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Join the International UN Volunteer Specialist Assignment as a Communications Officer at UNEP

Ednah Carrick January 26, 2025

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Closing Date: 3 February 2025

Join the International UN Volunteer Specialist Assignment as a Communications Officer at UNEP

Mission and objectives

Since its inception in 1972, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has been the global authority that sets the 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 mission is to provide leadership and encourage 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. Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, UNEP works through its divisions as well as regional, liaison and out-posted offices and a growing network of collaborating centres of excellence.

Context

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 Communications Officer will work within the Biodiversity, People and Landscapes Unit and will contribute to the implementation of UNEP’s program in the Congo Basin, specifically the Regional Child Project under the GEF-7 Congo Basin Sustainable Landscapes Impact Program (Congo IP) and the project titled ‘Securing crucial biodiversity, carbon and water stores in the Congo Basin Peatlands by enabling evidence-based decision making and good governance’ funded by Germany’s International Climate Initiative (IKI). Under the guidance and supervision of the Congo Basin Program Senior Coordinator and together with the communications consultant, the UNV Communications Officer will work in close coordination with the project team, as well as related counterpart staff, consultants and service contract providers to ensure the delivery of the concerned communication-related project activities.

She/He will be responsible for building the strategic communication of the projects and for all related targeted and general communication, awareness raising, and information provision activities towards governments, stakeholders and the wider public. Within these, she/he will assist defining and communicating the appropriate messages and information to the appropriate stakeholders to facilitate i) their meaningful participation; ii) achievement and sustainability of the envisaged project results.

Task description

Under the direct supervision of Congo Basin Team Leader, the International UN Volunteer Specialist will undertake the following tasks:

The main deliverable will be to support the development and implementation of the Congo Communications and Outreach Strategy. This work includes:

Website & social media

•Update the website with events/news items/publications/blog posts and other content as it arises. Use this content to feed into social media channels. •Together with the communications lead, develop a social media weekly and monthly calendar with planned postings •Daily management of Program social media accounts, including production of compel-ling written and visual content for Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and others as they arise. •Look for opportunistic posts (partner publications for example) and amplify those on the Program’s social media channels •Daily monitoring of social media channels for engagement opportunities. •Compile and analyze metrics reports; propose follow-up recommendations to improve content and performance. •Support the preparation and communications coverage of events or conferences, including Twitter/X spaces for events (for example).

Newsletter & graphics

• Design the layout and visual elements of the quarterly newsletter; deliver to stake-holders via Mailchimp or other best in class marketing program. •Design the layout and visual elements of communications collaterals, publications, social media postcards, roll-ups etc. •Collaborate with the communications team to create visually appealing and informative graphics around project and partner produced content •Ensure all design work is in line with UNEP’s and the Program’s branding guidelines and visual identity. •Provide creative input and suggestions for improving the overall look and feel of the newsletter, communications materials, and website •Revise and refine designs based on feedback from the communications team and other stakeholders.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to:

•Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for in-stance in events that mark International Volunteer Day). •Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country. •Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities. •Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc. •Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers. •Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

International UN Volunteer Specialist Assignment requirements

Relevant experience

5 years

Languages

English, Level: Fluent, Required French, Level: Fluent, Required

Required education level

Master degree or equivalent in Communications or Journalism Education

Skills and experience

Experience in environmental education and stakeholder engagement (ideally a combination of community-based natural resource management, environmental education and communications)

•Very good inter-personal skills, including the ability to work with stakeholders at all levels, facilitate meetings, make public presentations. •Strong ICT skills including use of MS Office programmes (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) website software, social media for business networking, desktop publishing software, etc. •Proficiency in web-site management and developing social network groups. •Previous experience with UN or international projects, as well as experience in overseeing gender mainstreaming in projects, will be a definite asset. •A good understanding of the Congo Basin conservation background.

•Established knowledge of the required techniques, communications approach-es, tools, and methodologies for planning, executing and monitoring social media activities. •Strong writing skills and sound working knowledge of digital communications tools and channels. •Proven experience as a graphics designer, with a portfolio of previous work. •Proficiency in graphic design software such as Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign). •Experience using email marketing tools e.g. Mailchimp or similar •Experience in working across a range of media platforms.