International Professional Writer

Workplace Circumstances

• Environment: Office
• Languages: English, Khmer
• Location: Working from home / online

Position Summary

Contract Type: Contractual Services - Individual

Post Level: Specialist

Reports to: National Project Director, National Project Manager, and National Project Coordinator

Duty Station: Home-based, with travel to Cambodia as required

Duration: 60 working days

Under the guidance and supervision of the National Project Director and National Project Manager, and in close coordination with the National Project Coordinator and the Communication and Knowledge Management Officer, the International Professional Writer will play a key role in supporting the PMU in the following functions:

Duties & Responsibilities

• Produce GEM human interest stories
• Identify and develop compelling human interest stories that document the lived experience and results of the project for its beneficiaries, including women, informal sector workers, private sector partners, and government counterparts.
• Conduct interviews, in person or remotely, with project beneficiaries and stakeholders, applying gender-sensitive and ethical storytelling practices, including informed consent and safeguarding of interviewees.
• Draft, edit, and finalize stories in English, suitable for use by UNDP, the Ministry of Environment, and the GEM Global Program in publications, websites, and social media.
• Create content for events
• Develop written content – including briefing notes, talking points, event summaries, and press materials – to support project events, workshops, and coordination meetings, including the annual GEM Program Coordination Group Meeting and GEM Global Steering Committee Meeting.
• Support the production of materials for knowledge-sharing events organized under Component 4.
• Promote project stories
• Package and adapt human interest stories and event content for dissemination through project and GEM Global Program communication channels, including the website, social media, newsletters, and press releases, in coordination with the Communication and Knowledge Management Officer.
• Support the profile and visibility of the GEM Cambodia project in national and global fora and knowledge products, including opportunities for South-South and Triangular Cooperation.
• Support the overall coordination and management of Outcome 4.2
• Provide written inputs and editorial support for project reporting and knowledge products under Outputs 4.2.1 and 4.2.2, including contributions to the GEM Coordination Platform Knowledge Repository.
• Perform other related writing and editorial duties as required by the PMU.

Languages

• English - Fluent

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Journalism, Communications, English, or a related field.

Work History

• Professional experience as a writer or journalist, with a strong portfolio of published human interest, feature, or development-sector stories for 5 years as a minimum

General & Technical Skills

• Demonstrated experience writing for international organizations, donor-financed projects, or the environment/development sector; experience with UNDP or other UN agencies is an advantage.
• Experience conducting field interviews with diverse stakeholders, including vulnerable or marginalized groups, applying gender-sensitive and ethical interviewing practices.
• Experience producing content for multiple formats and channels, including web, print, social media, and press.
• Excellent written and spoken English, with strong storytelling, interviewing, and editing skills.
• Excellent command of written and spoken English; Khmer language skills or the ability to work with local support/translation are desirable.

Soft Skills

• Working knowledge of Khmer, or demonstrated ability to work effectively with an interpreter/translator and local counterparts, is an asset.
• Ability to work independently and meet deadlines on an intermittent, output-based schedule.
• Culturally sensitive and gender-responsive approach to engagement with interviewees, particularly women and informal sector workers.