Communication and Advocacy Specialist

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.

Afghanistan is one of the world’s most complex emergencies, and the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. Afghan people are grappling with the impact of conflict, poverty, economic decline, and natural disasters. In this context, Afghan women and girls face unique vulnerabilities and require urgent support as gender inequality is interwoven with conflict dynamics and humanitarian needs. Since the takeover by Taliban in August 2021, Afghanistan has witnessed a progressive erasure of women’s rights and freedoms, through both formal and informal edicts, messages and practices. The 24 December 2022 edict banning Afghan women from NGOs and INGOs and the escalation of the ban in April 2023 to Afghan women working with the UN has further amplified this restricted space from women and women CSOs creating operational conditions of uncertainty. It is essential that Afghan women and girls continue to shape the development of their country, and that their gains are protected. UN Women remains fully committed to supporting Afghan women and girls and to putting them at the center of the global response to the crisis in Afghanistan. In the evolving context UN Women continues to reconfigure and adapt its programming to be responsive to ensure the full spectrum of rights of Afghan women and girls are met.

UN Women’s UN Women’s programming approach in Afghanistan is informed by analysis of the political, economic and humanitarian situation, risks to, and capacities of, partner organizations, and needs of Afghan women and girls. UN Women Afghanistan currently has five key programme priorities: (1) Gender in Humanitarian Action, (2) Ending Violence Against Women, (3) Women’s Economic Empowerment, (4) Rebuilding Women Civil Society Organizations, and  (5) Women, Peace and Security. Given the operational context in country, UN Women has also strengthened its 5 sub offices to ensure a more localized approach to its programming. UN Women is committed to monitoring the situation closely to ensure that approaches evolve in line with a dynamic and uncertain context and to ensure close coordination with its partners who are supporting the implementation of UN Women’s Strategic Note in Afghanistan.

Reporting to the Special Representative, the Communications and Advocacy Specialist will collaborate closely with the Headquarters, the Regional office, programme pillars and the 5 sub offices’ colleagues to ensure ACO communications strategies, media relations and organizational outreach efforts are aligned with corporate communications policies and initiatives. The Communications and Advocacy Specialist will drive evidence-based communications and advocacy strategies, identifying innovative opportunities to amplify ACO mission and results. They will also lead and advise the Country Office on outreach campaigns, special events, donor relations initiatives, and coordinate with HQ and RO to optimise the overall UN Women visibility and global positioning. 

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Oversee the development and implementation of communication and outreach/advocacy strategies and plans, with a specific focus on media

• Develop ACO’s clear communication and advocacy strategies and associated budget and work plan to support the country programme and get women’s empowerment issues into the public domain with a view to strengthening political will in support of UN Women’s mission and results, and enhance the organization’s credibility and positioning.
• Conduct communication needs assessments for ACO, working closely with programme pillars and sub offices, and roll out concrete initiatives, in line with corporate policy.
• Integrate communication, advocacy and outreach strategies into proposals for project/programmes and other initiatives.
• Monitor and analyze print and social media and prepare analytical/briefing notes and reports.
• Represent UN Women in the UN Communication Group and other relevant interagency platforms, and liaise with other UN entities/partners  to lead special events and campaigns at country and global level.

       2. Provide advice and expertise to UN Women Senior Leadership in Afghanistan on a range of advocacy and public affairs issues, methods, and approaches.

• Identify innovative ways to increase positive exposure and leverage opportunities to amplify ACO’s triple mandate.
• Respond timely and clearly to media inquiries and similar information requests; prepare related correspondence; identify topics, background information, news-related development, and coverage of interest.
• Advise Senior Leadership, the programmes, sub office team leads on all aspects of communication, advocacy, and donor visibility.

       3. Oversee the development and dissemination of advocacy materials in Afghanistan

• Develop and produce communication and advocacy instruments and materials, including briefing materials, press releases, and articles and coordinate its dissemination through effective channels.
• Identify and launch information opportunities, activities, approaches and platforms and partners.
• Provide advice on advocacy materials and coordinate launching flagship initiatives and publications.
• Lead the engagement and supervision of video producers and other communication specialists to produce audio/ visual material on UN Women’s work.
• Develop brochures, factsheets, stories that amplify voices of Afghan women in country to inform media, ACO stakeholders and general public.
• Coordinate with RO and HQ on developing and dissemination advocacy materials.

      4. Oversee, facilitate and manage media relations for the ACO

• Lead relationship building with media -both in country and outside, to amplify advocacy opportunities for ACO, maintain and update database of relevant media outlets.
• Respond timely and clearly to media inquiries and to a variety of inquiries and information requests; prepare related, correspondence; identify topics, background information, news-related development and coverage of interest.
• Facilitate interviews and connect media with senior leadership and relevant subject experts.
• Lead and contribute to briefing packages, talking points for media or/and advocacy engagements.

       5. Build trust and maintain effective relationships with donors and partners

• Identify and develop new communication partnerships and alliances to enhance visibility; manage and nurture existing partnerships.
• Liaise with advocacy partners, ACO, RO, HQ teams, and undertake outreach to civil society organizations, donors and other stakeholders to ensure that newsworthy information reaches the public in a systematic way.
• Act as a direct entry point for donors visibility, building institutional relationships.

      6. Oversee the CO’s web/ online presence

• Oversee and maintain ACO websites, including developing design and content.
• Coordinate ACOs’ web-presence in the line with corporate web policy.
• Oversee and manage ACO social media accounts in line with corporate social media policy.

     7. Oversee knowledge building and sharing and advocacy efforts

• Work across programmes, sub offices and partnerships unit to Identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned from CO directly linked to ACO SN.
• Provide training and workshops on communication and advocacy as appropriate.
• Monitor emerging issues that could affect communications and advocacy contributions at the national level (risk management).

      8. Management of the communication and advocacy team

• Manage the performance of personnel under their supervision by provide managerial direction, guidance and leadership as well as performance feedback and coaching.
• Ensure performance assessment are completed on time and identify learning and development opportunities to support personnel’s engagement.
• Ensure all personnel under their supervision are fully aware of UN Women’s workplace relations policies.
• Ensure timely recruitments and management of personnel within the communication and advocacy team.
• Lead the management and oversight of work plan and budget allocation to the communication and advocacy activities in the ACO Strategic Note 2023-25.

      9. The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities:

The incumbent leads a team of 3 direct reports (1 NOB, 2 NUNV), as well as 7 affiliate personnel (SC and consultants).

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: 

FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES:

• Ability to communicate sensitively, effectively and creatively across different constituencies
• Strong knowledge of managing web-based knowledge management systems
• Strong understanding of production, graphic design and photography standards
• Strong knowledge of social media platforms and experience in social media outreach
• Strong oral and written communication and editing skills
• Strong communication, networking and advocacy skills
• Ability to provide advice and be strategic and analytical
• Good knowledge of local country media landscape

Required Skills and Experience

:Education and Certification:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in communications, public relations, journalism 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 7 years of progressively responsible work experience at national or international level in public relations, communications or advocacy, including in media relations is required.
• Experience in the use of social media is required.
• Experience in media relations is desirable.
• Experience leading and coaching staff in international settings is required.
• Knowledge of gender and human rights issues is desirable.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems is required.
• Experience in the use of a modern web-based ERP System, preferably Oracle Cloud, is desirable.

Languages:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of another official UN language is desirable (French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish).

Application:

• All applications must include (as an attachment) the completed UN Women Personal History form (P-11) which can be downloaded from   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.

Note:

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality, and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW, and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Inclusion Statement:

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits employ, 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.)