Consultant: Knowledge Management, Advocacy and Communications

UNFPA contributes the latest evidence-based research in support of enhanced knowledge management and communication in core areas of work, including gender equality and empowerment of women and adolescent girls. Gender is integrated in all communication, targeting larger numbers in key audiences, including UN Member States, partners, civil society, advocates and activists, and the general public. 

On the Gender and Human Rights Branch (GHRB)

UNFPA supports countries to communicate results/impact, enhance resource mobilization and build strategic partnerships. The GHRB is responsible for the messaging about gender-based violence, harmful practices, and human rights of women, girls, youth, and people with disabilities as well as indigenous people. 

These messages are mainstreamed throughout the organization’s messaging as an organization’s priority, which is critical to advocacy efforts that support changing attitudes, beliefs, norms and practices against gender discrimination and will build on the existing and upcoming evidence-based engagement with relevant audiences. Therefore, one focus for this assignment will be to lead the communication and advocacy of the GHRB on the key issues they work on, including GBV, Harmful Practices, Human Rights, Disability and Inclusion. 

On the Spotlight Initiative 

The Spotlight Initiative is a major global collaboration to end all forms of violence against women and girls by 2030, supported by the EU and implemented by UN agencies and partners, including UNFPA as the leading agency on ending gender-based violence and eliminating female genital mutilation.

The consultant will be supporting the communication activities planned under the two flagship programmes on harmful practices and GBV. These activities will be undertaken at all levels (HQ, regional and country level) ensuring coherence and consistency of focus and messages while maintaining relevance to the purpose and target audience/groups at different levels that (i.e., general public, international development community, national governments, regional political institutions, and donors) adapting multiple channels of media and tools (including social media, press releases, use of websites from the EU, UNFPA, and UNICEF, media articles, videos, infographics, animations, movies, publications, and annual reports).

On the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation

With the Joint Programme implementing its third phase, there is an increasing need for countries to have better capacity to generate and use evidence and data for policy making and improving programming was identified, through which the major activity is managing knowledge and exchange of good practices. Additionally, the programme has been placing more focus on increasing its visibility and advocacy efforts in key momentum throughout the year such as, the International Day of Zero Tolerance, the Commission on the Status of Women, the General Assembly, as well as supporting the African Union Campaign “Born Saleema”. Therefore, the analyst will lead the development and dissemination of all communication around the generated knowledge, as well as, leading the HQ level communication and advocacy activities and coordinating regional and country level communication activities.

UNFPA contributes the latest evidence-based research in support of enhanced knowledge management and communication in core areas of work, including gender equality and empowerment of women and adolescent girls. Gender is integrated in all communication, targeting larger numbers in key audiences, including UN Member States, partners, civil society, advocates and activists, and the general public.

Scope of Work

1.  Lead the development communication and advocacy strategies and implementation of visibility activities for the key areas under GHRB, Spotlight and UNFPA-UNICEF JP on FGM

• Conduct communication needs assessments for the GHRB, including projects, programmes and initiatives in close collaboration with GHRB senior advisors;
• Design, develop, and implement communication and outreach/advocacy strategies, including media strategies, in light of UNFPA’s Gender Strategy and under the guidance of senior advisors and Chief of Branch;
• Integrate communication, advocacy and outreach strategies into the GHRB  and the technical division workplans;
• Lead the communication and event planning for global level events such as, high-level side events during meetings of the Commission on the Status of Women and the UN General Assembly,
• Guiding the communication on global, regional and national-led initiatives around campaigns for International Women’s Day, the International Day of the Girl Child, 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples and International Youth Day, International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM, etc.
• Coordinate and promote work of GHRB internally (HQ, RO, CO) and externally;
• Monitor and analyze print and social media coverage in collaboration with MCB and report to senior advisors;
• Provide support and coordinate with RO/CO and partners in areas related to communication and advocacy, especially during joint activities.
• Support communication and visibility activities of the Spotlight Initiative at all levels (HQ, regional and country level) ensuring coherence and consistency of focus and messages while maintaining relevance to the purpose and target audience/groups at different levels.

2.  Lead the development and dissemination of communication & advocacy materials, and Knowledge Management products

• Develop and produce communication and advocacy instruments and materials, including briefing materials, press releases, and Voices stories and coordinate its dissemination through effective channels;
• Identify and propose communication and advocacy information opportunities, activities, approaches and platforms and partners;
• Provide advice on advocacy materials and coordinate launching flagship initiatives and publications at HQ level;
• Plan and coordinate periodic webinars in collaboration with senior advisors,
• Lead the engagement and supervision of photography and/or video productions and other productions of audio/ visual material on GHRB work;
• Develop brochures, factsheets, speeches, presentations, social media content, and stories from the field and disseminate through the right channels in collaboration with MCB.

3.  Manage media relations for GHRB, the Spotlight Initiative and the UNFPA-UNICEF joint programme

• Manage and promote presence and image of chief and senior advisors of the branch with external media, to promote the GHRB work externally; 
• Jointly with MCB’s PR analyst, lead relationship building with press at HQ level; maintain and update database of relevant press;
• Respond timely and clearly to MCB’s PR team or any direct 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;
• Organize roundtable discussions, press conferences, and briefing sessions with press around special dates and launches, such as launching of a report, Int’l Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM, Human Rights Day, etc.;
• In collaboration with MCB PR team, facilitate interviews with senior advisors; and connect media with GHRB subject experts;
• Support senior advisors during interviews, including finalizing talking points, logistics, image, etc.

4.  Build and maintain partnerships and maintain relations internally (with other branches) and externally (with donors, partners and media actors and networks)

• Identify and develop new communication partnerships and alliances to enhance visibility; manage and nurture existing partnerships;
• Liaise with advocacy partners and undertake outreach to civil society organizations, governments, and other groups to ensure that newsworthy information reaches the public and donors;
• Guide and collaborate closely with colleagues at MCB and in country and regional offices to ensure consistency with organization’s communication policies, messaging and branding;
• Develop and share media packages with relevant stakeholders on key initiatives, dates, and activities.

5.  Oversee GHRB, the Spotlight Initiative and the joint programme’s and online presence (internally and externally)

• Oversee and maintain programmes’ content on UNFPA’s website, in collaboration with MCB;
• Manage and create content for the available social media accounts assigned to programmes such as, @GPtoENDFGM, @WeDecide;
• Facilitate knowledge building and sharing

Required Skills and Experience

• Master’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism or relevant field is required;
• At least 5 years of professional work experience at national or international level in public relations, communications or advocacy, including in media relations;
• Proven experience in successful development and implementation of communications strategies and plans at the national or international level on issues related to GBV and harmful practices, including female genital mutilation;
• Experience in the use of social media;
• Outstanding oral and written communications and editing skills;
• Experience working in development agency is desirable;
• Experience working in the field is an asset;
• Familiarity with gender and/or development issues, UNFPA and UN System is an asset;
• Proven experience in on-line outreach and multimedia is an asset;
• Experience in media relations is an asset;
• Fluency in English is required; knowledge of any other UN language is an advantage.

Duration:  11 Months (March 2020 to January 2021)

How to apply

Candidates should submit their curriculum vitae/resume, including a letter of motivation to: Ms. Wanda Rodriguez, wrodriguez@unfpa.org, with "Knowledge Management, Advocacy and Communications Consultant" in the subject, by 20 January 2020.