Join MedECC Secretariat as a Consultant – Information and graphic designer and help shape how science on climate and environmental change is shared across the Mediterranean. This consultancy gives you the chance to create visual style guide and co-design graphics for MedECC publications. We welcome applications until 15 August 2026.
1. Host structure: Plan Bleu
Plan Bleu is a French non-profit association (under the law 1901) created in 1977 and a Regional Activity Centre (RAC) of the Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP), one of the main components of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Regional Seas Programme. Based in Marseille, Plan Bleu acts as an observatory for the environment and sustainable development in the Mediterranean. It conducts thematic, systemic, and forward-looking analyses to inform decision-makers in the region about environmental risks and sustainable development challenges. MAP has a legal instrument—the Barcelona Convention—and relies on six RACs mandated by the 21 Contracting Parties and the European Union to implement its nine related protocols and annexes.
2. About MedECC
The Mediterranean Experts on Climate and environmental Change (MedECC) is a collaborative and independent international network of scientific experts providing rigorous, transparent, and policy-relevant scientific assessments on climate and environmental change in the Mediterranean region. Launched in 2015, the network counts more than 300 active scientists providing their expertise on a voluntary basis. Plan Bleu and the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) jointly support MedECC within the frame of a Memorandum of Understanding. Since 2018, Plan Bleu has hosted the MedECC Scientific Secretariat, providing logistical, organisational, and administrative support to its activities, and facilitating the science-policy dialogue to promote sustainable development and strengthen resilience in the region. The MedECC Secretariat is responsible for implementing the work programme. It carries out administrative, technical, scientific, and logistical functions, supports the Co-Coordinators and author groups, manages budgets and reporting, organises governance bodies, and ensures smooth and regular communication with partners and donors. It is currently composed of two staff members.
Major achievements of MedECC include:
- Establishment of a science-policy interface network of over 600 members connecting scientists, policymakers, and stakeholders across the Mediterranean region.
- The First Mediterranean Assessment Report (MAR1), published in 2020.
- The Special Report on climate and environmental coastal risks, published in 2024.
- The Special Report on interactions between climate change and the Water–Energy–Food–Ecosystems (WEFE) nexus, published in 2024.
In 2025, MedECC launched the preparation of the Second Mediterranean Assessment Report (MAR2), aimed at updating the data and findings of MAR1, consolidating the latest scientific knowledge on climate and environmental changes in the Mediterranean basin, and making it accessible to policymakers, stakeholders, and citizens. This report will be published in 2028 and will serve as an up-to-date scientific resource to guide policies and actions on adaptation and mitigation.
Objectives of the consultancy:
The MedECC Scientific Secretariat plays a central role in coordinating MedECC’s assessment process, supporting expert groups, and ensuring the consistency, quality, and dissemination of MedECC scientific outputs. The MedECC Secretariat is looking for a graphic design expert (“Consultant”) specialized in the visualization and presentation of complex scientific information, to support the production of MAR2 from a visual communication and information design perspective, and to enhance the understanding and impact of their key findings. The successful candidate will have exceptional skills in information design and infographics, as well as a strong understanding of climate and environment issues.
Tasks to be undertaken:
As a graphics specialist with experience in information design and a strong understanding of climate and environmental change issues, the Consultant will support the development of the visual components of MAR2. He/she will prepare a visual style guide for MAR2 graphics, defining best practices for the design and production of visual materials throughout the report. He/she will assess the needs for graphical support across all chapters and identify areas where assistance is required. The Consultant will then carry out the necessary work, enhancing existing figures and conceptualizing and producing new graphics in close collaboration with the authors, and ensuring the consistent implementation of the visual style guide throughout the report. The selected candidate will play a key role in elaborating a strategy for the development of figures in the chapters of the report and coordinate the preparation of the graphics included in the Summary for Policymakers, which translate complex scientific information into a compelling visual narrative for a non-specialist audience. This may include interacting with groups of users of the reports ahead of the report production. The Consultant will organize, in collaboration with the MedECC Secretariat, and participate in necessary calls and virtual meetings, including possible brainstorming, and agree on the work plan with authors.
Deliverables:
The deliverables will include: (1) a visual style guide for the MAR2 graphics, and (2) co-design of graphics for the Summary for Policymakers (SPMs), the full report, and the Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) in English (the number will depend on the needs identified). The approved visuals will be delivered in formats appropriate for online posting, downloading, and public outreach purposes. All documents developed by the Consultant will be provided to MedECC/Plan Bleu in electronic format (PDF) and in vector formats (InDesign or Illustrator). The documents produced in the context of this contract will be the shared property of MedECC/Plan Bleu. MedECC/Plan Bleu reserves the right to mention, or not the name of the Consultant at the time of publication or for any use of the document — whether the whole document or part of it — handed over to MedECC/Plan Bleu. Any further use by the Consultant shall be subject to prior approval.
6. Duration of the consultancy
The Consultant is expected to start in September 2026. The assignment will have a duration of one year and will include up to 150 working days, ending in August 2027.
7. Required skills/experience
The ideal candidate will have demonstrated experience in creating innovative and engaging visual communication products, with strong technical and creative skills. Experience working in climate and environmental science communication, and/or a related field, is highly desirable.
Required skills/experience
Scientific communication & subject matter understanding
- Ability to understand and communicate complex scientific information to non-specialist international audiences
- Strong interest in and solid understanding of climate and environmental issues
- Experience working with scientists in a co-production process
Visual communication & design skills
- Experience in information design using qualitative and quantitative data
- Proven ability to produce static and interactive graphics for print and digital media
- Proficiency with graphic design software, including image editing and data visualization tools
Professional experience & collaboration
- Experience working with international teams and engaging with the international science community
- Ability to work remotely in an international environment
- Capacity to work under tight deadlines and under time pressure
Personal skills
- Strong creativity and ability to generate new ideas
- Excellent attention to detail
- Experience in planning, organizing and executing multi-task workloads;
Education & language requirements
- Bachelor’s or advanced degree in information design, communications, or a relevant field
- Proficiency in written and spoken English
- Proficiency with graphic design software
- Fluency in another Mediterranean language would be an advantage
Other requirements
- Willingness to undertake international travel
This consultancy may be carried out by an individual self-employed consultant, a company, or an association. Applicants must hold a SIRET number or another valid business identification number, in accordance with the legislation of the country in which the consultant is registered.
The MedECC Secretariat is based in Marseille, France. The Consultant will work mostly remotely (telework) and is expected to attend in-person author meetings from 30 November to 2 December 2026 and in May 2027, as well as the SPM workshop (TBC).
The selection process may include interviews via video call.
8. Terms regarding the use of AI:
Clause 1 – Controlled use of artificial intelligence
The service provider is authorized to use generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools, provided that their use is strictly limited to support functions: assistance with structuring, brainstorming, document exploration, or editorial optimization. The use of AI may under no circumstances replace the analytical work, source verification, or expert writing expected within the scope of the assignment. Artificial intelligence must under no circumstances replace human expertise or rigorous scientific methods. In particular, it may not be used to produce numerical estimates or to generate modeling results (economic, econometric, mathematical, or other), which must be based on validated, documented approaches implemented by the service provider. Any reference to a study, article, numerical data, or academic source must be rigorously traceable and verifiable through precise references (title, author, publication, date, or link).
Clause 2 – Responsibility for content and transparency
The service provider remains fully responsible for the quality, accuracy, reliability, and consistency of the deliverable, including in the case of partial use of artificial intelligence tools. All information, data, or quotations appearing in the final deliverable must have been verified by the Consultant, regardless of the method of production. In the event of a clear breach (fictitious sources, fabricated quotations, inconsistent data), Plan Bleu and MedECC reserves the right to request a revision at no additional cost, or even to terminate the contract and cancel all or part of the payment in the event of failure to meet deadlines. The Consultant is obligated to explicitly declare any use of AI tools in the preparation of deliverables. The Consultant must transparently indicate the parts of the work that were carried out with the assistance of an AI tool and may be asked to provide the methodology or queries (prompts) used.
Clause 3 – Quality responsibility
The Consultant remains solely responsible for the accuracy, originality, verification, and professional quality of deliverables, including those produced or assisted by AI. The use of AI tools cannot, under any circumstances, justify factual errors, plagiarism, bias, or breaches of confidentiality.
Clause 4 – Non-compliance and consequences
In the event of non-compliance with this clause, we may request the Consultant to:
- revise the deliverables at no additional costs
- or, in the event of serious or repeated breach, to apply the contractual provisions relating to non-conformity or termination.
9. Application
The Applications must be submitted by email to contact@medecc.org. We welcome applications until 15 August 2026.
The applications should include:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV),
- Cover letter, and examples of past works in line with tasks described in the current terms of reference (portfolio),
- An financial offer (in euros VAT included if relevant),
- The SIRET number or other valid business identification number, in accordance with the legislation of the consultant’s country of registration,
- For French consultants, a valid URSSAF certificate demonstrating that social security contributions are up to date, or, for foreign consultants, a sworn statement (declaration on honour) certifying compliance with applicable social security obligations in their country of establishment,
The names and contact details of up to three reference persons, who may be contacted in the context of the application.
