Consultant, Senior Communications Specialist

Consultant, Senior Communications Specialist, ACF

The Organization

The Alliance of Champions for Food Systems Transformation (ACF) is a strategic coalition of ambitious countries determined to act urgently, together. Launched at COP28 in Dubai, signatories to the Alliance are committing to driving bold, coordinated action, taking a ‘whole of government’ approach to transforming their food systems such that they deliver better outcomes across 5 key areas: Food nutrition and security; adaptation and resilience; equity and livelihoods; nature and biodiversity; and climate mitigation. ACF countries are working to improve their national food systems in ways that become attractive blueprints for others to follow, showcasing national leadership, facilitating learning, disseminating knowledge and accelerating innovation. ACF members include Brazil and Sierra Leone (co-chairs) plus Cambodia, Colombia, Italy, Norway, Rwanda and Vietnam.

About the Position

On behalf of ACF, the Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) is seeking a qualified Senior Communications Specialist to provide strategic communications support to the ACF Secretariat, contributing to the development and delivery of high‑impact communications products that strengthen the visibility, credibility, and influence of the Alliance.

The consultant will support ACF's efforts to advance ambitious, country‑led food systems transformation by developing communications strategies, messaging frameworks, thought leadership content, advocacy materials, and stakeholder engagement products. Working closely with the ACF Secretariat, member countries, communications partners, and other consultants, the consultant will contribute to positioning ACF as a recognised voice on food systems transformation through the production of high‑quality communications outputs for key policy, advocacy, and global engagement opportunities.

Responsibilities

1. Strategic Communications and Positioning (30%)

• Develop and periodically update strategic communications recommendations aligned with ACF's advocacy and organisational objectives.
• Develop and refine messaging frameworks, narrative guidance and positioning materials for priority policy and advocacy themes.
• Assess opportunities for strengthening ACF's visibility and influence across relevant policy areas, including climate, biodiversity, finance, resilience, security, health and trade.
• Prepare strategic recommendations on priority communications opportunities, channels, audiences and areas of focus.
• Develop guidance materials to support alignment between global ACF communications and member‑country communications efforts.

2. Thought Leadership and Flagship Storytelling (20%)

• Develop thought leadership products, including op‑eds, commentary articles, speaking points, feature stories, messaging documents and senior‑level communications materials.
• Develop country narrative packages that showcase policy progress, implementation experience, investment mobilisation and impact across ACF member countries.
• Produce flagship long‑form communications products highlighting lessons, achievements and opportunities arising from food systems transformation.
• Adapt complex technical and policy information into accessible communications products for external audiences.
• Develop a thought leadership and external engagement calendar aligned with key international policy moments.

3. Strategic Communications Inputs and Stakeholder Engagement (20%)

• Develop integrated communications and narrative frameworks for major international policy processes and events.
• Prepare briefing materials, key messages and communications recommendations for ministers, senior officials, ACF leadership and partner organisations.
• Develop stakeholder engagement recommendations and messaging guidance reflecting country priorities and political realities.
• Identify and document opportunities to engage external validators, champions, media actors and strategic amplifiers.
• Prepare stakeholder mapping and engagement recommendations to support ACF advocacy objectives.

4. Campaigns and Strategic Communications Planning (20%)

• Develop strategic communications plans for major advocacy moments, campaigns and international events.
• Prepare recommendations on the use of media, broadcast, podcast and digital channels to strengthen ACF visibility.
• Develop editorial planning tools and campaign frameworks aligned with annual advocacy priorities.
• Prepare integrated communications packages that support earned media, partner amplification, digital communications and stakeholder outreach.
• Develop recommendations to strengthen audience targeting, visibility and uptake among priority audiences.

5. Communications Risk and Quality Assurance (5%)

• Prepare communications risk assessments and mitigation recommendations for priority campaigns and external engagements.
• Develop rapid response guidance and issue‑management recommendations for sensitive communications moments.
• Review priority communications materials and provide editorial and strategic quality assurance recommendations.

6. Communications Planning and Process Improvement (5%)

• Provide strategic communications guidance to Secretariat colleagues, communications consultants and external communications partners.
• Develop recommendations for improving communications planning, content development, approval processes and stakeholder engagement workflows.
• Prepare strategic guidance on website redesign and development, content architecture, discoverability and audience engagement.
• Develop strategic communications inputs to internal planning and priority‑setting processes.

Deliverables

1. Strategic Communications and Positioning (30%)

• Develop and submit strategic communications frameworks and positioning products, including a more detailed iteration of the existing draft ACF Communications Strategy submitted by 31 August 2026. This should include a messaging and narrative framework, and should identify the top 5 messaging moments for the ACF over the period August 2026 – May 2027.
• Develop a communications focal point mapping for all 8 ACF member countries by 31 August 2026.
• Produce at least three strategic positioning briefs identifying opportunities to strengthen ACF visibility in policy areas beyond food systems (e.g. biodiversity, security, finance, resilience) by 31 May 2027.
• Submit a visibility assessment report by 31 May 2027 documenting increased ACF visibility in at least two additional policy areas, against indicators agreed with the Secretariat by August 2026.

