Result of Service

The main objective of the Climate Change Communications Specialist consultancy is to provide technical expertise to the Adaptation Unit, in relation to the dissemination of information and strengthening of communication capacities of the identified NAPs. Specific tasks and responsibilities The Consultant in climate change communication specialist will contribute to the effective implementation of the project by performing the following tasks: Output 1: Outreach information on adaptation planning developed and disseminated to obtain political support and promote engagement in climate change adaptation. (Output 3.1.2 of Outcome 3.1) Activity 1.1: Create a communication strategy of the adaptation process in El Salvador and Panama, disseminate information on adaptation planning to promote engagement through communication pieces among other mechanisms. Activity 1.2: Act as a focal point for communication on climate change adaptation for the NAP portfolio, developing inter-institutional, inter-agency and cross-government activities. All activities will be delivered in coordination with the national counterpart. Activity 1.3: Liaise with government entities and community representatives and establish appropriate communication channels to obtain political support and promote engagement. Activity 1.4: Provide technical expertise to generate relevant communication inputs on the NAP portfolio websites, as well as to prepare, publish and disseminate relevant policy and climate change adaptation documents. Activity 1.5: Develop and implement comprehensive communication strategies and plans to effectively convey climate change adaptation messages and engage target audiences to promote engagement in climate adaptation initiatives. Responsibility: The consultant, in collaboration with the National Project Coordinators, will liaise with the relevant national and international actors (which may include executing entities, civil society organizations and the private sector), to create/strengthen the political support and engagement on climate adaptation. The consultant is expected to prepare the documentation needed for the successful delivery of the meetings and be in constant communication with the leading entities of the government. The consultant is expected to bolster the national, inter-institutional, inter-agency, and cross-government activities with the other members of the NAP Portfolio. Output 2: NAP Portfolio ownership and technical capacities strengthened to lead the NAP processes, in line with communication strategies to reach new audiences. (Output 3.1.3 of Outcome 3.1) Activity 2.1: Contribute to the logistical and technical coordination and development of learning exchange visits on topics related to adaptation planning with other countries in Latin America and learn from adaptation solutions being implemented in other countries. Activity 2.2: Collaborate in the development of educational and public awareness workshops, material and campaigns, or capacity building products (including but not limited to speech drafts, presentations, letters, reports, brochures, posters, press releases, national factsheets, newsletters, videos, and case studies,) to increase climate change adaptation knowledge for stakeholders involved in the project. Activity 2.3: Provide technical expertise to field missions for the dissemination of relevant information on climate change adaptation. Responsibility: The consultant, in collaboration with The Regional Subprogramme Coordinator for the Climate Change Unit in UNEP LACO and the National Project Coordinators, will contribute in the development and implementation of project activities related to communication strategies, including planning, organizing, and attending national, regional, local meetings, as well as preparing materials to contribute in the preparation, elaboration and dissemination of knowledge products to reach new audiences or to strengthening technical capacities. Output 3: Learnings from the NAP process adequately collected, stored and shared. (Output 3.1.5 of Outcome 3.1) Activity 3.1: Summarize the key findings of the NAP process review and develop reader-friendly communication materials for different audiences. Activity 3.2: Compile lessons learnt from adaptation projects and programmes implemented in the NAP Portfolio in line with outcome 3.1.6. Responsibility: The consultant, in collaboration with The Regional Subprogramme Coordinator for the Climate Change Unit in UNEP LACO and the National Project Coordinators, will develop communication strategies to improve knowledge management, as well as to collect, analyze, systematize, store and share information aimed at people working on climate change knowledge management. The consultant is therefore expected to develop the lessons learned processes from the NAP portfolio. Responsibility: Liaise with the UNEP Regional Communications Unit, Public Relations office and other NAP communications specialists on the use of the organization’s logos and branding, and all activities directly related to external communications outreach and traditional (TV, newspaper, radio) or social media.

