Communications Consultant

Result of Service The consultant will help achieve the following: 1. The SUN team communicates effectively about its work via the existing Greening the Blue website 2. The 2022 Greening the Blue Report is launched in December 2022 3. The SUN team communicates effectively and is able to connect large global events with the UN internal sustainability management agenda

Work Location Home-based

Expected duration The contract is from 1st May to 30 November. The consultancy and the payments will be made based on deliverables

Duties and Responsibilities The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations systems designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional level. 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.

Good communication and exchange of best practices is a key aspect in the Sustainable UN project and a specific Output of the Sustainable UN project (Output 2 413-2). The main tool for SUN to deliver this is the web-based Greening the Blue campaign: www.greeningtheblue.org (GtB).

Over the past 10 years the Greening the Blue website has encountered success and helped deliver the Sustainable UN teams’ mandate. In May 2019 the UN system endorsed the UN 2020-2030 Sustainability strategy demanding greater ambitions in terms of environmental management from the UN and providing a specific set of environmental objectives and indicators including in terms of staff awareness and reporting.

The UN Sustainability Strategy needs to be socialized and well communicated to all staff via a well concerted interagency effort that utilizes, in a new manner, the existing structures and channels. For this reason, the current Greening the Blue Website needs to be revised.

For the Greening the Blue website, the SUN team has had since 2020 an agreement with the UNEP’s Communications Division in Nairobi. The SUN team and the Nairobi Communications team, however, need an expert who will assess the validity of the current website against the increased needs of the Greening the Blue campaign and advice the SUN team on a more suitable solution and web architecture. In parallel the Greening the Blue website needs regular maintenance to be up to date and information renewed regularly with input of “stories” from the UN Issue Management Group (IMG) on Environmental Sustainability Management.

In the first week of December 2022 also the Greening the Blue report will need to be released to the public and to heads of UN Entities. The Sustainable UN team needs a communication expert also able to follow and manage the interagency development and launch of the 2022 edition of the Greening the Blue report. This is a major team undertaking and needs a devoted person for steering the process from concept to launch report. This year report needs to prove closer alignment with the UN 2030 Sustainability Strategy Phase I and needs to be aligned with the revised UNEP publications process.

Finally, the SUN team has a regular need for assistance in various communications matters such as preparation of focused campaigns that connect the UN interagency Sustainability Management network with wider UN events campaigns such as World Environment Day

The UNEP New York Office Sustainable UN team does not have the relevant expertise in house, to carry out the requires tasks and needs an external consultant.

Specific tasks and responsiblities

Conduct Interviews with 30UN sustainability focal points and other key stakeholders to define needs and expectations related to the Greening the Blue website - 1 June to 20 July

Draft an analysis of the needs for the Greening the Blue website to be efficient and support the implementation of the UN 2020-2030 Strategy for sustainability management and submit it to the SUN team and its key stakeholders for approval. 1 to 20 July

Develop a Greening the Blue 2020-2030 website concept inclusive of architecture and text, submit it to the SUN team and its key stakeholders and organize discussion with the current hosts in view of improvements. 20 July and 20 August

Assist the SUN team in facilitating 4 interagency working group meetings (IMG Greening the Blue working group) that will advise and follow the development of the Greening the Blue website, the Greening the Blue 2020 report. This includes chairing, sending invitations, drafting meeting reports and discussing outcomes of the meetings with the SUN team in view of informing the outputs delivery) - On going throughout the contract

Present Greening the Blue report and Website concept to UNEP and in interagency meetings organized by SUN upon demand. 1 to 30 September

Manage the implementation of the 2022 Greening the Blue Report (including their launch) in close coordination with the SUN team. In consultation with the SUN team means: regular exchanges with the SUN team on the concept development, follow Publication process for the report with the Nairobi team, organize discussions with Gender focal point and Chief scientist in concept phase 01 October to 30 November

Assist the SUN team in any communication, launch plans, presentations that are necessary to communicate progress on the work of the team in the course of the contract period, in particular populate the Greening the Blue website with highlights of SUN team work, best practices from UN organizations and continues discussions of the Greening the Blue working group - Ongoing throughout the project

Reporting lines The consultant shall report directly to Ms. Isabella Marras, Coordinator, Sustainable UN (SUN) facility. Final deliverables shall also be approved by Mr. Jamil Ahmad, Director UNEP New York Office

Place of work The assignment will be carried out remotely. In between, daily/weekly contact by Skype, phone conference or e-mail are envisaged.

Qualifications/special skills Skills: 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 Academic Qualifications: - - A post graduate degree in an environmental field, communications, development or social sciences Experience: - Required: o At least 7 years’ experience in corporate strategic communications, and/or campaigns management in private and/or public national and international organizations. o Experiences in communications focused on institutional sustainability o Up-to-date proficiency with communications best practices, including social media and online media. o Experience in writing, editing and producing communications /marketing materials

• Desired: o Knowledge of the UN system and culture and familiarity with the UN interagency networks. o Creative, autonomous, and resourceful strategist with a track record of proactivity. o Proficiency in software applications such as MS Word, Drupal, Excel and PowerPoint, Adobe InDesign, Photoshop o Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Exposure to cross cultural and multi-ethnic working environment. Language: - For the post advertised, 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.