Junior Communications Specialist

Contract

This is a International Consultant contract. More about International Consultant contracts.

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. Placing women’s rights at the centre of all its efforts, UN Women will lead and coordinate United Nations system efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world. It will provide strong and coherent leadership supporting Member States’ priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors.

As the Syrian conflict continues and its impact on neighboring countries and host communities deepens, there is an increasing recognition among all partners that the development and humanitarian challenges arising from the crisis must be met with accelerated action and enhanced capacity. In this respect, UN Women is contributing to the United Nations processes to support the Government of Jordan's efforts and the UN humanitarian response to the Syrian refugee crisis and its impact on Jordanian host communities.

The UN Women Jordan Country Office implements its Oasis Model to promote resilience and empowerment for women and girls in multi-sectoral service centers (economic empowerment, gender based violence response and education) through a unique approach that is holistic, sustainable and promotes UN coordination, strategic partnerships, national ownership and the localization agenda. The Oasis model is operated through four centres in Azraq and Za’atari refugee camp and eighteen centres in host communities (11 governorates - Amman, Zarqa, Karak, Tafileh, Ma’an, Jerash, Ajloun, Salt, Madaba, Irbid, and Aqaba) rolled out in full partnership and ownership with the Ministry of Social Development. The Oasis model is fully aligned with the Ministry of Social Development (MOSD) Social Protection Strategy and included in the MOSD governance priorities document enrolling National Aid Fund (NAF) recipients in a programme that will then give them key self-reliance skills and lead to a graduation from NAF support to sustainable employment. The Oasis Model is also aligned to the National Women’s Economic Empowerment Mashreq Plan, the National Strategy for Women in Jordan (2020-2025), the government Gender Mainstreaming Policy and it is included as a stand-alone project on women’s empowerment and decision-making in the Jordan Response Plan (JRP) 2020-2022 by the Government of Jordan for the first time.

Since 2018 UN Women worked under the EU Regional Trust Fund in response to the Syria Crisis, the EU MADAD Fund, to strengthen Syrian refugee and vulnerable Jordanian women and girl’s resilience and empowerment by addressing systematic barriers in terms of economic participation andprotection, through the Oasis model.

Within this framework, UN Women ensured sustained and timely visibility to the support received from the EU, through the EU Regional Trust Fund in response to the Syria Crisis, the EU MADAD Fund, capitalizing on regular advocacy initiatives in commemoration of International Women’s Day, World Refugee Day and the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, as well as opportunities provided by the ‘Brussels Conference: Supporting the future of Syria and the region’ to shed light on the disproportionate impact of the crisis on vulnerable women and girls.

Building on this experience, UN Women remains committed to increase the visibility of the EU among national and international constituencies, and will continue leveraging communication tools, platforms and networks to maximize outreach efforts through strategic communication activities and by working in close collaboration with the EU. UN Women developed a Communication and Visibility Plan (CVP) with overall objective ‘to mobilize key national and international audiences on the impact of the Syria crisis on vulnerable women and girls in Jordan and to raise the profile of resilience and empowerment interventions under the funding contribution and joint programmatic impact of the EU, through the EU Madad Fund.’

The communication objective is reached by raising awareness among all relevant stakeholders, beneficiaries and general public on the partnership between the EU, through the EU Madad Fund and UN Women to provide livelihood opportunities and protection services to vulnerable women in Jordan, including the following specific objectives: 1. Sustained visibility of the project and the importance of its objectives, strengthening the profile of the EU as a leader and a catalyst in international aid and development; 2. Enhanced joint advocacy efforts to advance women’s economic empowerment and labour force participation under the EU Madad Fund; 3. Increased EU’s leadership in advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment (GEWE) and attract attention on the continuous support provided to the Government of Jordan in addressing the impact of the Syrian crisis.

Reporting to the Gender and Humanitarian Action Specialist, the Communication Specialist implements the EU Communication and Visibility Plan to achieve its overall communication objective. The Communication Specialist promotes a client-oriented approach consistent with UN Women rules and regulations, standard practices and guidelines. S/he collaborates closely with the Oasis Programme team, the Operation and Communication team from the Jordan Country Office, Regional office and HQ as needed.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Sustained visibility of the project and the importance of its objectives, strengthening the profile of the EU as a leader and a catalyst in international aid and development:

• Develop roll up banners developed to be displayed during key events and visits.
• Produce Human-interest stories including interviews, articles, photo-essays, in Arabic and English in collaboration with the national communication assistant.
• Develop content and visuals on the programme for UN Women social media accounts.
• Update the dedicated on UN Women Jordan website on a frequent basis with relevant stories and publications, highlighting the programme and prominently featuring the Madad Fund emblem, acknowledgement and links to relevant EU webpages and social media accounts.
• Support implementing partners to develop and define project-specific communications and visibility plans under the programme.

