General Notices

The St. Augustine Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (STACIE), University of the West Indies, and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) have entered into a technical assistance program for the implementation of a monitoring verification and reporting (MRV) system for mangrove ecosystems in the region. The MRV program will provide a science-based data platform on the sequestration and release of blue carbon in mangrove systems for participant countries of the United Kingdom's Blue Carbon Fund administered by the IDB. The Fund was established to help reduce the negative impacts of climate change on blue carbon ecosystems. The regional MRV is to be used to help monitor the progress of the projects that are to be implemented under the Fund.

The MRV operation is being executed by STACIE, research innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem of the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago. With this MRV system, the blue carbon projects of the Fund will be able to: (i) Improve the valuation of ecosystem services provided by mangrove ecosystems; (ii) Potentially include blue carbon data in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) schemes, Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) programs, UNFCCC National Communications, and carbon markets programs; (iii) Utilize an MRV system for results-based payments under a reforestation programme.

Read on for more details on the project and the available position:

Job Title: Communications Specialist

Duration of Contract: The contract will be for a period of 18 months

Expected Start Date: September 01, 2024

Places of work: Home-Based with paid travel for workshops and conferences. Work at the St. Augustine Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (STACIE) office will be required at times.

Responsibilities:

The objective of this consultancy is to communicate key and strategic messages of the project to all stakeholders and beneficiaries to ensure maximum impact.

The specific objectives of this consultancy are:

-          To manage the relationships between STACIE, the IDB, project teams, beneficiaries and stakeholders.

-          To formulate and implement the communications and outreach strategy.

-          To elaborate and provide inputs on documents for public dissemination.

-          To manage the design and maintenance of media platforms for promotion of the project to boost visibility.

-          To manage digital media monitoring, archiving and dissemination.

SCOPE OF SERVICES/TASKS

The main activities of this consultancy include:

-          Preparing and providing inputs for all Terms of Reference documents related to communication, knowledge dissemination and public awareness activities.

-          Assisting with supervising the implementation of all communication activities with STACIE, and the IDB including but not limited to the Communications Strategy; workshops and conferences, the Community of Practice; and the regional data and knowledge-sharing platform and other strategic activities.

-          Reviewing deliverables/products related to communication, knowledge awareness and public awareness activities.

-          Coordinating, editing and disseminating communications materials.

-          Assisting with the coordination of media activities on a national and regional level.

-          Providing communications support and guidance for Project Implementation Unit staff.

-          Tracking the effectiveness of deliverables in the communication plan.

-          Maintaining a system for sustainable handover and continuation of the knowledge sharing after the consultancy has ended

Qualifications

Minimum Academic Qualification:

-          The consultant should have a Bachelor Degree in Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, communications, or related field areas.

-          Fluency in oral and written Spanish.

Experience:

 At least 5 years of experience managing communication for projects of a similar nature, preferably but not limited to the public sector.

At least 5 years of experience working in the field of environmental studies and/or climate change. At least 3 years of experience using digital communication tools and platforms with regional reach.

Specific experience

 Experience in marketing campaigns for internationally-funded projects in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Experience in branding, digital marketing, graphic design documentation and media releases for environmentally based projects.

 Demonstration of a good understanding of the Blue Economy in Latin America and the Caribbean.

General knowledge of ocean resources management, economic innovation and recovery.

Specific Skills:

The consultant should demonstrate the following skills:

-          Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.

-          Proven ability to advise and train users in complex systems/applications and related matters and effectively prepare specifications and other written reports/documentation in a clear and concise style.

-          Ability to design a communication plan with indicators to monitor/track the efficacy of the communication plan/tools.

-          Proven track record of previous work with stakeholders such as governments and/or multilaterals

Your expression of interest letter accompanied by your curriculum vitae should be submitted in writing at the St Augustine Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, St Augustine Campus, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad, W.I. or by email: STA-DirectorSTACIE@sta.uwi.edu with copy to: STA-MRVProject@sta.uwi.edu , Farrah.mathura@sta.uwi.edu

The deadline for submission of applications is Tuesday, July 30, 2024.

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