NDC Behavioural Change Communications and Outreach Specialist (Communications Specialist), Antigua and Barbuda

Background Information - UNOPS Austria Multi-Country Office (AUMCO)

The Austria Multi-Country Office (AUMCO) is part of the UNOPS Europe and Central Asia Region (ECR). Specifically, AUMCO aims to enable achievement of Agenda 2030 and the Paris Agreement through global programmes and tailored interventions in the Balkans, South Caucasus, and Central Asia, focused on:

• Infrastructure

• Procurement 

• Project Management (full service, back on track)

• HR and Transactional Services

• Grants Management 

• Technical and Advisory Services

• Project Information

WEC Background: 

The Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) portfolio under the UNOPS Austria Multi-Country Office has built strong partnerships and has effectively been managing a portfolio of 490 million USD over the last 15 years to support key initiatives with fund management, project implementation and administrative support.

WEC effectively operationalizes partners' agendas with global approaches, as well as regional and country specific activities focused on climate action, protection and conservation of the environment. Partners profit from WEC’s ability to operationalize and/or scale up their important substantive agendas, including in support of key multilateral environmental and climate agreements, such as the Paris Agreement, the Cartagena Convention as well as the Sustainable Development Goals. 

The NDC Partnership: 

The NDC Partnership is a global coalition of countries and institutions collaborating to drive transformational climate action through sustainable development. In 2015, the world endorsed the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Nations signal their commitments to the Paris Agreement through Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) - each country’s strategy to cut its own greenhouse gas emissions and build resilience against the negative effects of a changing climate. The Partnership advances the goals of the Paris Agreement by bringing together nearly 200 countries and institutions in new ways to accelerate NDC implementation and enhance ambition over time. The Partnership’s work through 120 partners supporting almost 80 countries produces many examples of impact, lessons learned and ideas for the future. The Partnership is governed by a Steering Committee, co-chaired by two country representatives. The Partnership’s work is facilitated by a Support Unit based at World Resources Institute in Washington DC and the UNFCCC Secretariat in Bonn, Germany. UNOPS supports the NDC Partnership and its Support Unit through the Water, Environment and Climate (WEC).

Country Context

With NDC Partnership support, Antigua and Barbuda updated and submitted an ambitious NDC to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in September 2021 with a mitigation target of 86% renewable energy generation from local sources by 2030. The NDC Partnership is supporting Antigua and Barbuda on the implementation of its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), development of an NDC Financing Strategy, development of a blended finance window with its national environmental fund and mainstreaming climate change planning into national procedures and processes.  

The Department has submitted a request to the NDC Partnership for an In-country NDC Behavioural Change Communications and Outreach Specialist to support the coordination of communications around NDC implementation, with a key focus on the energy transition and just transition. The Specialist will provide key technical support to influence behavior change of stakeholders through communication and outreach strategies and campaigns. These stakeholders include workers affected by the transition, private sector interest groups, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the youth, members of vulnerable groups, and small medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs). The Behavioural Change Communications and Outreach Specialist will also support national delegates and negotiators in the preparation for, during and after national climate change conferences and other meetings organized by funding agencies and partners.

Transparency and effective communication will enable the public and relevant stakeholders to gain a clear picture of national climate actions and encourage buy-in, support and collaboration around national priorities. The position directly contributes to the achievement of just transition commitments of the NDC and aligns with the Action for Climate Empowerment’s (ACE) six elements - climate change education and public awareness, training, public participation, public access to information, and international cooperation. 

The behavioural change communications and outreach technical assistance will help to close communication gaps for key stakeholders on the contents of the NDC. Additionally, it will contribute to accelerating the rate of implementing the adaptation priorities in the NDC. This entire activity will build on the current support being received by Antigua and Barbuda through the NDC Partnership’s Partnership Action Fund and previous support through the Climate Action Enhancement Package Initiative.

Summary of functions

1. Behavioural Change Communications and Management
2. Social Media Management
3. Online Content Management

The Behavioural Change Communications and Outreach Specialist is expected to carry out the following specific tasks categorized in three broad areas: Communications and Project Management; Media Management; and Online Content Development. 

• Master’s degree in Gender studies, social development, social studies or related subject areas.

• Bachelor's degree in related discipline in combination with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Contract type: ICA

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.

• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 

• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.

• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions 

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 

• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. For more information on a retainer contract here.

• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.

• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.