Job Description

Post Title: Communications Associate

Post Level: Service Contract, SB3/Mid

Position number: 00188816

Duration of the service: one year with possible extension

Multiple Duty Stations: Kyiv, Ukraine CO

Full/part time: Full time

The position: 

Under the supervision of Program Analyst, Communication and Advocacy, and in close coordination with GBV Programme Manager, the Communication Associate contributes to the design, coordination and implementation of communication and advocacy interventions of the UNFPA GBV Response and Prevention Programme. Communication Associate designs and delivers effective and innovative communication and awareness-raising interventions to maximize impact of the GBV Programme work, making a sound contribution to strengthening security and protection of Ukrainian women and girls from gender-based violence.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. The Fund operates globally since 1969 in more than 150 countries and territories. UNFPA focuses on women and young people, because these are the groups whose rights are often compromised. UNFPA has been active in Ukraine since 1997.

In accordance with the organizational mandate and national development priorities of Ukraine, UNFPA implements a country programme of technical assistance to Ukraine for 2018-2022. Among several priorities, the country programme seeks to contribute to the development of robust national system of response and prevention of domestic and gender-based violence (GBV), establish functional intersectoral coordination and accountability mechanisms and enhance institutional capacities at the national and regional levels to ensure that majority of gender-based violence survivors seek and have access to good quality survivor-centered services, and Ukrainian society finds GBV unacceptable.

Since the start of the large-scale military invasion of Russia to Ukraine in February 2022, UNFPA implements a comprehensive nationwide Humanitarian Response Plan to provide life-saving GBV and SRH services to women and girls across Ukraine.

Through its GBV Response and Prevention Programme, UNFPA contributes to improving protection and security of women and girls, and thus, their willingness to participate in community life, including in war-affected communities. Women’s engagement and empowerment in community dialogue, including in displacement, is essential for laying a strong foundation for recovery and sustainable peace and development.

Since the start of the war in Ukraine on 24 February 2022, more than 10 million people had been forcibly displaced with more than 3.7 million fleeing to the neighbouring countries out of which the majority are women and children. GBV risks sharply increased due to military activities, massive displacement of population and deteriorating security situation in a country where prevalence of various forms of GBV was already high (the 2018 OSCE survey revealed two thirds of women experiencing either sexual, physical or psychological violence since the age of 15 years) before the war. With the growing number of reports and anecdotal evidence on conflict related sexual violence, threats of trafficking for sex, sexual harassment and other forms of violence, strengthening coordination for GBViE prevention and response was prioritized by the UNFPA, the lead agency in support of the GBV Sub-Cluster.

The Gender-Based Violence Sub-Cluster (GBV SC) was established in 2015 under the Protection Cluster to deal with Gender-Based Violence in humanitarian settings.

UNFPA is seeking highly-motivated candidates that share our passion of making a sound contribution to creating a Ukrainian society free from gender-based violence. We need strong professionals who are innovative, committed to excellence and keen to transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results.

Job Purpose:

The UNFPA GBV Response and Prevention Programme interventions cover all regions of Ukraine and focuses on the delivery of the following outcomes:
1. Increased perception of the unacceptability of gender-based violence in Ukrainian society.
2. Improved equitable access of GBV survivors and people at risk to survivor-centred services.
3. Establishment of mechanisms of accountability to beneficiaries at the national and local levels.
Communication Associate coordinates implementation of communication and advocacy interventions that contribute to the achievement of the Outcome 1 with the strategic aim of fostering zero tolerance to GBV in Ukrainian society including provision of communication support to UNFPA response to GBV and CRSV in humanitarian settings and post-war early recovery settings.
Communication Associate works in a client, quality and results-oriented manner in close collaboration with GBV Programme Team members, UNFPA communications specialists, all units of the UNFPA Country Office (CO), UNFPA implementing partners (IPs), as well as personnel of other UN agencies to exchange information and ensure smooth implementation of GBV Programme streams and interventions in line with the approved work plans, indicators and milestones (Programme Results Framework).
Communication Associate plays a vital role in ensuring smooth planning, coordination and monitoring of communication and awareness-raising interventions to transform social norms that tolerate GBV and ensure side awareness about GBV services. S/he ensures that all activities are carried out in line with UNFPA rules and procedures as well as donors’ requirements. S/he will be responsible for contributing to the achievements of programme’s objectives and quality management throughout the programme life cycle.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• Design, develop and implement innovative and effective communication and advocacy interventions to maximise the impact of GBV Programme work in both developmental and humanitarian settings;
• Design, lead and monitor the delivery of media projects at the national and local levels;
• Develop communication and advocacy instruments and materials (briefing materials, press releases, articles, newsletters, brochures, factsheets and human stories) and
  coordinate their dissemination through effective channels to inform media, partners and the public about UNFPA work on GBV response and prevention;
• Coordinate development and production of videos, audios, podcasts, infographics and other visual products;
• Coordinate the work of communications-related consultants (such as designers, editors, illustrators, videographers etc.) and production agencies, facilitate contracting and payment processes;
• Maintain close working relationships with the media, including editors and journalists in key national and international news outlets to facilitate reporting on UNFPA’s work in the area of GBV;
• Respond timely and clearly to media inquiries and public requests for information on activities related to GBV Programme;
• Regularly and consistently monitor media publications in the thematic areas related to GBV programme, provide timely advice to the GBV Programme team and UNFPA
• Communication and Advocacy Analyst, flagging out the issues of concern and suggesting corrective actions to address them;
• Liaise with the communication teams of UNFPA implementing partners to ensure their communication activities are coordinated and aligned with UNFPA communication strategy;
• Liaise with the communication teams of UN Agencies and other international and national counterparts on the issues of GBV to ensure coordination of communication and advocacy events and activities with partners;
• Ensure that UNFPA corporate identity, visibility and communication rules and regulations as well as donor visibility requirements are applied in all public materials produced by the UNFPA Country Office, including the UNFPA website and social media pages;
• Provide comprehensive, outcome-oriented, evidence-based inputs to progress reports required by UNFPA and donors;
• Perform other tasks as requested by GBV Programme Manager and UNFPA senior management.
   

Qualifications and Experience:

• Minimum 3 years of progressively responsible experience in communications, advocacy and/or public relations;
• Strong experience in design, delivery and monitoring of communications, advocacy and awareness-raising interventions (experience with interventions of social benefit will be an asset);
• Solid understanding of GBV, gender equality and/or women empowerment will be an asset;
• Excellent copywriting and editing skills; proven ability to effectively present information tailored (both in content and format) to diverse audiences;
• Sound experience in working with media (as proven by successful joint projects and an extensive network of working contacts with key media outlets);
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills: the ability to successfully and effectively liaise with stakeholders in a wide range of functions and professional areas;
• Robust knowledge of social media platforms and experience in social media outreach;
• Good knowledge of visual design and layout development for information materials is desirable;
• Literate language and an advanced level of grammar in Ukrainian are required.

Education:

Bachelor Degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, International Relations, Social Sciences, Gender Studies, Linguistics or related areas.

Languages: 

Fluency in English and Ukrainian

Required Competencies:

 UNFPA Work Environment:
 
UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.
 
Disclaimer:
 
Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements. 
 
UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Fraudulent notices, letters or offers may be submitted to the UNFPA fraud hotline http://www.unfpa.org/help/hotline.cfm
 
Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.

Please APPLY to this position via the link till December 22, 2023.