Background

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.

UN Women is operational in Moldova since 2010 on the basis of former UNIFEM projects, which were laid and active in the country from 2007. It extended continuous support to the Government of Moldova, to key stakeholders from national and local levels, through various programmes and activities aimed at creating an enabling environment for gender equality, recognized as a prerequisite for sustainable development with a strong and active policy on gender equality.

UN Women is one of the 16 agencies present in Moldova and operate a Country Office, with Delegation of Authority staring with June 2014. UN Women Country office has been established in the Republic of Moldova to provide continuous support for the Government, UN and Civil Society to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment based on the four key strategic areas in Moldova: (i) Women lead and participate in decision-making at all levels, (ii) Women, especially the poorest and most excluded, are economically empowered and benefit from development, (iii) Women and girls live a life free of violence and (iv) Governance and national planning fully reflect accountability for GE commitments and priorities.

Currently, UN Women is implementing the following major projects: “Joint Integrated Local Development Programme” (JILDP), Project on Enhancing Women’s Political Representation (WiP), Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) as part of a regional project, Women Labor Migrant project, as part of a global project. The first two projects are joint projects with UNDP. These projects are implemented through close inter-coordination at the policy, institutional and local levels in Moldova. The coordination is ensured through joint weekly meetings, coordination and cooperation around the key actions that are supported by the country office team with respect to program and operations functions.

Moldova Country Office is at the initial stage of implementation of the new strategic plan covering the period 2014-2017. This entails number of key momentums, including the completion of current and starting of new programs, raising funds for the new areas of engagement and focus, and implementing new programs, including Women in Leadership and VAWG, GRB, Romani Women, work in Transnistria, Labor Migration, as well as capacity building of CSOs, including in the framework of the CSO Advisory Board.

Moreover, as per approved Strategic Note for 2014-2017 and 2015 AWP, UN Women will continue supporting UN concerted efforts on promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment, supplemented by work where UN Women has a clear comparative advantage: coordinating the work on GE and WHR, leading Civil Society Advisory Group, advancing introduction of temporary special measures and increasing women’s leadership and participation in decision making in public and private sectors, securing women’s access, especially from rural areas to productive resources and services, providing social protection to the most excluded groups of women such as Roma and disabled; leading UN agencies efforts for ending violence against women and girls, promoting and protecting rights of migrant women. In this respect the results are planned in the areas of Women in Leadership, Women’s Economic Empowerment, Eliminating Violence Against Women and Girls as well as policies, plans and budgets that are engendered.

UN Women places an important emphasis on communicating to beneficiaries and partners its development assistance results, as well as the donors’ contribution to their achievement. For this purpose Moldova Country Office seeks to embark on a series of targeted communications interventions that would showcase the results of country strategic note implementation and their ultimate impact on beneficiaries.

With the overall aim to support the implementation of communications strategy and specific communication plans of the office to increase the standing and awareness of UN Women Moldova, the Country Office plans to hire a Communication Associate, based in Chisinau, Moldova. The Communication Associate will bear full responsibility for facilitating the implementation of Country Office communications and publication strategies with a view to promote public and media outreach and to mobilize political support for UN Women Strategic Note Implementation.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the National Programme Officer, the Communications Associate supports the formulation and implementation of the communications and advocacy strategies to increase the standing and awareness of UN Women with partners, the media and the public. The Communications Associate promotes a client-oriented approach in UN Women.

The Communications Associate works in close collaboration with the Programme and Operations teams in the CO, staff of other UN Women projects and UN Agencies, Government officials, media, multilateral and bilateral donors and civil society to ensure communications and advocacy strategies, media relations and organizational outreach efforts are aligned with corporate communications policies and initiatives. S/he also collaborates with RO Communications and Advocacy Specialist to support outreach campaigns, activities and special events organized for UN Women/UN Moldova Country team.

The Communication Associate applies and promotes the principles of results-based management (RBM), as well as a client-oriented approach consistent with UN Women rules and regulations. The incumbent is expected to exercise full compliance with UN Women programming, financial, procurement and administrative rules, regulations, policies and strategies, as well as implementation of the effective internal control systems.

Functions / Key Results Expected

Summary of Key Functions:

• Support to elaboration and implementation of UN Women MDA CO communication strategy;
• Lead the implementation of internal and external communications and advocacy strategies;
• Support to UN joint Communication initiatives;
• Maintenance of websites, databases, social platforms and knowledge management systems;
• Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing.

Provides support to the elaboration and implementation of the CO communication strategy focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Preparation and conduct of communications needs assessments for CO;
• Elaborate CO communication and outreach strategy based on the corporate communications strategy;
• Provision of inputs and researched information in programme formulations to integrate advocacy and communication strategies into all aspects of UN Women’s development programme.

Supports the formulation and implementation of internal and external communications and advocacy strategies focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Development of communication materials for awareness-raising campaigns, including briefing materials and press releases in coordination with the supervisor;
• Support generating news and success stories from projects in the country office;
• Organization of roundtable discussions, press conferences, briefing sessions, interviews;
• Provision of inputs and information for elaboration of CO communication strategy and plan based on the corporate publications policy;
• Identification of storylines for publications and articles contributing to debates on key development issues and support the production of publications, brochures, press kits and fact sheets to inform media and the general public on the work of UN Women in Moldova, and its global mandate and inter-linkages;
• Technical supervision of translation/adaptation/rewriting of information received, printing and dissemination of publications and audio-visual materials.  Contact with printers and other suppliers to ensure production;
• Supervision of publications dissemination.

