AFCIA COMMS Lead

Result of ServiceThe objective of this assignment is to design and implement comprehensive communication and knowledge management strategies for the Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator (AFCIA II) and its Coordination Services Programme, enhancing visibility, coherence, and dissemination of innovative, locally led climate adaptation technologies and lessons globally. The communication lead will be responsible for the delivery of AFCIA II output 3.3 “Knowledge and capacity on adaptation technologies through Digital Public Goods, amongst other instruments” and AFCIA coordination services component 3 “Communication and Knowledge Management services for increased dissemination and adoption of successful adaptation innovations and technologies globally” while supporting the implementation of the rest of the projects’ components and outputs as relevant. Work LocationRemote Expected duration1 year Duties and ResponsibilitiesThe Adaptation Fund (AF) was established by the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol of the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change to finance concrete adaptation projects and programs in developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. As of 1 January 2019, the Fund started serving the Paris Agreement. The AFCIA programme was established in 2020, aligned to the Adaptation Fund Strategic Pillar 2 on Innovation, which aims to support rolling out and scaling up successful innovations, encourage and accelerate new adaptation practices, tools and technologies, and generate evidence on the conditions that lead to successful innovation. It encourages, as part of an innovation approach partnerships, iteration, learning and adaptive management. The 5 million usd AFCIA phase I programme implemented by UNEP (Multilateral Implementing Entity) and executed by CTCN provided 25 technical assistances in 23 countries between 2020 and 2025 reaching close to 99.5 million people. The “AFCIA-UNEP II in Support of Innovation for Adaptation” was approved by the Adaptation Fund in April 2024 at its 42nd Board meeting. Supported by UNEP & CTCN, its implementation officially started on April 2025 for 5 years with a budget of 10Million USD. The second phase of the AFCIA programme (AFCIA II) aims to support developing countries in testing, scaling up, and embedding innovative, transformative, and locally led climate adaptation technologies within National Systems of Innovation to enhance resilience and reduce vulnerability to climate change. This will be done through the delivery of 60 Technical Assistance projects—including 40 micro-grants to pilot innovations and 20 assistances to scale up successful solutions and strengthen enabling environments. The Project: “Coordination Services for the Special Financing Window in Support of Innovation for Adaptation (AFCIA)” was approved by the Adaptation Funds on October 2024 during its 43rd Board meeting. Its implementation will start in January 2026 for 3 years with a budget of USD 3Million. This project aims to coordinate and provide key support services to the 5 Adaptation Fund Implementing Entities (IEs) managing AFCIA funding including UNEP/CTCN (10 million usd), UNDP (5 million usd), UNIDO (10 million usd), WFP (10 million usd), the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) (5 million usd), and the Pacific Community (SPC) (5 million USD). The Coordination Services aims to strengthen the coherence, performance, and visibility of the AFCIA programme through coordinated management, monitoring, learning, and knowledge-sharing services including the development of a joint M&E framework and knowledge products to feature impact. UNEP & CTCN are recruiting a communication lead to design and implement the communication strategies of both AFCIA II and Coordination Services programmes; produce and disseminate evidence to support long-term transformation from small adaptation innovation pilots to large-scale implementation contributing to systemic change. The communication lead will be supervised by CTCN programme lead and UNEP Programme Officer and requested to work closely with 1) AFCIA project manager & coordinator, IT, MEAL, gender and technology specialists, 2) AFCIA II project proponents, CTCN delivery consortium and 3) All AFCIA Implementing Entities (IEs) Project Managers and Communication officers. The communication lead will be expected to contract and supervise the relevant service providers including IT, photographs, impact report consultants, designers and other comms related support as necessary to accomplish its tasks. Qualifications/special skillsAdvanced university degree in design, communications, journalism, knowledge management, education, environment or related disciplines At least 5 years of experience in developing and implementing communications programs at an international level. Experience in assessing communications needs and developing/implementing communication strategies Previous assignments in convening stakeholders / facilitating global knowledge networks of actors. Demonstrated experience in creating knowledge and communication products including impact reports, publications, social media posts, online articles, press releases, videos, reports, blogs, snapshots, storytelling or similar documents Past experience in the environment/climate sector, past work on climate change adaptation would be a strong advantage LanguagesProficient in written and spoken English (Mandatory) Additional InformationA. Travel applicable with arrangement and payment by UNEP B. Output/Work Assignments 1. UNEP CTCN AFCIA II sub programme Under UNEP CTCN AFCIA II Sub programme, the consultant will be responsible to implement Output 3.3 \"Knowledge and capacity on adaptation technologies through Digital Public Goods, amongst other instruments\" is built. which includes the following activities: 1) Develop and implement a communication strategy: • Review and enhance the UNEP CTCN AFCIA II communication strategy and the outreach and capacity building plan and align them with the wider AFCIA programme communication strategy. 