Background

UN Women East and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) produces several knowledge products that must undergo quality assurance process that include editing and proof reading before design and dissemination. The Knowledge Management and Research unit is soliciting for interested and qualified candidates (individuals, not firms) to be considered for the graphic design consultancy for UN Women ESARO Knowledge Products on a continuous basis. As a result, UN Women ESARO is seeking to contract qualified individual consultants who will provide a range of graphic design services for knowledge products, including design of info graphics, fact sheets and animations in English. In this regard, UN Women seeks to employ the services of professional graphic designers to support with this role.

The purpose of this retainer consultancy is to provide Graphic Design Services for UN Women East and Southern Africa Regional Office. UN Women is an organization that is dependent on the budgetary and extra-budgetary contributions it receives for the implementation of its activities. Applicants are therefore requested to propose the best and most cost-effective solution to meet UN Women requirements, while ensuring a high level of service. 

The selected candidate(s) must provide print/web ready drafts in an Adobe InDesign compatible format that could be used by the Microsoft Windows platform.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work:

• Access to internet connection during the period of the contract to send and receive electronic communications and assignments.
• The standard software used at UN Women is Microsoft Office and PDF.
• Designed documents must be returned to UN Women in web and print versions.
• The consultant is responsible for acquiring the necessary software licenses, UN Women will not pay for software licenses or connectivity fees.

Duties and Responsibilities: 

Each Graphic designer will work under the guidance of the Knowledge Management and Research Specialist and in close collaboration with the programme focal points for UN Women East and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) to provide design, illustration and multimedia services for diverse knowledge products including publications, studies, briefs, papers, annual report among others, in various multimedia projects and will be shared with media partners and UN system partners.

The consultant under the contract will be required to undertake the following tasks:

• Review of requested knowledge products including accompanying annexes and providing technical inputs where necessary;
• The consultant will design requested knowledge products while ensuring alignment with the UN Women branding and communications guidelines and templates.
• Conceptualize, design, and produce infographics of each of the requested knowledge products in line with UN Women branding guidelines
• Revise and finalize draft products based on feedback from UN Women
• The scope of work will include extensive input and direction from UN Women, reviews with UN Women, post production work and final products for dissemination. Reviews with UN Women will be done for every stage of work.

The Graphic Designers will be responsible for the conceptualization of digital projects. They will brainstorm and provide creative and innovative design direction that is aligned with UN Women guidelines and requirements.

The successful candidate (s) will be required to perform a variety of design related services including the Creative work, the template-driven work, or both of them. These will include, but not limited to, the following:

Creative work

1. Develop creative concepts for knowledge products using a range of digital and print materials.
2. Create designs for knowledge products, including infographics, animated and interactive elements.
3. Develop brand identity materials and templates for new publication types.
4. Design and layout reports, and other documents.

Template-driven work

1. Lay out new documents using design templates
2. Using the layout of existing documents, layout editions in other languages including English and/or French).
3. Replicate corporate design across a range of publications.
4. Prepare pre-print and pre-production files for knowledge products.

Deliverables:

• Web ready versions of designed publications
• Print ready versions of the publications designed
• Infographics from the designed publications.

Duration of Assignment:

The successful candidates will be offered a retainer type of contract for minimum of one-year which facilitates direct engagement of the consultant(s) depending on need and availability within the contract period for a pre-agreed fee. 

Competencies

Core Values:

• Respect for Diversity
• Integrity
• Professionalism

Core Competencies:

• General knowledge of development issues;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment;
• Accountability;
• Stakeholder engagement;
• Leading by example.

Functional Competencies:

• Demonstrated design skills;
• Good understanding of gender and development issues in Africa;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Highest standards of integrity, discretion and loyalty.
• Sensitivity to the message that the author is trying to convey and the ability to judge the level of intrusiveness necessary in relation to institutional templates.
• Knowledge of gender equality and women’s economic empowerment including a clear and mature style of design, demonstrating an understanding of the communication requirements.
• Thoroughness and accuracy.
• Adaptability and flexibility and the ability to work under pressure and to short deadlines.
• Good IT skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• A Bachelors Degree in Creative Designs, Communications, Journalism, Mass Communication or Marketing, Fine Arts, Social Sciences or similar qualification from a globally recognized school/university.

Experience:

• At least 5 years of experience in the field of graphic design with a proven record of pushing the boundaries of design by staying abreast of industry trends and providing creative and innovative solutions;
• Demonstratable experience that is limited to publication designs and templates, document layout, creation of graphs and infographics, charts and PowerPoint slides and branding.
• Strong theoretical and practical experience in graphic design, including the use of design software such as Adobe Design Premium, In-Design, CorelDraw, etc.
• The ability to research and check facts and to question the validity of statements in the text.
• Experience of working for international organizations.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in written and spoken English.

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.)