Terms of Reference
Individual Consultant to Support IFPRI-FOLU China’s Strategic Communications Design and Content
Background
IFPRI-FOLU is a program of work on the urgent transformation of food and land use systems to deliver a better future for people, nature and climate. It supports science-based solutions and helps to build a shared understanding of the challenges and opportunities to unlock collective, ambitious action.
Job Highlights
As Communications manager, the candidate will support IFPRI-FOLU China’s strategic communications design and content execution in line with FOLU Global Brand Guidelines. The role demands a candidate who can understand complex sustainability issues, translate them into clear communication content, and proactively design campaigns, narrative frameworks, and multi-channel communication plans, with a particular emphasis on engaging the business and finance community in line with work programs and the FOLU 2030 Strategy.
The candidate should demonstrate a solid understanding of sustainability topics, with working knowledge of key stakeholders in the sustainability landscape – ideally within the agrifood sector. The candidate must be a communications professional grounded first and foremost in the Chinese context, with a proven track record of navigating the political, cultural, and media complexities of China’s communications landscape, including hands-on communications experience in China.
We are seeking a consultant with a nearly full-time commitment (minimum four days per week). The initial contract will run until 31 December 2026, with the possibility of renewal.
Scope of Work
Strategic communication and Delivery
- Design and deliver strategic communications products, such as messaging frameworks and messenger strategies that translate complex insights into clear, actionable narratives for external engagement.
- Plan and deliver communication outputs end-to-end, including campaigns/thematic content series, partner co-delivery, and event communications (pre-, during-, and post-event).
- Actively create and leverage communications opportunities — including podcasts, interviews, and media features — to shape public narratives and advance system-level transition agendas.
- Build and maintain partnerships with communication platforms and peer organizations to co-develop and deliver joint communication activities.
Content creation and media management
Manage multi-channel publishing and content operations across WeChat, LinkedIn, and program webpages, ensuring regular, interactive, and high-quality content output.
- Draft, edit, and quality-control bilingual content (Chinese/English) across formats: articles, briefs, newsletters, social posts, and event materials.
- Support visual storytelling and layout for digital content (design capability is a plus).
- Track performance metrics and relevant online trends and translate insights into practical recommendations to improve reach and engagement.
Impact Reporting and Team Collaboration
- Work with country-level and Global teams to ensure communication outputs aligned with project goals and global guidelines.
- Work with the Head of Communications to identify and deliver communications outputs around key international moments, public-facing impact stories, or donor-facing materials.
- Maintain and update internal documents, including digital and editorial calendars, in coordination with the FOLU Global Secretariat.
Required Qualifications
Essential:
- Strong writing and editing skills in both Chinese and English.
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in communications, journalism, digital marketing, public affairs, or related fields.
- Political acumen and contextual sensitivity: Understands the complexities of climate communication and can strategically design and deliver communications initiatives.
- Demonstrated ability to design or manage communication campaigns or content series.
- Interest in sustainability, food systems, or public-interest communication.
- Ability to work independently, remotely, and reliably manage tasks.
- Strong organization, attention to detail, and clear communication.
- Familiarity with impact reporting and storytelling.
- Awareness and sensitivity to brand and reputation management.
Preferred:
- Familiarity with sustainability, climate, food and agriculture topics.
- Experience and a solid understanding of communicating with the private and/ or finance sector.
- Visual or digital content production skills.
Application Requirements
Interested candidates should submit the following:
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Curriculum Vitae (CV) highlighting relevant experience
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One-page statement of interest that includes a summary of relevant qualifications and experience for this assignment
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Proposed daily rate