2) Ensure Knowledge Sharing: • Identify lessons learned and provide guidelines to ensure that approaches to promoting innovative, transformative and locally-led climate adaptation technologies are replicable • Formulate at least 5 project (success) stories that could demonstrate gender empowerment • Develop at least 3 technology factsheets. 3) Organize virtual and in-person events with the support of the team • Organize at least one knowledge transfer workshop or regional workshops based on what seems relevant, with all selected project proponents to exchange on their experience, lessons learnt and way forward • Organize online and in person events in the margin of relevant international conferences such as the Regional Climate Weeks every year. • Support the creation of Digital Public Goods and platforms. Digital Public Goods and platforms are defined as a freely available and open- source software that can be as an instrument to spread widely learning and sharing on adaptation technologies. • Compile the existing documents and data, write additional text where necessary and coordinate the translations, the layout as well as the printing process. 2. AFCIA Coordination Services Programme Under the Coordination Services, the consultant will be expected to support the implementation of Component 1 on \"coordination, management and monitoring\" and component 2 on \"the creation of Systems of innovations to support the development and diffusion of innovative adaptation practices, tools and technologies\". The communication lead will also be expected to lead on the implementation of component 3 \"Communication and Knowledge Management services for increased dissemination and adoption of successful adaptation innovations and technologies globally\". Related tasks include: 1) Component 1: Coordination, management and monitoring services to support programme implementation and performance • Develop the communication strategy of the global USD 40 M AF programme. This should include: a. Review AF COMMS guidelines, definition and objectives. b. Analyze the strategies and best practices from other Implementing Entities, UN agencies, and other important players of the climate change sector. c. Organize interviews with the different IEs and facilitate regular meetings with their respective COMMS manager. d. Develop the branding, key communication messages, channels, products, target audiences and a media strategy component e. Develop workplan, results framework and budget. • Implement the multi-media communication strategy and deliver communication results. a. Supervise the creation, maintenance and regular update the AFCIA joint webpage. b. Publish content on the joint AFCIA webpage and social medias about the projects implemented under AFCIA c. Create and update an interactive online dashboard reflecting projects by countries and the core indicators approved at global level d. Coordinate with each IE´s comms department to achieve higher visibility of some key products under UNDP, UNEP, UNIDO, WFP, SPC • Support the organization of Coordination Services Programme Steering Committee (PSC) meetings through preparation of inputs on the communications strategy. The PSC will meet twice a year to steer AFCIA implementation. One PSC meeting per year will be held in-person in margins of the annual international conferences. The second one will be held virtually 2) Component 2: Systems of innovations created to support the development and improvement and scale up of innovative adaptation practices, tools and technologies • Support the organization and marketing of the regional hub events that will take place in year 2 (2027) and year 3 (2028) of the programme. The first one will aim at strengthening the ideation process and establish a profile for AFCIA among potential investors, while the second hub will aim at building on and strengthening the profile of AFCIA among potential investors. • Establish and facilitate the Community of Practice that will be include the different Implementing Entities, national focal points, project proponents by proposing innovative and attractive ways to engage with all these partners, extract lessons learnt, guiding practices, etc. • Develop summary report of CoP learning sessions highlighting key takeaways and recommendations for scaling adaptation technologies 3) Component 3: Communication and Knowledge Management services for increased dissemination and adoption of successful adaptation innovations and technologies globally • Develop joint high-impact stories, thematic good practice factsheets and a knowledge publication to increase the visibility of AFCIA II global programme • Organize specific geographic and thematic dissemination events. No FeeTHE 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.