Duties and Responsibilities
UNEP is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global 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. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. Under the Medium-Term Strategy (MTS) 2026-2029, Climate Action is one of UNEP’s three strategic objectives. The Climate Action thematic subprogramme advances the transition of countries to low-emission economic development and increases their adaptation and resilience to climate change. The overall objective of UNEP's Climate Change Division is to deliver effective strategic guidance and high-impact action in support of the transition towards climate stability. Its work is guided by ambition, innovation, credible science, and alignment to global climate goals and needs of individual countries. The Climate Change Division works with Members States and Partners to accelerate and support a just transition by addressing climate change mitigation and adaptation through enhancing implementation capacity, provision of data information and knowledge, access to finance and technology, and building resilience. It promotes sustainable development and effective policies for climate stability; support action so that countries progress on decarbonization, dematerialization, and resilience pathways in line with their climate commitments, aspirations, and needs; and foster transparency in reporting. UNEP’s Climate Change Adaptation Unit (CCAU) works with countries around the world to support climate change adaptation and build long-term climate resilience. As of 2025, UNEP has supported 90 climate adaptation projects in 54 countries. These projects collectively aim to benefit 4.6 million people, restore at least 271,000 hectares of land, improve climate adaptation knowledge of 1.1 million people, and build over 8,200 water harvesting structures and 112 early warning systems. UNEP supports ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA), policy development and planning, early warning systems, climate information services and capacity-building. Communications and knowledge management play a pivotal role in amplifying the impact of climate action initiatives. By effectively capturing, organizing, and sharing knowledge, UNEP can empower stakeholders, from policymakers to grassroots organizations, with the information they need to implement sustainable solutions. Strategic communication helps raise awareness about the importance of climate adaptation, mobilize resources, and build public support for necessary policy changes. Furthermore, robust knowledge management systems enable the tracking of progress against UNEP’s MTS targets and SDGs, identification of gaps, and dissemination of lessons learned, ensuring that climate adaptation efforts are continually refined and improved. This assignment is therefore crucial in strengthening UNEP's capacity to drive meaningful and sustainable climate action globally. Supervisor: Chief of Adaptation Unit, Jessica Troni Specific tasks and responsibilities: 1. Develop and implement the Unit’s annual knowledge management plans covering all of the Units Funds and facilities and ensure alignment with other knowledge management and communications priorities of the Unit and the organization; 2. Research, drafting and publishing the bimonthly Global Adaptation Network (GAN) Newsletter and assist GAN’s Regional Network with communications and outreach for their major events, such as the APAN Forum; 3. Develop and implement a communications strategy and action plan for the Global EbA Fund Fund, including key messages, target audiences, communications channels; 4. Distilling lessons learned from UNEP’s adaptation projects into publications, such as lessons learned brochures. Manage a lessons learned database to capture key lessons from adaptation projects; 5. Analyse and synthesise key topics emerging in the work of the unit, its Funds and facilities to produce knowledge products of high quality and relevance to help meet the objectives of the Unit; Coordinate with relevant units, the production of a variety of knowledge products including press releases, articles, blogs, social media posts, webinars, and in-person events; 6. Providing support throughout all stages of the UNEP publication process, including developing concepts; briefing authors; proofreading and editing coordinating the review; and distributing the final publication; 7. Organize and carry out field missions to produce stories, photographs and videos of project activities and project beneficiaries; 8. Support organization of side events at COPs and other regional and global events; 9. Collaborate with the Branch’s communications lead and with UNEP-GEF-GCF climate communications officer, to support the communications and media engagement activities related to the Unit’s funds and facilities; 10. Fulfilling the role as UNEP’s web focal point for adaptation and the focal point for the Climate Change Division’s WeCollaborate webpage; 11. Actively monitor and report on the success of the above knowledge management efforts in reaching key target audiences and enhancing the relevance of the Unit as a source of insight and knowledge.
Qualifications/special skills
A Masters Degree in communications, journalism, media relations, environmental science, climate change, or other related fields is required. A first-level university degree, combined with two additional years of relevant professional experience in the required field, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. • At least 5 years working in communications, journalism, media and organisation of international knowledge events is required • Proven ability to produce high-quality communications materials, including written, photo and video products is required • Experience of working in climate change topics, especially climate adaptation and resilience is required • Experience with developing and implementing communication plans and strategies for international organizations is required • Experience working with a United Nations agency, including knowledge of UN communication policies and protocols is desired • Experience in managing and maintaining websites and web content is desired
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.
