Background

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the UN Women Representative, and in close collaboration with the Communications Adviser, the Communications and Media Specialist in the Multi Country Office (MCO) implements the corporate communications strategy, designs, manages and facilitates the implementation of the MCO communications and publication strategies with a view to influence the development agenda, to promote public and media outreach and to mobilize political and financial support for UN Women. 

The Communications and Media Specialist supervises and leads the MCO communications activities, in particular supporting programme staff when it comes to raising the profile of activities and the understanding of the issues they cover. The Communications and Media Specialist ensures the successful implementation of the MCO communication strategy by working in close collaboration with the MCO Programme and Operations teams, UN Women’s communications staff at the Regional Office for Asia Pacific and global HQ, and staff of other UN Agencies,  as well as with stakeholders and external communications counterparts i.e. government officials, international and local media, subject matter experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society.

A communications strategy tightly linked to programme priorities helps position the UN Women MCO as a thought leader in the area of gender equality and empowerment of women, in ways that boost demand for various service lines and increase overall business partnership opportunities.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions:

• Planning and design of internal and external strategies for communications and outreach;
• Elaboration and implementation of the publications strategy and plan;
• Supervision of the design and maintenance of the UN Women web site, intranet, MCO web-based knowledge management system;
• Support to business development;
• Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing.

Ensures planning and design of internal and external strategies for communications and outreach focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Planning and elaboration of communications needs assessments for MCO, in particular for MCO programmes and projects across the region, including close cooperation with, and support for, programme-specific communications staff members;
• Ensure the message and activities are consistent with MCO communications strategy;
• Elaboration of the MCO communications and outreach strategy based on the corporate communications strategy;
• Constructive and timely advice on inclusion of communications components in programme formulations to integrate advocacy and communication strategies into all aspects of UN Women’s development programme. 

Supervises the design and maintenance of the UN Women website, intranet, MCO web-based knowledge management systems focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Design of the office websites based on corporate requirements in cooperation with the Regional Office of Asia-Pacific;
• Supervision and preparation of the content for the web sites ensuring consistency of the materials;
• Support the management and maintenance of the UN Women Pacific social media presence and other online channels, including identifying and posting material where required, in coordination with Communications Adviser.

Supports business development through focusing on achievement of the following results:

Launches and campaigns:

• Creation and promotion of campaigns to local and regional media that position UN Women and influences the development agenda based on current programmes and new initiatives;
• Management, promotion and dissemination of corporate advocacy materials for launching flagship initiatives and publications;
• Creation, promotion and maintenance of public information campaigns on UN Women activities, progress on SDGs (especially SDG 5), Beijing Platform for Action, etc. in association with other staff from within the Programme / Operations Unit across the region.

Outreach:

• Promotional activities to position UN Women as a leader within the gender equality and development spaces;
• Increased coverage and understanding of the UN Women’s work in the Pacific region through development and maintenance of media contacts and providing newsworthy information to national public and donors;
• Formatting, packaging and submission of programme initiatives for donor review in close collaboration with programme staff;
• Development and maintenance of close contacts with communications counterparts in government, multilateral and bilateral donors, civil society and private sector for implementation of the communications strategy, organisation of roundtable discussions, press conferences, briefing sessions, interviews, launches, etc.;
• Provide support, where required, this will include supporting programme staff in their relationships with above-mentioned organisations;
• Forging of a “one UN” image through active participation in the UN Communications Partnership Group, publicising the significance of local UN reform efforts, joint programmes, and common services.
• Support the organisation and implementation of joint UN information campaigns (16 days Activism, UN Day, World AIDS Day, etc.), taking the lead where appropriate;
• Ensured access for journalists to subject matter experts;
• Regular newsletter to donors, donor reports, civic education and community awareness where appropriate to support programme work;
• Ensures effectiveness of outreach through regular monitoring of media coverage, adapting strategy where appropriate and sharing results with staff, donors and key partners.

Public Information:

• Effective responses to inquiries for public information materials;
• Innovative and creative solutions to sensitive or corporately strategic public communications issues;
• Advocacy and promotion of UN Women mandate, mission and purpose.

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

• Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned directly linked to programme country goals and activities;
• Monitor practices, and project-specific news and developments in order to ensure guidance to the office that reflects the best and most current available information;
• Provides advice, support and inputs to UN Women communications corporate documents;
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice including corporate communications repositories;
• Organisation and provision of training, consultancy and advice to UN Women staff on communications.

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. In particular, the key results have an impact on implementation of UN Women communications and publication strategies, as well as reaching resource mobilization targets. Communications becomes a strong component of business development in the MCO.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:             

Advocacy/Advancing a Policy-Oriented Agenda:

Analysis and creation of messages and strategies:

• Creates effective advocacy strategies;
• Contributes to the elaboration of advocacy strategies by identifying and prioritising audiences and communication means;
• Uses the opportunity to bring forward and disseminate materials for advocacy work.

Building Strategic Partnerships:

Identifying and building partnerships:

• Sensitises UN Partners, donors and other international organisations to the UN Women’s strategic agenda, identifying areas for joint efforts;
• Promotes UN Women’s agenda in inter-agency meetings.

Promoting Organisational Learning and Knowledge Sharing:

Developing tools and mechanisms:

• Makes the case for innovative ideas documenting successes and building them into the design of new approaches;
• Identifies new approaches and strategies that promote the use of tools and mechanisms.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise:

In-depth knowledge of the subject-matter:

• Understands more advanced aspects of primary area of specialisation as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines;
• Continues to seeks new and improved methods and systems for accomplishing the work of the Unit;
• Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself professionally;
• Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments.

Creating Visibility for UNDP/Supporting UN Women’s Capacity to Advocate:

Developing promotional projects and organizational messages:

• Develops promotional activities based on monitoring/evaluation information identifying areas requiring higher visibility;
• Develops messages for use by UN Women staff when working with partners, internationally and nationally;
• Reviews documents and materials intended for use within and outside the organization in order to ensure consistency and validity of messages.

Global Leadership and Advocacy for UN Women’s Goals:

Analysis and creation of messages and strategies:

• Creates effective global advocacy messages/strategies;
• Contributes to the elaboration of a global advocacy strategy by identifying and prioritizing audiences and messages.

Conceptual Innovation in the Provision of Technical Expertise:

Developing innovative and creative approaches:

• Leverages different experiences and expertise of team members to achieve better and more innovative outcomes.

Client Orientation:

Contributing to positive outcomes for the client:

• Anticipates client needs;
• Works towards creating an enabling environment for a smooth relationship between the clients and service provider;
• Demonstrates understanding of client’s perspective.

Core Competencies:

• Promoting ethics and integrity, creating organisational precedents
• Building support and political acumen
• Building staff competence, creating an environment of creativity and innovation
• Building and promoting effective teams
• Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication
• Creating an emotionally intelligent organization
• Leveraging conflict in the interests of UN Women & setting standards
• Sharing knowledge across the organisation and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning.
• Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member.
• Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-taking

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Masters’ Degree in media relations, journalism, publishing or related field.

And/or:

• Bachelors’ Degree media relations, journalism, publishing or related field.

Experience:

• Masters’ Degree or Higher + years of experience requirement: A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in public relations, communications or advocacy.

And/or:

• Bachelors’ Degree + years of experience requirement: A minimum of 7 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in public relations, communications or advocacy.
• Previous experience with a multilateral or international organisation is helpful but not mandatory.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (including InDesign and Photoshop), good knowledge and experience in handling of web-based management systems.

Language:

• Fluency in the UN and national language of the duty station.