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UN Women- National Communications Consultant

Skopje

  • Organization: UNWOMEN - United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women
  • Location: Skopje
  • Grade: Consultancy - National Consultant - Locally recruited Contractors Agreement
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Communication and Public Information
    • Women's Empowerment and Gender Mainstreaming
  • Closing Date: Closed

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 center of all its efforts, the UN Women leads and coordinates United Nations system efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action globally. It provides strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States’ priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors.

Progress of North Macedonia in recent years respecting and promoting Gender Equality is highlighted in a series of international commitments and in national legal and policy frameworks. The main achievements in the field of gender equality and women’s empowerment reside in the Country’s institutional capacity development for the work on gender equality. Indeed, the legal provisions guaranteeing women’s rights and gender equality are largely in place – the Law of Equal Opportunities of Women and Men, the National Action Plan for Gender Equality, the Election Law amendment instituting quotas, the Action Plan for the implementation of UNSCR 1325 (2020-2025), and the ratification of the Istanbul Convention are normative achievements that influence the institutional practice in promoting gender equality in North Macedonia.

However, the Country still copes with deep-rooted, patriarchal stereotypes regarding the role and responsibilities of women and men in the family and in society at large. Women in North Macedonia face a precarious reality – they remain underrepresented in central and local government, have disproportionately limited access to employment, and many are subjected to violence. Gaps in policy development and slow implementation of the adopted legislation constitute important structural obstacles to achieving gender equality. Improvements are needed in both strengthening institutional society organizations in order to increase gender mainstreaming in all aspect of government work - primarily policy development and budgeting - as the means for achieving gender equality.

In line with the European Council’s decision of March 2020 to open accession negotiations with the Country, the Sida-funded “Gender Equality Facility” (GEF) in North Macedonia aims at strengthening the effective implementation of national and international legal frameworks on gender equality and women’s rights, mainstreaming gender equality into EU integration and planning processes for pre-accession assistance, and strengthening institutional mechanisms for gender equality in line with EU standards. Expert support will be provided for the integration of gender perspectives into sector dialogue, policy revisions and ongoing reforms in line with the National Programme for Adoption of the Acquis (NPAA), recovery programmes, including EU-funded IPA programmes and actions, the Government’s Annual Work Programme, and the strategic planning of line Ministries. Thereby, GEF supports institutions to correctly align with the EU Gender Equality acquis. The intervention will also address challenges in implementation of laws and gender equality policies by providing support for enhancing coordination and monitoring of gender equality policies and measures. In the medium to longer-term, and in line with the EU Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025 and the Principles of the EU Gender Action Plan III (2021-2025), the Project aims to secure implementation/application of gender equality legislation, policies and standards through policy dialogue, technical expertise and guidance, development and sharing of good practice, and strategic partnerships and cooperation.

The main partners of the Project are the Secretariat for European Affairs (SEA, the main project beneficiary), Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) structures, the Equal Opportunities Department at the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy (MLSP), and National Gender Machinery institutions.

The UN Women Office in North Macedonia is seeking to recruit Communications Consultant who will work under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, and overall guidance by the Head of Office.

The Communications Consultant is responsible to ensure the timely and quality planning and implementation of the UN Women North Macedonia GEF communication strategy and country communication strategy, and will support advocacy efforts, maintenance of media relations, and organizational outreach efforts, in order to increase the standing and awareness of UN Women with partners, the media and the public. The Communications Consultant collaborates closely with other UN Women North Macedonia colleagues to ensure communications strategies, media relations and organizational outreach efforts are aligned with corporate communications policies and initiatives and follow good practices.

Duties and Responsibilities

 

Functions

1. Plan and design communications and outreach/advocacy strategies and plans:

  • Conduct communications needs assessments for the UN Women North Macedonia Office, related to “Gender Equality Facility” (GEF) project and support communications needs assessments on corporate change initiatives;
  • Design, develop, and implement communication and outreach/advocacy strategies, including media strategies; ensure gender perspective;
  • Integrate communications, advocacy and outreach strategies into proposals for the GEF project and other initiatives;
  • Contribute to monitoring and analysing print and social media and draft reports;
  • Coordinate to in-country UN Women GEF local campaigns and special events as well as to regional events as applicable;
  • In coordination with Communication Officer, contribute to the UN Joint Communications Group meetings and ensure joint communications activities.