2. Enhanced joint advocacy efforts to advance women’s economic empowerment and labour force participation under the EU Madad Fund:

• Plan and implement joint advocacy campaigns (international women’s day, world refugee day, 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, high profile and field visits). Each event to be accompanied by appropriate coverage through press releases, media coverage and photo opportunities.
• Support the implementation of community outreach initiatives and awareness sessions.
• Support the implementation of communication and advocacy capacity building sessions for implementing partners.
• Support the production of video and audio material to be shared relevant UN Women’ YouTube channels, websites and social media channels.
• Ensure the production of high-resolution photos from each activity or event showcasing joint branding and visibility, disseminated regularly on social media and shared with the EU.

3. Increased visibility on EU’s leadership in advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment (GEWE) and attract attention on the continuous support provided to the Government of Jordan in addressing the impact of the Syrian crisis:

• Produce frequent press releases and media advisories on the programme.
• Produce quarterly programme newsletter and disseminate to the EU and relevant partners, highlighting the progress and impact under the programme.

Deliverables

Deliverables

Timelines

• Monthly time-sheets and brief progress reports about implemented activities and achieved results with supporting documents submitted (by the 5th of each month).

5th of every month

• Sustained visibility of the project and the importance of its objectives, strengthening the profile of the EU as a leader and a catalyst in international aid and development:
  • 8 roll up banners developed to be displayed during key events and visits.
  • 14 Human Stories
  • 36 dedicated social media posts
  • Implement one plan per partner which will be reviewed on a quarterly basis

End of contract

• Enhanced joint advocacy efforts to advance women’s economic empowerment and labour force participation under the EU Madad Fund:
  • 4 events/advocacy campaigns per year
  • 3 Community outreach initiatives and awareness sessions per year
  • Communication and advocacy capacity building sessions for implementing partners per year
  • 6 videos and audio materials
  • 200 High resolution photographs

End of contract

• Increased visibility on EU’s leadership in advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment (GEWE) and attract attention on the continuous support provided to the Government of Jordan in addressing the impact of the Syrian crisis:
  • 3 press releases per year
  • 4 newsletter per year

End of contract

• Final report about the key activities, progress and achievements performed during the period of performance.

End of contract

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/sites/default/files/Headquarters/Attachments/Sections/About%20Us/Employment/UN-Women-values-and-competencies-framework-en.pdf

Functional Competencies

• Strong multi-tasking skills
• Strong analytical and interpersonal skills
• Strong initiative-taker
• Strong communication skills
• Client oriented
• Identifies opportunities and builds strong relationships with client and external actors
• Participates effectively in team-based, information-sharing environment, collaborating and cooperating with others
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
• Ability to provide top quality advice services on related issues
• Excellent working knowledge of computers including website management, as well as software to edit texts and images, specifically: Microsoft Office and Adobe Photoshop; contact management software
• Ability to work independently as well as with a team in an international, multicultural and interdisciplinary environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships both within and outside the organization
• Proven independent and creative thinking and proficiency in expressing clearly and concisely ideas and concepts in written and oral form and delivering in a timely manner
• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners

Required Skills and Experience

Education

• Master’s degree in media and communications, public relations, international relations, journalism,political science, gender studies, humanitarian action or other relevant subject is required.
• In lieu, a Bachelor’s degree in combination with additional years of qualifying experience is accepted.

Experience

• At least 2 years of proven relevant experience in communications, advocacy and/or media relations
• Experience in producing multimedia content including photographs, social media content and news articles
• Experience in organizing communication and advocacy events
• Experience in the field of women’s empowerment and promoting gender equality in a multilateral or international organization
• Experience with communications in refugee/humanitarian context
• Experience with writing and editing content in English.
• Knowledge of using social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter
• Knowledge of relevant applications (MS Word, MS Excel, and related applications such as social media platforms, Hootsuite, Trello, Canva, Drupal CMS, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, MailChimp, etc.)

Language Requirements

• Excellent communication skills (written and oral) in English are required.
• Knowledge of Arabic is an asset.

Evaluation Criteria:

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology: Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points in the technical evaluation would be considered for the financial evaluation.

Criteria Weight Technical: 70% (70 points)

• Education: 15%
• Experience: 40%
• Language: 15%

Financial: Lowest Financial Proposal: 30% (30 points)

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

• Contract will be awarded to the technically qualified consultant who obtains the highest combined score (financial and technical);
• The points for the Financial Proposal will be allocated as per the following formula: (Lowest Bid Offered*)/ (Bid of the Consultant) x 30;
• 'Lowest Bid Offered' refers to the lowest price offered by Offerors scoring at least 49 points in the technical evaluation.

Application:

Interested Individual Consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

• A cover letter with a brief presentation of your consultancy explaining your suitability for the work and link to portfolio of work
• UN Women Personal History form (P-11) which can be downloaded from http://www.unwomen.org/about-us/employment;
• Personal CV; and Financial proposal; Proposed inclusive daily rate.

The above-mentioned documents should be merged in a standalone file including all them, since the online application submission does only permit to upload one file per application. Incomplete submission can be a ground for disqualification.

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.)