Communication Specialist

Job Posting: 05/Feb/2025

Closure Date: 19/Feb/2025, 4:59:00 PM

Organizational Unit: OCB - Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment

Job Type: Non-staff opportunities

Type of Requisition: Consultant / PSA (Personal Services Agreement)

Grade Level: N/A

Primary Location: Italy-Rome

Duration: Up to 11 months

Post Number: N/A

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device
- FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture.
- Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply;
- Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values
- FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination
- FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations._

**Organizational Setting**

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.

The Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment (OCB) works to ensure that countries and stakeholders respond to the challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation. OCB provides a cross organizational coordination role on issues related to climate change, biodiversity and the environment, and is the focal point to major multilateral environmental agreements including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conferences (UNFCCC), and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The Office also assists FAO Members in their responses towards the interlinked challenges of food security, climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental degradation, including through facilitating access to climate and environmental financing (such as the GEF and the GCF). In addition, OCB hosts the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) Programme, the Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, and the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, as well as FAO's work on environmental safeguards.

**Reporting Lines**

The Communication Specialist will report to and work under the overall supervision of the Knowledge Management Officer in OCB including the content of communications materials developed to ensure communications material is cleared and complies with FAO corporate standards.

**Technical Focus**

Technical advice on the planning, design and implementation of communications and outreach for projects, strategies and services in connection with the FAO Strategic Objectives, field programmes and activities implemented by OCB workstreams on climate change, biodiversity and environment.

**Tasks and Responsibilities**

Experience and demonstrated skills in one or more of the following areas of work:
In close collaboration with Office of Communications (OCC) branches and appropriate Communication focal points, the incumbent will:
Writing
- Support and contribute to the preparation, production and dissemination of knowledge materials, often technical and policy-oriented, including reports, press releases, social media posts, newsletters, and speeches.
- Proofread, edit and ensure all written material is proofread and edited, in adherence with FAO guidelines, style and terminology.
- Develop stories of change and impact based on OCB project results and work at field level.
- Showcase the results and achievements of FAO programmes and projects both internally and externally, in the build up to key events and days, reporting through widely disseminated Op-eds, news articles and web stories.
- Coordinate the production, including liaising with graphic designers, and draft the text of knowledge products (brochures, fact sheets, speaking points, social media messaging, case studies, video scripts, etc.).

Web development
- Create new webpages and migrate websites using Sitefinity.
- Maintain relevant websites and webpages and regularly review and report on analytics.

Outreach including social media campaigns
- Support outreach and promotion of key publications and major events by sharing knowledge materials and results through various FAO social media channels.
- Ensure targeted dissemination plans are in place for knowledge materials and news items to ensure they are widely disseminated to identified audiences including the F