Knowledge Management Specialist

Result of Service

The consultancy aims to enhance the UN-REDD Programme’s effectiveness in knowledge sharing and collaboration through innovative knowledge brokering and multimedia storytelling, contributing significantly to the global forest agenda.

Work Location

Home Based

Expected duration

12 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. UNEP, through its Climate Mitigation Unit, is a key partner in the United Nations Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries (UN-REDD programme), which builds on the combined convening role and technical expertise of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the United Nations Development Programme and UNEP. Deforestation and forest degradation accounts for approximately 12-17 per cent of carbon emissions, more than the entire global transportation sector and second only to the energy sector. It is now clear that stabilizing global average temperature rise within two degrees Celsius will be practically impossible to achieve without reducing emissions from the forest sector. As the flagship UN knowledge and advisory partnership on forests and climate, the UNREDD Programme supports 65 countries worldwide in their nationally-led REDD+ processes to reduce forest emissions, enhance forest carbon stocks, mobilize large-scale finance and raise forest and climate ambitions. Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) is a mechanism developed by Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It creates a financial value for the carbon stored in forests by offering incentives for developing countries to reduce emissions from forested lands and invest in low-carbon paths to sustainable development. An essential part of this mission is to ensure the meaningful involvement of all stakeholders, particularly indigenous communities and those reliant on forests, in both national and international REDD+ implementation efforts. UNEP’s Climate Mitigation Unit contributes its expertise to the UN-REDD Programme across three main areas: REDD+ Finance; Social and Environmental Safeguards; and Knowledge and Advocacy. • REDD+ Finance is currently not sufficient to change the economics of deforestation and forest degradation. UNEP provides technical assistance to countries to enhance their access and mobilize REDD+ financing, including both upfront/ex-ante and results-based financing/post-ante financial support to enable them to deliver high-quality emissions reductions from forests. • Although REDD+ has the potential to deliver social and environmental benefits that go beyond the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, it may also entail potential risks to people and the environment. To protect against these potential risks while promoting benefits, UNEP, supports countries in developing and tracking social and environmental safeguards (Cancun safeguards) throughout the implementation of REDD+ actions. • Finally, mobilizing social and political support is necessary to raise the ambition of countries to meet their forests and climate goals. UNEP leads on efforts to facilitate knowledge generation and sharing of REDD+ practices, experiences and innovation within and across countries and regions. It also runs knowledge-based advocacy campaigns to shift current behavior/practices, narratives and policies towards equitable and sustainable forest conservation and management. Duties and responsibilities As part of its Knowledge Management (KM) efforts in 2023-2025, the consultant will be responsible for the delivery of innovative and integrated approaches for knowledge generation, management, and sharing across the three partner agencies and 65 partner countries to contribute to enhancing the scope and speed of REDD+ progress. This position is homebased, under the overall supervision of the UNEP UN-REDD KM & Communications Global Team Leader. The Knowledge Management Specialist will primarily engage in knowledge brokering, aiming to transform complex knowledge into accessible and engaging formats. This entails: 1. Creating an annual KM workplan aligned with UN-REDD’s thematic priorities, ensuring deliverables facilitate knowledge translation through innovative formats like multimedia stories, infographics, podcasts and videos. 2. Developing and curating engaging multimedia content for the UN-REDD communities of practice, including but not limited to stories, graphics, videos, podcasts and interactive platforms. 3. Evaluating and enhancing the knowledge repository and country pages of the UN-REDD website with rich multimedia content, ensuring accessibility and engagement. 4. Creating and maintaining a dynamic stakeholder database, utilizing multimedia content to highlight partner priorities, needs, and insights. 5. Facilitating knowledge exchange and capacity building across partner agencies and countries through the development of multimedia knowledge products and platforms for shared learning and collaboration. 6. Providing KM and communications advice with a focus on multimedia content creation, engagement strategies, and event management. 7. Reporting on progress and areas for improvement, including the impact of multimedia storytelling on knowledge sharing.

Qualifications/special skills

A masters degree in environmental or social sciences, international development, or other relevant political or social sciences area is required. A first-level degree (bachelor’s or equivalent) in the specified fields with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Minimum of 5 years in KM methodologies, with a focus on knowledge brokering and multimedia content creation is required. Experience in international development organizations, managing collaborative processes, and in information management and communications is desirable. Agile methodologies experience is a plus. Skills: If applicable Proficiency in multimedia storytelling, graphic design, video editing, and other digital content creation tools. Strong facilitation skills for both online and in-person events. Development and management of Communities of Practice.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in spoken and written English is required. Knowledge of any other official UN languages would be an asset.

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.