Knowledge Management Communication and Advocacy Consultant

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. Through its Liaison Office to the African Union (AU) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), UN Women engages with AU organs, Member States, civil society, and the diplomatic community to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment (GEWE) commitments at continental and regional levels. The Office provides technical support to policy formulation, implementation in collaboration with Country Offices, and monitoring, while facilitating coordination across UN Women regional and country offices to ensure coherent advocacy and policy engagement.

The Liaison Office also supports the African Union Commission (AUC), particularly through the Women, Gender and Youth Directorate (WGYD) and the Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development (HHSD), Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS); Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (ESTI); Education, Technical Training, Innovation and Manpower Development (ETTIM); Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (ARBE), Office of the Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security to mainstream gender across AU frameworks, programmes, and initiatives, and collaborates with other relevant AU departments to advance gender-responsive development. In parallel, the Office strengthens partnerships with UN agencies, development partners, INGOs, CSOs, and private sector actors to drive catalytic initiatives, and amplify evidence good practices. Knowledge management, policy tracking, and strategic advocacy are central to ensuring that gender-responsive regional commitments translate into concrete action and measurable impact across Africa.

To support these priorities, the Liaison Office seeks to engage a Knowledge Management, Communications and Advocacy Consultant as a core member of the programme team to strengthen strategic positioning, visibility, and influence in intergovernmental and regional policy processes. The role will ensure that UN Women’s policy priorities, results, and impact are effectively communicated, widely recognized, and translated into sustained political commitment and action for gender equality across the continent.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the UN Women Special Representative to AU&ECA, the Knowledge Management, Communications and Advocacy Consultant will support the planning and implementation of partnership and communications initiatives to increase the visibility, credibility, and standing of UN Women among partners, the media, and the public. The consultant will work in close collaboration with programme lead, operations, and technical teams in the AULO, Regional and Headquarters communications teams, staff of other UN agencies through the UN Communications Group (UNCG) as well as media, donors, and civil society organizations.

Description of Responsibilities /Scope of Work

Plan and design of external communication and advocacy strategies and plans:

• Support the design and implementation of AULO’s external communications, advocacy, and outreach strategies aligned with AU policy processes and UN Women’s continental priorities, including but not limited to the Spotlight Initiative Africa Regional Programme 2.0 (SIARP 2);

• Conduct political, media, and stakeholder analysis to inform advocacy positioning and messaging, ensuring strong integration of gender equality and women’s empowerment perspectives;

• Integrate communications and advocacy approaches into regional programmes and flagship initiatives, including the SIARP 2, African Girls Can Code Initiative (AGCCI), Women, Peace and Security, GEWE financing, and AU gender commitments;

• Monitor and analyze print, broadcast, and digital media at continental and regional levels and provide strategic insights to AULO, Regional Office, and HQ;

• Support the planning and execution of different intergovernmental engagements, high-level dialogues, SIARP 2, AGCCI regional convenings, and joint AU-UN Women campaigns and advocacy moments;

• Coordinate in-country UN Women/UN system corporate and local campaigns and special events.

Coordinate and contribute substantively to the development and dissemination of advocacy materials and knowledge products:

• Develop and produce communication instruments and materials, including briefing materials, press releases, and drafts of articles, and manage its dissemination in alignment with UN Women corporate standards, Spotlight initiative Branding Guidelines and AU messaging frameworks;

• Identify and develop compelling storylines, human interest features, and impact narratives including SIARP 2, AGCCI alumni achievements for publications, campaigns, and digital platforms;

• Promote and disseminate corporate advocacy materials for launching flagship initiatives, publications, and campaigns including SIARP 2, AGCCI knowledge products across regional and continental platforms;

• Manage the translation/adaption/rewriting of information received, printing and dissemination of publications and audio-visual materials.

Coordinate media relations and strategic Visibility for the AULO Office:

• Coordinate AULO’s media relations and cultivate strong partnerships with continental and regional media outlets, journalists, and digital influencers, working in close coordination with RO and HQ Communications teams;

• Maintain and update media contact databases and respond to press inquiries on UN Women’s AU-related work and regional policy advocacy, in coordination with RO Communications teams;

• Organize press briefings, roundtable discussions, interviews, and media engagements around AU Summits, AFRSD, Pre CSW, CSW, and any other high-level SIARP 2 Regional, continental and global events;

• Support the development of talking points and media messaging for Special Representative, in collaboration with programme teams.

Build strategic Communication, Advocacy and Donor Visibility:

• Identify and develop new communication partnerships and alliances to enhance visibility and position UN Women, SIARP 2, and AGCCI within AU policy platforms, donor engagements, and regional advocacy spaces;

• 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; and

• Provide inputs to packages for programme initiatives for donor review;

• Coordinate donor visibility and strategic messaging, ensuring alignment with funding agreements while amplifying impact, partnerships, and regional policy influence.

Maintain AULO’s web/ online presence:

• Coordinate AULO’s digital presence, including website content and social media accounts/platforms based on corporate requirements;

• Support strategic digital storytelling and campaigns on AU policy milestones, SIARP 2, AGCCI achievements, and regional advocacy priorities;

• Upload and curate content in knowledge management systems, including policy updates, advocacy products, campaign materials, and regional success stories.

Facilitate knowledge building and sharing:

• Identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned from different programmes of AULO and ensure exchange of information;

• Provide training and workshops on communication and advocacy as appropriate. 

Perform other functions within the incumbent’s functional profile as required to support the effective functioning of AULO.

Consultant’s Workplace and Official Travel

This is an office-based consultancy at UN Women’s office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. As part of this assignment, if there’s any mission assigned by the supervisor, UN Women shall cover the costs of the travel.

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;

• Strong Knowledge of web-based management systems;

• Strong Knowledge of production, graphic design and photography standards;

• Strong Knowledge of social media platforms and experience in social media outreach;

• Strong Knowledge of local country media landscape;

• Strong Communication, networking and advocacy skills;

• Ability to be strategic and analytical;

• Good Knowledge of gender and human rights issues;

• Proven Skills in graphic design and Adobe Suit;

• Excellent drafting, formulation, content development and reporting skills for diverse audiences and stakeholders.

Required Qualifications

Education and Certification:

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Communication, Public Relations, Journalism, or any other relevant field is required;

• A bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Communication, Public Relations, Journalism, or any other relevant field 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 in knowledge management, public relations, communications or advocacy, including in media relations at the regional and international level is required for a master’s degree holder;

• Experience with the UN system, African Union, Regional Economic Commissions, and CSOs is required;

• Experience in the use of social media is required;

• Experience working on gender equality issues, women and girls’ rights is required;

• Proven experience in developing and implementing communication strategies, drafting press releases, managing social media content, and producing knowledge products (e.g. briefs, newsletters, human-interest stories);

• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and spreadsheet and database packages, and experience in handling of web-based management systems is required;

• Experience in photography, video production and the use of a modern web-based ERP System, preferably Oracle Cloud, is desirable.

Languages:

• Fluency in English and French is required;

• Knowledge of another official UN language is desirable (Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish).

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.