Background

UN Women

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.

In 2015, the United Nations General Assembly adopted unanimously the Resolution 70/1 Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Gender equality and women’s empowerment is at the heart of the agenda, as numerous goals and targets address structural barriers to achieve equal rights and opportunities between women and men, girls and boys.

As a global champion for women and girls, UN Women was established to accelerate progress on meeting their needs worldwide, and to engage with diverse constituencies to achieve gender equality.

The Unstereotype Alliance

The Unstereotype Alliance is a thought and action platform convened by UN Women that brings together a powerful global coalition of leaders from the private sector behind the common goal of eliminating gender bias and harmful gender stereotypes from their advertising. 

The Unstereotype Alliance is focused on empowering women in all their diversity (race, class, age, ability, ethnicity, religion, sexuality, language, education, etc.) and addressing harmful masculinities to help create a gender equal world.  The Alliance provides a platform that enables the private sector to use their advertising and media as a powerful force for good, driving positive change by depicting women and men as empowered actors with progressive, intelligent and multi-dimensional personalities.

Recognizing the power of partnerships to accelerate progress, this industry-led initiative convened by UN Women has been embraced by businesses and organizations who have been champions of addressing gender bias in the industry. It aims to unite leaders across business, technology and creative industries to tackle the widespread prevalence of stereotypes that are often perpetuated through advertising and content.

To create a practical and enforceable way to achieve real global change, the Unstereotype Alliance has implemented a national expansion programme, which aims to activate the Unstereotype Alliance mission and platform at a local and country level. Each national chapter appoints a National Consultant to facilitate the Unstereotype Alliance National Chapter, under the supervision of national UN Women representatives. 

The Unstereotype Alliance has established a National Chapter in the United Kingdom with the participation of Members and Allies from the UK advertising industry.  UN Women, as convenors of the Unstereotype Alliance, seeks the services of a National Consultant to support, coordinate and manage partnerships and outreach with a range of partners, stakeholders and advertising industry bodies to deliver on the strategic priorities of the Unstereotype Alliance UK National Chapter.

The National Consultant will support in coordinating engagement with advertising companies, agency networks and other relevant networks/organisations as Members and Allies of the National Chapter. They will coordinate relationships with local constituencies including chambers of commerce, industry federations, and government departments/ministries as required, providing regular reports and updates to Unstereotype Alliance local and HQ. They will take guidance and report back to the Unstereotype Alliance Secretariat at HQ, and will cooperate closely with UN Women’s UK National Committee colleagues to ensure a streamlined and consistent front to UN Women’s partnerships in the United Kingdom.

Duties and Responsibilities

Specifically, the Consultant will undertake the following tasks: 

  • Establishes leads with the UK’s private sector advertisers, brands and advertising agency networks including identifying leading industry voices, and facilitates meetings, interactions and events resulting in expressed interest of joining the Unstereotype Alliance United Kingdom National Chapter.
  • Provides researched and analyzed content, prepares briefing material, documentation and presentations from difference sources for internal/external meetings for a range of stakeholders.
  • Conducts continual onboarding of members, works with Members to define strategic priorities for the United Kingdom National Chapter, that deliver on the Unstereotype Alliance global objectives and drive systemic change at a local level.
  • Works with Members, UN Women team and other partners to define a communications strategy, implementation plan and the execution of National Chapter activities.
  • Responsible for ongoing outreach and fielding of all related enquiries to strengthen the membership of the National Chapter.
  • Develops terms of references for setting up of core groups/committees, consultants/vendors for any short-term technical support required through hiring of individuals and companies. 
  • Conducts presentations and workshops to introduce Unstereotype Alliance principles and proprietary tools to national Members.  Coordinates ‘training of trainers’ workshops to ensure the tools are implemented and effective in the creation and testing of unstereotyped advertising across Membership outputs.
  • Independently plans and coordinates potential activities with programme partners and other UN Women programme units (women’s economic empowerment, violence against women, governance). Also leads the activities/events in promotion and participation in Unstereotype Alliance with private sector. 
  • Identifies synergistic opportunities/events/activities with other UN agencies, private sector networks and develops work plans and resource mobilization opportunities.
  • Liaises closely with the Unstereotype Alliance National Chapter network to share knowledge products, case studies, and best practices.  The Consultant also works with Unstereotype Alliance Secretariat at UN Women Headquarters to keep a track of regular progress, follow up on agreed work plans, contributions and activities.
  • Liaises with UN Women’s operations team members for administrative support in management of finances, procurement and travel arrangements.
  • Conducts Due Diligence process of new Members with HQ colleagues when required.
  • Submits a detailed monthly progress report as per UN Women SSA format and agreed work plan as well as ongoing updates for website, e-newsletter, social media platforms and other UA reporting requirements as needed.
  • Collaborates with country office social media focal point and the Unstereotype Alliance global Social Media Consultant to manage National Chapter social media activity and adapt global content for local channels.
  • Collaborates and coordinates with the UN Women National Committee Executive Director on various synergistic tasks including maintaining the UK corporate member’s website area, updating relevant impact stories, arranging several events a year within Parliament for UA Members and other partners and from time to time preparing materials about other UN Women programmes and campaigns as requested by and useful to UA Members.
  • Works closely and reports to the Unstereotype Alliance HQ team on a regular basis

Deliverables:

  • Outreach to strengthen membership of the Unstereotype Alliance United Kingdom National Chapter (6 months)
  • Develop a work plan of activities including list of stakeholders/potential companies or organizations with interest in promoting gender equality and removing unstereotype branding in advertisements/campaigns (6 months)
  • Implementation of the various activities of the United Kingdom National Chapter (6 months)
  • Facilitate meetings/interaction with private sector advertiser networks, creative agencies, industry federations, UN agencies, government departments if relevant, (6 months)
  • Network with industry influencers, chambers of commerce etc to set up  a steering group of advisors for Unstereotype Alliance United Kingdom National Chapter (6 months)
  • Develop an online database of participating United Kingdom National Chapter Members & Allies, and share with Unstereotype Alliance Secretariat at HQ with regular updates (6 months)
  • Identify opportunities for resource mobilization from CSO, philanthropic organizations and other sources (6 months)
  • Attend and participate in monthly Learning Cafes with fellow UN Women National Chapter Consultants, and monthly All-Member Calls with global membership.
  • Keep an account of the National Chapter’s membership fees paid and due dates for annual payments in coordination with Unstereotype Alliance Secretariat at HQ.
  • Reconcile membership fees received on a quarterly basis to report to the Unstereotype Alliance.
  • Launch National Chapter Twitter and Facebook strategy and post content frequently, with guidance and support from the global Unstereotype Alliance Social Media Consultant.

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

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Master’s degree in one or more of the following disciplines: marketing, media or communications, business administration, international relations or other related fields
  • Bachelor’s degree in one or more of the following disciplines: marketing, media or communications, business administration, international relations or other related fields with additional 2 years of experience

 Experience:

  • At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in advertising, communications, or marketing industry (preferably in programme management and strategy).  Experience in digital communications is desired
  • Knowledge of client management and/or coordination of partnership programmes
  • Experience in current gender related issues, research, women’s empowerment, private sector will be desirable
  • Demonstrated experience in undertaking basic research, financial management, programme implementation including providing necessary operational, administrative, and programmatic support
  • Experience in working in a computer environment using multiple office software packages
  • Ability to work independently and with minimal supervision
  • Familiarity with private sector engagement is desirable

Language:

  • Fluency in oral and written English is required.
  • Knowledge of another official United Nations language is desirable.