JOB DESCRIPTION

Background

The project is designed to address the gender-specific barriers faced by women entrepreneurs in Uzbekistan, with a focus on improving access to resources, capacity building, mentorship, and advocacy for systemic change. The outcome of the project is to empower women entrepreneurs in Uzbekistan by enhancing their access to resources, the skills to sustainably grow their businesses, and advocating for policy reforms to create a gender-responsive entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The project aims to significantly enhance the performance and growth of women-led SMEs by providing tailored business acceleration programs. These programs will improve business practices, increase access to financing, and equip women entrepreneurs with essential skills, such as financial literacy, business strategy development, and loan application procedures. The project will focus on developing a gender-sensitive capacity-building curriculum and a comprehensive mentoring framework that takes into account the unique challenges faced by women. This is expected to result in stronger, more resilient women-led businesses that are better positioned to access new markets and resources.

Through the implementation of a robust mentorship program, the project will connect women entrepreneurs with experienced mentors who can provide personalized guidance. The mentorship will focus on strategic business growth, leadership skills, financial planning, and overcoming gender-specific barriers in entrepreneurship. By fostering a supportive peer network, the mentorship program will also help build long-term relationships among women entrepreneurs, strengthening their confidence and capacity for business leadership. Over time, this will contribute to increasing the number of women entrepreneurs successfully scaling their businesses and taking on leadership roles in Uzbekistan’s economy.

The project will also drive systemic change by improving the research, policy advocacy, and broader entrepreneurial ecosystem for women entrepreneurs. By conducting in-depth research on the needs of women-led businesses, including access to finance, markets, and resources, the project will provide evidence-based recommendations to policymakers and financial institutions. This will create a more supportive ecosystem for women entrepreneurs, resulting in improved access to finance, mentorship, and market opportunities.

Uzbekistan, Central Asia’s most populous country with 37 million people in 2024, possesses abundant natural resources, including natural gas, gold, copper, uranium, and coal, contributing to steady economic growth of 5.5–6% annually. Despite this, the country faces economic, social, and environmental challenges, particularly in reducing poverty and inequality. The poverty rate declined from 17% in 2021 to 11% in 2023 and is projected to reach 6% by 2025, with Uzbekistan implementing a multidimensional poverty index to ensure inclusive development. Climate change threatens agriculture, water resources, and labor productivity, potentially costing 1% of GDP by 2030 and reducing economic potential by 10% by 2050, with heightened risks for female-headed households, persons with disabilities, and rural communities.

Since 2017, Uzbekistan has pursued ambitious reforms through its National Development Strategies (2017–2021 and 2022–2026) and the “Uzbekistan – 2030” strategy, aiming to double GDP, increase per capita income to $4,000, and achieve upper-middle-income status while aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, achieving these goals requires stronger integration of SDGs into strategic planning, budgeting, and policy coordination, along with enhanced domestic resource mobilization and improved public expenditure efficiency to drive sustainable and inclusive development.

During 2020-2024 UNDP has provided technical assistance to the Government of Uzbekistan in promoting a more integrated approach to financing its national development priorities and the SDGs through establishment of an Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF), mainstreaming SDGs and Green considerations into the budgetary process through introduction of SDG and Green Budgeting methodologies and practices, advancing PFM reforms, particularly ensuring the accountability, and transparency of public funds and involving citizens into the budgetary process through participatory budgeting. Additionally, UNDP supported the Government in development and introduction of the new innovative financing instruments including the SDG and Green Bonds, Islamic Finance Instruments, etc.

Building on this UNDP with the support of the Slovak Government is starting a new initiative on “Public Finance for Development in Uzbekistan” aimed at establishing a clear, results-driven strategic planning and budgeting system in Uzbekistan, aligned with the SDGs and green development priorities. Specifically, the project aims to strengthen the institutional and technical capacities of the Government to transition towards an SDG-oriented budgeting framework, using green budgeting mechanisms to achieve measurable improvements in economic, social, and environmental outcomes.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of Project Specialist and in close collaboration with relevant project partners, the Communication Analyst will be focusing on the following tasks:

