In September 2015, the world’s leaders signed off on the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), a global agreement identifying the world’s priorities for the next 15 years.

Since 2012, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has been a force for innovation in the development arena. UNDP recognizes that if we shall ever achieve the SDGs in this increasingly complex world where development challenges are continuously emerging and changing – particularly now in a COVID19-world - there is an urgent need to move away from business as usual and respond with agile and flexible solutions.

The SDGs are still not fully integrated across different sectors, and many companies lack the knowledge to engage with them in practice. This project constitutes a first major step towards systematically implementing the SDGs in the maritime sector and is implemented in partnership with Danish Maritime and funded by the Maritime Foundation. The Maritime SDG Accelerator will identify the maritime companies’ needs for assistance when working with the SDGs, introduce the Goals to the entire industry, carry out an in-depth course in sustainable business development with 10 maritime companies with adapted material from the SDG Accelerator for SMEs and spread knowledge about the use of SDGs in the maritime sector. (The SDG Accelerator for SMEs is an innovation progamme in UNDP that was piloted with 32 companies in Denmark in 2018 and 2019: www.sdg-accelerator.org

The project coordinator will work for UNDP Nordic Representation Office on implementing the Maritime SDG Accelerator in Denmark.

The communication and programme consultant works directly with the project manager at Danish Maritime and the project manager of the commissioned consultancy group on implementing the Maritime SDG Accelerator and is supervised by the Head of the SDG Accelerator Programme (Private Sector and Partnership Analyst).

Scope of work

The communication and programme consultant will conduct project management, coordination and communication related to the implementation of the Maritime SDG Accelerator in Denmark.

Broadly, the consultant will ensure effective delivery of the 4 phases of the project:

1. Output: Needs assessment

Activities: Mapping the maritime sector’s needs and readiness to integrate the SDGs.
 

2. Output: Introductory SDG workshop for the maritime sector

Activities: Based on the needs assessment the consultant will plan and facilitate a workshop (possibly virtually) focused on how maritime companies can engage with the SDGs and sustainable business development in a broader sense.
 

3. Output: In-depth course, Maritime SDG Accelerator

Activities: Support ten selected companies in a business development process that can alter maritime enterprises into being frontrunners for inspiration through a 12-month (approx.) in-depth course focused on developing sustainable solutions such as products, services and business models with commercial potential.

4. Output: Information Promotion

Activities: Danish Maritime and the UNDP will utilize the project to spread knowledge about the SDGs both nationally and internationally. The consultant will plan and execute an event for that.

Specific duties and responsibilities include:  

• Provide technical support to the Maritime SDG Accelerator’s senior management. This includes preparation of speeches, briefs, blogs and op-eds for senior management, and preparing and delivering external presentations on UNDP’s work with the private sector, SDGs and innovation;
• Present the Maritime SDG Accelerator to audiences upon request;
• Lead on logistics;
• Lead on drafting ‘blueprint’ for the Maritime SDG Accelerator that builds on the SDG Accelerators innovation curriculum, tools and methodologies;
• Build up capacity among employees at Danish Maritime to be able to support its member companies with integrating the SDGs after the project in the future;
• Participate in the design and pursuit of concepts for successor arrangements from 2020/21 and onwards;
• Ensure that results are documented and support the communication of results to the donor (Maritime Foundation) and in UNDP internally;
• Undertake timely and precise reporting to the funder (the Maritime Foundation) in close cooperation with Danish Maritime;
• Support the establishment of a private sector learning hub that will provide training to UNDP Country Offices that are to adapt and implement SDG Accelerators in their countries;
• Conduct training in methodology and tools of the SDG accelerator for SMEs to UNDP country offices;
• Support elements of the implementation of other SDG Accelerator programmes;
• Other tasks as needed.

Functional competencies

• Experience with working for development organizations in the areas of communications and/or project management relevant to the scope of work; 
• Proven ability to successfully manage projects;
• Proven ability to successfully manage communication, PR and advocacy for projects.
• Knowledge about private sector engagement with the SDGs; 
• Strong familiarity with international development issues, including Agenda 2030;
• Excellent organizational and coordinating skills;
• Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure;
• Previous work experience working within/with the UN

Corporate competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP, and partner organizations:
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Excellent understanding of international development issues and knowledge of the UN system

Required Skills and Experience

Education

• A university degree in international relations, communications, or related field.

Experience

• A minimum of 5 years’ experience in relevant field.

Language skills:

• Fluency in written and spoken English and Danish.

Application Process:

Interested individual consultants must include the following documents when submitting the applications in UNDP job shop (Please note that only 1 (one) file can be uploaded therefore please include all documents in one file):

• Updated CV as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references.
• Cover letter describing of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment.