Consultant, Senior Communications Specialist

Job Description

Consultant, Senior Communications Specialist, ACF

The Organization

The Alliance of Champions for Food Systems\
Transformation (ACF) is a
strategic coalition of ambitious countries determined to act urgently,
together. Launched at COP28 in Dubai, signatories to the Alliance are
committing to driving bold, coordinated action, taking a ‘whole of government’
approach to transforming their food systems such that they deliver better
outcomes across 5 key areas: Food nutrition and security; adaptation and
resilience; equity and livelihoods; nature and biodiversity; and climate
mitigation. ACF countries are working to improve their national food systems in
ways that become attractive blueprints for others to follow, showcasing
national leadership, facilitating learning, disseminating knowledge and
accelerating innovation. ACF members include Brazil and Sierra Leone
(co-chairs) plus Cambodia, Colombia, Italy, Norway, Rwanda and Vietnam.

About the position

On behalf of ACF, the
Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical
Agriculture (CIAT) is seeking a qualified Senior Communications Specialist to
provide strategic communications support to the ACF Secretariat, contributing
to the development and delivery of high-impact communications products that
strengthen the visibility, credibility, and influence of the Alliance.

The consultant will
support ACF's efforts to advance ambitious, country-led food systems
transformation by developing communications strategies, messaging frameworks,
thought leadership content, advocacy materials, and stakeholder engagement
products. Working closely with the ACF Secretariat, member countries,
communications partners, and other consultants, the consultant will contribute
to positioning ACF as a recognized voice on food systems transformation through
the production of high-quality communications outputs for key policy, advocacy,
and global engagement opportunities.

Responsibilities

1. Strategic
Communications and Positioning (30%)

• Develop and
  periodically update strategic communications recommendations aligned with
  ACF's advocacy and organizational objectives.

• Develop and
  refine messaging frameworks, narrative guidance, and positioning materials
  for priority policy and advocacy themes.

• Assess
  opportunities for strengthening ACF's visibility and influence across
  relevant policy areas, including climate, biodiversity, finance,
  resilience, security, health, and trade.

• Prepare
  strategic recommendations on priority communications opportunities,
  channels, audiences, and areas of focus.

• Develop
  guidance materials to support alignment between global ACF communications
  and member-country communications efforts.

2. Thought
Leadership and Flagship Storytelling (20%)

• Develop
  thought leadership products, including op-eds, commentary articles,
  speaking points, feature stories, messaging documents, and senior-level
  communications materials.

• Develop
  country narrative packages that showcase policy progress, implementation
  experience, investment mobilization, and impact across ACF member
  countries.

• Produce
  flagship long-form communications products highlighting lessons,
  achievements, and opportunities arising from food systems transformation.

• Adapt complex
  technical and policy information into accessible communications products
  for external audiences.

• Develop a
  thought leadership and external engagement calendar aligned with key
  international policy moments.

3. Strategic
Communications Inputs and Stakeholder Engagement (20%)

• Develop
  integrated communications and narrative frameworks for major international
  policy processes and events.

• Prepare
  briefing materials, key messages, and communications recommendations for
  ministers, senior officials, ACF leadership, and partner organizations.

• Develop
  stakeholder engagement recommendations and messaging guidance reflecting
  country priorities and political realities.

• Identify and
  document opportunities to engage external validators, champions, media
  actors, and strategic amplifiers.

• Prepare
  stakeholder mapping and engagement recommendations to support ACF advocacy
  objectives.

4. Campaigns and
Strategic Communications Planning (20%)

• Develop
  strategic communications plans for major advocacy moments, campaigns, and
  international events.

• Prepare
  recommendations on the use of media, broadcast, podcast, and digital
  channels to strengthen ACF visibility.

• Develop
  editorial planning tools and campaign frameworks aligned with annual
  advocacy priorities.

• Prepare
  integrated communications packages that support earned media, partner
  amplification, digital communications, and stakeholder outreach.

• Develop
  recommendations to strengthen audience targeting, visibility, and uptake
  among priority audiences.

5.
Communications Risk and Quality Assurance (5%)

• Prepare
  communications risk assessments and mitigation recommendations for
  priority campaigns and external engagements.

• Develop rapid
  response guidance and issue-management recommendations for sensitive
  communications moments.

• Review
  priority communications materials and provide editorial and strategic
  quality assurance recommendations.

6.
Communications Planning and Process Improvement (5%)

• Provide
  strategic communications guidance to Secretariat colleagues,
  communications consultants, and external communications partners.

• Develop
  recommendations for improving communications planning, content
  development, approval processes, and stakeholder engagement workflows.

• Prepare
  strategic guidance on website redesign and development, content
  architecture, discoverability, and audience engagement.

• Develop
  strategic communications inputs to internal planning and priority-setting
  processes.

Deliverables

1. Strategic
Communications and Positioning (30%)

1.1Develop and submit strategic communications
frameworks and positioning products, including:

• A more detailed iteration of the existing draft ACF Communications
  Strategy submitted by31 August 2026. This should include a messaging
  and narrative framework, and should identify the top 5 messaging moments for
  the ACF over the period August 2026 – May 2027.

• Develop a communications focal point mapping for all 8 ACF member
  countries by31 August 2026.

