Consultant – GLF Speakers Engagement

How to Apply: Visit the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) application page at www.landscapealliance.org to submit your application. The application deadline is 30 Sep 2026.

Prove You Can Curate Global Voices, Not Just Send Invites

This consultancy is about moving speakers from a database row to a stage moment that shifts how people think about landscapes. CIFOR-ICRAF will screen for evidence that you have coordinated real people, real deadlines, and real narratives across cultures.

1. Lead with speaker coordination proof: Your CV should show at least one event, campaign, or series where you owned the speaker journey from identification to follow-up. Name the event, the number of speakers, and the diversity outcomes you helped achieve. If you hit the 50% women target or secured Global South representation, state it plainly with numbers. Hiring managers for this role scan for that exact metric because it is written into the responsibilities.

2. Map your SDG fluency to GLF themes: Do not just list 'knowledge of SDGs' as a skill. Pick two or three goals that connect to landscapes, climate, or sustainable development and describe how you have used them to shape a programme, a story, or a partnership. The Knowledge Committee coordination duty means they need someone who can turn broad goals into a coherent event narrative. Show that you can translate SDG language into session titles and speaker briefs.

3. Build a mini portfolio of curated content: Since the role involves creating content rooted in speakers' knowledge, bring one or two examples of how you turned a speaker's expertise into a blog, social post, or session description. If you used Canva, video editing, or any multimedia tool, show the final product. A simple PDF with before-and-after examples will separate you from candidates who only claim storytelling ability.

4. Prepare for the database and website anchor question: They will likely ask how you keep speaker records accurate when multiple teams are pulling information. Describe a system you have used, even if it was a shared spreadsheet with clear fields and update rules. Mention how you handle last-minute changes, version control, and website updates. The role explicitly names database management and website updates, so treat this as a core skill, not an afterthought.

5. Show cross-cultural communication in action: Fluency in English is essential, but they will probe how you work with speakers from different regions and time zones. Prepare a short story about a time you briefed a speaker whose first language was not English, or when you adjusted a session format for cultural relevance. If you speak French, Spanish, Indonesian, or German, give a concrete example of using it to build a relationship or source a speaker.

6. Connect media narratives to event goals: The posting mentions bridging real-time media narrative with GLF activities. Before the interview, follow current global conversations on forests, land rights, or climate finance and note one or two angles GLF could tap. Be ready to explain how you would brief a speaker to speak to that moment. This shows you understand the difference between a generic speech and a timely, resonant one.

7. Demonstrate project management beyond coordination: They ask for proven experience in planning, implementation, and evaluation. Use your CV bullet points to show a full cycle: how you planned a speaker series, implemented it, and evaluated its impact. Include any tools you used, such as Asana, Trello, or simple M&E frameworks. The consultancy language means they want someone who can run a workstream without daily supervision.

8. Nurture the partnership angle in your interview: The role supports relationship-building with the Managing Director and Partnership Coordinator. Think of one example where you identified a new partner or speaker and brought them into a network. Explain how you researched them, made the ask, and kept the relationship warm. They are hiring for someone who can expand the GLF community, not just manage the existing list.