Communications/Multimedia Consultant

Result of Service The main output of this consultancy is the design and finalization of a national communications campaign plan aimed at raising awareness on the availability legal options for certifying Rosewood plantations and trade, and on promoting behavior amongst businesses and forest communities to grow, harvest and access the legal supply chain of Rosewood trade. The consultant will be leading this work, which includes drafting the plan, managing and overseeing stakeholder engagement processes, mapping key actors and influencers, gathering and analysing data, identifying approaches, messages and interventions and keeping track of the progress of the plan. Upon finalization of the campaign plan, the Consultant will also lead the implementation of a pilot activity within the plan through the development and dissemination of campaign messages, at least one video and 10 infographics/posters among the target audiences.

Output 1: Design and finalization of a national communications campaign plan aimed at raising awareness on the legal sanctions of illegal logging and trade, and on promoting behavior that will help keep illegally harvested or traded timber out of the supply chain Deliverables 1: a. Draft and finalized workplan for the assignment (10/01/2022) b. Stakeholder consultation meetings’ material and minutes. (15/03/2022) c. Draft national communications campaign plan aimed at raising awareness on the options for certifying Rosewood plantations and trade, and on promoting behavior amongst businesses and forest communities to grow, harvest and access the legal supply chain of Rosewood trade. (01/04/2022) d. Final national communications campaign plan aimed at raising awareness on the options for certifying Rosewood plantations and trade, and on promoting behavior amongst businesses and forest communities to grow, harvest and access the legal supply chain of Rosewood trade. (30/04/2022)

Output 2: Pilot at least one activity within the communications plan by producing and disseminating at simple campaign messages, at least 1 one-minute promo video and 10 infographics/posters among key target audiences Deliverables 2: a. Writing and copyediting of simple communications messages for the campaign (01/05/2022) b. Production and dissemination of at least 1 one-minute promo video and 10 infographics/posters among key target audiences (14/05/2022)

Work Location Home Based - Thailand

Expected duration 15 December 2021- 14 May 2022

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.

UNEP’s Asia and the Pacific Office geographically serves 41 countries across the region to promote and implement sustainable development solutions. It assists countries of the region pursue sustainability, particularly in their implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development including technical expertise, facilitating access to finance, undertaking cutting-edge science-policy assessments, offering advisory services and strengthening laws, policies, management and governance.

UNEP works with national and local authorities, civil society, other UN organizations, research institutions and the private sector to catalyze the efficient use of the region’s natural assets and reduce the degradation of the environment.

The Lower Mekong basin is a globally important ecoregion that encompasses a high diversity of forest habitats. These forests are home not only to diverse and rare wildlife but are also a source of essential products and services for many communities. To reduce the pressure on this valuable natural resource and to halt deforestation and forest degradation in the region, the Government of Norway is collaborating with the UN-REDD Programme to implement a new two-year regional initiative (2020-2022) that will support countries in the Lower Mekong region (Cambodia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam). The Initiative will focus on working with key institutions in these countries, as well as in China, the primary importer of wood products from the region, to reduce forest crime by strengthening forest governance, and in particular, the effectiveness of systems designed to ensure legal and sustainable trade in timber.

The forests in Thailand have long suffered from deforestation due mainly to land conversion for large-scale agriculture, small-scale shifting agriculture, infrastructure development, and illegal logging. In the past decades however ,this trend has either stabilized or decreased due to strong protection laws such as the 1989 logging ban, with emerging applications and technologies in the last decade for forest rangers to monitor and to prevent large scale encroachment. However, although the number of illegal logging cases has declined, the encroachment cases have increased by expansion of inefficient agriculture practices. Forest fire impact on forest loss can be sudden with large impact and require prioritized protection and prevention measures. Additionally, the high value of restricted timber species leads to continuing (illegal)market demand, while available legal access to valuable timber such as Teak and Siamese Rosewood is limited, in part due to difficult access to processing and trading regulation. This has put the population of Siamese Rosewood at critical status. To address this, in addition to providing better incentive to promote legal Rosewood trade and harvesting in Thailand, there needs to be a communicatons campaign targeted at raising awareness of the availability of legal instruments and at shifting producer behavior towards using certification and moving to sustainable supply value chain.

In this regard, we are looking to recruit a Communications/Multimedia Consultant who will support RFD to develop a national communications campaign plan aimed at raising awareness on the availability legal options for certifying Rosewood plantations and trade, and on promoting behavior amongst businesses and forest communities to grow, harvest and access the legal supply chain of Rosewood trade. The Communications/ Multimedia Consultant will also responsible for writing campaign messages, and producing and disseminating communications products to support the goals of the communications campaign plan around: 1) Raising awareness on the availability legal options for certifying Rosewood plantations and trade: The communications campaign will forest communities, traders, businesses and loggers to enhance their awareness, perceptions and knowledge on certification, and accessing CITES permits to verify the legal source and chain of custody of Rosewood. A situational analysis and initial data gathering will be conducted as a basis for developing simple communications messages, materials and interventions that will help the target groups understand what is the issue and why it matters, why it is important to legalize Rosewood plantation and trade and what are the steps for legalizing Rosewood trade and plantations.

