Communication Consultant (Malawi National Adaptation Plan)

United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment)

Home-based/Remote

Result of Service
i- Strengthened Communication Strategy and Action Plan for the Malawi NAP process;
ii- Monthly guidance provided to the national communication consultant and the project team on the implementation of the Communication Strategy and Action Plan;
iii- Dissemination campaign developed for the climate-risk mapping tool developed by the project;

Work Location
Home-base with 1 mission to Malawi

Expected duration
8 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. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global 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 Government of Malawi, through the Environmental Affairs Department in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change, has obtained a grant from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) for a three-year project to build capacity to advance National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process in Malawi. UNEP is the Delivery Partner for the project, with the role of supporting and overseeing the project implementation.

The project entitled “Advancing the NAP process: climate resilience for sustainable development in Malawi” is being implemented by a project team unit (PMU) headed by a National Coordinator, under the supervision of the Environmental Affairs Department. The NAP project supports multi-sectoral, medium- to long-term adaptation planning and budgeting in Malawi and promote the integration of climate change adaptation aspects into development planning processes and policies. Systems for developing and sharing climate risk and vulnerability information will be reinforced, and sustainable financing mechanisms for climate change adaptation initiatives are set to be developed. A climate risk mapping tool will be developed by the project by September 2023. An adaptation finance strategy will be developed by October 2023 with a focus on the engagement of private sector stakeholders.

Malawi launched the NAP process in 2014 and a NAP Core team was constituted which oversaw the development of a NAP Road map and Stocktaking Report. The roadmap (2016) outlined target timelines for the 17 different steps involved in the NAP process (per the UNFCCC guidelines). The Stocktaking Report (2016) identified available information on climate change impacts, vulnerability, risks, and gaps and needs of the enabling environment for the NAP process. A NAP framework has also been published by the Government of Malawi in March 2020 to guide efforts to develop its National Adaptation Plan with an effort to address climate change. The updated NDC published in July 2021 details adaptation objectives for the country.

The Environment Affairs Department and UNEP have identified the need to recruit a part-time International Communication Consultant to provide periodic inputs to support the NAP Project National Coordinator and the National Communication Consultant in the successful implementation of the communication activities of the Malawi NAP project.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The International Communication Consultant will work in close collaboration with the National Communication Consultant, the Gender Consultant, the Institutional Engagement Consultant and the Project Management Unit (PMU) working for the NAP project. Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the UNEP Task Manager as well as the NAP Project Coordinator within the Environmental Affairs Department, the International Communications Consultant will support the implementation of the Communication Strategy and Action Plan for the Malawi NAP.

Strengthen the Communication Strategy and Action Plan for the Malawi NAP and guide its implementation

  1. Review and provide inputs to the draft NAP Malawi Communication Strategy and Action Plan, addressing different stakeholder groups, following international best practice standards.
  2. Support the process of implementing and reporting on the Communication Strategy and Action Plan, working closely with the National Communication Consultant, the Gender Consultant and the PMU. The consultant is expected to organize monthly check-up meetings with the national communication consultant and the project coordinator to take stock of the communication action plan implementation, follow up on activities and address delays.
  3. Provide guidance for the delivery by the national communication consultant of production and dissemination of eight (8) communication and outreach materials including stories and news on NAP developments, briefing notes, factsheets, audio-visual, press/media kit, etc.;
  4. Synthesize the key results and recommendations of the climate risk assessments into communication messages for key target audiences.
  5. Develop an active dissemination campaign with ministries, districts and relevant stakeholder groups for use of the climate-risk mapping tool being developed by the NAP project, and provide guidance to the national communication consultant and project team for its implementation and monitoring of its results.
  6. Contribute to the private sector engagement led by the project.

The consultant will report to the UNEP Task Manager as Delivery Partner. The consultant will work in close collaboration with the Project Coordinator under the supervision of the Environmental Affairs Department.

Qualifications/special skills
Master’s Degree in Communications, Communication for Development, or other related field is required
At least 7 years relevant post-graduate work experience in communications for environment and/or development, in particular in strategic communication planning and production of communication materials and capacity building; is required
At least one previous experience related to elaborating communication strategies and action plans for an institution or national program, and/or related to leading dissemination campaigns to targeted audiences; is required
Demonstrated experience of drafting key messages and developing communication products tailored to relevant audience including private sector entities, such as newsletters and press briefing, briefing notes, guidelines and audio-visual products is required
Excellent English language writing and editing skills, and an ability to convey complex ideas in a concise, clear, direct, and lively style; is required
Strong organizational and interpersonal skills, ability to meet deadlines and to manage multiple tasks effectively and efficiently, ability to take initiative and be innovative; is required
Working knowledge of relevant computer software such as MS Office, WordPress, Adobe InDesign/Illustrator/Photoshop; is required
Experience in the Southern African Development Community region is an added advantage
Experience in communication on environmental and climate change issues is an added advantage.

Languages
Fluency in written and oral English is required

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.


POSITION TYPE

ORGANIZATION TYPE

EXPERIENCE-LEVEL

DEGREE REQUIRED

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