Job description
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, the 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 in support of Member States’ priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors.
In Kenya, the UN Women Country Programme contributes to the development objectives of Kenya’s blue print, the Vision 2030 and is aligned to the United Nations Development Assistance Frameworks (UNDAF) as well as UN Women Global Strategic Plan. The Kenya Country Programme – “Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Gains Consolidated’ – aims to achieve the following results: (i) increased women’s leadership and participation in governance; (ii) strengthened women’s economic empowerment; (iii) increased protection of women & access to justice for women; and (iv) strengthened women’s leadership in peace building and humanitarian response.
Under the overall guidance and direction of the supervisor, and in close collaboration with UN Women’s relevant HQ units, the Communications Specialist is responsible for developing strategic communications and media initiatives and managing media/press coverage and oversees the production of a range of communications materials for UN Women, including for the UN Women Kenya Country Office website, and for online and offline audiences. S/he is responsible for timely, accurate and high-quality informational materials, such as press releases & media advisories, news briefs, fact sheets, stories from the field etc. for media outreach, the UN Women website, and inclusion in informational kits for further public outreach.
The Communication specialist, will collaborate closely with the Headquarters; Regional Office and Country Office colleagues to ensure communications strategies, media relations and organizational outreach efforts are aligned with corporate communications policies and initiatives. S/he also collaborates with Regional office and Country office colleagues to support outreach campaigns, resource mobilization and donor relations initiatives; s/he mobilizes support in conjunction with intergovernmental processes, and support the activities and special events organized for UN Women.
Duties and Responsibilities
Summary Of Key Functions
Planning and design of internal and external strategies for communications and outreach;
Implementation of the publications strategy and plan;
Manage UN Women media/press relations;
Oversee and maintain online outreach and produces information materials for public outreach;
Provide advice and support to UN Women special events and campaigns;
Build communications partnerships and media alliances;
Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and management.
Ensures planning and design of internal and external strategies for communications and outreach focusing on achievement of the following results:
Preparation and conduct of communications needs assessments for Country Office;
Drafting/editing of CO communications and outreach strategy based on the corporate; communications strategy;
Ensures implementation of the Country Office publications strategy and plan focusing on the achievement of the following results:
Implementation of the Country Office publications strategy and plan, based on the corporate publications policy;
Identification of storylines for publications and drafting of substantive articles contributing to debates on key development issues;
Coordination and management of Country Office publication activities, such as content management, norms for publishing, design, etc.;
Contact with printers and other suppliers to ensure production and ensure publications dissemination.
Manage UN Women Media/press Relations
Media strategies conceived, planned and implemented in line with corporate guidelines to enhance the positioning of UN Women with the media, with a special focus on local and regional priority areas of concern;
Develop & maintain a database and relationships with media outfits (mainstream and independent represented throughout the country);
Draft terms of reference, participate in the selection of media consultants, backstop their work and finalize media related documents, media brief and budgets;
Opportunities for press conferences identified and press conferences organized; interviews with senior managers and other relevant parties;
Press releases and media kits drafted and final products shared with relevant media outfits;
Clear, consistent and timely responses to media inquiries; issuance of statement and corporate positions to media and other external audiences;
Maintained and expanded contacts with local and regional media; topics, background information, news-related developments and coverage of interest to each identified;
Serve as the media focal point for the country office.
Oversee and maintain online outreach and produces information materials for public outreach:
Oversees Country Office web site technical and editorially and in line with the corporate web policy;
Oversees and manages social media accounts in line with corporate social media policy or provides inputs to corporate social media accounts;
Drafts brochures, fact sheets, briefs and stories from the field to inform media, key stakeholders and general public and regulate updates of the same;
Video producers hired and supervised to produce relevant video material on UN Women’s work;
Effective channels for dissemination of all information products to relevant target audiences identified and distribution supervised.
Provide advice and support to UN Women special events and campaigns:
Communications components of UN Women and/or UN campaigns, implemented, e.g. Say NO to Violence against Women campaign; HeForShe campaign;
Special events or UN Women inputs to special events conceptualized and organized with a view to reaching wider audiences; to that end, concepts conceived and relevant materials developed and compiled.
Build Communications Partnerships And Media Alliances
Identifies and develops new communications partnerships and media alliances to enhance the visibility and cement UN Women as a thought-leader; manages and nurtures existing partnerships;
Strengthen the capacity of implementing partner organization in communications & Support implementation;
Identifies innovative opportunities and new communications tools and platforms which can serve to highlight the work of UN Women;
Guides and collaborates closely with Regional/other Country Offices communications officers to advance national and regional communications partnerships.
Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and management focusing on achievement of the following results:
Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned directly linked to programme country goals and activities;contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice including corporate communications repositories;
Provision of training, consultancy and advice to UN Women staff on communications for development.
Impact Of Results
The results have a substantial impact on the effectiveness of UN Women Kenya’s communications and outreach efforts, enhancing the visibility, raising awareness and understanding of UN Women and its mission with the media and among the general public, building and maintaining supportive constituencies and leading to enhanced political and financial support for UN Women and its strategic areas, thus helping ensure UN Women achieves its strategic goals.
Competencies
Core Values/guiding Principles
Integrity: Demonstrate consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UN Women in actions and decisions, in line with the UN Code of Conduct.
Professionalism: Demonstrate professional competence and expert knowledge of the pertinent substantive areas of work.
Cultural sensitivity and valuing diversity: Demonstrate an appreciation of the multicultural nature of the organization and the diversity of its staff;
Demonstrate an international outlook, appreciating difference in values and learning from cultural diversity.
Core Competencies
Ethics and values: Demostrate and safeguard ethics and integrity:
Organizational Awareness: Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment;
Development and Innovation: Take charge of self-development and take initiative;
Work in teams: Demonstrate ability to work in a multicultural, multi ethnic environment; and to maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds;
Communicating and Information Sharing: Facilitate and encourage open communication and strive for effective communication;
Self-management and Emotional Intelligence: Stay composed and positive even in difficult moments, handle tense situations with diplomacy and tact, and have a consistent behavior towards others;
Conflict Management: Surface conflicts and address them proactively acknowledging different feelings and views and directing energy towards a mutually acceptable solution;
Continuous Learning and Knowledge Sharing: Encourage learning and sharing of knowledge;
Appropriate and Transparent Decision Making: Demonstrate informed and transparent decision making.
Functional Competencies
Excellent communication skills. Communicates senstitively, effectively and creatively across difference constituencies;
Demonstrates very good understanding of and experience in communications and outreach;
Proven networking skills, and ability to generate interest in UN Women’s mandate;
Strong initiative-taker;
Very effective at multi-tasking;
Focuses on impact and results for the client;
Interacts effectively with all levels of the organization, including senior management;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Identifies opportunities and builds strong relationships with clients and partners;
Demonstrates exceptional ability to remain calm, in control and good humored even under pressure and tight deadlines;
Outstanding oral and written communications and editing skills, with proven ability to meet tight deadlines;
Good IT skills, including databases and office software packages;
Ability to supervise and train staff.
Education
Required Skills and Experience
Master’s degree (or equivalent) in communications, journalism, public relations, social sciences, international relations or a related field.
Experience
At least 5 years of experience in communications at the national or international level, including experience in media relations. Experience in on-line outreach and multimedia an asset;
Experience in web management;
Experience working in large development agency also pertinent;
Familiarity with gender issues;
Familiarity with UN Women and UN system is an asset.
Language Requirements
Fluency in English is required;
Working knowledge of another UN official language an asset.
