Communications Officer

Since its inception in 1972, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has been the global authority that sets the 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.

UNEP’s mission is to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.

Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, UNEP works through its divisions as well as regional, liaison and out-posted offices and a growing network of collaborating centres of excellence.

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 Communications Officer will work within the Biodiversity, People and Landscapes Unit and will contribute to the implementation of UNEP’s program in the Congo Basin, specifically the Regional Child Project under the GEF-7 Congo Basin Sustainable Landscapes Impact Program (Congo IP) and the project titled ‘Securing crucial biodiversity, carbon and water stores in the Congo Basin Peatlands by enabling evidence-based decision making and good governance’ funded by Germany’s International Climate Initiative (IKI).
Under the guidance and supervision of the Congo Basin Program Senior Coordinator and together with the communications consultant, the UNV Communications Officer will work in close coordination with the project team, as well as related counterpart staff, consultants and service contract providers to ensure the delivery of the concerned communication-related project activities. She/He will be responsible for building the strategic communication of the projects and for all related targeted and general communication, awareness raising, and information provision activities towards governments, stakeholders and the wider public. Within these, she/he will assist defining and communicating the appropriate messages and information to the appropriate stakeholders to facilitate i) their meaningful participation; ii) achievement and sustainability of the envisaged project results.

Under the direct supervision of Congo Basin Team Leader, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:
The main deliverable will be to support the development and implementation of the Congo Communications and Outreach Strategy. This work includes:

Website & social media
•Update the website with events/news items/publications/blog posts and other content as it arises. Use this content to feed into social media channels.
•Together with the communications lead, develop a social media weekly and monthly calendar with planned postings
•Daily management of Program social media accounts, including production of compel-ling written and visual content for Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and others as they arise.
•Look for opportunistic posts (partner publications for example) and amplify those on the Program’s social media channels
•Daily monitoring of social media channels for engagement opportunities.
•Compile and analyze metrics reports; propose follow-up recommendations to improve content and performance.
•Support the preparation and communications coverage of events or conferences, including Twitter/X spaces for events (for example).
Newsletter & graphics
• Design the layout and visual elements of the quarterly newsletter; deliver to stake-holders via Mailchimp or other best in class marketing program.
•Design the layout and visual elements of communications collaterals, publications, social media postcards, roll-ups etc.
•Collaborate with the communications team to create visually appealing and informative graphics around project and partner produced content
•Ensure all design work is in line with UNEP’s and the Program’s branding guidelines and visual identity.
•Provide creative input and suggestions for improving the overall look and feel of the newsletter, communications materials, and website
•Revise and refine designs based on feedback from the communications team and other stakeholders.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to:

•Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for in-stance in events that mark International Volunteer Day).
•Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country.
•Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities.
•Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.
•Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers.
•Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.