Result of Service

Top-tier Spanish-speaking media coverage of UNCCD and drought-related issues (including IDRA).

Work Location

Home-based.

Expected duration

40 days between February and April 2026.

Duties and Responsibilities

Background note: Desertification, along with climate change and the loss of biodiversity were identified as the greatest challenges to sustainable development during the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. Established in 1994, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management. The Convention seeks to support countries to address Desertification, Land Degradation, and Drought (DLDD). (www.unccd.int) The Communications, External Relations and Partnerships (CERP) Unit supports the mandate of UNCCD by providing an overall strategic direction on communications, external relations and partnerships, underpinned by innovation and the use of effective tools. It leads and coordinates UNCCD’s engagement with key stakeholders and builds partnerships to mobilize corporate resources and raise the visibility of land issues on the political and public agendas. Furthermore, it acts as the UNCCD brand guardian, leading global strategic communication at corporate and programmatic levels, nurturing creativity and ambition to reach new audiences with world-class, science-based communication and advocacy. IDRA is a collaborative platform to generate political momentum and action to support countries, cities, and communities to combat drought proactively. The alliance will promote effective and efficient preparedness and adaptation measures that go beyond disaster response to reduce vulnerability to drought. The alliance seeks to act as a global facilitator for drought management focused on systemic risk. To reduce systemic risks and avoid new ones, there must be a shift from dealing reactively with drought impacts to getting ahead of the curve and addressing underlying risk drivers. Socioeconomic and environmental vulnerability of exposed systems must be reduced and impacts of land degradation, biodiversity loss climate change mitigated as part of a transition from reactive to prospective and proactive risk management.   Duties & Responsibilities: Under the direct supervision of the Chief of CERP Unit the consultant will perform the following duties: - Develop and implement a media engagement plan for Spanish-speaking audiences around key moments, including the Silk Road Campaign, UN Water Conference, Desertification and Drought Day and seventeenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17), in alignment with the overall communication strategy; - Coordinate IDRA communications, including content production, traditional and social media engagement, and outreach around key events; - Deliver an IDRA Newsletter on regular basis (quarterly) on stories of IDRA members’ inspiring practices relevant with drought management and drought resilience enhancement; - Liaise internally and externally, as directed, to identify newsworthy and regional angles on key Convention issues, Suggest and develop new print and multimedia content for Spanish-speaking audiences, including case studies, feature stories, interviews etc. - Prepare necessary materials (key messages, press releases, op-eds, media advisories, etc.) in Spanish or other languages as may be required; - Produce content to be published on social media - Proactively pitch Spanish-speaking media, including the creation of story ideas and thought leadership pieces to pique media interest; - Coordinate media outreach activities around key events, including liaising with Spanish-speaking spokespeople, including UNCCD leadership, experts and key decision-makers, prepare talking points for spokespeople and coordinate interviews; - As required, translate or adapt content from English or other languages into Spanish, adhering to UN editorial standards, - Support an analysis of Spanish-speaking media coverage, including key message penetration, spokespeople quoted and estimated earned media cost; - Manage follow-up interviews and public inquiries; and - Perform other project-related tasks as may be needed.

Qualifications/special skills

- A first-level university degree in public relations, journalism, communications or political or social sciences is required. - Knowledge of environmental, policy, and outreach issues and activities relevant to the work of UNCCD is required. - Experience in working with top-tier Spanish broadcast, print and online media is required; - Experience creating quality content for media, including excellent writing and editing skills in Spanish in required; - Experience working in countries affected by desertification, land degradation and drought is required; - Experience working in a multicultural and multinational environment is desirable; - Knowledge of the UN issues related to sustainable development and sustainable use of natural resources is desirable; - Familiarity with UNCCD issues and work is an advantage.

Languages

Excellent writing and editing skills in Spanish as well as fluency in spoken and written English is required. Knowledge in French is desirable.

Additional Information

Only individuals who can act as independent, individual economical operators are qualified to apply. Individuals who can provide their services only on account of an institution or enterprise are not eligible under this procedure. Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations Secretariat and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultant and individual contractor is responsible for determining tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. For remote consultancies, the selected candidate will be required to have a laptop or desktop PC (with Windows 11 or newer) or Mac (with the latest MacOS update), as well as a reliable, high-speed internet connection. An Office 365 license will be provided by the UNCCD to enable the candidate to access official emails, SharePoint, OneDrive and other office applications, such as Word and Excel. Further computer requirements: • An antivirus application which receives regular updates; • Browsers must be a newer version with regular updates enabled; • Regular Windows 11 updates should be enabled with Windows laptop or PC. • In addition, a mobile phone will be required to enable Multifactor Authentication (MFA) through SMS or the Authenticator App.

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.