Background
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP:  we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Office/Unit/Project Description 

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels, forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan. 

Within the GPN, the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan.  BPPS’s staff provides technical advice to Country Offices, advocates for UNDP corporate messages, represents UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora including public-private dialogues, government, and civil society dialogues, and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas. 

UNDP's 2022-2025 Strategic Plan highlighs our continued commitment to eradicating poverty, accompanying countries in their pathways towards the SDGs and working towards the Paris Agreement. As part of the Global Policy Network in the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, UNDP's Nature, Climate, Energy, and Waste (NCE&W) Hubs promote and scale up integrated whole-of-governance approaches and nature-based solutions that reduce poverty and inequalities, strengthen livelihoods and inclusive growth, mitigate conflict, forced migration and displacement, and promote more resilient governance systems that advance linked peace and security agendas.

BPPS’ Hubs on Nature, Climate, Energy and Waste, with the support of a Vertical Fund Programme Support, Oversight and Compliance Unit, work with governments, civil society, and private sector partners to integrate nature, climate, energy and waste related concerns into national and sector planning and inclusive growth policies, support country obligations under Multilateral Environmental Agreements, and oversee the implementation of the UN’s largest portfolio of in-country programming nature, climate change, energy and waste. This multi-billion-dollar portfolio encompasses: 

  • Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services including forests; 
  • Sustainable Land Management and Desertification including food and commodity systems; 
  • Water and Ocean Governance including SIDS; 
  • Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation; 
  • Sustainable Energy; 
  • Extractive Industries; 
  • Chemicals and Waste Management; 
  • Environmental Governance and Green/Circular Economy; and SCP approaches. 

This work advances crosscutting themes on innovative finance, digital transformation, capacity development, human rights, gender equality, health, technology, and South-South learning.

To resource UNDP’s work on nature, climate, energy and waste, UNDP partners, as an accredited multilateral implementing agency. with the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the Multilateral Fund (MLF), the Adaptation Fund (AF) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF). As part of UNDP’s partnership with these vertical funds (VFs), UNDP provides countries, through the Vertical Fund Programme Support, Oversight and Compliance Unit, specialized integrated technical services for eligibility assessment, programme formulation, capacity development, policy advice, technical assistance, training and technology transfer, mobilization of co-financing, implementation oversight, results management and evaluation, performance-based payments and knowledge management services.

Climate change could drive an additional 100 million people into poverty by 2030. Countries have increasingly included adaptation priorities in their NDCs pointing to issues of water and food security, safeguarding economic assets from extreme climate events and disasters, and protection and regeneration of natural capital. Building on the experiences and lessons from a portfolio of initiatives in over 137 countries, UNDP advances a ‘whole-of-society' approach to accelerate adaptation and continues to support countries to mobilize public and private finance to implement their adaption priorities. UNDP assists government partners to scale up the integration of climate change adaptation into policy, planning, and investments at both national and local levels through the support to the National Adaptation Planning (NAP) process and the NDCs. UNDP supports climate change adaptation action in the context of agriculture and food security, water resources, coastal zone management, ecosystems protection, public health, resilient infrastructure, urban resilience, livelihoods, and climate information/early warnings.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Communications Specialist for Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) will work under the guidance and supervision of the Principal Technical Advisor of CCA and will work in close coordination with the UNDP communications teams at different levels. 

Communications

  • Act as the focal point for the Climate Change Adaptation portfolio's communications work;
  • Develop and implement a strategic communications strategy and action plan for the Climate Change Adaptation portfolio in line with the broader NCE&W portfolio, BERA communications strategy, and visibility guidelines of UNDP and programme donors, and in coordination with the global network of communications focal points and specialists;
  • Working with Regional Technical Advisors/Specialists, identify and engage with communications officers, stakeholders and project coordinators in target countries to increase the visibility of the impact of the portfolio;
  • Develop and distribute communications materials including key messages, talking points, press kits, social media kits, videos, and other products as needed;
  • Ensure project approvals and ongoing projects receive adequate communications support;
  • Draft,publish, and promote thought leadership and news content under guidance and in close consultation with the Principal Technical Advisor and Regional Technical Advisors/Specialists; 
  • Produce regular project and portfolio impact stories (published to global UNDP Climate Exposure or other UNDP-hosted platforms) with a focus on results, human interest angles, and links to UNDP’s broader development work;
  • Produce and distribute the global CCA Newsletter on a quarterly basis;
  • Oversee the Adaptation website in conjunction with the web administrator, including publishing of content, maintaining project pages, and providing guidance to the website administrator on wireframes, taxonomy, and ensuring the website is in line with UNDP’s branding and website design guidelines;
  • Develop and schedule engaging content for UNDP’s social media channels, including graphics, videos, gifs and threads; 
  • Identify opportunities to promote the work of the portfolio through internal and external channels, including events throughout the year.

Knowledge management

  • Support the production of Climate Change Adaptation portfolio publications, including case studies and issue briefs, including editing and coordination of layout;
  • Support the dissemination of CCA portfolio and project resources and news to internal and external networks

Institutional Arrangement

  • The Communications Specialist will work remotely from his/her home-base;
  • The Communications Specialist will report to the CCA PTA under BPPS/ Nature Hub based in New York and/or his/her designate. S/he will work closely with other staff in the UNDP Regional Hubs, UNDP Country Offices and project/government counterparts as appropriate;
  • The Communications Specialist will be given access to relevant information necessary for the execution of the tasks under this assignment;
  • The Communications Specialist will be responsible for providing her/his own work station (i.e. laptop, internet, phone, scanner/printer, etc.) and must have access to reliable internet connection; 
  • Given the global consultations to be undertaken during this assignment, the CommunicationSpecialist is expected to be reasonably be flexible with his/her availability for such consultations taking into consideration different time zones.
Competencies
Core  
Achieve Results LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work
Think Innovatively LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking
Learn Continuously LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning
Adapt with Agility  LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process
Act with Determination  LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously
Engage and Partner LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships
Enable Diversity and Inclusion LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making 

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies 

Thematic Area Name Definition
Digital and Innovation Data Storytelling and communications

Skilled in building a narrative around a set of data and 

its accompanying visualizations to help convey the 

meaning of that data in a powerful and compelling 

fashion.
Digital and Innovation Social Media

Knowledge of social media and ability to advise the 

use of social media for development outcomes.
Communications Multimedia writing/editing

Ability to create and/or edit written content for 

Multimedia.
Business Management Communications

Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.

Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.
Communications Advocacy strategy and implementation Ability to create and implement advocacy strategies which lead to impactful change.
Partnership Management Relationship management Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding 
Programme and Policy Nature, Climate and Energy

Climate change adaptation
 
Required Skills and Experience
Min. Education requirements
  • Master’s degree in Journalism, Communications or other closely related field; 
  • Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communications or other closely related field with 7 years of experience will also be accepted
Min. years of relevant work experience required
  • A minimum of 5 years of professional experience with a Master’s degree, or 7 years of experience with a Bachelor’s degree,  in communications in the development sector, preferably working with donor-funded projects and project teams;
  • Experience working in communications in the areas of nature, climate and/or energy; 
  • Demonstrated experience in creating communications products across different formats and platforms;
  • Exceptional writing, editing, and proofreading skills.
Desired skills 
  •  Experience in producing and designing communications assets including reports, graphics, videos is an advantage;
  • Experience in using common communications tools such as Hootsuite, Canva, Lumen5, or other design and video editing tools is an advantage;
  • Experience with projects or portfolio in the area of nature, climate, and/or energy with financing from vertical funds (the Green Climate Fund, Adaptation Fund, Least Developed Country Fund and/or Special Climate Change Fund) is highly desirable; 
  • Experience working with an international organization is an advantage; experience and familiarity with UNDP editorial guidelines and templates is a strong asset;
  • Experience working at regional or cross-regional level is desirable.
Required Language(s) 
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills in English language
Disclaimer

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment. 
UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.
 
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
 
Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
Non-discrimination
 
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.  
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status. 
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