Communication Consultant

The purpose of the REACT project is to promote the mainstreaming of environmental sustainability in the UN system, focusing in particular on peacekeeping operations, by supporting the United Nations Department of Field Support (DFS) in their efforts to improve their own environmental and energy performance. Peacekeeping operations are international missions mandated by the UN Security Council to operate in specific countries and parts of countries for specific periods. The operations usually take place in locations with a fragile environment and a serious lack of infrastructure. The environmental footprint of UN Peacekeeping Operations is not benchmarked against any specific standard or other organization but it is considered to have significant room for improvement in a large number of critical areas. UN Peace operations represents over 50% of the current UN system Climate Footprint and as such are instrumental in reaching the UN wide target of Climate Neutrality by 2020 that is demanded by the Secretary General and the UN Chief Executives’ Board.

UNEP will act in the role of an in-house technical assistance (TA) team and will provide expertise to support DFS in planning, designing, financing and implementing a range of actions that will cumulatively result in a substantial reduction in the environmental footprint. Within DFS, a primary partner of UNEP will the Global Support Centre based in Brindisi, Italy. The GSC provides a wide range of engineering, logistical and IT support to missions.

The consultant is expected to assist the delivery of the DFS Environmental strategy by assisting the REACT project with the development and initial implementation of a comprehensive communication strategy inclusive of training to staff on better environmental behavior.

Develop a comprehensive communications strategy in support to the DFS Environmental Strategy with clear roll out activities and timelines

• Assess the current practices and processes to communicate about the Environmental strategy in DFS and REACT.
• Interview key players in DFS and in the REACT team.
• Assess how the environmental strategy and overall environmental matters are being communicated ; if necessary visit some missions to meet their communications teams.
• Analyze how best practices information is collected and transmitted to member states and suggest improvements/ develop templates for more effective communication.
• Draft communications strategy. 
• Organize internal workshops to familiarize the DFS and REACT teams with the strategy, agree on activities, deadlines and discuss resources needs.
• Support the DFS team in its approval and presentation to management.
• Support the strategy roll out and work with DFS and REACT to disseminate information to and from missions about their environmental performance.
• Raise capacity in missions (environmental teams and communications teams).
• Assist with the day to day communication needs of the DFS team in New York (briefs to member states or to stakeholders).
• Assist with internal communications flows as needed (documentation templates and record system)

Review currently available evidence (good practice examples, existing data from missions, input from UN environment) of improvements in environmental management and performance amongst missions: 

• Analyse existing best practices sharing platforms (DFS COSMOS; UN Environment Greening the Blue) and review existing best practices available on these platforms.
• Interview DFS; GSC, mission environmental officers and UN Environment teams to gather further best practices. 
• Once gathered evidence, deliver the review of best practices into a standardised “best practices” format that  will constitute the template for how DFS will communicate about the strategy’s progress.

• Design and implementation of the environmental component for the pre-deployment training for military and police personnel highlighting lessons learned in environmental management and performance. 
• Design concept and delivery materials for an Online training to be proposed to all civilian staff as a possible mandatory training and accompanying campaign materials.

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

UNOPS supports the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner.

Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices, always satisfying or surpassing our partners’ expectations.

With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, wherever they need it.

A flexible structure and global reach means that we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale.