Result of Service

The consultant will support the following: 1. Regular updates on the progress with implementation of the Cities Unit strategy and its implementation plan. 2. Regular Cities Unit Newsletter is produced and circulated to partners and stakeholders on quarterly basis. 3. Content of the Cities Unit webinars’ series is developed; the webinars are organized on regular basis; information on the webinars is widely disseminated. 4. Internal knowledge management of the Cities Unit documents and contacts is maintained and regularly updated. 5. Advocacy delivered for high-level and technical events and workshops organized within the Cities Unit and Cool Coalition.

Work Location

Paris, France

Expected duration

12 months

Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the recognized global environmental authority and a global voice on the environment. It provides leadership and encourages partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. UNEP Cities Unit comprises three workstreams on Buildings, Cooling and Energy and Cities where each workstream has its own partnerships as well as outreach and dissemination channels which need to be coordinated. At the Cities Unit retreat on 2-3 April 2024, it was agreed to establish a coordinated approach to programming, developing partnerships, capacity building, information dissemination and related to that joint fundraising. To implement this task, there is a need in hiring a contractor to support the head of the Unit in strengthening joint programming and coordination. In addition, the Cool Coalition, the secretariat of which is hosted by the Cities Unit, requires support in outreach and communication of its activities. UNEP is seeking the services of a contractor who will support coordination and partnership tasks under supervision of the head of the Cities Unit (50% of their time); and will also support the Cool Coalition secretariat in advocacy and communication efforts of programmes and projects (50% of their time). The contractor will contribute to achieving the overall objectives and priorities of UNEP’s Mitigation Branch within UNEP’s Climate Change Division. The Mitigation Branch supports one of the key focus areas of the Climate Change Division which is decarbonization and transparency. The Mitigation Branch works across sectors and with national and sub-national governments to support the transition to a low-emission, climate-resilient future; supports just energy transition; develops mechanisms to unlock financing; and assists countries in fulfilling their Paris Agreement commitments. The consultant will divide their time supporting two workstreams: City Unit-Level coordination and partnerships (under supervision of head of Cities Unit Gulnara Roll. Time allocation: 50%): · Support Head of the Unit in the review and coordination of the implementation of the Cities Unit’ strategic priorities and workplans through (1) organizing and maintaining internal knowledge management system (maintaining databases of projects, events, contacts to partners); (2) preparing bi-weekly unit management group meetings’ agendas and reports. · Support Head of Unit in the coordination of the preparation of relevant Unit-wide briefings and inputs into speaking points, Power Point presentations for the head of the Cities Unit as well as Branch/Division/UNEP management for major global and regional events and bilateral meetings, upon requests. · Develop and organize production of a quarterly Cities’ Unit email newsletter to update the Unit partners on key events and activities; organize development of the contacts database of the Unit. Ensure regular monitoring of the feedback from partners and continuously improve the newsletter content. · Develop a webinars’ series in cooperation with UNEP Division ICT and other colleagues at UNEP. This includes the webinars’ production; organize outreach of the webinars by liaising with UNEP Division Global Communication Focal Point and the Cities Unit workstreams communication focal points. · Formulate and provide Cities Workstream inputs into the Cities Unit quarterly newsletter (building on UrbanShift, GenRes and Food Systems activities and communications) · Develop content from the Cities Workstream to the webinars’ series “Climate Cities Action”, organize in cooperation with UNEP Division ICT and other colleagues at UNEP · Ensure streamlining of information and knowledge sharing within the Cities Unit, by collecting, cleaning, and shaping inputs from across the Unit. Support Head of Unit in organization of the Cities Unit’s bi-weekly meetings and retreats. · Coordinate the Cities Unit participation and outreach activities in large-scale global advocacy events, including but not limited to the Bonn Conference, the World urban Forum and the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) COP29. · Support the Communications & Advocacy Global Lead for Climate Action, in externally promoting the Cities Unit’s work widely. Tasks may include drafting speaking points, moderator scripts, press releases, key messages, video scripts, preparing concept notes and event agendas, creating event pages, and/or providing social media support. Cool Coalition secretariat communication and advocacy (under supervision of Sophie Loran. Time allocation: 50%): · Contribute to and provide communications and advocacy support to the Cool Coalition and its Global Cooling Pledge, including both for the national and local governments through social media, the Cities Unit newsletter and the webinars’ series. · Support the Communications & Advocacy Global Lead for Climate Action, in externally promoting the Cool Coalition work widely. Tasks may include drafting speaking points, moderator scripts, press releases, key messages, video scripts, preparing concept notes and event agendas, creating event pages, and/or providing social media support. · Formulate and provide Cool Coalition inputs into the Cities Unit quarterly newsletter aimed to update the Unit partners on key events and activities. Ensure regular monitoring of the feedback from the Cool Coalition partners and continuously improve the newsletter content based on this feedback. · Develop content from the Cool Coalition to the webinars’ series in cooperation with UNEP Division ICT and other colleagues at UNEP. · Support Cool Coalition in the coordination of the preparation of relevant briefings and inputs into speaking points, Power Point presentations for the Cool Coalition lead, head of the Cities Unit as well as Branch/Division/UNEP management for major global and regional events and bilateral meetings, upon requests. · Attend weekly meetings for internal coordination with the Cool Coalition team. · Act as focal point for updates needed on the Cool Coalition website. · Support country projects of the Cool Coalition to prepare necessary communication plans and content

Qualifications/special skills

– Undergraduate degree in International Relations, Communications and Marketing, Social Sciences, Environmental Policy or related field. – A minimum of 3 years of professional experience in communications and advocacy related to urban development and planning, climate change and sustainable development. Qualifying years of experience calculated following the receipt of the first level university degree recognised by the UN. Prior experience working with UN agencies is desirable. – Comprehensive understanding of urban development, climate and environmental issues related to nature and cities Strong communications skills and solid track record of effective writing skills and event planning abilities – Ability to work effectively, precisely, and autonomously in a fast-paced environment with multiple competing tasks across teams – Works harmoniously in international teams, openness and flexibility, and ability to integrate feedback

Languages

Professional level/ Fluency in English

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.