2. Thought Leadership and Flagship Storytelling (20%)

• Develop thought leadership and flagship storytelling products that strengthen ACF's external visibility and influence, including a thought leadership calendar by 31 August 2026.
• Working with ACF’s media partner, prepare and place at least six op‑eds in international, regional, or national media outlets by 31 May 2027.
• Produce narrative packages for all eight current ACF member countries by 31 May 2027.
• Develop at least two flagship long‑form country stories, documenting country context, actions, outcomes and wider policy relevance by 31 May 2027.
• Prepare at least four amplification packages, including visuals, quotes, country stories, and ready‑to‑use communications materials for external stakeholders and champions by 31 May 2027.

3. Strategic Communications Inputs and Stakeholder Engagement (20%)

• Ensure that the ACF communications strategy includes an integrated narrative framework for ACF engagement across AFSF, CFS54, CBD COP17 and UNFCCC COP31 by 31 August 2026.
• Prepare briefing packages for 2‑4 major international events, including CFS54 and COP31 by 30 November 2026.
• Prepare briefing notes, key message documents or spokesperson packs as required for ACF ministers, member country representatives and senior stakeholders by 31 May 2027.
• Develop stakeholder mapping covering at least 20 priority organisations, networks, media actors, champions or validators by 31 August 2026.
• Develop messaging packages in collaboration with all 8 ACF member countries by 31 May 2027.

4. Campaigns, External Moments and Editorial Planning (20%)

• Develop communication planning products and campaign materials for priority advocacy opportunities, including preparing communication plans for up to five major international advocacy moments or campaigns by 31 May 2027.
• Develop a strategic editorial calendar by 31 August 2026 and update it quarterly.
• Working with ACF’s media partner, secure at least six broadcast, radio or podcast opportunities for members by 31 May 2027.
• Produce a recommendations report on audience targeting and communications uptake for governments, multilateral, finance actors and other priority audiences by 31 May 2027.
• Gather documentation of communication approaches and lessons learned from major advocacy moments to feed into ACF donor reporting by 31 November 2026 and again by 31 May 2027.

5. Communications Risk Assessment and Quality Review (5%)

• Prepare a communications risk assessment report ahead of major communications moments, including COP31 by 1 November 2026.
• Conduct editorial review and quality assessment for all flagship communications products and major advocacy materials by 31 May 2027.
• Provide monthly recommendations to strengthen ACF’s messaging, consistency, political sensitivity and communications effectiveness – monthly by 31 May 2027.

6. Communications Planning and Process Improvement (5%)

• Develop a communications workflow and approvals framework by 30 September 2026.
• Prepare a comprehensive website content and discoverability recommendations report, including recommendations relating to microsite architecture, search visibility and AI discoverability by 31 August 2026.
• Prepare strategic communications inputs for the Secretariat planning sessions in January 2027 by 31 January 2027.
• Prepare 3–4 quarterly recommendations to strengthen alignment between strategic communications outputs and implementation activities undertaken by communications service providers by 31 May 2027.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree with Master’s Degree in communications, public affairs, media, journalism or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Solid professional experience (minimum 10 years) in one of the above relevant fields.
• Strong track record of developing communications strategies and high‑impact messaging for senior audiences.
• Excellent editorial judgement and substantial experience drafting and editing op‑eds, commentary, speeches, briefing notes and thought‑leadership materials.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex policy, technical or political issues into compelling and accessible communications.
• Strong understanding of the international policy landscape, ideally including food systems, climate, nature, development, agriculture or related issues.
• Experience working in or with government, multilateral institutions or international alliances, including familiarity with ministerial‑level communications and high‑level political engagement.
• Experience advising senior leaders or public figures on communications strategy and positioning.
• Experience developing and executing digital and social media strategies, including LinkedIn growth and audience development.
• Experience supporting communications around major international moments such as COPs, UN processes or high‑level summits.
• Understanding of country‑led advocacy and the challenges of coalition communications across diverse political contexts.
• Experience working with and across multiple stakeholders and institutions simultaneously (e.g. via international coalitions).
• Strong judgement, discretion and political sensitivity.
• Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities and make sound decisions in a lean and remotely based team environment.
• Excellent written and spoken English; other languages (particularly Spanish and/or Portuguese) would be an advantage.

Benefits

Terms of Employment

This is a remote, 11‑month consultancy opportunity. All consultancy fees and conditions will be administered in line with the Alliance approved policy for consultants.