International Consultant: Communication, Advocacy and Public Awareness

The Zagros Mountains extend along the entire western flank of Iran from the Caucasus Region to the Persian Gulf, up to 400 km wide at some points. This region covers approximately one quarter of the country and is rich and unique in terms of biodiversity, cultural and traditions. The area is home to a vast range of species including over 2,000 species of higher plants and several endangered and endemic mammal species. The Zagros Mountains is also globally significant as it contains globally significant ecosystem, species and genetic diversities. The area is greatly valued as the source for approximately 40% of the country’s water supply and provides a home and a livelihood for approximately 10% of the population. Due to its ecological, economic, social and cultural significance, the Government of Islamic Republic of Iran has been giving a high priority to the sustainable development of the region.

The Zagros Mountains are a complex production landscape with important nature protection areas. The Mountains region has been identified by the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) as one of the country’s most important eco-systems for conservation and improved management. The Central Zagros Landscape Conservation Zone Project which covers just over 2.5 million hectares of the central parts of the Zagros Mountains region is thus a priority programme of the government. The project can be considered as one of the most challenging, innovative and ambitious conservation projects the government of Islamic Republic of Iran has been currently undertaking with the financial and technical support of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) www.thegef.org and UNDP www.undp.org.ir as well as financial contributions by the Government. The project is being implemented by the Department of the Environment of the Islamic Republic of Iran www.irandoe.org and www.cbcz.ir (the Project website). 

This project aims to conserve biodiversity in the Central Zagros Zone through integrated and holistic development processes. The project works at all levels of governance and engages with wide range of actors and stakeholders in four provinces of the Central Zagros region. In order to achieve conservation of biodiversity at the landscape level, the project has been adopting a two prong strategy: i) strengthening the protected area network in the Conservation Zone and; ii) mainstreaming biodiversity conservation into the agriculture, rangelands, forestry, water and tourism sectors. The project will help provincial authorities to develop a new vision to development that integrates economic, social, ecological and religious aims to achieve environmental and developmental sustainability at the larger landscape level. The project will also demonstrate community based conservation approaches by mainstreaming biodiversity at the local level resource planning and management in 8 pilot villages and establish mechanisms to facilitate the dissemination and replication of the successful village approaches. The necessary capacity, at individual, institutional and systemic level, in national agencies will be developed to institutionalize and replicate the innovative approaches to biodiversity conservation being developed in the Zone.

The Conservation of Biodiversity in the Central Zagros Landscape Conservation Zone Project is designed to introduce innovative biodiversity conservation approaches and ensure they are replicated in order to achieve landscape level conservation and sustainable uses of rich biological diversities found in the Zagros region. The project has been adopting partnership and participatory approach to biodiversity conservation. Mainstreaming biodiversity into other production landscapes and sectors is the key strategy adopted to achieve sustainable conservation and development in the Central Zagros region. The success of this project thus depends on successful networking and effective communication with partners and stakeholders engaged in resource management. However, lack of effective coordination and communication among key stakeholders has been observed as one of the big hindrances in achieving the noble objectives of the project. Realizing this, awareness raising is a key element of the project, and includes advocating to national level decision-makers, networking with technical experts, influencing and advocating to national and provincial policy makers, and influencing the behaviour of villagers and the small-scale private sector. Adapted and targeted awareness raising measures is necessary to address all these audiences. Effective awareness and advocacy activities will help strengthen the relationships between sectoral managements, local communities and protected area management, making them mutually supportive to the improvement of biodiversity conservation and livelihood opportunities in the Zagros Mountain region. This consultancy work will design and develop a comprehensive communication strategy, plan and activities as well as conservation awareness and community outreach materials necessary to promote sustainable biodiversity conservation practices at the landscape level. It is commissioned to introduce and ensure best international practices in developing and disseminating project outreach materials.

Under the overall guidance of National Project Manager and technical supervision of International Advisor, the International Consultant: Communication, Advocacy and Public Awareness will closely work with the Communication and Networking Officer (CNO). S/he will work with a “paired” national consultant, and a team of national and provincial experts. The consultant will also receive the support of the Project Central Office, and is integrated with a team of other core international consultants. The consultant will also liaise with the UNDP Communication Officer to ensure full compliance with the corporate communication strategy and approaches.

S/he will report to the DOE with copy to UNDP.

• Prepare a comprehensive project communication strategy with the help and inputs from Communication and Networking Officer;
• Ensure the incorporation of awareness raising into all other activities at the level of the project’s three Outcomes;
• Help CNO to prepare plan for Social Communication and targeted awareness raising campaigns and develop Social Communication techniques to raise awareness at the local level;
• Develop a plan to ensure that any findings from the project are suitably disseminated within and outside the country;
• Together with CNO, help M&E officer to prepare the mechanisms for monitoring the effectiveness of project communication and develop materials for participatory monitoring for community members;
• Review all existing communication materials (print and electronic) to assess their appropriateness and adequacy to promote project’s activities and achievements;
• Design and conduct Training of Trainer (ToT) on conservation education and awareness to project and government staff responsible for extension and education activities;
• Design and develop effective and target oriented communication materials suitable to policy makers, planners, community people and entrepreneurs;  
• Provide necessary technical inputs to establish and manage Participation House and Mountain Biodiversity Resource Centre (MBRC);
• Help CNO in identifying technical team to establish Participation House and MBRC;
• Coordinate a technical team together with Communication and Networking Officer to develop education and interpretation materials/display materials required for Participation House and MBRC;
• Help CNO to design project reports and advocacy materials including webpage, audio-visual materials, posters, etc;
• Develop community mobilization materials/social animation materials in close coordination and cooperation with CNO and National Coordinator for Village Participatory Activities;
• Support as needed, CNO and other thematic coordinators to prepare thematic materials and specific awareness and advocacy materials as well as  in stakeholder networking and information dissemination;
• Provide technical inputs to CNO in organizing workshops, exhibitions, public events and press conferences; 
• Edit technical papers and reports prepared by thematic coordinators and other national consultants;
• Help as required, CNO and other coordinators in designing community outreach activities and effective gender sensitive outreach materials; 
• Help CNO and NPM to establish cross project information sharing and learning mechanisms among partner institutions within targeted landscape and other relevant projects and programmes;
• Ensure the adoption of the best international practices in designing and disseminating development and conservation materials and messages.

Deliverables:

• Comprehensive communication strategy, plan and activities
• ToT on conservation education and extension
• Quality and effective display/interpretation materials for Participation House and MBRC
• Set of targeted communication and outreach materials
• Learning and sharing forum/s at the centre and province
• Timely and quality project reports.
   

Education:

• Advance university degree in journalism, mass communications, rural extension or related fields. Additional specialization or experience in areas of sustainable development/natural resource management is an asset.

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of experience in the field of conservation education and extension with proven practical experience on designing and producing effective outreach materials;
• Adequate working experience in multicultural environment and sensitive to local culture and traditions;
• Understanding of development paradigms and socio-cultural situation of Iran;     
• Good level of computer skills, electronic networks and software used for communication purposes (i.e. Website, electronic bulletin, etc.),
• Ability to work in a team, under pressure and ability to meet deadlines.

Language requirements:

• Fluency in written and spoken English.