Background

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination and violence 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, programs, and services needed to implement these standards.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) UN Women currently has a wide portfolio in the areas of ending violence against women; gender-responsive governance and leadership; and women’s economic empowerment; with the financial support of Sweden and the European Union. UN Women’s efforts are also reflected through a systematic approach to coordination and communications. Coordination focuses on collaboration with gender equality mechanisms, supporting women’s rights CSOs, and influencing the international community to prioritize gender equality and UN coordination. Communications efforts are aimed at advocating for gender equality, women’s empowerment, and women’s rights in BiH; increasing UN Women’s and its partners’ visibility; and achieving multiplied advocacy efforts and broadened communications opportunities. Additionally, UN Women is initiating a joint approach to ending violence against women; and with the support of the UN Peacebuilding Fund, UN Women, UNFPA and IOM will collectively advance progress on the Women, Peace and Security Agenda.

With the goal to make visible the multitude of actions implemented by UN Women, in comprehensive partnership with donors, government, and CSOs; to enhance the outreach of results achieved through these actions; and to acknowledge the work of partners who are making a change in the lives of BiH women and girls, UN Women is seeking to engage a National Writer/Editor Consultant to support the production of portfolio factsheets which would highlight the advances made in achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment through aforementioned thematic areas.

DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVE

The aim of the task is to enhance the outreach and visibility of the multitude of UN Women’s programmatic actions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, implemented in partnership with donors, government, and CSOs, and contribute to better visibility of UN Women’s portfolios, as well as the results of these actions.

IMMEDIATE OBJECTIVE

The objective of this consultancy is to support UN Women in the creation of a series of factsheets that will highlight the programmatic work of UN Women through its main portfolio areas (gender-responsive governance, ending violence against women, and women’s economic empowerment), the work conducted in coordination and communications, and the joint efforts on ending violence against women and women, peace and security. Overall, seven (7) fact sheets should be produced, with a maximum length of 5 pages per factsheet. Factsheets should be produced in English and later translated to Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian and English. This consultancy includes developing a concept of the factsheets; research and desk review; writing and editing the factsheets; and supporting the development process until its completion (translation, design, etc.).

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of UN Women Communications Associate, and overall supervision of UN Women Programme Specialist, the National Writer/Editor Consultant will work in collaboration with the designated UN Women team. Based on UN Women BiH Communications Strategy and in consultation with the UN Women team, the National Writer/Editor Consultant is expected to conduct the following tasks:

• Gathering necessary information required to produce factsheets through meetings with relevant UN Women staff and desk review of relevant publications, briefs, etc.;
• Developing the concept of the factsheets (including content, suggestions regarding design and photos; and other elements relevant to the creation of the factsheets);
• Writing and editing the text of the seven (7) factsheets;
• Developing a set of communications products related to the factsheets (social media content package with at least 10 communications products developed), and a social media plan with appropriate copy;
• Support the design process of the factsheets (translation to Bosnian/Serbian/Croatian, communication with the designer, etc.)
• Produce a report on conducted work;
• Provide other inputs and perform other tasks as necessary according to the agreed work plan.

The consultant will be expected to complete the following tasks within the indicative timeframe:

The consultancy will last 35 days, in the period from 10 November 2023 to 31 January 2024. The assignment might require some presence at UN Women premises in Sarajevo. 

The consultancy generally does not require travel. Any possible travel to field locations for events will be agreed and arranged in advance in consultation with the supervisor and organized by UN Women.

All deliverables should be submitted to the UN Women Communications Associate. Final report  on the consultancy should be delivered by 23 January 2024 in English and should not exceed 20 pages.

The consultant will be responsible for the following deliverables:

1. Workplan for the entire task;
2. Relevant deliverables as indicated in the deliverables table;
3. Final report on the entire assignment.

Competencies

Core Values/guiding principles:

• Integrity - Demonstrate consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UN Women in actions and decisions, in line with the UN Code of Conduct.
• Professionalism - Demonstrate professional competence and Consultant knowledge of the pertinent substantive areas of work.
• Cultural sensitivity and respect for diversity - Demonstrate an appreciation of the multicultural nature of the organization and the diversity of its staff. Additionally, the individual should have an international outlook, appreciating difference in values and learning from cultural diversity.

Core Competencies:

• Planning & Organizing – Develops clear goals in line with agreed strategies, identifies priorities, foresees risks and makes allowances accordingly.
• Organizational Awareness - Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment.
• Teamwork - Demonstrate ability to work in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
• Accountability – Takes ownership of all responsibilities and delivers outputs in accordance with agreed time, cost and quality standards.

