Communication and Advocacy Consultant, Nairobi at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Duties and Responsibilities: 

Strategic Communications and Visibility

• Develop and implement a project communications and visibility plan aligned with UNEP corporate communication priorities and the requirements of the European Commission/DG HERA.
• Identify and proactively pursue opportunities to enhance the visibility and impact of the project and its results.
• Ensure consistent messaging and positioning of project activities across communication channels and products.
• Monitor implementation of communications activities and recommend adjustments to improve reach, engagement and effectiveness.

Content Development and Storytelling

• Develop, draft and edit high-quality communications and knowledge products for a range of audiences, including news stories, feature and human-interest stories, donor success stories, web content, newsletters, policy briefs, talking points, speeches, presentations, brochures, factsheets, social media content, donor-reporting inputs and other knowledge products.
• Translate complex scientific, technical and policy information related to wastewater and environmental surveillance into clear, accessible and audience-appropriate communication materials.
• Develop compelling narratives that demonstrate project achievements, results, lessons learned and the benefits of wastewater and environmental surveillance approaches.
• Ensure that all communication materials are accurate, accessible, consistent and aligned with UNEP editorial and branding standards.

Digital and Multimedia Communications

• Develop and regular update project content for UNEP webpages, social media platforms, newsletters and other relevant digital channels.
• Coordinate the production of multimedia communication products, including videos, animations, infographics, podcasts, photography and other visual materials.
• Work with relevant UNEP teams and external service providers to ensure the timely production and dissemination of digital and multimedia products.
• Monitor digital engagement and communication analytics and provide recommendations to strengthen audience reach and engagement.
• Maintain an organized repository of communication and multimedia assets in accordance with UNEP knowledge-management practices.

Stakeholder Engagement and Event Communications

• Provide communications guidance for engagement with key project stakeholders, including African governments, Africa CDC, WHO, African Union institutions, Regional Economic Communities, River Basin Organizations, laboratories, universities, development partners, donor agencies, civil society organizations and media.
• Prepare communication materials and key messages for stakeholder engagement and high-level meetings.
• Lead communications tasks for webinars, workshops, side events, launches, missions and high-level meetings, including event messaging, promotional materials, media engagement and post-event communications.
• Document and disseminate key outcomes, messages and results from project events and stakeholder engagements.

Knowledge Management and Documentation of Results

• Coordinate systematic documentation and dissemination of project results, lessons learned, good practices and emerging evidence.
• Develop case studies, country stories, beneficiary stories, technical success stories and other results-based communication products.
• Capture and communicate experiences and lessons from participating countries to support peer learning and knowledge exchange.
• Develop communication templates, guidance and tools to facilitate consistent communications by country and implementing partners.
• Coordinate the dissemination of knowledge products and project results across participating countries and relevant regional and global networks.

Donor Visibility and Communications Compliance

• Ensure that project communication and visibility activities comply with UNEP corporate requirements and relevant European Commission/DG HERA visibility and branding requirements.
• Develop communications and visibility packages highlighting EU-supported project activities, results and impacts.
• Document project results through beneficiary stories, case studies, photographs, videos and other appropriate communication products.
• Provide communications guidance for donor missions, visits and high-level engagements.
• Prepare communications and visibility inputs for project progress reports, donor reports and other reporting requirements.

Media Relations

• Draft and coordinate the preparation of media materials, including press releases, media advisories, media kits, key messages, talking points and frequently asked questions.
• Guide media engagement and outreach around major project milestones, events, launches and high-level meetings.
• Coordinate responses to media enquiries in consultation with the UNEP Communications Division and relevant technical colleagues.
• Identify opportunities to increase media coverage and public awareness of project results and the broader importance of wastewater and environmental surveillance.

 Procurement and  Management of Communications Services

• Prepare Terms of Reference, technical specifications and other documentation required for the procurement of communications-related services.
• Coordinate the engagement and management of external communications service providers, including graphic designers, videographers, photographers, translators, editors and other communications specialists.
• Monitor the quality, progress and timely delivery of communications-related contracts and services.
• Review communication products delivered by external service providers to ensure compliance with agreed technical, editorial, branding and quality requirements.

Monitoring, Reporting and Performance Tracking

• Maintain and regularly update the project communications workplan and activity tracker.
• Establish and monitor relevant communications and visibility indicators and targets.
• Track the implementation and performance of communication activities across different channels.
• Prepare periodic communications and visibility updates and contribute inputs to project progress and donor reports.
• Maintain records of communication outputs, media coverage, digital engagement, events and other visibility activities to support project monitoring, reporting and evaluation.
• Provide recommendations for improving the effectiveness, reach and impact of project communications based on monitoring and performance data. Management

Qualifications/special skills:

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Communications Studies, or Organizational Communication; or a related field is required.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Minimum five years of work experience in preparing communication and advocacy related to Source to Sea Pollution materials in UN agencies is required Experience in managing digital communication platforms and supporting communications for international events and multi-country programmes related to Source to Sea Pollution within UN Agencies is required Experience in communication and outreach supporting multi-country programmes on Wastewater Surveillance, particularly in Africa is required Knowledge and expertise in high-level environment and sustainable development issues is desirable.

Deadline : Oct 8, 2026