Background

UNIFEM’s project Advancing Women’s Economic and Social Rights in Serbia and Montenegro is being implemented in the period 2010–2012, with the financial support of the Norwegian Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The project builds directly on earlier results of UNIFEM’s projects implemented in Serbia, Montenegro and wider in the Western Balkans in the period 2006-2009, notably in the thematic areas of women’s economic rights and gender-responsive budgeting. is being implemented in the period 2010–2012, with the financial support of the Norwegian Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The project builds directly on earlier results of UNIFEM’s projects implemented in Serbia, Montenegro and wider in the Western Balkans in the period 2006-2009, notably in the thematic areas of women’s economic rights and gender-responsive budgeting.
 
The objective of the project is to contribute to democratic governance in Serbia and in Montenegro by strengthening the capacities of duty bearers and rights holders to implement international and national commitments to women’s economic rights. More specifically, the project will i) support key policy and service delivery institutions to create enabling institutional environments to promote and protect women’s human rights in line with global, regional and national agreements; and ii) support gender equality advocates, experts and their organizations and networks to effectively advance the implementation of gender equality dimensions in national laws, policies and strategies.
 
More specifically, the project aims to strengthen the capacities of key labour market institutions, employment services and complaint mechanisms (labour inspectorates, judges, the ombudsman’s office) in both Serbia and Montenegro to mainstream gender in their policies, operations and budgets. It will also strengthen the capacities of gender equality mechanisms (GEMs) on all administrative levels (national, provincial and local levels) to advocate and to integrate gender equality into laws, strategies, policies and budgets. Technical assistance and support for capacity development will be provided through the project to national partners to implement existing commitments under national strategies related to gender equality and employment, especially those related to the removal of gender-based discrimination practices, as well as to develop more gender-responsive policies in the future. 
 
Concurrently, the project aims to provide capacity development for civil society organizations (CSOs) to monitor the implementation of laws, strategies and action plans on all administrative levels, focusing specifically on commitments to women and gender equality in employment and the labour market. This will include capacity building in conducting surveys and developing tools such as advocacy papers and training manuals. The project will also support the exchange of good practices (within the region and with EU member states) and facilitation of a dialogue between relevant government and public institutions and CSOs on issues and policies related to women’s economic security in Serbia and Montenegro.
 
The project activities were developed in cooperation with stakeholders in Serbia and in Montenegro and are in line with national priorities, strategies and laws –as well as the CEDAW Committee Concluding Comments for Serbia, the Beijing Declaration and the Millennium Development Goals. The activities are shaped to respond to the recognized challenges through activities that forge partnerships between government and public agencies on the local, provincial and national level, civil society organizations, experts and the public. The project will also foster exchange of best practices and knowledge with the aim of facilitating harmonized integration with the EU and its acquis throughout the region of the Western Balkans, as it pertains to women’s economic security and rights.    
 
The main partners in Serbia are the Gender Equality Directorate, the Office of the Ombudsman and the Provincial Secretariat for Labour, Employment and Gender Equality. CSO partners are being selected through a competitive process. To achieve the stated goals and outputs, UNIFEM’s partners also include relevant government ministries and provincial secretariats, complaint mechanisms, the National Employment Service, civil society organizations and trade-unions, and selected local self-governments. Efforts are made to align the activities with other UN agencies and international organizations.
 
UNIFEM is looking for a Communications Expert to: support UNIFEM’s project in improving project visibility; provide support to partners across sectors in improving their visibility; prepare visibility and presentation materials to support UNIFEM-organized or supported events and disseminate UNIFEM-supported publications; identify opportunities for greater public visibility of appropriate UNIFEM project activities and/or partners; and assist in organization and facilitate press conferences and other media coverage related to project supported activities and events.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Project Manager, and in cooperation with Project Officers and Project Associate, Communications Expert is responsible to provide following deliverables, based on identified needs of UNIFEM project office:
 
  1. Proposal for project internal and external communication strategy drafted – by the end of September;
  2. Calendar of project and partners events produced, shared and regularly updated – Calendar produced and shared mid September, regular update on a monthly basis;
  3. Dissemination list and template letter for dissemination produced, and updated - Dissemination list and template letter for dissemination produced mid October, regular update on a monthly basis;
  4. Knowledge products (publications, films, other project-related materials etc) database created and updated – proposal for model of database created by the end of October, updated on a bi-annual basis;
  5. Review of project partners’ visibility materials and publications - provide input for final approval regarding partners’ materials and publications (input related to content of communication materials, use of UNIFEM logo and disclaimer on publications, agendas for events etc.) Up to 3 working days of support will be provided by December 31.
  6. Preparation of relevant visibility materials for the UNIFEM project office (such as press releases, agendas and other materials for events/press conferences) - up to 3 press releases will be produced by December 31

Competencies

  • Demonstrated excellent understanding of strategic communications (including branding), advocacy and outreach, preferably with organizations with a similar type of mandate/activities;
  • Proven ability to conceptualize, plan and implement communications, advocacy and  branding strategies;
  • Ability to absorb, analyze and synthesize large amounts of complex information within tight deadlines;
  • Sound editorial judgment, sensitivity to the issues of UNIFEM and a strong sense of design.
  • Proven ability to write lively and engaging news articles and concise reports
  • Proven presentational and communication skills;
  • Consistently ensures timeliness and quality of project work;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
  • Demonstrates integrity by modeling ethical standards;
  • Brings UN's mission, values and guiding principles alive by continuously clarifying, referring to and supporting them;
  • Excellent inter-personal skills

Required Skills and Experience

  • University degree in Communication, Public Relations, Media Studies, Political or Social Studies, Economics or related field;
  • Familiarity with gender equality issues in the Serbian context;
  • Outstanding written and oral communications and editing skills (in Serbian and English); proven ability to position issues effectively, both orally and in writing;
  • Outstanding research, writing and editing skills, with an ability to produce a high volume of engaging articles and quality content;
  • Minimum seven years of working experience in the field of communications and public relations.
Application Procedure:

The following are steps for on-line application:
  • Submit the application through the UNDP Serbia Jobs website: http://www.undp.org.rs/?event=public.jobs
  • Upload completed and signed P11 form  (http://www.undp.org.rs/download/P11_SC_SSA.doc) )in the required resume field. Please note that the omission to submit the P.11 form will result in automatic exclusion of the application from the selection process
  • The short-listed candidates only would be requested to submit a letter of interest including a price quotation indicating the daily fee (in USD[i]) requested for the work and travel envisaged in the section "Duties and Responsibilities". 
  • Due to large number of applicants, UNIFEM regrets that it is unable to inform the unsuccessful candidates of the outcome or status of the recruitment process.
 
Additional Information:
 
  • Special Service Agreement (SSA) will be applicable for individual consultants applying in their own capacity.  If the applicant is employed by any legal entity, SSA would be issued upon submission of Consent letter from the employer acknowledging the engagement with UNDP. Template of SSA with General Terms and Conditions could be found on: http://www.undp.org.rs/download/SSA_Contract%20with%20General%20Terms%20and%20Conditions.doc
  • Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA) will be applicable for applicants employed by any legal entity that cannot provide Consent letter from employer for engagement with UNDP. Template of RLA with General Terms and Conditions could be found on: http://www.undp.org.rs/download/RLA%20with%20General%20Terms%20and%20Conditions.doc
  • In the case of engagement of Civil servants under SSA contract modality a Letter of release and unpaid leave by the Government entity is required. 

 
[i] Payments to National Consultants will be incurred in the local currency at the prevailing UN rate of exchange during the month of payment.