Background

Grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, UN Women will work 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.

Aligned with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, UN Women’s Second Chance Education and Vocational Learning (SCE) Programme is a solution for those who have missed out on education. It aims to break current trends and provide a comprehensive solution for marginalized women and young women who are at risk of being left behind. This project aims to develop context specific, affordable and scalable learning, entrepreneurship and employment pathways for empowering the world’s most disadvantaged women and young women. It offers women and young women, their families, local communities and societies the benefits of access to educational services which are tailored not only to their needs as learners, but also to their future as earners. The SCE Programme achieves this by leveraging the opportunities of innovative teaching approaches, digital technologies and social networks. 

The Programme will contribute to the following outcomes: i) More marginalized women and young women  access and benefit from high quality educational content, material and learning pathways; ii) More marginalized women and young women benefit from increased employment, livelihood and entrepreneurial opportunities; iii) Fewer marginalized women and young women are disadvantaged and denied education opportunities due to harmful and discriminatory social norms; iv) More marginalized women and young women have improved access to education and employment pathways through enhanced multi-sectoral policy and financing frameworks that enable scaling of successful SCE solutions.

This position is based within the Humanitarian Action and Crisis Response Office in Geneva and under the overall guidance of the Communications and Advocacy Section to ensure that the strategies, plans and products are aligned with corporate communications strategies and initiatives, including global advocacy campaigns, important international conferences and events.

The consultant is responsible for supporting the design of a media and communications strategy for a multi-country programme on Second Chance Education and Vocational Learning for women. The communications strategy must convey UN Women commitment to the empowerment of women, while providing visibility to the programme’s goals and effectively engaging with donors, partners, constituencies and other stakeholders.

The selected candidate is also expected to draft a range of materials, including press releases & media advisories, briefing notes, fact sheets, talking points, stories, outlines for videos and visibility materials etc., for inclusion in media kits and further public outreach, e.g. through UN Women’s website.

Duties and Responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Examine with a human rights approach, the overall context of the countries and communities where the project will be implemented and risks associated with private sector engagement;
  • Design and develop a communications strategy for the programme in collaboration with relevant partners;
  • Conduct communication needs and risks assessments for the programme (SWOT analysis);
  • Develop a set of key messages;
  • Ensure the integration of communications, advocacy and outreach global priorities into the strategy;
  • Provide substantive advice and guidance on strategic communications, risk management and crisis communication, as needed;
  • Design, develop and produce communication and advocacy instruments and materials, including briefing materials, talking points, press releases, articles, outline for videos and visibility materials;
  • Identify information opportunities, activities, approaches and platforms and partners

Deliverables:

  • Conduct SWOT analysis (10%)
  • Develop Key message document (20%)
  • Finalize Communication Strategy (70%)

Competencies

Core Values:

  • Respect for Diversity;
  • Integrity;
  • Professionalism.

Core Competencies:

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

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Core Values and Competencies: http://www.unwomen.org/-/media/headquarters/attachments/sections/about%20us/employment/un-women-employment-values-and-competencies-definitions-en.pdf

Functional Competencies:

  • Ability to communicate sensitively, effectively and creatively across different constituencies;
  • Excellent oral and written communication and editing skills;
  • Excellent communication, networking and advocacy skills;
  • Ability to provide strategic advice;
  • Good knowledge of media landscape;
  • Strong knowledge of gender and human rights issues;
  • Experience in working on rights based approaches;
  • Proven ability to develop and implement effective media and outreach strategies;
  • Knowledge of the UN system desirable;

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Master’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, international relations, or a related field.

Experience:

  • A minimum of 7 years relevant experience (post-masters) in communications at the national or international level,
  • Solid experience in media relations and outreach, including working with global media.
  • Strong knowledge of gender and development issues, and working experience on these issues desired
  • Experience working on gender and human rights issues desired.
  • Experience in the UN System is an asset

Languages:

  • Fluency in English is required;
  • Knowledge of another UN official working language is an asset.