Event Coordinator, Outreach, and Communication Consultant for the Sustainable Debt Coalition

Result of Service

4. Ultimate result, deliverables and outputs of the consultancy - One communication strategy and outreach plan. The strategy should list the key priorities for external communication by the official launch event of the SDC. - One onboarding package for new members. The package should provide necessary information for new members, including but not limited to the SDC concept note, governance charter, a Q&A flyer, and key policy recommendations or proposals. - One SDC official website developed. In collaboration with the technical team and legal team at the ECA, the official website shall be developed before the official launch event. - Regular meetings serviced for SDC members states. Regular meetings service as platforms for members to decide the strategic directions and actions. - Three advocacy events held at international forums. - Support provided to the official launch event by the end of 2024.

Work Location

ECA - Home-based

Expected duration

10 months

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Background Limited access to new affordable finance and high servicing costs on existing debt pose a significant challenge for developing countries, which are already grappling with the social and economic repercussions of multiple crises, including the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ongoing war, and the impacts of climate change. In Africa, over 57 percent of countries spend more on interest for external debt than on health. Over 17 per cent spend more on debt services than on education. To support developing countries to achieve their climate change goals and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Sustainable Debt Coalition (SDC) was announced at the Finance Day of COP27 in November 2022 as platform for collaboration among debtors and creditors, advocating for comprehensive reform of the global sovereign debt architecture. The SDC aims to increase the available finance for green development efforts, by helping to reduce green borrowing costs for developing countries, improve financing terms and ease of implementation, and address other debt issues. ECA serves as the interim secretariat of the Coalition at the request of the COP 27 Egyptian Presidency. Since its announcement, over 20 nations have expressed interest in joining the Coalition. In March 2023, the goals of the Coalition were endorsed by the 55th Conference of Ministers of the Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa. The Coalition has met informally, including on the margins of the meetings of the IMF and World Bank, the Summit on a New Global Financing Pact in Paris, AfDB annual meetings, and the 4th International Conference on SIDS. The priorities of the Coalition focus on transformational measures with potential for global support, including accelerated credit enhancement, use of bonds with debtor-defined key performance indicators (KPIs) including sustainability-linked bonds, climate-resilient debt clauses, adoption of the sustainable budgeting approach, and facilitation of debt-for-climate swaps and other innovative financing instruments. 2. Objective and scope of consultancy The overall objective of the consultancy is to operationalize the SDC and lead the event management, communication and external relations workstream of the secretariat. The consultant will be responsible for the daily, management of the SDC relations with its different stakeholders, for drafting a communication and outreach strategy for the SDC, servicing current and potential members, creating external communication materials, organizing SDC events, and maintain good relationships with external partners and all stakeholders. 3. Duties and responsibilities The consultant will work under the supervision of the chief of the Green and Blue Economy Section, in close collaboration with other divisions or sub-regional offices of the ECA, in particular, the Sub-regional office in North Africa, and under the overall guidance of the director of the CFSND. The consultant will design and implement the overarching communication strategy and plan for the SDC to expand its memberships, strengthen partnerships, and raise public awareness of the SDC, through managing website contents, servicing SDC members, and supporting event planning and advocacy campaigns. With the view to perform above duties, the consultant will carry out the following tasks and activities: - Coordinate the SDC secretariat/task force activities to develop the SDC - Develop the overarching communication strategy and outreach plan. - Prepare one onboarding package for new members to the SDC. - Design, create and update the SDC website contents, in collaboration with a technical/legal team designated by ECA. - Organize and document regular meetings and advocacy events for the SDC members. - Draft event concept notes, invitation letters, social media contents, and other advocacy/ campaign materials. - Draft background reports, policy briefs, news release, and other communication materials as required.

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in the field of Public policy, public relations, communication, journalism, international economics, international development or a related field from a recognized university/institution. A first-level university degree in the above specified fields in combination with 2 additional years of experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Experience • At least 3 years of experience in different areas highlighted above, including coordinating secretariat/task force activities; or developing and implementing communication strategies and plan in the international context; or working with different stakeholders in an international context. • Proven experience in managing stakeholders’ relation and outreaches. • Excellent communication skills, with analytic capacity and ability to synthesize relevant collected data and findings. • Excellent writing, editing and proofreading skills. • Experience in event organization, especially in the context of climate change, development finance, debt management or sustainable development.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in English and French is required for the consultancy. Knowledge an additional official UN language is an advantage. Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish are the official languages of the United Nations Secretariat.

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.