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:

Knowledge Management and Learning

• Shares knowledge and experience
• Seeks and applies knowledge, information, and best practices from within and outside UN Women
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more practice areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills
• Development and Operational Effectiveness
• Demonstrates excellent written and oral communication skills. Communicates sensitively, effectively and creatively across different constituencies
• Demonstrates very good understanding of and experience in communications and outreach/advocacy
• Ability to perform a variety of standard specialized and non-specialized tasks and work processes that are fully documented, researched, recorded and reported
• Ability to review a variety of data, identify and adjust discrepancies, identify and resolve operational problems
• Uses Information Technology effectively as a tool and resource

Leadership and Self-Management

• Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure
• Proven networking skills and ability to generate interest in UN Women’s mandate
• Identifies opportunities and builds strong partnerships with clients and partners

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications:

• University Degree (BA) in media, communications, journalism, international relations, political science, social sciences, or related studies field.
• A Master’s degree in communications, journalism, or a related field such as international development, gender studies, or social sciences will be considered an asset.

Skills and Experience:

• At least 5 years of demonstrated work experience in writing, editing, and producing publications and/or communications materials (print and online) such as briefs, factsheets, reports, and similar knowledge products.
• At least 1 year of experience in content creation for social media platforms.
• Experience in the promotion of gender issues and working with women is an asset;
• Relevant experience at the national level in delivering similar services to international development organizations is an asset.
• Previous experience within the UN System is an asset;
• Fluency in English and Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian, excellent spoken and written skills.

EVALUATION OF OFFERS
UN Women applies a fair and transparent selection process that takes into account both the technical qualification of potential consultants as well as the financial proposals submitted in support of consultant applications. Candidate applications will be evaluated using a cumulative analysis method taking into consideration the combination of applicant qualifications and financial proposal. The contract will be awarded to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
• having received the highest score out of below defined technical and financial criteria.

The maximum number of points assigned to the financial proposal will be allocated to the lowest price proposal among those candidates. Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points in the technical evaluation would be considered for financial evaluation.

Criteria:

Technical Evaluation (70%) - Maximum Obtainable Points 70

Criteria 1: Fluency in written and spoken English and Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian. Candidates to provide certificate of English knowledge or a writing sample in English (one to two pages maximum) REQUIRED 

Criteria 2: University Degree (BA) in media and communications, journalism, international relations, political science, social sciences, or related studies field. Satisfactory/Non-satisfactory REQUIRED

Criteria 3: A Master’s degree in communications, journalism, or a related field such as international development, gender studies, or social sciences will be considered an asset. (5 points)

Criteria 4: At least 5 years of demonstrated work experience in writing, editing and producing publications and/or communications materials (print and online) such as briefs, factsheets, reports, and similar knowledge products. (45 points)

Criteria 5: At least 1 year of experience in content creation for social media platforms.  (10 points)

Criteria 6: Experience in promotion of gender issues and working with women is an asset (5 points)

Criteria 7: Relevant experience at the national level in delivering similar services to international development organizations and/or within the UN System will be considered an asset (5 points)
 

Financial Evaluation (30%) – Based on submitted offer - Maximum Obtainable Points 30     

The points for the Financial Proposal will be allocated as per the following formula:

• Evaluation of submitted financial offers will be done based on the following formula: S = Fmin / F * 30
• S - score received on financial evaluation;
• Fmin - the lowest financial offer out of all the submitted offers qualified over the technical evaluation round;
• F - financial offer under the consideration.

TOTAL -               100 points

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents:

1. Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position.
2. Expression of interest and confirmation of immediate availability
3. Financial Proposal*- specifying a total lump sum amount in BAM for the tasks specified in this announcement. The financial proposal shall include a breakdown of this lump sum amount per days.
4. Filled P11 form including experience in similar projects and contact details from http://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/employment
5. Candidates to provide certificate of English knowledge or writing sample in English (one to two pages maximum)

Applications that are not complete will not be considered.

For any additional information, please contact unwomen.bih@unwomen.org

How to Submit the Application: To submit your application online, please follow the steps below:

• Download and complete the UN Women Personal History Form (P11)- http://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/employment
• Merge your UN Women Personal History Form (P11), the Financial Proposal, Expression of Interest into a single file. The system does not allow for more than one attachment to be uploaded;
• Click on the Job Title (job vacancy announcement);
• Click 'Apply Now' button, fill in necessary information on the first page, and then click 'Submit Application;'
• Upload your application/single file as indicated above with the merged documents (underlined above);
• You will receive an automatic response to your email confirming receipt of your application by the system.

Qualified women and men and members of minorities are encouraged to apply. UN Women applies fair and transparent selection process that would take into account the competencies/skills of the applicants as well as their financial proposals.

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.)

Due to large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.