UNEP : Outreach and Partner Engagement Consultant – Global Peatlands Initiative – Nairobi

  • Location:
  • Salary:
    negotiable / YEAR
  • Job type:
    CONTRACTOR
  • Posted:
    6 days ago
  • Category:
    Innovation and Knowledge Management
  • Deadline:
    07/02/2025

JOB DESCRIPTION

Result of Service
Output/Work Assignments – 1st Progress Report: Results of the strategic consultations with key GPI stakeholders to produce detailed assessments of peatland extent, condition, and conservation status across the eight partner countries, as well as analyses of livelihoods closely linked to peatlands. Review the current state of communications and advocacy efforts, identifying strategic partnershipsentry points and channels, developed by GPI partners. Additionally, carry outsupport stakeholder assessments, encompassing public and private sectors, vulnerable populations, civil society, and research organizations, to ensure a holistic understanding of key actors and dynamics in each country. – 2nd Progress Report and Deliverables: GPI Extension UNEP Project Document, validated with internal and external stakeholders. Implement a communications strategy to engage all GPI members by promoting GPI knowledge products and coordinating the production of outreach materials for key international events, including the GPI 4th Partners Meeting and other peatland-related conferences. Draft and submit content for newsletters, articles, reports, and other outreach materials. Update the GPI and UNEP peatlands websites, virtual peatland pavilion library, and knowledge database, while tracking website and social media metrics. Coordinate the production of social media cards with UNEP communications and GPI partners,andpartners. Pprovide regular updates on the GPI database and membership applications. – 3rd Progress Report and Deliverables: Outreach materials for key international events, including UNCBD COP17 and other peatlands-related conferences. Oversee the development of an action plan for the European Peatlands Initiative, South-South cooperation through the ITPC, and a youth engagement strategy. Draft and submit content for newsletters, articles, reports, and other outreach materials. Update the GPI and UNEP peatlands websites, virtual peatland pavilion library, and knowledge database, while tracking website and social mediacommunications metrics. Coordinate the production of social media cards with UNEP communications and GPI partners. Ps, and provide regular updates on the GPI database and membership applications. – 4th Progress Report and Deliverables: Outreach materials for key international events, including UNFCCC COP30 and other peatlands-related conferences. Draft and submit content for newsletters, articles, reports, and other outreach materials. Update the GPI and UNEP peatlands websites, virtual peatland pavilion library, and knowledge database, while tracking website and social mediacommunications metrics. Coordinate the production of social media cards with UNEP communications and GPI partners, and provide regular updates on the GPI database and membership applications.
Work Location
Nairobi
Expected duration
8 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. UNEP’s Ecosystems Division works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and capacity development for the implementation of environmental policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition. The Global Peatlands Initiative (GPI), led by UNEP, seeks to capture, and establish new approaches for the conservation, restoration, and sustainable management of peatlands – linking science to practice and decision making. The six peat-rich tropical countries of Indonesia, Peru, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mongolia, and Colombia, are the pilot countries of the Global Peatlands Initiative. Due to the enormous amounts of carbon they hold and the catastrophic consequences their drainage and degradation have generated in the past, a commitment by over 60 members and tropical peatland countries to work together to halt the further destruction of peatlands is gaining international attention. The GPI supports its partner countries in identifying data gaps, addressing capacity needs, and developing robust and effective policies, legislation, and frameworks for peatlands and climate change. This assistance strengthens national climate strategies by aligning them with global commitments and ensuring the integration of peatlands into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans (NBSAPs). By promoting South-South collaboration, the initiative facilitates the exchange of strategies and best practices to enhance peatland conservation, restoration, and sustainable management, ensuring comprehensive policy integration to effectively reduce peatland degradation. The consultant will be located in UN Environment Programme/Ecosystems Division/Biodiversity, People and Landscapes Unit, and will report to the Programme Management Officer, GPI Initiative. The consultant will provide technically sound peatlands-specific communications expertise to the Biodiversity, People and Landscapes Unit for outreach, awareness raising, and partner consultation and engagement for the Global Peatlands Initiative. Specific duties include the following: Under the direct supervision of the Programme Management Officer, the consultant will perform the following specific duties: 1. Design and implement a comprehensive communications strategy to enhance strategic outreach, raise global peatland awareness, and foster engagement with all 61 GPI members, including supporting networking and member reactivation efforts, addressing their needs, and updating their profiles to boost visibility and impact. 2. Develop and produce scientifically accurate materials for raising awareness, including maintaining and updating the GPI and UNEP peatland-related websites, while coordinating content creation for news articles, newsletters, videos, infographics, documenting missions, and social media to ensure effective dissemination to partners and stakeholders. 3. Collaborate with GPI members and UNEP teams to create content, coordinate outreach efforts, and align internal peatland strategies with communication plans, including preparing and clearing press releases through UNEP’s communications division and the UN Decade for Ecosystem Restoration for GPI products and events. 4. Enhance communication and outreach efficiency through the GPI website, Dgroups community, and Slack channels. Organize and customize content, effectively administer activities, articles, photos, and events, and engage relevant networks by regularly publicizing GPI members’ events and achievements. 5. Manage the GPI membership database , conduct targeted outreach to prospective and existing members, and promote connections between members to enhance networking and collaboration within the initiative. 6. Contribute to various GPI outputs by translating technical peatland science into clear, accessible communication materials, including drafting and reviewing background papers, policy notes, presentations, speaking notes, and publications, and coordinate translations into French and/or Spanish as required. 7. Support South-South cooperation outreach materials through the International Tropical Peatland Centre partnership, engage with peatland-related youth groups to develop a youth engagement strategy for peatland conservation, and collaborate with partners and stakeholders’ on-going efforts to establish a European Peatlands Initiative. 8. Collect, research, and organize GPI knowledge products, updating and sharing content for platforms like the Virtual Peatlands Pavilion and other assigned knowledge-sharing sites. 9. Conduct strategic consultations with key GPI stakeholders from partner countries and produce a assessment to evaluate the needs and current state of peatlands in each country, and the stakeholders. Additionally, support the development and coordination of the GPI Extension UNEP Project Document by engaging with internal and external stakeholders and contributing to proposal preparation. 10. Support the coordination of international events and the development of communication materials for GPI’s participation, including the GPI 4th Partners’ Meeting and MEA COPs, as well as other key advocacy efforts and events, ensuring active involvement in global conferences and discussions.
Qualifications/special skills
First University degree preferably with a specialization in environmental sciences, conservation biology, communications, international studies or related areas is required. The years of experience is reduced by 2 for candidates who possess a Master’s Degree A minimum of four (4) years of progressive experience in the field of environmental conservation, scientific research or science to policy work is required. Experience working on peatlands and/or ecosystems as a topic is desirable. Experience with the UN system especially with UNEP and on this issue is highly desirable.
Languages
English, French and Spanish are working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in written and spoken English with excellent writing skills in English is required. Fluency in written and spoken Spanish and French is desirable.
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.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements