Consultant - Strategic Communications Specialist, Communications & Engagement Division

Announcement for Consultancy (Consultant)

Strategic Communications Specialist Communications & Engagement Division

Deadline for application Announcement number Expected date for entry on duty Duration of appointment Duty Station

09 August 2026 23:59 hrs CET 26/CON09/C&E As soon as possible 18 months (August 2026-November 2027) for 313 days Remote Publication date: 24 July 2026

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is the focus of the political process to address climate change. The UNFCCC secretariat supports the Convention, its Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement through a range of activities, including substantive and organizational support to meetings of the Parties and the implementation of commitments. It is a dynamic organization working in a politically challenging environment to help resolve one of the defining environmental issues of our time. Parties to the UNFCCC have recognized the importance of youth as agents of change in addressing and responding to climate change and ensuring children and youth are considered in all aspects of climate policy and action. COP 26 first urged Parties and stakeholders to ensure meaningful youth participation and representation in multilateral, national and local decision-making processes, including under the Convention and the Paris Agreement and recognized youth as agents of change. This call was reiterated at COP 27, where Parties were encouraged to include children and youth in their processes for designing and implementing climate policy and action and, as appropriate, to consider including young representatives and negotiators into their national delegations. At COP 28, Parties institutionalized the role of the Presidency Youth Climate Champion to facilitate the meaningful engagement of children and youth in climate action, including within the UNFCCC process, while avoiding duplication with the work and activities of the UNFCCC's official children and youth constituency (YOUNGO). Parties also agreed on concrete long-term and short-term activities under the Glasgow work programme on ACE and its action plan that promote, among other activities, capacity-building opportunities for youth and spaces for youth to connect with relevant decision-makers.

Purpose The purpose of the consultancy is to support the COP 31 and COP 32 Presidency Youth Climate Champions, by performing the duties and responsibilities, and delivering the outputs specified in this Terms of Reference. The position will be under the supervision of the Action Empowerment Unit Lead and the Digital Media Lead of the Communications & Engagement Division.

Tasks Working under the guidance of the supervisors and in close collaboration with the COP 31 PYCC, Sally Higgins, the COP 32 PYCC, once appointed, and the UNFCCC multimedia communications team, the specialist will support the COP 31 and COP 32 Presidency Youth Climate Champions to:

• Demonstrate the importance and impact of the meaningful engagement of children and youth in climate policy and action.
• Enhance understanding of the role of the PYCC as a bridge between children and youth and policy and decision makers in the UNFCCC and national climate processes.
• Elevate youth storytelling, in particular rural youth stories and innovations in driving climate action to shift global narratives and drive policy change.

More specifically, the expert will perform the following duties:

• Develop and plan communication strategies to promote awareness and understanding of the PYCC role, work plan and impact.
• Produce high-quality, audience-focused multimedia content
• Translate key COP 31 and COP 32 PYCC objectives, activities and outcomes into clear, engaging and evidence-based communication products tailored to specific audiences.
• Ensure communications products and public messaging support the priorities and objectives of the COP31 Presidency partnership and COP 32 Presidency.
• Develop and maintain a clear, compelling and consistent narrative for the PYCC that advances youth engagement objectives and supports broader Presidency outcomes.
• Manage the COP 31 and COP 32 PYCC’s social media strategy and messaging narrative, ensuring alignment with broader communications objectives and integration across media, stakeholder engagement and other communications activities.
• Work across partners and delivery teams to coordinate the capture, production and dissemination of content from PYCC-related activities, ensuring timely, high-quality storytelling and consistent messaging across communications channels.
• Draft speeches, talking points, briefing notes and communication materials (such as opinion pieces) for the COP 31 and COP 32 PYCC.
• Provide real-time editorial support during events, including messaging updates, content drafting and communication coordination.
• Coordinate, as appropriate, with Presidency communications teams to ensure alignment and consistency.

Outputs Output Date Performance indicators

1. Communication strategies to promote awareness and understanding of the PYCC role, work plan and impact Within 3 weeks of contract commencement and within 4 weeks of appointment of COP 32 PYCC • Timeliness and quality of outputs
2. Clear, compelling and consistent narrative for the PYCC that advances youth engagement objectives and supports broader Presidency outcomes Initial ideas within 2 weeks of contract commencement, then ongoing, including update once COP 32 PYCC is appointed • Timeliness and quality of outputs
3. Audience-focused multimedia content Ongoing including events • Quality of outputs
4. Coordinated production and dissemination of content from PYCC-related activities Ongoing • Comprehensiveness of content capture and dissemination
5. Speeches, talking points, briefing notes and communication materials Ongoing • Timeliness and quality of outputs
6. Real-time editorial support during events, including messaging updates and content drafting At events • Comprehensiveness, timeliness and quality of output

Timeframe Duration: 18 months (August 2026 - November 2027). Duty station and places of travel Duty Station: Remote. Travel will be required, including support to the COP 31 PYCC potentially at climate weeks, Pre-COP 31 and COP 31.

Requirements The consultant shall have the following competencies and qualifications: Education: University degree in journalism, communications, international relations, political economy or a related field. Requirements:

• Strategic communications and content development for diverse audiences.
• Advanced editorial writing and storytelling for policy and institutional audiences.
• Digital communications and social media management.
• Multimedia content development, including scripting, content-capture and post-production.
• Strong research, analytical, and fact checking skills.
• Ability to deliver high-quality outputs under tight deadlines.

Experience: At least five (5) years of relevant experience in journalism or strategic communications. Proven experience in writing and editing articles, scripts and press materials and in producing communication outputs for diverse audiences is required. Experience with international organizations or the UN system is desirable. Experience supporting communication for a public figure is an asset. Languages: Fluency in English. Knowledge of another UN official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish) would be an advantage. How to apply: Candidates, whose qualifications and experience match what we are looking for, should use the on-line application system available at http://unfccc.int/secretariat/employment/recruitment Please note:

1. UNFCCC is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons with disabilities to apply.
2. We will confirm receipt of your application. However, only candidates under serious consideration and contacted for an interview will receive notice of the final outcome of the selection process.