Background

Only applicants who complete and upload a filled in Personnel History Form will be reviewed.

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.

The UN Women Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (ECA) seeks to strengthen its outreach by engaging media outlets across the region and sub-regions in advancing gender equality and women's rights. The current landscape, shaped by key initiatives such as the Women, Peace and Security Agenda, Beijing+30, and the broader goals of women's political and economic empowerment, requires tailored partnerships with media that are committed to promoting these priorities. To this end, UN Women ECA aims to conduct a targeted mapping of regional and sub-regional media outlets that could serve as allies and amplifiers for these objectives, with a strategic focus on channels that reach diverse audiences across Europe and Central Asia.

The primary objective of this consultancy is to map relevant media outlets at the regional and sub-regional levels that align with UN Women’s priorities. The consultant will develop a mapping document that includes potential partners, recommended engagement strategies, media pitching suggestions, and relevant media contacts.

The media mapping consultant is expected to play a pivotal role in enhancing UN Women's communication and advocacy efforts across the Europe and Central Asia region. By identifying strategic media partners and allies, the consultant will help amplify UN Women's impact on women's rights and empowerment. The mapping should focus on media outlets that align with UN Women's priorities and demonstrate a commitment to promoting gender equality. This work will ensure that UN Women's initiatives reach diverse audiences, highlight the organization's contributions to advancing gender equality, and strengthen public support for its mission.

The consultant will be reporting to the Regional Communications Specialist and will be supported by the RO relevant teams.

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant will:

1.Identify Key Media Outlets

• Focus on regional and sub-regional media platforms that align with UN Women’s strategic priorities, specifically:
• Gender Equality and Women’s Human Rights
• Women, Peace, and Security
• Women’s Political Participation
• Women’s Economic Empowerment
• Gender Responsive Budgeting
• Beijing+30 and post-Beijing agendas
• Social norms change
• Exclude national media outlets, targeting instead those with regional or sub-regional reach and influence.

2. Develop a Strategic Approach for Media Engagement

• Propose strategies on how to position UN Women’s priority areas with identified media outlets.
• Provide guidance on tailoring pitches to align with each media outlet’s editorial priorities and audience, ensuring they resonate with the broader objectives of UN Women ECA.

3.Create an Accessible Mapping Document

• Present the identified media outlets in a structured format, categorizing them by type (print, online, TV, radio, etc.), audience reach, and relevance to UN Women’s thematic areas.
• For each media outlet, include an overview of its profile, geographic reach, target demographics, previous relevant content (if available), and possible points of alignment with UN Women’s mandate.

4.Compile Relevant Contact Information

• Provide up-to-date and relevant contact details (e.g., editorial leads, feature editors, journalists focused on gender equality, and women’s rights) for each media outlet, wherever possible.

5. Identify Opportunities for Collaborative Content Creation

• Highlight potential for joint media initiatives, such as exclusive interviews, feature articles, opinion pieces, or campaign coverage that align with the strategic goals of UN Women ECA.

Consultant’s Workplace and Official Travel

This is a home-based consultancy. Travel is not 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 experience in media analysis, media relations, or strategic communications, preferably within the context of international organizations.

•Familiarity with gender equality and women’s rights issues in Europe and Central Asia.

•Strong research and analytical skills with proven ability to create actionable insights for strategic communications.

•Established networks within the media landscape of Europe and Central Asia are desirable.

Required Skills and Experience

Education and Certification:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in communications, media, social and political sciences, or a related 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 10 years of progressively responsible work experience in media, communications or research.
• Experience in field of media or communications is required.
• Experience in research is required.
• Excellent analytical skills with strong drive for results and capacity to work independently.
• Excellent English communication and writing skills; (Samples of previous work will be required.)

Languages:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge Russian is an asset.

How to Apply

• Personal P11

Only applicants who complete and upload a filled in Personnel History Form will be reviewed.

All applications must include (as an attachment) the completed UN Women Personal History form (P-11) which can be downloaded from: https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/Headquarters/Attachments/Sections/About%20Us/Employment/UN-Women-P11-Personal-History-Form.doc 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.

• A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page)
• Financial Proposal
• Relevant work (such as previous media mappings or strategic documents).

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.)