Communications and Advocacy Specialist

Result of Service

Strengthened implementation of communications activities and enhanced/increased knowledge-sharing and public awareness efforts of marine environmental issues in the Wider Caribbean Region.

Work Location

Home- and Office-based

Expected duration

7 months

Duties and Responsibilities

Organisational Setting The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations systems designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional levels. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of global consensus on environmental issues by keeping the 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 Caribbean Regional Co-ordinating Unit (CAR/RCU) was established in 1986 in Kingston, Jamaica and is the Secretariat for the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region (Cartagena Convention) and the Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP). The Cartagena Convention, which has been ratified by 26 of 28 UN Member States in the Wider Caribbean Region, serves as an overarching governance framework for environmental protection and sustainable development in the region. The Convention is the only legally binding agreement of its kind in the region and is supported by three Protocols on Oil Spills, Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW) and Pollution from Land-Based Sources and Activities (LBS). CEP two main technical Sub-Programmes:   • Assessment and Management of Environmental Pollution (AMEP)  • Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW)  Knowledge Management and Communicaitons activities support the overall work of the Secretariat on matters related to communications, education, training and awareness. The Cartagena Convention Secretariat is supporting the execution of donor-funded projects which support Contracting Parties implementation of the Cartagena Convention and its three Protocols as well as Secretariat’s biennial work plan. These include: 1. Capacity Building Related to Multilateral Environmental Agreements in African, Caribbean and Pacific Countries (ACP MEA) – Phase III 2. Global Environment Facility-funded Integrating Water, Land and Ecosystems Management in Caribbean Small Island Developing States (IWEco Project) 3. GEF (CReW+) Project: An integrated approach to water and wastewater management in the Wider Caribbean Region using innovative solutions and sustainable financing mechanisms 4. Implementation of the Strategic Action Program of the Gulf of Mexico Large Marine Ecosystem Project 5. GEF project “Reduce marine plastics and plastic pollution in Latin American and Caribbean cities through a circular economy approach” (LAC Cities) 6. Prevention of Marine Litter in the Caribbean Sea project (PROMAR) 7. Protecting and Restoring the Ocean’s natural Capital, building Resilience and supporting region-wide Investments for sustainable Blue Socio-Economic development (PROCARIBE+) This consultancy is for a Communications and Advocacy Specialist and will be supported by the following projects: GEF IWEco; GEF LAC Cities; GEF CReW+ and PROMAR. The successful candidate will work remotely to provide support to the Cartagena Convention Secretariat. This consultancy is under the direct supervision of the Coordinator of the Cartagena Convention Secretariat with additional support from the Programme Managers for the AMEP and SPAW Sub-Programmes. Roles and Responsibilities The consultancy entails: • Overall public awareness amplification of the work of Cartagena Convention Secretariat including the projects being executed by the Secretariat; • Integration of the knowledge management aspects of the specific projects’ communications strategies with the broader knowledge management strategy of the Cartagena Convention Secretariat; • Development of high-quality communications assets in support of advocacy and outreach efforts for the Cartagena Convention Secretariat with a specific focus on global, regional and national conferences where the Secretariat participates, Intergovernmental Meetings and Conferences of Parties, and other relevant programme and project meetings; • Development of blogs, stories, infographics, and other communications assets for the Cartagena Convention Secretariat working in close collaboration with Regional Activity Centres of the Secretariat; • Dissemination of the Cartagena Convention Secretariat’s work and the projects’ information products and resources as well as identifying new and innovative ways of circulating information products to reach target audiences in the region; • Facilitating greater engagement, awareness activities, networking and outreach to governments of the Wider Caribbean Region (Contracting and Non-Contracting Parties), civil society, donors, youth, private sector and general public through the development of targeted communication strategies and messaging; • Update the Secretariat’s list of media contacts, establishing new media contacts and arranging interviews, as required; • Regularly monitor and evaluate communication activities to identify areas for improvement and ensure objectives of the Knowledge Management Strategy are being met; and • Promoting the projects being implemented by the Cartagena Convention Secretariat through information and knowledge products available on the website, via various social media and by linking them to the Cartagena Convention’s wider mandate and objectives. Deliverables • Distribution strategy for information products finalized. • Updated Cartagena Convention Secretariat team webpage and the launch of the “Meet the UNEP CCS Staff” • Knowledge Management and Communications Strategy reviewed and revised. • Recommendations for improvements to the website implemented. • Information compiled and reports prepared in response to requests from various sources, including Contracting Parties, regional partners and UNEP Headquarters. • Activities in support of Environmental commemorative days successfully delivered. • Communication content and materials developed for upload on the Secretariat website. • Updated communication content provided for upload on project websites or pages. • 5 Blogs, 5 stories, 15 infographics, 10 publications, 10 articles, 10 factsheets. 10 testimonials, and other communication assets developed. • Analytics of social media engagement and Recommendations on enhanced use of digital communications and social media and daily monitoring of social media posts. • Successful completion of a minimum of 3 advocacy and social media campaigns. Payment Schedule 1. USD 5,000 – Upon submission and acceptance of monthly reports reflecting all tasks assigned from July 2024– August 2024, including ongoing outputs. 2. USD 4,000 – Upon submission and acceptance of monthly reports reflecting all tasks assigned from September 2024– October 2024, including ongoing outputs. 3. USD 4,000 – Upon submission and acceptance of monthly reports reflecting all tasks assigned from November 2024 – December 2024, including ongoing outputs. 4. USD 3,000 – Upon submission and acceptance of monthly reports reflecting all tasks assigned from January 2025.

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in communication, marketing, international relations, other related discipline, is required. A first-level university degree in communication, marketing, internal relations and other related discipline (Bachelor’s degree) in combination with two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Experience in Multimedia Communications, including experience with at least two of the following areas is required: web and digital communications, social media production, photo and video production, journalism, international relations, public administration or related areas. Experience working with a UN entity or international organization would be desirable. Experience with developing accessible multimedia products, and knowledge of accessibility needs in multimedia communications is required. Experience in graphic design, video editing and production is desirable. Experience in producing and posting multimedia content for the web and social media is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the two working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, proficiency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of Spanish would be desirable. Knowledge of French would be 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.