Deliver tailored business acceleration training for women-led SMEs using the UNDP BOOST methodology;
Provide support in business planning, financial modelling, and loan applications. Develop gender-sensitive curricula on financial literacy, digital skills, and business strategy;
Establish mentorship programs linking women entrepreneurs with industry leaders;
Offer coaching on leadership, financial planning, and sector-specific challenges. Foster peer-to-peer learning networks for collaboration and growth;
Partner with financial institutions to develop gender-intelligent financial products and alternative credit scoring models;
Advocate for policy reforms and conduct research to enhance women’s access to finance;
Promote digital finance and e-commerce training for women-led SMEs. Maintain an online learning platform with business resources, mentorship, and capacity-building tools;
Develop and update the project communications strategy. Maintain a dynamic project website and ensure visibility through engagement with government, donors, and media;
Prepare and distribute press releases, newsletters, and success stories. Ensure key content is translated into English, Russian, and Uzbek;
Organize policy discussions, engage industry partners, and collaborate with business incubators to expand market access for women entrepreneurs;
Implement an M&E framework to track progress, assess impact, and ensure gender mainstreaming. Share findings and best practices;
Manage project social media, create content, and track engagement analytics to align with regional communication strategies;
Provide logistical and administrative assistance for recruitment, training, and consultant contracts. Ensure compliance with branding and publication guidelines;

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

Institutional Arrangement

Under the direct supervision of the Project Specialist and in close collaboration with relevant project partners, the Communication Analyst will be responsible for managing project visibility, knowledge-sharing, and stakeholder engagement. This includes developing and implementing communication strategies, ensuring effective dissemination of project-related information, and maintaining engagement with key stakeholders. The Communication Analyst will also oversee media relations, prepare promotional materials, and support the organization of events to enhance project outreach and impact.

Competencies

Core competencies:

Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline.
Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements.
Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback.
Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible.
Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident.
Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships.
Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination.

Cross Functional and Technical competencies:

Business Management- Communication

Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.
Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.
Business Development – Knowledge Generation

Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need.
Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations.
Communications- Media relations

Ability to develop media relations across all aspects of media work including relationships with media and preparing media materials such as messages.
Communications- Social Media management

Ability to represent and promote the UNDP brand in virtual communities and networks.
Digital – Data analysis

Ability to extract, analyze and visualize data to form meaningful insights and aid effective business decision making.
Communications – Writing and editing

Ability to create and/or edit written content in different UN languages.
Digital – Data storytelling and communications

Skilled in building a narrative around a set of data and its accompanying visualizations to help convey the meaning of that data in a powerful and compelling fashion.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Journalism, Communication, Sociology, or Public Relations any other related fields is required; or
A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of Master’s degree.

Experience:

Applicants with a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field of study are not required to have professional work experience;
Applicants with a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) are required to have a minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional experience at the national or international level in media/communications organization, government institution, non-governmental organization or international organization.

Required skills:

Experience of working in electoral administration, management and project management;
Excellent analytical, writing, communications and advocacy skills;
Experience in research, data gather and analysis;
Experience in designing results-based action plans and results frameworks;
Strong professional working capacity to use the information and communications technology, specifically including website design and desktop publishing software;
Previous experience in developing and implementing communications strategies for organizations or projects.

Desired skills:

Previous experience in crafting compelling narratives, press releases, digital content in developing communication strategies that enhance visibility, stakeholder engagement, and public awareness of development initiatives will be an asset;
Previous experience in managing media outreach, press conferences, partnerships, adapted in building relationships with journalists, donors, and government agencies to amplify project impact will be an asset;
Previous experience in social media management, multimedia storytelling, online campaigns, leveraging digital platforms to increase audience engagement and drive advocacy effort;
Previous experience with UN projects will be an asset;
Strong analytical and organizational skills, ability to work in a team will be an asset;
The initiative, analytical skills, good ability in partnering and networking will be an asset;
Excellent interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills will be an asset;
Ability to use information technologies as a tool and resource will be an asset;
Commitment to UN values will be an asset.

Languages:

Fluency in English and Uzbek is required.
Good command of Russian is required.

Travel:

Official travel expected in project target regions.

“Women candidates are encouraged to apply.”

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.

 

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements