International Consultant: Senior Science Writer and Publication Coordinator

Result of Service

The purpose of this consultancy is to coordinate publication development and provide science writing and editing services. Expected results include a flagship report and its summary for decision makers, two guidance documents, journalistic science communication products related to these reports, and official documentation related to these reports. All of these are to be are written and edited in time and in accordance with UNCCD communications and branding strategy and United Nations editorial rules.

Work Location

Home-based.

Expected duration

50 days between May and September 2026.

Duties and Responsibilities

Background note: Desertification, along with climate change and the loss of biodiversity were identified as the greatest challenges to sustainable development during the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. Established in 1994, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management. The Convention seeks to support countries to address Desertification, Land Degradation, and Drought (DLDD). (www.unccd.int) Underpinning global policy development with sound science is pursued through the UNCCD’s Committee on Science and Technology (CST) and its Science-Policy Interface (SPI) which are responsible for the provision of information and advice on scientific and technological matters relating to desertification, land degradation and drought (DLDD) and the achievement of land degradation neutrality (LDN). The science agenda for the UNCCD for the 2025-2026 biennium is defined in the policy decisions taken by the Conference of the Parties (COP), particularly decisions 15/COP.16 through 22/COP.15. These decisions including requests from Parties to be reported at the UNCCD’s seventeenth sessions of the Conference of the Parties (COP 17), to be held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from 17 to 28 August 2026. A number evidence-based reports are due to be delivered at COP17 which require substantively edited research-based content and editorial management. All of these products must communicate often-complex scientific information in ways that can inform, educate and raise awareness of target audiences, employing accessible, easy-to-understand language while maintaining scientific rigor. These include: 1. The flagship report: The Third edition of the Global Land Outlook (GLO3). The Global Land Outlook (https://www.unccd.int/resources/global-land-outlook/) is the flagship publication of the UNCCD. It aims to communicate evidence-based, policy-relevant information and trends in an accessible way to a variety of stakeholders, including national governments formulating their responses to commitments to better manage and restore land resources and build community and ecosystem resilience to drought. The GLO primarily targets national governments and policymakers, while also informing and mobilizing a broad audience—including civil society, the private sector, Indigenous Peoples, local communities, educators, researchers, media, investors and the general public—to engage them in a global movement focused on tackling desertification, land degradation and drought. Following decisions 20 and 21/COP.16, GLO3 is being developed under the scientific leadership of the 35 experts serving on the Science-Policy Interface (https://www.unccd.int/science/members), as detailed in their work programme (https://www.unccd.int/resources/other/unccd-spi-work-programme-2025-2026). GLO3 aims to raise awareness of the value of land stewardship in building resilience and contributing to human security. 2. First guidance report: Supplementary technical guidelines supporting adaptation to aridity and drought. Following decision 18/COP.16 on knowledge sharing, technology transfer and innovation, a supplement to the UNFCCC National Adaptation Programme technical guidelines is being developed by the UNCCD secretariat in partnership with United Nations University’s Institute for Environment and Human Security. The aim is to support countries in their efforts to adapt to aridity and drought conditions and trends in the context of synergistically addressing DLDD, achieving LDN, averting/ minimizing climate change impacts, addressing the loss of biodiversity and minimizing disaster risk. This work will build upon a recently published guidance supplement entitled “Promoting synergies between land degradation neutrality and climate change adaptation” (https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/LDN-climate-synergies-2025.pdf). 3. Second guidance report: Avoiding, reducing and reversing land and soil degradation of agricultural lands. Following decision 19/COP.16 on agricultural lands, the UNCCD secretariat is collaborating with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to develop guidelines on promoting sustainable land use and responsible governance to prevent and reverse the degradation of agricultural lands and soils, and on promoting sustainable and diverse cropping systems and crops to improve food security and nutrition in the context of climate change and environmental degradation. 4. Official documentation for COP17. For CST17/COP17, the UNCCD secretariat is preparing a series of ten pre session Official Documents for consideration by Parties. These formal reports and information documents, issued under UN document symbols and translated into all official UN languages, present the background, analysis and proposed actions (including draft decisions) for each agenda item. Parties and regional groups rely on them as primary written references when preparing positions and negotiating agreed language, so clarity, neutrality and precision in their drafting are essential. 5. Journalistic science communications. For the launch of the third edition of the GLO3 and the two accompanying technical guidance reports, the science writer/editor will also be responsible for contributing to the drafting of clear, accurate and engaging journalistic science communications (e.g., press releases, talking points, scripts for video messages/speeches), targeting global and regional media and stakeholder audiences. Duties & Responsibilities: Under the overall supervision of the Chief of the Science, Technology and Innovation Unit of the UNCCD (OIC) and the direct supervision of the Chief Scientist, and through consultation with the lead authors of the publications being developed, the consultant will act as senior science writer, editor and report coordinator for the production a flagship report and its summary for policy makers, two guidance documents, three related science-policy briefs and other journalistic science communications related to these reports. This involves ongoing consultations with the UNCCD secretariat, partner organizations, coordinating lead authors, other contributors and reviewers. Tasks to be completed by the consultant include the following: - Manage end-to-end production of flagship GLO3 report and its summary for policy makers and support the production of two guidance documents - Oversee content strategy and key message development - Coordinate with multiple authors and contributors - Compile, edit and finalize the content, including case study descriptions - Ensure that all deliverables are backed up with data, consistent with high scientific standards, properly referenced and logically organized - Manage internal and external consultations for zero, first and final drafts - Support the management of independent scientific review and the review by Parties - Ensure consultation and review comments are incorporated, as needed, into final text - Help develop infographics, graphical elements and storyboards to be designed for both web and print content - Ensure quality and consistency of report content - Manage editorial processes and timelines - Conduct the copyediting and proofing of the reports - Assist in the design and layout, translation and printing of reports • Proof designed documents ahead of printing • Coordinate with communications and outreach teams • Ensure compliance with organizational standards, including the branding and communications strategies of the UNCCD and United Nations editorial rules. The consultant will perform the outlined activities with the understanding that the proposed writing and editing tasks are done in collaboration with the Chief Scientist and other assigned officers, as well as with the substantive authors, and that the final responsibility for the language in publications lies with the authors.

Qualifications/special skills

- An advanced University Degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in journalism and/or natural/environmental science or related discipline is required. - A minimum of 15 years of dedicated experience in scientific/technical manuscript refinement, substantive editing, précis editing, copy editing and proofreading is required. - Substantial publication record of articles, chapters and books in the natural/environmental sciences that target a non-technical audience is desired. - Demonstrated experience with intergovernmental processes focused on global efforts to avoid, reduce and reverse land degradation and build resilience to drought is desired.

Languages

- Fluency in spoken and written English is required. Knowledge of an additional official UN language is an advantage.

Additional Information

Only individuals who can act as independent, individual economical operators are qualified to apply. Individuals who can provide their services only on account of an institution or enterprise are not eligible under this procedure. Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations Secretariat and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultant and individual contractor is responsible for determining tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. For remote consultancies, the selected candidate will be required to have a laptop or desktop PC (with Windows 11 or newer) or Mac (with the latest MacOS update), as well as a reliable, high-speed internet connection. An Office 365 license will be provided by the UNCCD to enable the candidate to access official emails, SharePoint, OneDrive and other office applications, such as Word and Excel. Further computer requirements: An antivirus application which receives regular updates; Browsers must be a newer version with regular updates enabled; Regular Windows 11 updates should be enabled with Windows laptop or PC. In addition, a mobile phone will be required to enable Multifactor Authentication (MFA) through SMS or the Authenticator App.

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.