The United Nations Environment Programme 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.

At the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, world leaders agreed on a comprehensive strategy for ‘sustainable development’. One of the key agreements adopted at Rio was the Convention on Biological Diversity. The Convention has three main objectives: the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the use of genetic resources.

The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD) is located in Montreal and is administered by United Nations Environment Programme. This post is located in the Convention on Biological Diversity, Science, Society and Sustainable Futures Division (SSSF). Under the overall supervision of the Deputy Executive Secretary, Office of the Executive Secretary (OES) and the direct supervision of the Head of the Communication and Awareness Unit (CA), the incumbent will perform the following duties:

Responsibilities

A. Produces and disseminates a range of information/communication products such as press briefs, newsletters and other publications, brochures, speeches, social media posts and other multi-media products. Responsibilities include tasks related to programme management/project management and implementation assistance at all phases of the production cycle; editing, and copy-editing, collection and synthesis of information, photo selection. Liaises with contributors, designers and printers as required. B. Contributes to the development and production of communications information products by, inter alia, preparing drafts, providing editorial and production support, including through researching and drafting content for a range of day to day such as press releases, statements and communiques for the Executive Secretary, documents, articles, briefings/debriefings, correspondence, social media content. C. Conducts research, drafts communications plans and develops materials for various Secretariat outreach campaigns, including, but not limited to, the International Day for Biological Diversity, international and United Nations days, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity, toolkits and the global climate change agenda. D. Updates media lists and nurtures relationship with representatives of the media. Assists with media preparations for meetings of the Conference of the Parties to the CBD, (COP) including assisting in managing press conferences, monitoring media reporting of concern to the CBD, and managing media accreditation in collaboration with the host government. E. Contributes to the preparation of documents for intergovernmental meetings and other meetings of the CBD, including COPs and subsidiary bodies. F. Participates and assists in various coordination groups in the Secretariat. G. Disseminates internal communications products within the CBD, as well as biodiversity-related stories of interest to all subscribers through the daily CBD News Headlines. H. Handles any other task as required.