UN Women is the UN organization dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. A global champion for women and girls, UN Women was established to accelerate progress on meeting their needs worldwide. UN Women supports UN Member States as they set global standards for achieving gender equality and works with governments and civil society to design laws, policies, programmes, and services needed to ensure that the standards are effectively implemented and truly benefit women and girls worldwide. It works globally to make the vision of the Sustainable Development Goals a reality for women and girls and stands behind women’s equal participation in all aspects of life, focusing on four strategic priorities: Women lead, participate in and benefit equally from governance systems; Women have income security, decent work and economic autonomy; All women and girls live a life free from all forms of violence; Women and girls contribute to and have greater influence in building sustainable peace and resilience, and benefit equally from the prevention of natural disasters and conflicts and humanitarian action. UN Women also coordinates and promotes the UN system’s work in advancing gender equality.
Since 2001 UN Women (previously as UNIFEM) in Kyrgyzstan has implemented catalytic initiatives on promoting women’s economic, political, and social rights. In 2012 a full Country Office (CO) was established. UN Women Kyrgyzstan began operating in 2012 as one of the first UN Women Country Offices in Central Asia. Today, UN Women Kyrgyzstan is the leading international organization working to protect the rights, security, equality, and dignity of women and girls in Kyrgyzstan.
In promoting gender equality and protecting the rights of women and girls in the country, UN Women is a reliable partner for the government, international and private sector partners, civil society organizations, activist movements, and civic activists. UN Women Kyrgyzstan prioritizes initiatives and programs in areas that are fundamental to women's equality and can contribute to the progress and development of gender equality: Women's economic empowerment Ending violence against women and girls (EVAWG) Women, Peace and Security, Women in Leadership, National planning and budgeting, Coordination of the UN system. By chairing the UN Gender Thematic Group, UN Women Kyrgyzstan serves as the leading agency on strategic support and advice to United Nations country teams in enhancing gender mainstreaming efforts in Kyrgyzstan.
Reporting to the National Programme Officer/Head of Programs, Communications and Advocacy Specialist will collaborate closely with the Country Programme colleagues to ensure communications strategies, media relations and organizational outreach efforts are aligned with corporate communications policies and initiatives. Communications and Advocacy Specialist also collaborates with Regional Office and Country Office colleagues to support outreach campaigns, resource mobilization and donor relations initiatives; Communications and Advocacy Specialist mobilizes support in conjunction with intergovernmental processes and support the activities and special events organized for UN Women.
Duties and Responsibilities
Lead the development and implementation of communication and outreach/advocacy strategies and plans of County Office
Lead the development of the CO communication strategy;
Design, develop, and implement communication strategy of the CO and lead outreach/advocacy strategies; including media strategies; ensure gender perspective;
Monitor and analyze print and social media and prepare reports;
Provide training and workshops on communication and advocacy as appropriate;
Launch in-country UN Women/ UN system corporate and local/regional campaigns and special events.
Manage media relations
Lead relationship building with media in country; maintain and update database of relevant media;
Respond timely and clearly to 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 with media;
Facilitate interactions of UNW Leadership with media;
Provide inputs.
Oversee the County Office’s web presence
Oversee and maintain websites, including developing design and content;
Coordinate COs’ web-presence in the line with corporate web policy;
Oversee and manage Co’s social media accounts in line with corporate social media policy.
Lead the development and dissemination of UNW& GEWE visibility of the Country Office
Develop and produce communication and advocacy instruments and materials, including briefing materials, press releases, and articles and coordinate its dissemination through effective channels;
Identify and launch information opportunities, activities, approaches, and platforms and partners;
Provide advice on advocacy materials and coordinate launching flagship initiatives and publications in the country;
Lead the engagement and supervision of video producers to produce audio/ visual material on UN Women’s work;
Develop brochures, factsheets, stories from the field to inform media and general public at the country level;
Follow guidelines from and report to Regional Office /Headquarters.
Contribute to partnerships with donors and other partners
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 communication colleagues in other offices to ensure consistency with corporate policies, messaging and initiatives;
Perform any other tasks are assigned by the Management which required for the smooth running and success of the County Office implementation.
Required Skills and Experience
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 5 years of professional work experience at national or international level in public relations, communications, or advocacy, including in media relations.
Experience in the use of social media.
Experience in media relations is an asset.
Language Requirements:
Fluency in English and Russian is required.
Good working knowledge of Kyrgyz is required.
Knowledge of the other local & UN official languages is an asset.
