading and coordinating the organization of events at national or regional levels is desired. • Familiarity with UN Environment Programme or the UN system in general will be an added advantage.

LANGUAGE:

• Fluent in Spanish is required. • Fluent in English is required. • Knowledge of French is desired.

SKILLS:

• Knowledge of key topics related to climate change adaptation, the Paris Agreement, SDGs, the IUCN standard for Nature-based Solutions, is desirable. • Strong analytical skills to examine complex data, ability to write in an informative and appealing way and identify key messages. • Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills to facilitate complex reports for a target audience. • Familiarity with social media, writing posts, and engaging audiences. • Ability to write press releases. • Demonstrated integrity and ethical standards. • Very high level of organizational and time management skills, as well as attention to detail. • Ability to work with tight deadlines and deliver high quality results on time.

COMPETENCIES:

• Professionalism: Ability to apply knowledge of various United Nations administrative, financial, and human resources rules and regulations in work situations. He/she shows pride in work and in achievements; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines, and achieving results; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions. • Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors’ language, tone, style, and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. • Teamwork: Is able to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team to achieve organizational goals and to take leadership when appropriate; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. • Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

Languages

Not available.

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.