Communications Consultant - Global Peatlands Initiative at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Responsibilities

Organizational Setting: 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 policy making. The four peat-rich tropical countries of Indonesia, Peru, the Republic of Congo, and the Democratic Republic of Congo 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 has generated in the past, a commitment by over 40 partners and tropical peatland countries to work together to halt the further destruction of peatlands is gaining international attention. Partners are sharing their knowledge and experience to promote healthy peatlands through their restoration and conservation as one of the fasted ways to tackle the climate crisis.

Partners are working together within their respective areas of expertise to assess, measure and take actions to preserve peat carbon and biodiversity. Drawing on the expertise of the Initiative's partners and peatland practitioners, and through a structured South-South cooperation approach, the project helps countries contribute to major Multilateral Environmental Agreements (namely the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, Convention on Migratory Species, and the Ramsar Convention). Specifically, the work of the Initiative aims to help the pilot countries achieve their Nationally Determined Contributions while advancing progress toward the SDGs. By collecting, advocating for, and supporting conservation practice and restoration efforts in the pilot countries, the project also contributes to the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, especially Target 5 (reduced habitat loss/degradation), Target 14 (ecosystems that provide essential and valuable services are restored and safeguarded), and Target 15 (contribution of ecosystems to carbon stocks).

The consultant(s) will be located in UNEP / Ecosystems Division / Biodiversity, People and Landscape Unit and will report to the Programme Management Officer.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• The consultant(s) will provide technical and peatlands-specific communications expertise to the Biodiversity, People and Landscapes Unit for outreach and awareness raising for the Global Peatlands Initiative. Specific duties include the following: 1. Liaise with implementing partners to develop content, timelines and establish outreach and press releases including working with communication division to clear all press releases for GPI events. Amplify communications and outreach efficiency by structuring a system to customize content and engagement through the use of Trello dashboards ideal to administer activities, associated photos and display press releases in a productive and organized way.
• Establish a systematic way to engage with relevant networks including through social media to inform and engage with the peatland's community on Twitter, LinkedIn, the GPI webpage, and the DGroups and publicized GPI partners' events and achievements regularly.
• Prepare quarterly newsletter on peatland work for sharing with partners and use Mailchimp to market. Consolidate inputs and submit for the Ecosystems Division newsletter on a quarterly basis.
• Prepare highly structured Power-Pont presentation for various events together with draft speaking notes with a focus on peatlands. Incorporate peatlands contribution into various strategies, and events.

Qualifications/special skills

• Academic Qualifications: First University degree preferably with a specialization in environmental sciences, conservation biology, or related areas is required.
• Experience: A minimum of two (2) years of progressive experience in conducting communications and outreach work the field of environmental conservation, or science to policy work is required. Experience working on peatlands and/or ecosystems as a topic in the context of developing countries is required. Experience in undertaking targeted research and analysis and possess excellent communication skills with experience drafting web content and/or scientific reports is desirable. Skills and experience in networking, outreach, and engaging with multiple parties is desirable.
• Language: Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Fluency in Spanish or French is desirable.

Deadline: 29 April 2022