 

2. Coordinate and implement the development and dissemination of advocacy materials related to the UN Women GEF North Macedonia project:

  • Develop and produce communications materials, including brochures, publications, briefing materials, press releases, and articles, and manage their dissemination;
  • Identify and propose information-sharing 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 global or regional communications materials, coordinate printing and dissemination of publications and audio-visual materials;
  • Follow UN Women Branding Guidelines and Identity Standards.

 

3. In coordination with Project Manager and upon approval of the HoO, maintain media relations for the UN Women GEF North Macedonia project:

  • Liaise with UN Women North Macedonia Communications and Knowledge Management Officer for issues related to media relations and coordination;
  • Advise management on coordination of relationships with the media in the country related to the GEF project; maintain and update a media database;
  • Respond to media inquiries and information requests; prepare related correspondence;
  • Organize roundtable discussions, press conferences, and briefing sessions for the media, as required;
  • Draft talking points, drafting texts for media for HoD.

 

4. Build and maintain partnerships and maintain relations with donors for the GEF North Macedonia project:

  • Identify and develop new communications 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 donor reports and information packages for donor review.

 

5. Maintain the UN Women North Macedonia online presence:

  • Provide content for UN Women North Macedonia activities related to the GEF project which will be published on local and regional social media account(s) and regional UN Women web site and Flickr account;

Prepare content (including news, updates, and resources) on a regular basis to be uploaded to knowledge management system

6. Facilitate knowledge building and sharing:

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

 

Support to International Days marking Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women

  • Support advocacy and promotion of Gender Equality
  • Support PR activities and campaigns
  • Develop promo materials and coordinate visibility actions

 

Expected Deliverables

 

Deliverable

Deadline

Communications needs assessment

Within 1 month of start of the assignment

Communication and outreach/advocacy strategy (including media strategies; ensure gender perspective)

Within 2 months of start of the assignment

Visibility guidelines created for the project stakeholders

Within 3 months of start of the assignment

Report on best practices and lessons learned directly linked to programme country goals and activities

 

Within 11 months of start of the assignment

Monthly workplan and report on regular communications support with following key outputs approved by the Supervisor:

  • Development of the project related content and weekly updates of UN Women websites and social media
  • Campaigns on the gender institutional mechanisms, showcasing their work and why it is important
  • Video(s) feature with various age groups – discussing gender equality and EU integrations
  • Technical Briefs for government, training materials, documentation photographs, reports, manuals, banners and roll-ups (at presentations, trainings), power point presentations, and GEF bi-Monthly Updates for partners.
  • Feature stories from experts and activists in the field
  • Project newsletters/briefs to project stakeholders
  • Design of project publications including publications related to specific sector areas, including printing and promotion of project publications / knowledge products
  • Communication with media (responding to media inquiries and information requests; organization roundtable discussions, press conferences, and briefing sessions for the media, etc.)
  • Communicating the nexus of gender equality, development, and EU accession to the general public (infographics, spots, and similar)
  • Visibility actions (PR activities, promotional materials, web and social media products, infographics, stories.)
  • Materials to strengthen general public awareness and support for empowerment of women
  • Knowledge transfer, and exchange of good practice on gender mainstreaming

 

On monthly basis

 

 

 

Payment schedule:

 

Payments will be released in monthly instalments upon submission of progress report against deliverables specified in this Terms of Reference and is approval by the Supervisor.

 

  • Monthly Progress Report 1, Communications needs assessment with design of logo, plan of campaigns, promotion videos and other visibility products - 1 month after contract signature - 10%
  • Monthly Progress Report 2 and Communication strategy - 2 months after contract signature - 10%
  • Monthly Progress Report 3 and Visibility guidelines - 3 months after contract signature -6%
  • Monthly Progress Report 4 - 4 months after contract signature - 6%
  • Monthly Progress Report 5 - 5 months after contract signature - 6%
  • Monthly Progress Report 6 - 6 months after contract signature - 6%
  • Monthly Progress Report 7 - 7 months after contract signature - 6%
  • Monthly Progress Report 8 - 8 months after contract signature - 6%
  • Monthly Progress Report 9 - 9 months after contract signature - 6%
  • Monthly Progress Report 10 - 10 months after contract signature - 6%
  • Monthly Progress Report 11 and Report on best practices and lessons learned - 11 months after contract signature - 10%
  • Monthly Progress Report 12 - 12 months after contract signature - 6%
  • Monthly Progress Report 13 - 13 months after contract signature - 6%
  • Monthly Progress Report 14 and summary report on completed tasks - 14 months after contract signature - 10%

