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.

UN Women Yemen Country Office (UN Women YCO) is based in Sanaa, Aden, and Amman. The UN Women YCO programming focuses on four main strategic goals including Women Political Participation (WPP), Humanitarian Action (HA), Women Economic Empowerment (WEE), and Women, Peace and Security (WPS). The UN Women YCO aims to strengthen the UN response in addressing priorities for Gender Equality and Women Empowerment (GEWE) by developing and implementing innovative approaches and providing support to governments and civil society organizations.

Since 2014, UN Women YCO has been providing support to women displaced by the conflict, while advocating for greater women engagement in the ongoing political process within its WPS efforts. To this end, UN Women utilizes a multi-sectoral approach that contributes to achieving the following results as part of the stakeholder’s collective response to the Yemen crisis:

• Enhancing access to life-saving support to women and youth through protection and economic empowerment.
• Strengthening the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus (HDPN) efforts in Yemen.
• Supporting women and youth advocates to participate and lead in multi-track peacebuilding processes and governance structures.

Following nearly a decade of conflict, an UN-facilitated ceasefire has sparked a reduction in hostilities. Recent diplomatic dialogues have heightened optimism for a more thorough and inclusive peace process. 

The truce, which expired in October 2022 while political efforts to reinstate it continue, presents an exceptional opportunity to facilitate the integration of human security and GEWE principles across the HDPN contributing to a more long-term peaceful, inclusive, and gender equal society, that cannot be missed. Otherwise, new threats are poised to derail decades of progress for women, girls, men, and boys in Yemen.

Reporting to the Representative with matrix reporting to Regional communications Specialist, the Communications Analyst is responsible for assisting in the planning and implementation of the Office communications and advocacy strategies and plans to increase the standing and awareness of UN Women with partners, the media and the public. 

The Communications Analyst works in close collaboration with the Programme, Operations and technical teams in the CO and Regional communications teams, staff of other UN Agencies, Government officials, media, multilateral and bilateral donors and civil society.

Description of Responsibilities /Scope of Work

1.Plan and design communication and outreach/advocacy strategies and plans

• Prepare and conduct communication needs assessments for the CO, including projects, programmes and corporate change initiatives;
• Analyze requirements and synthesize proposals for elaboration of communication strategies; ensure gender perspective;
• Integrate communication, advocacy and outreach strategies into proposals for project/programmes and other initiatives;
• Monitor and analyze print and social media and draft reports;
• Coordinate in-country UN Women/ UN system corporate and local campaigns and special events;

 2. Coordinate and implement the development and dissemination of advocacy materials in the country

• Develop and produce communication instruments and materials, including briefing materials, press releases, and drafts of articles, and manage its dissemination;
• Identify and propose information opportunities, activities, approaches and platforms and partners;
• Promote and disseminate corporate advocacy materials for launching flagship initiatives, publications, and campaigns;
• Manage the translation/adaption/rewriting of information received, printing and dissemination of publications and audio-visual materials;
• Follow guidelines from HQ and RO.
• Work in close collaboration with the RO to identify and seize amplification opportunities at the regional level, ensuring alignment and increased visibility of country-level communication and advocacy efforts.

3. Coordinate media relations for the CO

• Manage relationships with press in country; maintain and update database of relevant press;
• Respond to a variety of inquiries and information requests; prepare related correspondence;
• Organize roundtable discussions, press conferences, and briefing sessions for press, as required;
• Draft talking points.

4. Build and maintain partnerships and maintain relations with donors

• Identify and develop new communication partnerships and alliances to enhance visibility;
• 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;
• Provide inputs to packages for programme initiatives for donor review.

5. Maintain the CO’s web/ online presence 

• Manage CO’s websites’ content and maintenance based on corporate requirements; 
• Manage the CO’s social media accounts in line with corporate social media policy;
• Upload information to knowledge management system on a regular basis, including news, updates, and resources.

6. Facilitate knowledge building and sharing

• Identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned directly linked to programme country goals and activities;
• Provide training and workshops on communication and advocacy, as appropriate.

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

Consultant’s Workplace and Official Travel

This is an office-based consultancy. As part of this assignment, there will be travel to Aden, Yemen as needed and requested by CO.

Competencies :

Core Values:

• Integrity;
• Professionalism;
• Respect for Diversity.

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 Values and Competencies Framework: 

Functional Competencies:

• Ability to communicate sensitively, effectively and creatively across different constituencies
• Good knowledge of web-based knowledge management systems
• Good understanding of production, graphic design and photography standards
• Good knowledge of social media platforms and experience in social media outreach
• Good knowledge of local country media landscape
• Good communication, presentation, networking and advocacy skills
• Ability to be strategic and analytical
• Knowledge of gender and human rights issues desirable

Required Qualifications

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 2 years of professional work experience at national or international level in public relations, communications or advocacy is required.
• Experience in media relations is desirable.
• Experience in the use of social media is required.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems is required.
• Experience in the use of a modern web-based ERP System, preferably Oracle Cloud, is desirable.

Languages:

• Fluency in English and Arabic is required.

Statements :

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.)

Note: Applicants must ensure that all sections of the application form, including the sections on education and employment history, are completed. If all sections are not completed the application may be disqualified from the recruitment and selection process.