REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)

For the Appointment of a National Communications Officer

GEF-Funded Child Project: “Circular Solutions to Plastic Pollution in Nigeria”

Project Title	Circular Solutions to Plastic Pollution in Nigeria
GEF Project ID	11193
Post Title	National Communications Officer
Implementing Agency	United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Executing Agency	National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA)
Funding Source	Global Environment Facility (GEF)
Project Duration	5 years
Duty Station	Abuja
Nature of Engagement	Full-time position
Indicative Total Work Period	5 years
Date of Issue of RFP	11 March 2026
Closing Date for Submission	24 March 2026

Background

The consumption of single-use plastic water sachets in Nigeria has become a major source of plastic pollution, with over 2.5 billion litres consumed annually. Today, there are over 32,000 sachet water producers nationwide. Once consumed, water sachets are often indiscriminately discarded, contributing significantly to plastic pollution in the country. This leads to clogged sewage systems, marine and freshwater leakage, harm to biodiversity, and increased risks of widespread diseases. These impacts pose severe hazards to the environment, biodiversity, and public health.

While government efforts to expand and improve pipe-borne water systems are ongoing, alternatives to plastic sachets are urgently needed given Nigerians’ high reliance on packaged water.

Against this backdrop, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) has provided critical funding support for this project to reduce plastic sachet consumption while safeguarding access to safe drinking water. The GEF-funded project will advance sustainable solutions through the following key components:

1. Strengthening federal and sub-national policies and institutional capacities for ensuring accessible and safe drinking water.
2. Fostering public-private partnerships (PPPs) to expand access to clean drinking water through circular economy solutions, eco-design, and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes.
3. Piloting reuse models and community-owned initiatives to demonstrate the combined economic and environmental benefits of alternatives to sachet plastics.
4. Enhancing public awareness and stakeholder engagement to drive behavioral change and promote sustainable water consumption practices.
5. Ensuring effective communication and coordination throughout project implementation, particularly alignment with the Global Project under GEF.

This GEF investment contributes directly to the delivery of the UNEP Programme of Work on reducing land-based sources of pollution and achieving transformative impacts. The project is expected to generate measurable Global Environmental Benefits (GEBs), including:

• 350,078 metric tons of avoided residual plastic waste pollution (CI 9.8).
• 54.69 gTEQ POPs to air reduced (CI 10).
• 1,868,657 metric tons of CO₂ emission reduced (CI 6.7).

The project aims to generate measurable Global Environmental Benefits, including avoided plastic waste, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and reduced persistent organic pollutants.

Achieving these outcomes will require strong, coordinated, and strategic communication. Effective communication is essential for increasing visibility, engaging stakeholders, promoting behavioural change, and ensuring broad ownership of project interventions. In this context, NESREA seeks to engage a qualified National Communications Officer to lead communication, awareness, and stakeholder engagement activities in support of the project’s objectives.

Organizational Context

The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has the responsibility for the protection and development of the environment, biodiversity conservation, and the sustainable development of Nigeria’s natural resources. The Agency also promotes environmental technology, including coordination and liaison with relevant stakeholders within and outside Nigeria on matters relating to the enforcement of environmental standards, regulations, rules, laws, policies, and guidelines.

The NESREA Act empowers the Agency to:

• Enforce all environmental laws, guidelines, policies, standards, and regulations in Nigeria; and
• Ensure compliance with provisions of international agreements, protocols, conventions, and treaties on the environment to which Nigeria is a signatory.

In this project, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) provides the funding, with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) serving as the Implementing Agency, while NESREA acts as the Executing Agency responsible for delivering project activities on the ground in Nigeria.

Objectives of the Assignment

The National Communications Officer will be responsible for the effective and timely implementation of the project communications strategy, ensuring strong digital visibility, delivery of quality communication outputs, and achievement of outcomes with maximum impact for project beneficiaries. The Officer will ensure that project results, lessons learned, and best practices are effectively communicated to diverse audiences at local, national, and global levels

Scope of Work and Key Responsibilities

The National Communications Officer will work under the supervision of the Project Coordinator / Senior Technical Advisor and in close collaboration with UNEP and the Global IP Plastics Project Communication Team.

A. Strategizing on Communications

• Design, implement, and monitor a comprehensive communications strategy in consultation with the Project Coordinator and relevant staff;
• Ensure alignment with the Communication Team of the IP Plastics Global Project;
• Maintain and manage social media platforms (Facebook, TikTok, X, Instagram) and the project website with timely, engaging content;
• Introduce innovative best practices for effective dissemination of information;
• Produce analytics-based narrative reports on digital campaigns;
• Lead and support the awareness campaign under Component 4 of the project.

B. Managing Project Communications

• Develop communication materials and campaigns aligned with project objectives;
• Prepare media releases, newsletters, and other project communication products;
• Support Monitoring and Evaluation of communication deliverables;
• Design and edit visual and graphic materials as required;
• Coordinate photographers and videographers to ensure continuous content generation;
• Review, proofread, and fact-check communication materials.

C. Managing Stakeholder Communications

• Maintain and regularly update a database of journalists and media outlets across print, TV, radio, and digital platforms;
• Compile content for annual reports, newsletters, photo galleries, and other outreach materials tailored to diverse audiences;
• Support stakeholder engagement activities and media relations.
• Facilitate media engagement and interviews with project leadership
• Respond to media inquiries and coordinate interview requests

D. Knowledge Management Support

• Support the documentation and packaging of best practices, success stories, and lessons learned for knowledge sharing
• Contribute to the maintenance of the project knowledge repository
• Coordinate with the Global Child Project on knowledge product development and sharing

Reporting and Supervision

The National Communications Officer will:

• Report to the Project Coordinator / Senior Technical Advisor
• Work closely with NESREA and UNEP;
• Collaborate with the Global Project Communications Team.

Required Qualifications

• University degree in Communications, Journalism, or a related field.
• Minimum of five (5) years demonstrated professional experience in communications or journalism, with strong emphasis on social media campaign design and implementation;
• Proven expertise in developing and executing innovative institutional or national-level communication strategies;
• Existing relationships within the media industry;
• Experience with desktop publishing and website content management;
• Strong analytical, writing, and reporting skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English (knowledge of Khmer will be an added advantage);
• Strong digital communication and content creation capacity;
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team;
• High level of professionalism, creativity, and attention to detail.

Application Procedure

Interested candidates are invited to submit the following:

• A cover letter demonstrating relevant experience.
• A detailed CV highlighting qualifications and project management experience.
• Scanned copies of credentials and evidence of experience (e.g., engagement/appointment letters, reference letters, or similar documentation).
• A technical proposal (2–3 pages) outlining understanding of the assignment and approach to achieving project objectives.

Applications should clearly state “National Communications Officer – Circular Solutions to Plastic Pollution in Nigeria” in the subject line and be submitted to:

The Director General/CEO
NESREA Headquarters, Abuja
Email: dg@nesrea.gov.ng;  procurement@nesrea.gov.ng ; krisbeka@gmail.com; elichucks@gmail.com

Closing Date for Submission: 24^th March 2026

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interview.

Signed

Director General/CEO

NESREA