UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.
Placing women's rights at the center of all its efforts, UN Women has the mandate to lead and coordinate United Nations system efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world. It provides strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States' priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors. UN Women Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) work includes support to and oversight for thirteen (13) country offices where UN Women has presence and a Multi Country Office covering four offices without UN Women country office presence. More specifically this includes strategic programme development and policy/ technical advice, oversight, programme and operational support and quality assurance, supporting UN interagency coordination and intergovernmental support, representation and advocacy, strategic partnerships and resource mobilization and knowledge management.
A significant element of the ESARO’s strategy is an enhanced strategic approach to communications, with the aim of increasing the visibility of ESARO and public awareness of both success stories and the specific gaps and challenges to gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in the region.
Reporting to the Regional Director, the Communications Consultant will collaborate closely with the Headquarters, Regional, Country Offices and Programme Presences (RO/CO/PP) colleagues to ensure communications strategies, media relations and organizational outreach efforts are aligned with corporate communications policies and initiatives.
Duties and Responsibilities
Implementation of communication and outreach/advocacy strategies and plans for campaigns, international days and events, with a specific focus on media
Design, develop, and implement communication and outreach/advocacy strategies, including media strategies; ensure gender perspective;Monitor and analyze print and social media and prepare reports;Launch in-country UN Women/ UN system corporate and local/regional campaigns and special events;Provide advice and guidance to and coordinate with CO/ PP and MCOs in the region.Lead the development and dissemination of communications materials
Develop and produce communication and advocacy instruments and materials, including the annual report, briefing materials, press releases, and articles and coordinate its dissemination through effective channels;Identify and launch information opportunities, activities, approaches and platforms and partners;Provide advice on advocacy materials and coordinate launching flagship initiatives and publications in the region;Lead the engagement and supervision of video producers and other communication specialists to produce audio/ visual material on UN Women’s work;Develop brochures, factsheets, stories from the field to inform media and general public at the regional level;Follow guidelines from and report to HQManage media relations for the RO
Lead relationship building with press in country; maintain and update database of relevant press;Respond timely and clearly to media inquiries and to a variety of inquiries and information requests; prepare related correspondence; identify topics, background information, news-related development and coverage of interest;Organize roundtable discussions, press conferences, and briefing sessions with press;Facilitate interviews with senior managers; connect media with UN Women subject experts;Finalize talking points.Oversee the RO web / online presence
Oversee and maintain (regional) websites, including developing design and content;Coordinate COs’ web-presence in the line with corporate web policy;Develop regional social media strategyOversee and manage (regional) social media accounts in line with corporate social media policy.Key Performance Indicators:
Quality and relevant communications advocacy materials and content or the website and social media channels;Regular interactions with mass media, as shown by coverage;Regular exchange of information between CO in the region as shown in the coherent and relevant regional public presence.
Core Values:
Respect for DiversityIntegrityProfessionalismCore Competencies:
Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender IssuesAccountabilityCreative Problem SolvingEffective CommunicationInclusive CollaborationStakeholder EngagementLeading by ExamplePlease visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Core Values and Competencies: https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/Headquarters/Attachments/Sections/About%20Us/Employment/UN-Women-values-and-competencies-framework-en.pdf
Functional Competencies
Ability to communicate sensitively, effectively and creatively across different constituenciesStrong knowledge of managing web-based knowledge management systemsStrong understanding of production, graphic design and photography standardsStrong knowledge of social media platforms and experience in social media outreachStrong oral and written communication and editing skillsStrong communication, networking and advocacy skillsAbility to provide advice and be strategic and analyticalGood knowledge of regional media landscapeKnowledge of gender and human rights issues
Required Skills and Experience
Education and certification:
Master’s degree (or equivalent) in communications, public relations, journalism or relevant field is required;A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.Experience:
At least 5 years of professional work experience at national or international level in public relations, communications or advocacy, including in media relations;Extensive experience in the use of social media;Experience in media relations is an asset.Language Requirements:
Fluency in English is required
Deliverables
Deliverables
Timelines
Regional social media strategyBy 1 December 2023
Sustained visibility of programmes and UN Women’s work in the region: At least 10 Human Stories per monthQuality communications support to the thematic programmes’ key eventsDeveloped partnerships with media and influencers to support UN Women’s programmatic advocacy goalsEnd of contract
Successful implementation of campaigns and international day commemorations: UNiTE/16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based ViolenceCSW Africa Pre-ConsultationsPreparation for International Women’s DayEnd of contract
Sustained support to the Sudan CO communications: Stories, press releases, publications supportSocial media strategy and contentEnd of contract
Coordination and development of the ESARO Annual Report in collaboration with the regional Monitoring& Reporting teamEnd of contract
Final report about the key activities, progress and achievements performed during the period of performance.End of contract
Application:
All applications must include (as an attachment) the completed UN Women Personal History form (P-11) which can be downloaded from: https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/Headquarters/Attachments/Sections/About%20Us/Employment/UN-Women-P11-Personal-History-Form.doc. Kindly note that the system will only allow one attachment. Applications without the completed UN Women P-11 form will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment.
Note:
In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment.
Diversity and inclusion:
At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.
If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.
UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.
This vacancy is archived.