Communication and Partnership Officer

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 center of all its efforts.

The Multi-Country Office in South Africa covers three countries namely: Lesotho, South Africa and Swaziland with Regional Programmes that cover Namibia and Botswana as well as Liaison for SADC.
 

Raising awareness of UN Women’s role in the country and positioning the organization as the champion for women and girls in South Africa is a key goal for the office.  A lack of awareness is impeding resource mobilization efforts and it is critical resources are mobilized at a local level to enable the office’s work to continue.
 

Under the supervision of the UN Women South Africa Multi-Country Office Deputy Representative, the Communications and Partnerships Officer will implement the Communication Strategy in line with the Country Office’s priorities and plans. This Strategy includes internal and external stakeholders and uses a range of channels. S/he will also support partnership building for the MCO.
 

He/she will maintain close contact with communications colleagues at both UN Women Eastern Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) and Headquarter level, to ensure a coherent message and opportunities are leveraged. Locally, as a key member of the UN Communications Group, he/she will identify shared messaging and opportunities for collaboration with sister agencies in South Africa. These relationships will also provide communication specific mentoring and guidance opportunities for the Communications Officer.

Summary of Key Functions:

1. Manage UN Women media/press relations
2. Oversee and maintain sub-regional online outreach and produce information materials for public outreach
3. Provide advice and support to UN Women special events and campaigns
4. Liaise closely with UN Women Communications Team at HQ to feed regional/national initiatives into corporate communications initiatives and vice versa. Coordinate communication  activities with UN communication colleagues in the countries covered by MCO
5. Support partnerships development and build communications partnerships and media alliances

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 priority areas of concern for the countries covered by the MCO;
• Opportunities for press conferences identified and press conferences organized; interviews with senior managers facilitated;
• Press releases and media kits drafted;

• 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 media; topics, background information, news-related developments and coverage of interest to each identified.

Oversee and maintain sub-regional online outreach and produces information materials for public outreach:

• Ensure coverage in social media and other online platforms in liaison with the regional communications specialist;
• Provide material for UN Women Africa Website; 
• Drafts brochures, fact sheets, stories from the field to inform media and general public;
• 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; UNite 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;
• Ensure communications support is provided to key programmatic events.

Liaise closely with UN Women Communications Team at HQ to feed regional/national initiatives into corporate communications initiatives and vice versa. Coordinate communication  activities with UN communication colleagues at regional /national level:

• Regular consultation with HQ/Regional Communications Section to ensure consistency with corporate policies, messaging and initiatives;
• Feedback to HQ/Regional communications team provided with a view to coordinate communications initiatives: informs about regional /national activities, provides comments on and inputs for corporate initiatives, seeks advice and support;
• Regular contributions to and advice provided on UN Women corporate materials, e.g. corporate web site, illustrated Annual Report,  video productions etc. to highlight regional / national initiatives and ensure visibility at the corporate / international level;
• Regular liaison with Communications Officers from other UN entities at the regional / country level to provide UN Women inputs to joint UN initiatives; to that end, represented UN Women on the UN Communications Group.

Support partnerships development and build communications partnerships and media alliances:

• Support MCO’s partnership building working closely with the Representative, Deputy Representative and Programme Staff;
• 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;
• Identifies innovative opportunities and new communications tools and platforms which can serve to highlight the work of UN Women.

Write and Coordinate the Preparation of Corporate Briefing Notes and Talking Points

• Prepare Talking Points for the Representative and her Deputy for all representational events in coordination with relevant Programme Staff
• Prepare inputs into Talking Points and Briefing Notes for the ED and her designate for events that concern any of the countries of the SA MCO
• Prepare Standard Key Messages for UNWOMEN SA office to be used for key events related to our core Programme areas
   

Impact of Results

The key results have an impact on the overall effectiveness of the Country Programme implementation and on the efficiency and effectiveness of the use of corporate resources, human, financial and material and the safety of staff and assets of UN Women.  The key results also impact on the image of the organization and its ability to deliver on its mandate. 

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: Demonstrate 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 sensitively, effectively and creatively across different 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

Education

Master’s degree (or equivalent) in communications, journalism, public relations, social sciences, international relations, or a related field. Foreign qualifications must be evaluated by SAQA (South Africa Qualifications Authority). Proof of the evaluation must be submitted with the application.

Experience

• Minimum 2 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 working in large development agency also pertinent.
• Good IT skills, including databases and office software packages.
• Familiarity with gender issues. Familiarity with UN Women and UN system is an asset.
• Outstanding oral and written communications and editing skills, with proven ability to meet tight deadlines.
   

Language Requirement

Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of another UN official language is an asset.