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:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV) highlighting relevant experience

• One-page statement of interest that includes a summary of relevant qualifications and experience for this assignment

• Proposed daily rate