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 supports UN Member States as they set global standards for achieving gender equality and works with governments and civil society to design laws, policies, programmes and services needed to implement these standards. It stands behind women’s equal participation in all aspects of life, focusing on five priority areas: increasing women’s leadership and participation; ending violence against women; engaging women in all aspects of peace and security processes; enhancing women’s economic empowerment; and making gender equality central to national development planning and budgeting. UN Women also coordinates and promotes the UN system’s work in advancing gender equality.

In support of its work to end violence against women and girls (EVAWG), UN Women East and Southern Africa is working to strengthen evidence-based advocacy and enhance the accessibility of evidence and knowledge products related to EVAWG for use by diverse gender equality partners. This includes UN Women’s Advocacy, Coalition Building and Transformative Feminist Action to End Violence against Women Programme (ACT) Programme, a collaboration between the European Commission and UN Women as co-leaders of the Action Coalition on Gender Based Violence (GBV) focused on strengthening global and regional advocacy, coalition building and transformative feminist action to end violence against women. 

To enhance the accessibility of EVAW knowledge products and evidence for awareness raising, advocacy and public dissemination, UN Women in East and Southern Africa recognizes the importance of developing various visual products, including infographics and illustrations to convey data, concepts and programming content related to EVAWG efforts. Visual products such as infographics and illustrations can enhance the presentation of complex information and data and tell stories in a more direct and accessible way. These visuals will be disseminated through, for example, UN Women websites, social media, and advocacy reports as well as in printed formats and products. UN Women plans to maximize its communication and outreach through targeted, diverse digital visual products such as: internet banners, infographics/data visualization, social media posters, animated visuals, and gifs for web and social media and reports.

Duties and Responsibilities

UN Women ESARO seeks to hire a professional graphic illustrator/ artist to support in producing various visual communications products related to ending violence against women.

The consultant will be reporting to the Policy Specialist for Ending Violence against Women and will be supported by the Programme Coordinator for ACT and Programme Analyst for EVAW, who will be the point of contact on the contract and payment issues. The consultant is responsible for the following:

  • Working closely with UN Women EVAW team to conceptualize and develop illustrations, graphics and infographics and layout as posters, report images, etc;
  • Deliver creative and innovative ideas for print, electronic, web-based and ideally, animated products;
  • Design and lay-out of illustrations, graphics for various applications such as brochures, reports and other programme communications products for electronic distribution:
  • Translate data and narrative text into graphic elements – illustrations and infographics;
  • Layout and design information and communication materials (banners, posters, booklets, leaflets, calendars, bulletins, social media cards);
  • Provide graphic recording services (live) for online/virtual meetings or develop graphics based on audio-video recordings from virtual meetings.
  • Illustrator/artist should work at his/her place (home-based) and should have all the necessary equipment and software for producing illustrations/designs/layouts.

Deliverables

The consultant will be engaged under a 1-year retainer contract, which facilitates direct engagement of the consultant depending on the need and availability within the contract period for a pre-agreed fee. Examples of possible deliverables include, but not limited to:

  • Graphics and illustrations for translating workshop narrative text and key messages into visual formats
  • Graphics and illustrations from virtual meetings
  • Layout of visuals and illustrations into posters, for products such as banners, merchandise (t-shirts, mouse pads, canvas tote bags, etc.)

Consultant’s Workplace and Official Travel

This is a home-based consultancy, and no travel will be required.

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/en/about-us/employment/application-process#_Values 

FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES: 

  • Demonstrated ability and experience in various aspects of design, including illustrations and infographics;
  • Excellent skills and experience with design programmes such as Adobe InDesign, Adobe Bridge, Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Flash, Avid, Final Cut Pro and other graphic design software;
  • Proven experience in developing illustrations and visual representation from start to a published product with knowledge of printing processes (offset and digital) and color management.
  • Demonstrated abilities and track record designing communications materials on gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Experience with animation and graphic recording would be an advantage

Required Skills and Experience

Education and Certification:

  • Bachelor’s degree in one or more of the following disciplines: visual arts and/or communications related fields; social sciences, and/or international development;

Experience:

  • At least five years of experience as an illustrator or graphic artist/designer;
  • Proven experience in visual arts, illustration, infographics, data visualization, animation and digital design
  • Strong practical background in visual arts, illustration, graphic or information design and data visualization;
  • Working experience in international development, women’s rights organizations and/or other UN agencies is an asset
  • Excellent analytical skills with strong drive for results and capacity to work independently.
  • Excellent English communication and writing skills;

Languages:

  • Fluency in English
  • Knowledge of French or any other UN official language is an asset.

How to Apply