Mission and objectives

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.

Context

UNEP Communication Division delivers UNEP’s core messages to all stakeholders and partners, raising environmental awareness and enhancing the profile of UNEP worldwide. Its portfolio of campaigns and communication projects advances action to address the triple planetary crisis, including public advocacy to promote sustainable consumption and production for a pollution-free planet. Under the direct supervision of the Chemicals and Pollution Action Pillar Lead, Public Advocacy & Communications Section, the Pollution Action Communication Expert will support the implementation of the Chemicals and Pollution Action Pillar strategy and narrative. Through this role, the expert will contribute to facilitating strategic advocacy and communication efforts to drive sustainable transitions in high-impact sectors (such as plastics, textiles, electronics, extractives, and transport) and counter diverse forms of pollution that harm human and planetary health, such as air, chemical and pharmaceutical pollution, taking a leading role in communication efforts about the the environmental dimensions of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).

Task Description

Under the direct supervision of the Public Information Officer, Chemicals and Pollution Action Coordinator (Pillar Lead), the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: • Support the implementation of corporate strategies for the Chemicals and Pollution Action Pillar, contributing to the efforts to bring coherence and cohesiveness to the pillar communications. • Propose innovative approaches and develop consistent materials to reach the target audiences of the Pillar. • In line with the pillar strategy, draft a wide array of outward-facing materials, including stories, press releases, social media content, video scripts, and proposed content, including for any flagship events, campaigns, and engagement with UNEP Goodwill Ambassadors. • Translate scientific and technical information into relatable and engaging messages and materials. • Support outreach strategies for publications. • Facilitate relationships and partnership building within the context of pollution and AMR. • Manage digital tools to improve and maintain internal coordination across teams and Divisions, keeping track and facilitating accountability of relevant users. • Propose or contribute to outreach strategies to increase the uptake of UNEP’s knowledge, messages, and calls to action in key audiences. • Develop communication materials to advance public advocacy and communication objectives on AMR, especially in relation to the World AMR Awareness Week, the establishment of the Independent Panel of Experts on AMR (IPEA), and the production of relevant publications, in line with the workstream of the Quadripartite Awareness Working group on AMR (integrated by UNEP, WHO, FAO and WOAH). • Provide UNEP representation in the Quadripartite Awareness Working group on AMR. • In close coordination with the AMR Quadripartite partners, contribute to the development of joint communication strategies, action plan, and communication materials for targeted audiences. • Monitor media and online conversations to facilitate the uptake of supportive discourse. • Integrate the use of innovative tools to develop creative assets. • Perform other related activities and initiatives assigned by the supervisors. 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 instance, 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. • The development of capacity through coaching, mentoring, and formal on-the-job training, when working with (including supervising) national staff or (non-) governmental counterparts, including Implementing Partners (IPs); • The Age, Gender, and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated, and documented in all activities throughout the assignment • A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in, and capacities developed

Competencies and values

Adaptability and Flexibility Communication Creativity Planning and Organizing

Living conditions and remarks

The Republic of Kenya is an equatorial nation on the coast of East Africa, neighbouring Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, and the Indian Ocean. Kenya has two levels of Government; National Government and 47 sub-national Governments called Counties. Counties are further divided into sub-counties. Kenya is a multi-party state with Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches. Kenya’s population of more than 40 million is growing at an annual rate of 2.2%. The country’s GNP per capita, estimated at purchasing power parity (PPP), is $975, and the GNP is growing at an average rate of 0.1% annually. More than 26% of Kenya’s people live below the international poverty line of $1 per day. Kenya’s main food crops are “maize, wheat, pulses, roots and tubers.” (FAO). Nairobi is a modern metropolitan city where most basic goods and services, health facilities, public transport, telecommunication and banking services, and educational facilities are readily available. The city is widely connected through its main airport, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, and the smaller Wilson Airport. Air transport is also available to many up-country destinations. The city is home to some 3,000 UN personnel, mainly attributed to the fact that it serves as the headquarters for both the UN-HABITAT and UNEP. The socio-economic and cultural background of the immediate society in which the UNV would be living and working is diverse, and prevailing security conditions at the place of assignment are modest. The topographic and climatic features of the assignment location is highland cool and warm tropical climate. The contract lasts for the period indicated above, with the possibility of extensions subject to the availability of funding, operational necessity, and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectation of renewal of the assignment. A UN Volunteer receives a Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) per month and is paid at the end of each month to cover housing, utilities, transportation, communications, and other basic needs. The VLA can be computed by applying the Post-Adjustment Multiplier (PAM) to the VLA base rate of US$1,602. The VLA base rate is a global rate, while the PAM is country-specific and fluctuates on a monthly basis according to the cost of living. This method ensures that international UN Volunteers have comparable purchasing power at all duty stations, irrespective of varying costs of living. The PAM is established by the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) and is published at the beginning of every month on the ICSC website http://icsc.un.org. For example, kindly enter the link Calculator. In non-family duty stations that belong to hardship categories D or E, as classified by the ICSC, international UN Volunteers receive a Well-Being Differential (WBD) on a monthly basis. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are provided a settling-in-grant (SIG) at the start of the assignment (if the volunteer did not reside in the duty station for at least 6 months prior to taking up the assignment) and also in the event of a permanent reassignment to another duty station. UNV provides life, health, permanent disability insurance as well as assignment travel, annual leave, and full integration in the UN security framework (including residential security reimbursements). UN Volunteers are paid a Daily Subsistence Allowance at the UN rate for official travels, flight tickets for the final repatriation travel (if applicable). A resettlement allowance is paid for satisfactory service at the end of the assignment. UNV will provide, together with the offer of assignment, a copy of the Conditions of Service, including the Code of Conduct, to the successful candidate. Disclaimer The United Nations Volunteers programme (UNV) is an equal opportunity programme which welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, nationality, and culture.