• Produce at least threestrategic positioning briefs identifying
  opportunities to strengthen ACF visibility in policy areas beyond food systems
  (e.g. biodiversity, security, finance, resilience) by 31 May 2027.

• Submit a visibility assessment report by31 May 2027 documenting increased ACF visibility in at least two
  additional policy areas, against indicators agreed with the Secretariat by
  August 2026

2. Thought
leadership and flagship storytelling (20%)

2.1 Develop thought leadership and
flagship storytelling products that strengthen ACF's external visibility and influence, including:

• A thought leadership calendar - by 31 August 2026

• Working with ACF’s media partner, prepare and place at least six op-eds
  in international, regional, or national media outlets by 31 May 2027

• Produce narrative packages for all eight current ACF member countries by 31 May 2027

• Develop at least two flagship long-form country stories, documenting
  country context, actions, outcomes, and wider policy relevance by 31 May
  2027

• Prepare at least four amplification packages, including visuals,
  quotes, country stories, and ready-to-use communications materials for external
  stakeholders and champions by 31 May 2027

3. Strategic Communications Inputs and Stakeholder Engagement (20%)

3.1 Prepare strategic communications and stakeholder engagement products for priority advocacy moments, including:

• Ensure that the ACF communications strategy includes an integrated
  narrative framework for ACF engagement across AFSF, CFS54, CBD COP17 and UNFCCC
  COP31 – by31 August 2026

• Prepare briefing packages for 2-4 major international events, including
  CFS54 and COP31 – by30 November 2026

• Prepare briefing notes, key message documents, or spokesperson packs as
  required for ACF ministers, member country representatives, and senior
  stakeholders – by31 May 2027

• Develop stakeholder mapping covering at least 20 priority
  organizations, networks, media actors, champions, or validators – by 31
  August 2026

• Develop messaging packages in collaboration with all 8 ACF member
  countries – by31 May 2027

4. Campaigns, external moments, and editorial planning (20%)

4.1 Develop
communications planning products and campaign materials for priority advocacy
opportunities, including:

• Prepare communications
  plans for up to five major international advocacy moments or campaigns by31
  May 2027.

• Develop a
  strategic editorial calendar by 31 August 2026 and update it
  quarterly

• Working with
  ACF’s media partner, secure at least six broadcast, radio, or podcast
  opportunities for members by31 May 2027.

• Produce a recommendations
  report on audience targeting and communications uptake for governments,
  multilateral, finance actors, and other priority audiences (this could be
  part of/ integrated into the update of the overall ACF communications
  strategy) – by31 May 2027.

• Gather documentation
  of communications approaches and lessons learned from major advocacy
  moments, including to feed into ACF donor reporting – by 31 November
  2026 and again by31 May 2027.

5.
Communications Risk Assessment and Quality Review (5%)

5.1 Develop communications risk
management and quality assurance products, including:

• Prepare a communications
  risk assessment report ahead of major communications moments, including
  COP31 – by1 November 2026.

• Conduct editorial
  review and quality assessment for all flagship communications products and
  major advocacy materials – by31 May 2027.

• Provide
  monthly recommendations to strengthen ACF’s messaging, consistency,
  political sensitivity, and communications effectiveness – monthly, by31
  May 2027.

6. Communications
Planning and Process Improvement (5%)

6.1 Develop communications planning
tools, workflow products, and process improvement recommendations, including:

• Develop a communications
  workflow and approvals framework by30 September 2026

• Prepare a
  comprehensive website content and discoverability recommendations report,
  including recommendations related to microsite architecture, search
  visibility, and AI discoverability by31 August 2026

• Prepare strategic
  communications inputs for the Secretariat planning sessions in January
  2027 by31 January 2027

• Prepare 3-4 quarterly
  recommendations to strengthen alignment between strategic communications
  outputs and implementation activities undertaken by communications service
  providers – by31 May 2027

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree with Master’s Degree
  in communications, public affairs, media, journalism, or a related field,
  or equivalent professional experience.

• Solid professional experience (minimum 10 years) in
  one of the above relevant fields.

• Strong track
  record of developing communications strategies and high-impact messaging
  for senior audiences.

• Excellent
  editorial judgement and substantial experience drafting and editing
  op-eds, commentary, speeches, briefing notes, and thought leadership
  materials.

• Demonstrated
  ability to translate complex policy, technical, or political issues into
  compelling and accessible communications.

• Strong
  understanding of the international policy landscape, ideally including
  food systems, climate, nature, development, agriculture, or related
  issues.

• Experience
  working in or with government, multilateral institutions, or international
  alliances, including familiarity with ministerial-level communications and
  high-level political engagement

• Experience
  advising senior leaders or public figures on communications strategy and
  positioning.

• Experience developing and executing digital and social
  media strategies, including LinkedIn growth and audience development.

• Experience supporting communications around major
  international moments such as COPs, UN processes, or high-level summits.

• Understanding of country-led advocacy and the challenges
  of coalition communications across diverse political contexts.

• Experience
  working with and across multiple stakeholders and institutions
  simultaneously (e.g. via international coalitions).

• Strong
  judgement, discretion, and political sensitivity.

• Ability to
  work independently, manage competing priorities, and make sound decisions
  in a lean and remotely based team environment.

• ​Excellent
  written and spoken English; other languages (particularly Spanish and/or
  Portuguese) would be an advantage.