Communications and Outreach officer

IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together.

Created in 1948, IUCN is now the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,400 Member organisations and around 16,000 experts. IUCN provides a neutral space in which diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities, Indigenous People’s organisations and others can work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development.

Working with many partners and supporters, IUCN implements a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects worldwide. Our Human Rights in Conservation Team is part of the IUCN Secretariat and leads IUCN’s global thematic work on Indigenous Peoples, combining the latest science with the traditional knowledge of Indigenous Peoples, championing rights-based approaches to enhance inclusive conservation within Indigenous territories and advocating for the rights of Indigenous Peoples. Our work actively supports the empowerment, leadership, and conservation efforts of IUCN’s Indigenous Peoples Organization (IPO) Members, as well as other influential Indigenous partners such as the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity (IIFB).

The team works as a delocalised team across several IUCN duty stations with the staff divided between its Washington D.C. Office and Gland-based Headquarters. The incumbent will support the team in tasks related to the communications related to the PODONG Indigenous Peoples Initiative. PODONG Indigenous Peoples Initiative

The Podong Indigenous Peoples Initiative is a global initiative that aims to recognize and support Indigenous peoples’ contributions to the conservation of biodiversity and climate solutions through their indigenous knowledge systems, while ensuring their full and effective leadership and access to adequate resources for the implementation and achievement of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The initiative is co-led and co-designed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), IUCN’s Indigenous Peoples’ Organisation Members (IPOs) and the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity (IIFB), who all have signed an agreement to jointly develop and implement the initiative.

Concretely, the PODONG Indigenous Initiative directly addresses the biodiversity and climate challenges mentioned above. Moreover, IUCN IPO Members and IIFB have directly requested to work more closely with IUCN as a trusted partner in accelerating resource mobilisation for IPs and Local Communities (LCs), through the co-design, co-leadership and co-delivery of biodiversity and climate solutions. This is why since July 2023; we have been working with those IP partners to ensure that action is taken on our institutional commitment along these lines.

The initiative’s ultimate outcome is to maintain, enhance and restore the integrity, connectivity and resilience of globally significant biodiversity located within Indigenous territories. This is achieved through four, mutually supportive pillars, fully co-designed and co-led by Indigenous leaders, that aim to increase inclusive, gender-responsive, and fully financed, Indigenous-led in situ conservation action.

Under the PODONG IP Initiative this specific role will be dedicated to increase the visibility and influence of Indigenous Peoples – particularly women and girls – in global biodiversity and climate fora, focusing specifically on developing the PODONG communication strategy, including a communication plan and branding, taking into account gender considerations.

Job Description:

The Communications Officer will directly support the Indigenous Peoples and Conservation Program of the Human Rights in Conservation Team (HRCT) by raising awareness and addressing their communication needs. This role involves synthesizing knowledge into actionable insights, developing and implementing communication strategies to promote the abovementioned initiative.

Functions and Responsibilities:

Communication Strategy And Implementation:

• Design, implement and monitor the PODONG communication strategy & plan based on the project’s needs.
• Ensure visibility and brand personality of PODONG.
• Maintain and manage PODONG social media pages and website – including the IUCN website – with timely updates and fresh, relevant content, ensuring digital visibility.
• Ensure a well-maintained and continually developed contact list of journalists and media outlets covering all media – print, TV, radio, web etc.
• Develop short news articles, newsletters, blogs and press releases to communicate programme activities and project results.
• Develop social media posts and provide quality content showcasing achievements and ensure updated weekly platforms.
• Communicate with regional teams including with photographers and videographers to ensure that there are constant updates that can be used for social media. . Maintain a library of media coverage (digital publications, press releases, photographs, audio-visual materials, web resources, etc.) and media materials, and ensure monitoring of the use and effectiveness of such materials.
• Step in to review content, proofread and fact check when necessary.
• Support the scaling-up of the Stewarding the Earth Campaign, in preparation to the IUCN second’s iteration of the World Summit of Indigenous Peoples and Nature prior to the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025.
• Coordinate media and content creation efforts before, during, and after IUCN WCC 2025 and UNFCCC COP30, including press releases, live updates, and post-event impact reports to ensure consistent messaging and visibility.
• Support stakeholder-specific advocacy campaigns and side events to promote PODONG and engage key – existing and new – before, during, and after IUCN WCC 2025 and UNFCCC COP30.
• Host webinars as requested by the line manager.
• Undertake any other actions related to communications as requested by the line manager.

Support Major Indigenous Peoples And Conservation Projects Of The Team:

• Lead knowledge exchange and capacity building initiatives under PODONG, to enhance design and implementation strategies that promote equitable access to information and skills.
• Lead on the documentation and disseminate findings, lessons learned, and best practices by leading in the development of knowledge products related to PODONG.
• Foster collaboration between stakeholders to create an enabling environment for the implementation of PODONG, connecting these efforts to broader global agendas on the biodiversity – climate and Indigenous Peoples nexus.
• Coordinate with partners and donors to ensure alignment and support for the strategic goals of the HRCT, enhancing global impact and visibility.

Support Product Development And Creation Of Content:

• Support product development from end-user perspective: lead with conception and design of products such as the PODONG logo, updating of the Stewarding the Earth Campaign website, and developing an interactive communication campaign with IPLCs to highlight their role in biodiversity conservation and contributions to the achievement of the CBD-KMGBF. This includes but is not limited to easy web structures, web stories, storytelling, infographics, factsheets, blogs, etc.
• Review technical content and provide corrections in language (English, Spanish and French) and format to make project knowledge products usable for broad audience.
• Lead on communication activities and products with relevant audience (includes webinars, and/or events).
• Provide support in developing and reviewing educational and training materials.