2) To promote a change in behavior amongst businesses and forest communities to grow, harvest and access the legal supply chain of Rosewood trade. The communications campaign will seek to identify barriers to change, and harmful behaviour of the target groups that condone the occurrence of illegal Rosewood trade and associated crimes as well as their capabilities, opportunities and motivations for change. Based on such data, the campaign will make use of behavioural insights and nudges to change existing/harmful or adopt a new behaviour to shift to more sustainable trading practices.

The position is home based and will require regular visits to the RFD office in Bangkok, Thailand. The National Communications Consultant will work under the direct supervision of the UN-REDD Asia Pacific Communications Specialist and in close collaboration with the LMR project country team (the National Project Coordinator and Technical Advisors) and under the technical guidance of UNEP regional team. UNEP will be responsible for the quality control and will provide final approval of the national communications plan. Specifically, the Communications/Multimedia Consultant will deliver the following: a. In consultation with RFD, develop a workplan for the assignment (incl. stakeholders list and consultations), integrating feedback from LMR project team, and aligning it with relevant ongoing plans and activities on strategic communications (from both the Government and non-Government actors);

b. Support the organization and facilitation of a kick-off meeting (to be organized by FAO and RFD) to consult with relevant stakeholders to: - Take stock of relevant ongoing plans and refine/finalize the workplan for the assignment, - Identify the main goal(s) of the campaign, key messages, audiences, objectives, etc and develop an outline of the national communications campaign plan;

c. In consultation with RFD and the LMR project team, draft the national communications campaign plan in local language. It is expected that the campaign itself will be not exceed one year. The national communications campaign plan will focus on leveraging communications activities to raise awareness around illegal logging and wood trade. The campaign plan will detail: - the main goal(s), key program outcomes and purpose - situational analysis of wood trade and illegal logging in Thailand - the theory of change and communications analysis - communications outcome and outputs (incl. how communications interventions can change behavior and stir action) - the audiences (incl. a mapping of stakeholders and their role during implementation). The strategy shall also - include an engagement plan for stakeholders and audiences who cannot be easily reached via mainstream media sources, - the distribution channels (traditional media, broadcast, web, social media, etc.), - the priority communications tools and platforms (such as events, theme days, social media, web, etc), - a media rollout plan, and other communications activities (as relevant) - the timelines that ensure the campaign will reach the envisioned targets most effectively and timely, - Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that can measure achievement against the targets .

d. In parallel with the communications campaign document, prepare of a coherent communications budget estimate required for effective uptake and delivery, with a detailed breakdown covering the campaign duration;

e. Present the draft version(s) national communications campaign plan for review and feedback during a series of meeting with pre-identified stakeholders (incl. the LMR project team), and integrate comments;

f. Support the organization and facilitation of a national consultation meeting (to be organized by FAO and RFD) to present the final draft of the national communications campaign plan and collect final feedback and integrate comments

g. Finalize the national communications campaign plan in the local language and ensure consistency of its English translation (to be done separately);

h. Write communications campaign messages and design and produce at least one one-minute campaign video, and 10 infographics/posters for the campaign in the local language

Performance indicators for evaluation of outputs 1. Lead the development of an ambitious yet practical communications campaign plan on promoting legal Rosewood trade in the local language with associated budget estimates for the activities required for meeting the objectives outlined in the plan; 2. Lead the writing of campaign messages and the production and dissemination of at least one communications campaign video and 10 infographics/posters for the campaign in the local language

The Communications/Multimedia Consultant will be responsible for supporting the implementation of activities under 1.6. Specific deliverables are as follows: 1. Draft and finalized workplan for the assignment (incl. stakeholders list and consultations); 2. Meetings’ (kick-off, consultations) material and minutes; 3. Draft and finalized national communications campaign plan on promoting legal Rosewood trade 4. Pilot at least one activity within the communications plan by writing campaign messages, producing and disseminating at least 1 one-minute promo video and 10 infographics/posters among key target audiences

Qualifications/special skills Academic Qualifications: - Bachelor degree in Communications, Social Sciences, Public Information, Graphic Design, Fine Arts, or related field

Experience: - A minimum of 5 years relevant work experience in the area of communication, social sciences public information, and graphic design; - Relevant working experience within the UN system or other international organizations; - Experience on the use of Publishing and Creative software - Experience in production of communication materials in all stages – design, draft, and publishing - Work experience in an international organization is highly desirable

Language: - Fluency in written and spoken English and Thai is required

Skills: - Excellent writing and storytelling skills - Strong editing skills, have a good eye for publication errors such as spelling mistakes and grammar - Strong practical background in graphic design, including in-depth knowledge of design software such as Adobe InDesign and Illustrator - Good understanding of new digital technologies and online tools/platforms; - Knowledge of standard software packages (e.g. Microsoft Office); - Ability to work independently with minimum supervision and able to work closely with staff; - Innovative and creative.

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.