Work Location

Panama City, Panama

Expected duration

12 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. 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. The UNEP Latin America and the Caribbean Office (LACO), located in Panama City, Panama 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). In terms of addressing climate change, UNEP aims to support countries in the compliance of the objectives of the Paris Agreement and the priority actions defined in the countries Nationally Determined Contributions. The overall objective of UNEP´s Sub-programme on Climate Change is to strengthen the ability of countries to move towards climate-resilient and low emission strategies for sustainable development and human well-being. The expected accomplishment regarding climate change adaptation is that adaptation approaches, including an 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, the UNEP´s Sub-programme on Climate Change is also committed to ensure that crosscutting issues such as gender equity and women empowerment are effectively undertaken in the development of its tasks to guarantee an equitable development in line with its adaptation objectives. To fulfill the objectives of the project, the UNEP LACO Office is recruiting a Climate Change Communications Specialist to provide operational guidance to the Ministries of Environment and Natural Resources and UNEP in the implementation of the Green Climate Fund funded project as set in the funding proposal document. The main objective of the position of Climate Change Communications Specialist is to define an overall communication strategy for the project Building capacity to advance in the National Adaptation Plan Process in El Salvador and Panamá, involving central government institutions, local governments, the private sector, civil society, and other relevant actors. The project aims to strengthen institutional engagement and capacities to plan, finance, implement, monitor, and report strategic adaptation processes, considering stakeholders at multiple levels. The project seeks to achieve its objective through four (4) components: • Adaptation planning governance and institutional coordination strengthened. • Evidence basis produced to design adaptation solutions for maximum impact. • Private sector engagement in adaptation catalyzed. • Adaptation finance increased. To fulfill the objectives of the project, UNEP LACO is recruiting a Climate Change Communications Specialist consultant to define an overall communication strategy for the project. Specifically, the Climate Change Communications Specialist is expected to produce more efficient and strategic communication products and develop awareness raising material and campaigns to increase climate change adaptation knowledge among the various project stakeholders in El Salvador and Panamá. The Climate Change Communications Specialist consultant will operate under the overall supervision of The Regional Subprogramme Coordinator for the Climate Change Unit in UNEP LACO and in close coordination with the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARN) and the Ministry of Environment (MiAmbeinte). The incumbent will work from Monday to Friday, 40 hours per week, full time basis and will be located at the UNEP LAC office in Panama City, Panama. Additionally, he/she will work in close collaboration with UNEP´s Adaptation team, the MARN in El Salvador, MiAmbeinte in Panama, national consultants, government and non-governmental counterparts. Travel might be needed for the execution of the consultation processes.

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 project management, journalism, communications, environment, climate change, sustainable development or a closely related field is required. • Certificate/diploma in climate change, environment, natural resources management or related area is desirable. PROFESSIONAL: • Five (5) years of relevant working experience in communications, journalism, events organization, translation, dissemination of information, knowledge management or similar fields are required. • Two (2) years working experience in communications related to environmental and/or social issues related to climate change and/or development, preferably working with donor-funded projects and project teams is required. • Demonstrated experience in creating communications products for climate change at a regional level and across different formats and platforms is desirable. • Experience in the elaboration of creative content in written and visual formats and stakeholder engagement is desirable. • Experience in leading and coordinating the organization of events at national or regional levels is desirable. • Experience in developing, formulating, and implementing communication strategies and campaigns, preferably in the field of climate change or sustainability is desirable. • Experience in topics related to climate change, disaster risk reduction, environmental management, community engagement or gender mainstreaming into communications processes is desirable. • Experience in engaging with government institutions and stakeholders from municipalities, NGO’s, private sector and academic, at the national and local levels is desirable. • Demonstrated ability to develop, promote, implement, project systematization results and policies and strategies is desirable. • Demonstrated experience in report writing, presentations design and drafting official and non-official documents is desirable. • Experience in social media management is desirable. • Experience in coordinating publications, content editing and proofreading is desirable. • Experience in designing display/communication materials in different formats such as webinars, blogs, webpages, videos, forums, brochures among others is desirable. • Experience in working with journalists and securing media coverage is desirable. • Experience with UN Environment Programme or the UN system in general is desirable. LANGUAGE: • Fluency in Spanish is required. • Fluency in English is required. • Basic knowledge of French is desirable 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 is desirable. • Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills to facilitate complex reports for a target audience is desirable. • Familiarity with social media, writing posts, and engaging audiences is desirable. • The ability to write press releases is desirable. • Demonstrated integrity and ethical standards are desirable. 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. Ability to work with tight deadlines and deliver high quality results on time. Very high level of organizational and time management skills, as well as attention to detail.

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.