Graphic Designer and Content Producer

Result of Service

The UNCCD secretariat seeks an experienced and highly motivated graphic designer and content producer to develop online, print and audio-visual materials in support of the above-mentioned areas of work.

Work Location

Home-based.

Expected duration

60 days between May to September 2026.

Duties and Responsibilities

Background note: Desertification, along with climate change and the loss of biodiversity were identified as the greatest challenges to sustainable development during the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. Established in 1994, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management. The Convention seeks to support countries to address Desertification, Land Degradation, and Drought (DLDD). (www.unccd.int) The UNCCD recognizes that addressing and reversing land degradation is one of the key sustainable development priorities for most of its 168 affected countries Parties. Land degradation is a significant trigger of migration, although its impact is indirect. Land degradation combined with increasing anthropogenic pressure due to population growth and density leads to a decrease in the availability of productive land and water resources, a drop in crop yields and livestock productivity. In response, the UNCCD secretariat and its partners identified the need to create a strategic communications publication and platform, entitled the Global Land Outlook (GLO), to facilitate insight debate and discourse on a new and transformative vision for land management policy, planning and practice at global and national scales. The aim of the GLO is to communicate evidence-based, policy-relevant information on the drivers and impacts of desertification, land degradation and drought (DLDD) as well as the opportunities to mitigate them through sustainable land and water management in an accessible way to a variety of stakeholders, including national governments formulating their responses to commitments to better manage and restore land resources, including the SDGs and associated targets, such as Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN). The Global Policy Advocacy and Regional Cooperation (GPARC) unit of the develops and tests policy frameworks for effective decision-making and the accelerated implementation of the Convention. The mission of GPARC is to prepare and deliver persuasive policy messages that elevate DLDD as a political priority and support national efforts in implementing the Convention's objectives. As part of GPARC, the Regional Liaison Offices (RLOs) facilitate cooperation, partnerships and outreach within and among regions, and support coordination under each Regional Implementation Annex. GPARC coordinates the secretariat's activities related to the emerging UNCCD drought agenda. The overwhelming evidence points to the need to shift from crises management to drought preparedness and adaptation measures that significantly reduce vulnerability and exposure at all levels. World leaders recognize the need for a global collaborative platform, with political engagement at the highest level and a network of implementing partners to support countries and communities considering their different circumstances. Responding to these needs, the International Drought Resilience Alliance was first announced by Spain at the 77th session of the UN General Assembly in September 2022 to be officially launched at the UNFCCC COP27 in November 2022. Since its establishment in November 2022 IDRA has sought to raise the political profile of drought resilience through ambitious agenda-setting and the convening of numerous decision-makers and major organizations and institutions within a global network. By now, over 40 countries, 20 major organizations and 8 banks/funds have joined IDRA as partners. They work together to mobilize political, technical and financial capital to enhance drought resilience in countries, cities, and communities globally. IDRA’s activities and initiatives revolve around four pillars: (i) creating political momentum to encourage leaders to prioritize drought resilience in national development and cooperation policies; (ii) setting a common framework of action and guiding action on the ground, acknowledging the need to adapt solutions to different contexts and scales; (iii) promoting the exchange of knowledge, practical solutions and technologies at all levels to build drought resilience at the required pace and scale; and (iv) exploring innovative finance mechanisms to mobilize resources for drought resilience, while leveraging public and private investments to maximum effect. The purpose of this consultancy is to lead on the production of various information and communications materials related to land degradation, desertification and drought, migration and climate change. The consultant will oversee designing and producing a wide range of materials in support of the above-mentioned priority areas. Duties & Responsibilities: Under the overall supervision of the Chief of Global Policy Advocacy and Regional Cooperation (GPARC) unit, direct supervision of the Programme Officer on CEE and CA and in consultation with the substantive officers in the UNCCD secretariat, the consultant will design various information, communications and training materials in support of the UNCCD Gender, Migration, Drought, Youth, Tenure, SDS. Specific areas of focus should include, but not limited to the following: • Design information, training and communications materials for the UNCCD, including but not limited to policy briefs, Global Land Outlook products and other information materials, studies, invitations for events, etc. • Support branding during events and high-level activities. • Design materials for the COP17 to be held in August 2026 in Mongolia. • Design information and communications materials for the International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA) and relevant working documents related to drought portfolio of the Secretariat. • Create infographics, graphs, video clips, audio visual materials and SNS assets. • Design exhibitions and other awareness raising, outreach activities (production of banners, posters, etc.). • Support UNCCD communications on social media platforms if required.

Qualifications/special skills

- Degree in graphic design, publishing, communications or other fields relevant for the consultancy is required. - Minimum 7 years of experience in the field of media, graphic design, and/or publishing is required; - Proven experience in communications, campaigns, media working with international organizations is required; - Experience on publishing working with relevant software is desirable; - Experience working in developing countries producing documentaries, campaigns, etc. is desirable.

Languages

- Fluency in spoken and written English is required. Knowledge of an additional official UN language is an advantage.

Additional Information

Additional Information: Only individuals who can act as independent, individual economical operators are qualified to apply. Individuals who can provide their services only on account of an institution or enterprise are not eligible under this procedure. Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations Secretariat and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultant and individual contractor is responsible for determining tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. For remote consultancies, the selected candidate will be required to have a laptop or desktop PC (with Windows 11 or newer) or Mac (with the latest MacOS update), as well as a reliable, high-speed internet connection. An Office 365 license will be provided by the UNCCD to enable the candidate to access official emails, SharePoint, OneDrive and other office applications, such as Word and Excel. Further computer requirements: An antivirus application which receives regular updates; Browsers must be a newer version with regular updates enabled; Regular Windows 11 updates should be enabled with Windows laptop or PC. In addition, a mobile phone will be required to enable Multifactor Authentication (MFA) through SMS or the Authenticator App.

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.