 

 

 

Key Performance Indicators

 

  • Quality communications strategy and timely implementation which leads to greater exposure and understanding of UN Women’s work;
  • Timely monitoring of current events and trends;
  • Quality and relevant advocacy materials and content;
  • Timely providing updates for regional website and social media;
  • Timely dissemination of materials as shown by knowledge of UN Women’s activities in country;
  • Regular interactions with mass media, as shown by coverage.

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/-/media/headquarters/attachments/sections/about%20us/employment/un-women-values-and-competencies-framework-en.pdf?la=en&vs=637

Functional Competencies

  • Ability to create, edit and present information in clear and presentable formats;
  • Good knowledge of gender equality and women’s empowerment;
  • Ability to manage data, documents, correspondence and reports information and workflow, identify and adjust discrepancies, identify, and resolve operational problems;
  • Ability to prioritize for self and others, to achieve results and meet strict deadlines in an effective manner, maintaining a high-quality standard throughout;
  • Good knowledge of project management.

Required Skills and Experience

 

Education and certification:

  • Master’s degree or equivalent in communications, public relations, media communications, journalism/or relevant social sciences fields 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.
  • Additional training and certification in communication and related areas is a strong advantage.

 

 

Experience:

  • A minimum of 5 years’ experience in communications at the national or international level,
  • Experience in media relations is required;
  • Experience with development of Communication Strategies for projects is required;
  • Experience in the use of social media, multi-media and digital platforms is required;
  • Experience required in editing and copywriting skills, including articles, reports, social media content, press releases preferred;
  • Experience in video and photo editing and design software is an asset.
  • Previous experience with projects focused on gender issues, with UN Women and UN system is an asset.

 

 

Language Requirements:

 

  • Fluency in English and Macedonian both verbal and written, is required.

 

 

Evaluation of Applicants

UN Women applies a fair and transparent selection process. Applicants will be evaluated using a cumulative analysis method taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ qualifications/skills and their financial proposal. Contract will be awarded to the individual consultants whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

  • Responsive to and compliant with the requirements of the ToR; and
  • Having received the highest score out of below combined technical and financial criteria.

 

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points in the technical evaluation would be considered for financial evaluation.

 

 

Evaluation Criteria

Total Points

TECHNICAL EVALUATION (70%)

 

Language Requirements

Fluency in English and Macedonian

REQUIRED

Education

BA Degree (+7 years of experience) OR MA Degree (+5 years of experience)

 

REQUIRED

 

Additional trainings and certifications

5

Professional Experience

Experience in communications at national and international level

REQUIRED

 

Experience in media relations is required;

10

 

Experience with development of Communication Strategies for projects is required;

10

 

Experience in video and photo editing and design software

5

 

Previous experience with projects focused on gender issues, with UN Women and UN system

5

 

 

 

Samples of communication materials and experience required in editing and copywriting skills, including articles, reports, social media content, press releases;

15

 

Technical interviews

Experience in the use of social media, multi-media and digital platforms; Experience in communications at national and international level

20

Total Technical

 

70

Financial Evaluation

 

30

TOTAL

 

100

 

 

 

 

 

 

Evaluation of submitted financial offers will be done based on the following formula: S = Fmin / F * 30

S - score received on financial evaluation;

Fmin - the lowest financial offer out of all the submitted offers qualified over the technical evaluation round;

F - financial offer under the consideration.

 

Application procedure:

 

Interested individual consultants are requested to submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

 

  • Short Letter of interest, including financial proposal in USD, indicating a total  daily fee in USD for the delivery as per above description. The letter of interest shall include any links (URLs) for the previous communication materials developed by the applicant. Total daily fee should cover professional fees, communications, bills, consumables, etc that could be incurred by the consultant to complete this assignment. In case of travel is requested by UN Women, payment of travel arrangements should be agreed upon in advance between UN Women and the consultant.
  • Completed UN Women Personal History (P11) form, that can be downloaded from http://www.unwomen.org/about-us/employment Kindly note that the system will only allow one attachment.

 

This vacancy is now closed.
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