Overview
Announcement for Consultancy (Consultant)
Strategic Communications Specialist
Communications & Engagement Division
Deadline Announcement Expected date Duration of Duty Station
for application number for entry on duty appointment
09 August 2026 26/CON09/C&E As soon as possible 18 months (August Remote
2026-November
23:59 hrs CET 2027) for 313 days
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 Within 3 weeks of contract • Timeliness and quality of outputs
to promote awareness and commencement and within 4
understanding of the PYCC weeks of appointment of
role, work plan and impact COP 32 PYCC
2. Clear, compelling and Initial ideas within 2 weeks • Timeliness and quality of outputs
consistent narrative for the of contract commencement,
PYCC that advances youth then ongoing,
engagement objectives and including update once COP
supports broader 32 PYCC is appointed
Presidency outcomes
3. Audience-focused Ongoing including events • Quality of outputs
multimedia content
4. Coordinated production Ongoing • Comprehensiveness of content
and dissemination of capture and dissemination
content from PYCC-related
activities
5. Speeches, talking points, Ongoing • Timeliness and quality of outputs
briefing notes and
communication materials
6. Real-time editorial support At events • Comprehensiveness, timeliness and
during events, including quality of output
messaging updates
and content drafting
Timeframe
Duration: 18 months (August 2026 - November 2027).
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.