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.

Women’s Political Participation (WPP) is one of UN Women’s primary areas of work, recognizing the role of women’s leadership in strong and stable democratic processes and inclusive societies. It is covered under the Entity’s Strategic Plan 2022-2025 Impact Area 1 – Participation and Governance in Public Life: “Women and girls participate in leadership and decision making and benefit from gender responsive governance”; and across several Systemic Outcomes of the Strategic Plan, mainly: Outcome 1 on Normative Frameworks and Policies, Outcome 5 on Voice Leadership and Agency; and Outcome 7 on UN coordination.

UN Women works with various partners and stakeholders nationally, regionally, and globally to ensure more women of all ages fully participate, lead, and engage in political institutions. Within this framework, UN-Women has partnered with the European Union to one of the components of the European Union funded Women and Youth in Democracy Initiative (WYDE) Initiative. Launched by the European Union in 2023 WYDE seeks to strengthen the rights, empowerment, and participation in public and political life of youth and women as key actors of development and change. A multiparter initiative, WYDE includes five interlinked components,[1] which are aligned with the European Union Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy for the period 2020–2024 and the Youth Action Plan.

UN-Women, jointly with the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), will implement the WYDE/Women Leadership component through a three-year programme titled: “Advancing Women’s Political Participation and Decision-Making through Social Norms Change, Networking and Global Advocacy.” Over three years UN Women will leverage their convening power to facilitate feminist and women’s rights movements participation in global and regional advocacy spaces and access to decision-making fora. The four implementing partners will use the opportunity presented the EU’s WYDE initiative, to leverage collective action, partnerships, coordination, knowledge, and resources at a global level to support the full and effective participation and decision-making of diverse women, especially those most often left furthest behind.

The WYDE tendersglobal.net Women Leadership programme will prioritize changing social norms and shifting cultural attitudes that portray women’s roles in communities and society as incompatible with political power; and put specific focus on building critical skills of young women and engage men and boys, office holders and the media as allies for gender equality and women’s empowerment. It will enhance synergies between women’s rights movements, member states, decision makers, the international community, the media, and other key actors, including the WYDE community across its different components, to maximize the effectiveness of spaces for coalition building, advocacy, and campaigning to promote WPP.

Reporting to the WYDE/Women Leadership Programme Manager; the Communications Specialist will lead the development and implementation of the WYDE/Women’s Leadership programme communications and outreach/advocacy strategy and plans. She/He will collaborate closely with the Headquarters, Regional and Country Offices’ (RO/MCO/CO) colleagues and WYDE/Women’s Leadership implementing partners to ensure communications strategies, media relations and organizational outreach efforts are aligned with the European Union and UN Women corporate communications policies and initiatives. The Communications Specialist also collaborates with WYDE/Women’s Leadership implementing partners, and the WYDE Community implementing outreach campaigns, and donor relations initiatives. The Communication Specialist mobilizes support in conjunction with intergovernmental processes and supports the activities and special events organized by UN Women in coordination with the programme implementing partners.

[1] “Youth Participation in Public Affairs” (WYDE tendersglobal.net Civic Engagement); “Youth for Freedoms of Association and Assembly” (WYDE tendersglobal.net Freedoms); “Youth and women in Parliaments” (WYDE tendersglobal.net Inter Pares); “Youth and Women in Political Parties,” (WYDE tendersglobal.net Political Parties) and “Advancing Women’s Political Participation and Decision Making” (WYDE tendersglobal.net Women Leadership).

Duties and Responsibilities

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

• Conduct communication needs assessments.
• Design, develop, and implement the WYDE/Women’s Leadership communication and outreach/advocacy strategies, including media strategies, integrating gender and youth perspectives.
• Integrate communication, advocacy and outreach strategies into the Programme related initiatives.
• Monitor and analyze print and social media and prepare reports.
• Launch WYDE/Women’s Leadership corporate and local/regional campaigns and special events.
• Provide advice and guidance to and coordinate with UN Women Regional Offices and WYDE partners.
• Coordinate and collaborate with partner organizations and their communications focal points.

2. Lead the development and dissemination of advocacy materials.

• Develop and produce communication and policy-oriented advocacy instruments and materials, including briefing materials, press releases, and articles and coordinate its dissemination through effective channels.
• Identify and prepare infographics and social media assets for UN Women’s work on political participation.
• Identify and launch information opportunities, activities, approaches and platforms and partners.
• 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 on the programme implementation to inform media and public at global level.
• Follow guidelines from HQ and collaborate with UN Women media teams in HQ and Regional Offices, especially on social media assets.

3. Manage media relations related to the EU WYDE Initiative in Brussels and EU-based media context and the HQ Governance and Participation Section

• Support relationship building with press; maintain and update database of relevant press.
• Support collaboration and coordination with UNRIC (UN Regional Information Center in Brussels) to promote advocacy materials and messaging.
• Respond to a variety of inquiries and information requests; prepare related correspondence; identify topics, background information, news-related development, and coverage of interest.
• Organize roundtable discussions, press conferences, and briefing sessions with press.
• Respond timely and clearly to media inquiries, facilitating interviews with senior managers; connect media with UN Women subject experts and programme partners and beneficiaries.
• Prepare talking points.

4. Build and maintain partnerships and maintain relations with donors.

• Identify and develop new communication partnerships and alliances to enhance visibility; manage and nurture existing partnerships.
• Support the programme manager on building, maintaining, and strengthening relations with programme partners, EU WYDE Strategic Steering Committee, related Task Forces (including Advocacy Task Force) and other donors as needed.
• Liaise with WYDE implementing partners and undertake outreach to civil society organizations, and other key stakeholders to ensure that newsworthy information reaches the public and donors.
• Collaborate closely with communication colleagues in implementing partner organizations and UN Women Regional Offices to ensure consistency with EU corporate policies and EU-UN visibility guidelines, messaging and WYDE initiatives.
• Submit packages for programme initiatives for EU review.

5. Oversee the WYDE/Women’s Leadership online presence.

• Contribute content to update relevant partner websites, including developing design and content.
• Coordinate implementing partners’ WYDE web-presence in the line with EU and UN Women corporate web policy.
• Oversee and manage WYDE/ Women’s Leadership social media activities in line with UN Women and EU corporate social media policies.

6. Facilitate knowledge building and sharing.

• Identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned from WYDE/Women’s Leadership programme initiatives directly linked to regional offices’ goals and activities and ensure exchange of information.
• Provide training and workshops on communication and advocacy as appropriate.
• Convene webinars or information exchanges on communications and topics of relevance to the programme.

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

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

• Ability to communicate sensitively, effectively, and creatively across different constituencies
• Knowledge of web-based knowledge management systems
• Understanding of production, graphic design, infographics, 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 regional media landscape
• Knowledge of gender and human rights issues is desirable

Required Skills and Experience

Education and certification:

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in communications, public relations, journalism, or relevant 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 5 years of professional work experience at national or international level in public relations, communications, or advocacy, including in media relations.
• Experience in the use of social media.
• Experience in media relations is an asset.
• Experience in partner recognition & visibility for EU-funded programmes is an asset.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English and French is required.
• Knowledge of Spanish is an asset.

Application:

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.

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.

Diversity and inclusion:

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.