Communications Assistant

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) works in approximately 170 countries and territories, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty and the reduction of inequality and exclusion. The program helps countries to developing policies, leadership skills, partnership skills, institutional capacities, and to building resilience to sustainable development results.

UNDP implements several projects in different areas, offering its partners technical, operational and management assistance through access to methodologies, specialized knowledge, specialized advice and a wide international network of technical cooperation.

To contribute to human development, poverty reduction and the country’s growth in priority areas, UNDP Brazil has a constant mission to align its services with the needs of a dynamic, multifaceted and diverse country. The projects are carried out in partnership with the Brazilian government, international financial institutions, the private sector and civil society.

Brazil received resources from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) for the project “Payments for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation in developing countries (REDD+) results for results achieved by Brazil in the Amazon biome in 2014 and 2015” (Projeto Floresta+ Amazônia).

The results-based payments received by Brazil from the GCF will contribute to the implementation of Brazil’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) forest sector actions and the general objective of Brazil’s National Strategy for REDD+ (ENREDD+). This project has two main results:

i. Development of a pilot Project for Payment of Environmental Services for the Conservation and Recovery of Native Vegetation (Projeto Floresta+ Amazônia); and
ii. Strengthen the implementation of Brazil’s ENREDD+, through improvements to its structure and governance systems

The communication activities of the Floresta+ Amazônia Project are constant and transversal, covering all stages of its implementation process. It is strategic throughout the scope of the project, as it is responsible for processes and dynamics of articulation, mobilization, dissemination and accountability, involving a group of actors, such as beneficiaries, local governments, civil society organizations, UNDP, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MMA) and other partners.

The Floresta+ Amazonia Project is implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MMA), with resources from the Green Climate Fund (GCF). Among the areas of action of the Floresta+ Amazônia Project is the support and strengthening of the National REDD+ Strategy (ENREDD+) through improvements in its structure, instruments and governance systems (Result 2). To strengthen ENREDD+, five strategies were initially established:
i. the expansion of forest monitoring and improvement of MRV systems for REDD+;
ii. the development of a public policy impact matrix;
iii. the improvement of Brazil’s REDD+ Safeguards Information System (SISREDD+);
iv. strengthening participation mechanisms in ENREDD+ and;
v. promoting exchange and South-South Cooperation on climate change and forests.

The UN Volunteer Communications Assistant will support the Floresta+ Amazônia Project in activities to support ENREDD+ (Output 2). The activities to be developed will involve:
i) production and review of texts, in order to ensure that internal and external communication is effective and transparent;
ii) review of reports;
iii) production and layout of communication pieces, such as cards, flyers, folders and layouts;
iv) event coverage;
v) transformation of report texts into content for websites and social networks;
vi) knowledge management activities, and;
vi) monitoring and recording of monitoring indicators of communication activities.

They will also be responsible for producing content and updating the websites http://redd.mma.gov.br and http://combateaodesmatamento.mma.gov.br , and/or other communication demands from the Extraordinary Secretariat for Deforestation Control and Territorial Environmental Planning / MMA.

Under the supervision of the Communication Adviser of the Floresta+ Amazônia Project, the UN Volunteer Communications Assistant will undertake the following tasks:

• Participate, cover and produce content at meetings of the National Commission for REDD+ (CONAREDD+).
• Participate, cover and produce content for events and activities related to the REDD+ agenda.
• Review and edit/design reports.
• Create and diagram communication pieces such as cards, flyers, slides and folders.
• Adapt report texts to suitable content for websites and social networks.
• Produce relevant and updated content for the websites http://redd.mma.gov.br and http://combateaodesmatamento.mma.gov.br . Regularly update websites with new information and content.
• Develop specific content to meet the communication demands of the Extraordinary Secretariat for Deforestation Control and Territorial Environmental Planning of the MMA.
• Collaborate with the Secretariat team to ensure the cohesion and effectiveness of the messages transmitted.
• Analyse and edit reports to ensure clarity and accuracy.
• Adapt reports to friendly formats for websites and social networks

Expected results/products:

• The UN Volunteer is expected to provide efficient, agile, friendly and high-quality support provided to the MMA and its services and collaborators in carrying out their functions, including:

i. Support communication to be efficient, plural, diverse and strategic in dissemination, transparency, articulation and mobilization with beneficiaries, local governments, partners, project teams, MMA and UNDP.
• The Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment.
• A final statement of achievements in relation to volunteering for peace and development during the mission, such as reports on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capabilities developed.

Furthermore, United Nations Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteer Program into their duties and promote voluntary actions through the engagement of communities in the course of their work. As such, United Nations Volunteers should dedicate part of their working time to doing some of the suggested activities:

• Expand their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteering by reading relevant UNV or external publications and actively participating in UNV activities (for example, in events marking International Volunteer Day);
• Know and strengthen traditional and/or local forms of volunteering in the host country.
• Prepare annual and end-of-work reports on results and opportunities.
• Contribute with articles/essays about field experiences and submit them to UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.
• Assist the UNV Buddy Program for newly arrived UN Volunteers.
• Promote or advise local groups in engaging in online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use UNV’s online volunteering service whenever technically possible.