UN WOMEN Jobs - 106153- Regional Communications and Advocacy Specialist

Regional Communications and Advocacy Specialist

Advertised on behalf of

UN WOMEN

Location :

Cairo, EGYPT

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

10-May-22 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-3

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 Year

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

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.

Background

UN Women’s Regional Office for the Arab States (ROAS) has recently adopted its new Strategic Note (2022-25). Our vision is to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls and the full enjoyment of their human rights in the Arab States, propelling economic prosperity and sustainable development for all. Our goal is to accelerate achievements for the largest possible numbers of women and girls in the region, including the most vulnerable, in the next 4 years. To accomplish this, we work with our partners and offices across 17 countries in the region to implement targeted programmes that support women’s economic empowerment, women’s leadership and participation, women, peace and security and humanitarian issues, as well as ending violence against women.

Communications and Advocacy are critical components of our regional strategy. We are looking to sustain and scale-up our reach, communications, advocacy, and visibility results by building capacities across the region. We will be replicating successful partnership models with media powerhouses and increasingly be guided by real time insights into how communications efforts influence the advancement of women. Critical is to produce compelling materials and assets for the UN Women’s websites and social media channels, in English and Arabic, with an emphasis on common priorities in the region, global/regional and national campaigns. We roll-out communications methodologies that are suited to the regional context and able to attract and support the engagement of diverse stakeholder groups, including youth, civil society, private sector, national and regional authorities.

Under the overall leadership and supervision of the Regional Director, the Communications and Advocacy Specialist will lead an exciting portfolio, and guide a small team, working in support of 17 countries, UN Women’s country offices and in collaboration with UN Women’s global communications team. The objective is to develop, coordinate and implement an innovative regional communications and advocacy strategy to propel outreach/ results under the ROAS new strategic note (2022-25), uplifting communication and advocacy from projects to a holistic and results driven programmatic approach.

Duties and Responsibilities

Lead the development and implementation of communication and outreach/advocacy strategies and plans:

Develop, coordinate, and implement an innovative regional communications and advocacy strategy to implement and drive outreach/communication/advocacy results under the ROAS new strategic note (2022-25), uplifting communication and advocacy from projects to a holistic programmatic approach;
Conduct communication needs assessments for RO, including projects, programmes and corporate change initiatives;
Design, develop, and implement communication and outreach/advocacy strategies, including media strategies; ensure gender perspective.

Coordinate and quality assure the ROAS communication and advocacy work under each thematic priority identified in the Strategic Note:

Integrate communication, advocacy and outreach strategies into proposals for project/programmes and other initiatives;
Monitor and analyze print and social media and prepare analytical reports on media engagement in accordance with UN Women’s results-based management monitoring and reporting;
Launch in-country UN Women/ UN system corporate and local/regional campaigns and special events;
Provide advice and guidance to and coordinate with country and cluster offices in the region.

Lead the development and dissemination of communications/advocacy materials in the region:

Develop and produce communication and advocacy instruments and materials, including 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 HQ.

Manage media relations for the ROAS:

Lead relationship building with the press in the region; maintain and update database of relevant press;
Respond clearly and in a timely manner 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 the press;
Facilitate interviews with senior managers; connect media with UN Women subject experts;
Finalize talking points.

Build and maintain partnerships:

Identify and develop new communication partnerships and alliances to enhance visibility; manage and nurture existing partnerships, including with donors;
Liaise with advocacy partners and undertake outreach to civil society organizations, governments, and other groups to ensure that newsworthy information reaches the public and donors;
Guide and collaborate closely with communication colleagues in other offices to ensure consistency with corporate policies, messaging and initiatives;
Liaise with UNDS regional partners on joint messaging and communications, including around UN Women’s coordination mandate;
With relevant RO focal points, submit packages for programme initiatives for donor review.

Oversee the region’s web/ online presence:

Oversee and maintain (regional) websites, including developing design and content;
Coordinate and quality assure country and cluster offices’ web-presence in the line with corporate web policy;
Oversee and manage (regional) social media accounts in line with corporate social media policy.

Facilitate knowledge building and sharing:

Identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned from regional and country level directly linked to programme goals and activities and ensure exchange of information;
Provide training and workshops on communication and advocacy;
Build regional communication network to share knowledge, including with UN Women’s global communications team.

Key Performance Indicators:

Innovative regional communications and advocacy strategy developed and implemented, with increased programmatic and strategic approach;
Quality and relevant communications and advocacy materials and content on the website and social media channels;
Regular interactions with mass media, as shown by coverage;
Regular support to partners, country offices, including donor visibility, as shown in increased donor satisfaction;
Regular exchange of information between country level offices in region as shown in coherent and relevant regional public presence.

Competencies

Core Values:

Respect for Diversity
Integrity
Professionalism

Core Competencies:

Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues
Accountability
Creative Problem Solving
Effective Communication
Inclusive Collaboration
Stakeholder Engagement
Leading by Example

Please 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 constituencies;
Strong knowledge of managing web-based knowledge management systems;
Strong understanding of production, graphic design and photography standards;
Strong knowledge of social media platforms and experience in social media outreach;
Strong oral and written communication and editing skills;
Strong communication, networking and advocacy skills;
Ability to provide advice and be strategic and analytical;
Good knowledge of local country media landscape;
Knowledge of gender and human rights issues is desirable.

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;
Experience in the use of social media;
Experience in media relations is an asset.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English is required;
Working knowledge of Arabic is an asset.

Application:

All applications must include (as an attachment) the completed UN Women Personal History form (P-11) which can be downloaded from http://www.unwomen.org/about-us/employment. 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.

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).