Contract  type:  Appointment  of  limited  duration  (ALD)  
Grade:  P2  
Organization:  UNESCO,  Natural  Sciences,  Division  of  Water  Sciences,   
UN  World  Water  Assessment  Programme  (WWAP)  
  
Date:  9  August  2010  
Deadline  for  applications:  14  September  2010  
Duty  station:  Perugia,  Italy  
Duration:  1  year,  renewable  up  to  a  maximum  of  2  years  in  total  
  
Background  

The  World  Water  Assessment  Programme  (WWAP)  is  a  United  Nations  system‐wide  effort  to  develop  the  tools  and  skills  needed  to  achieve  a better  understanding  of  processes,  management  practices  and  policies  that  help  improve  the  supply  and  quality  of  global  freshwater resources. Founded  in  2000,  WWAP  is  a  program  of  UN‐Water,  hosted  and  led  by  UNESCO.  
 
The  principal  objective  of  the  programme  is  to  assess  and  report  on  the  state,  use  and  management  of  the  world’s  freshwater  resources  and the  demands  on  these  resources,  define  critical  problems  and  assess  the  ability  of  nations  to  cope  with  water‐related  stress  and  conflict.  Its primary  product,  the  UN  World  Water  Development  Report,  is  produced  every  three  years.  
 
Initially  housed  in  UNESCO’s  headquarters  in  Paris,  the  WWAP  Secretariat  has  been  relocated  to  Perugia,  Italy.  
  
Scope  of  work  

The  consultant  will  be  a  core  member  of  the  WWAP  team,  operating  under  the  supervision  of  the  Deputy  Coordinator  and  in  close collaboration  with  other  members  of  the  WWAP  Secretaria.   The  consultant  will  be  responsible  for  the  implementation  of  WWAP’s communications  and  for  collaborating  on  outreach  activitis.   Specifically,  the  consultant  will  be  expected  to:  

(1) Implement  WWAP’s  communications  strategy  and  work  plan  for  the  programme’s  fourth‐phase  (2010‐2012)  objectives,  and  the  development and  implementation  of  a  communications  strategy  for  the  launch  of  the  fourth  UN  World  Water  Development  Reort  (March  2012).  

(2) Coordinate  media  relations,  including:   

• Drafting  press  advisories,  press  releases,  coordinating  interviews,  monitoring  media  coverage, responding  to  journalists’  inquiries  and  media  requests  in  close  collaboration  with  the responsible/relevant  programme  officer(s).
• Identify  and  prioritize  critical  WWAP  objectives,  products  and  activities  that  can  achieve  higher  visibility  through  media  support;  coordinate  and  plan  activities  with  partners’  media  networks.  

(3) Coordinate  the  development  and  dissemination  of  WWAP  messages,  advocacy  tools  and  other  products,  including:  

• Outreach  activities  for  dissemination  of  WWDR  messages.  
• Preparation  of  communication  and  promotional  material.  
• Supporting/coordinating  WWAP  participation  in  international  events,  including  preparation  of  material  and  coordination  with  partner  organizations  and  guests.  
• Management  and  development  of  the  WWAP  website  and  newsletter  and  related  on‐line  tools.  

(4) Assist in  developing  WWAP's  internal  knowledge  base.  

(5) Monitor and  report  results  and  impacts  of  WWAP’s  communications  activities.   

  
Qualifications  

• Excellent  verbal  and  written  communications  skills.  
• Demonstrated  experience  working  an  international  context  with  a  variety  of  stakeholders,  such  as  senior  government  officials  and  United  Nations  professionals,  journalists,  policy‐ and  decision‐makers.  
• An  established  track  record  in  communications  and  media  outreach.  In  particular,  familiarity  with  content‐management‐based  websites  such  as  typo3.  
• Basic  knowledge  of  the  international  water  sector.  
• Demonstrated  ability  to  take  initiative  and  work  independently.  
• Graduate  degree  in  a  relevant  discipline.  
• A  minimum  of  five  years  relevant  professional  work  experience.  
• Fluency  in  English  is  required.   Additional  language  skills  are  a  plus,  especially  French,  Spanish  or  Italian.  
• Knowledge  of  UNESCO  and/or  UN  communications,  outreach,  knowledge  dissemination  and  knowledge  management  practices  are  a  plus.  

Expected  scope  and  duration  of  assignment  

• The  successful  candidate  will  be  hired  for  a  period  of  one  year  of  full‐time  work,  starting  18  October  2010.   
• The  position  may  involve  international  travel  and  is  based  in  Perugia,  Italy.   

To  apply  (Deadline  for  submission  is  14  September  2010):  

Please  send  a  cover  letter  and  CV  to  wwap@unesco.org  with  the  subject  line  “Application  for  WWAP  Communications  Consultant”.