Support to UN Women/UN joint Communication initiatives:

• Provide advice and support to UN Women special events and campaigns at the Country level;
• Provide inputs and support the organization of joint UN information campaigns (UN Day, World AIDS Day, etc.);
• Preparation of inputs for Country Strategic Note, UNPF and other documents.

Ensures maintenance of the social platforms, CO web-based knowledge management system and inputs to HQ/RO websites, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Write, edit and manager social media content to engage audiences on the country office and regional platforms;
• Liaise with projects to compile success stories to be published on social media platforms;
• Liaise with UN Women Regional Office and headquarters to make sure social media plans are in sync and supportive of global campaigns;
• Assistance to CO maintenance of the internal web-based filing system;
• Preparation/checking the content for the web sites to ensure consistency of the materials;
• Ensure submission of timely and qualitative inputs to HQ/RO web sites based on corporate requirements.

Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and management focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Review of reference materials, identification of reference materials for retention. Maintenance of information database and photo library;
• Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned directly linked to programme country goals and activities;
• Contribution to knowledge networks and communities of practice including corporate communications repositories;
• Organization and conduct of training and workshops on communications for development as appropriate.

Impact of Results

The key results have an impact on creation of effective communications and dissemination of information on UN Women as UN’s global development network Accurate analysis and presentation of information enhances UN Women position as a strong development partner. The information provided facilitates decision making of the management.

Competencies

Core Values / Guiding Principles:

Integrity:

• Demonstrate consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UN Women in actions and decisions, in line with the UN Code of Conduct.

Professionalism:

• Demonstrate professional competence and expert knowledge of the pertinent substantive areas of work.

Cultural sensitivity and valuing diversity:

• Demonstrate an appreciation of the multicultural nature of the organization and the diversity of its staff;
• Demonstrate an international outlook, appreciating difference in values and learning from cultural diversity.

Core Competencies:

Organizational Awareness:

• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment.

Development and Innovation:

• Take charge of self-development and take initiative.

Work in teams:

• Demonstrate ability to work in a multicultural, multi ethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.

Communicating and Information Sharing:

• Facilitate and encourage open communication and strive for effective communication.

Self-management and Emotional Intelligence:

• Stay composed and positive even in difficult moments, handle tense situations with diplomacy and tact, and have a consistent behavior towards others.

Conflict Management:

• Surface conflicts and address them proactively acknowledging different feelings and views and directing energy towards a mutually acceptable solution.

Continuous Learning and Knowledge Sharing:

• Encourage learning and sharing of knowledge.

Appropriate and Transparent Decision Making:

• Demonstrate informed and transparent decision making.

Functional Competencies:

• Excellent communication skills;
• Communicates sensitively, effectively and creatively across different constituencies;
• Demonstrates very good understanding of and experience in communications and outreach/advocacy;
• Proven networking skills, and ability to generate interest in UN Women’s mandate;
• Strong initiative-taker;
• Very effective at multi-tasking;
• Focuses on impact and results for the client;
• Interacts effectively with all levels of the organization, including senior management;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Identifies opportunities and builds strong relationships with clients and partners;
• Demonstrates exceptional ability to remain calm, in control and good humored even under pressure and tight deadlines;
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail;
• Pro-active, self-directed, enthusiastic.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• University degree in Journalism, Communication/Media Studies or other closely related field is required.

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of experience in communications or related relevant field at the national or international level.  Experience in online outreach and multimedia is an asset;
• Excellent understanding of social media and online communication and media tools;
• Experience required in editing and copywriting skills, including articles, reports, social media content, press releases preferred;
• Familiarity with gender issues, UN Women and UN System is an asset;
• Good knowledge of the government institutions and PR agencies, news agencies in Moldova and abroad;
• Outstanding oral and written communications and editing skills, with proven ability to meet tight deadlines;
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.). Experience in handling of web-based applications and some knowledge of HTML as well as video and photo editing and design software.

Language:

• Fluency in English and Romanian is required. Good knowledge of Russian is an asset;
• Working knowledge of one or more additional languages relevant for Moldova, including Bulgarian, Gagauzian, Romani, Ukrainian or sign language is an asset.

The United Nations in Moldova is committed to workforce diversity. Women, persons with disabilities, Roma and other ethnic or religious minorities, persons living with HIV, as well as refugees and other non-citizens legally entitled to work in the Republic of Moldova, are particularly encouraged to apply.

Application Process

This is a local position, therefore only citizens of the Republic of Moldova are eligible to apply. Applications should be submitted on line and include fully completed UN Women Personal History Form as attachment instead of CV/resume, with the mark “Communication Associate /UN Women Vacancy” by 1 September 2015, COB.

Failure to disclose prior employment or making false representations on this form will be grounds for withdrawal of further consideration of his/her application or termination, where the appointment or contract has been issued.

Note:

The system will only allow one attachment, hence all supporting document e.g. P11, CV and Cover letter must be scanned as one attachment. Applications without the completed UN Women P-11 form will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment. Only qualified, shortlisted candidates will be contacted for test and interview.

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.