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 is mandated to lead and coordinate United Nations system efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world. It is also mandated to provide strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States’ priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors.
• The 2020 Annual Work Plan (AWP) of UN Women Sudan Country Office (Co) focuses on three mutually reinforcing priorities on strengthening women’s effective participation in Peace, Security and Humanitarian processes, strengthening women’s political participation and leadership and strengthening women’s economic empowerment as priority areas that UN Women will work on to contribute towards achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment in Sudan.
• At the corporate level, UN WOMEN Sudan in partnership with relevant partners is planning to build on situation analysis on youth rights and young  women’s rights in line with the UN Women’s international Strategic Plan, UN Women’s Youth and Gender Equality Strategy and its ‘LEAPs’ Framework will implement youth projects and advocacy campaigns to support young women. UN WOMEN Sudan plan to open spaces for Sudanese young women to contribute to inclusive and equitable development and decision-making processes within the framework of the SDGs and launch the Generation Equality Campaign.
• Reporting to the Programme Specialist and overall guidance of the Country Representative the Communications Associate supports the formulation and implementation of the communications and advocacy strategies to increase the standing and awareness of UN Women with partners, the media and the public. The Communications Associate promotes a client-oriented approach in UN Women.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide coordination support in the development of a coherent Sudan Country Office communications and advocacy strategy
• Provide inputs and background information for the development of the Sudan Country Office communication strategy;
• Provide support to advocacy efforts and campaigns by organizing roundtable discussions, press conferences, and other publicity events and providing inputs to briefing materials and press releases;
• Provide support to programme and other Sudan CO staff on UN Women corporate communications guidelines and printing norms;
• Track and monitor print and social media and report relevant information to senior staff to inform strategy development.
• Provide coordination support to the development of Sudan Country Office advocacy materials
• Identify storylines and achievements within the Sudan Country Office for online and print publications;
• Draft press releases, articles, key messages and other advocacy materials;
• Coordinate the translation, adaptation, or rewriting of information received for the local context; disseminate materials to appropriate stakeholders;
• Coordinate the publication of materials for final approval; maintain relationships with printers/ publishers;
• Maintain library/ database of reference materials, photos, and digital assets;
• Follow guidelines from RO/HQ.
• Provide support in the management of the Sudan Country Office social media presence and website
• Identify stories, and provide input to the development of content for the Sudan Country Office website hosted at the Regional Office and social media channels;
• Update the website and social media channels, ensure consistency in branding;
• Research, compile and produce reports on web statistics on a regular basis and electronic surveys, as required;
• Maintain files, databases, and systems relevant to the Sudan’s digital presence.

 Provide media relations support to the Sudan Country Office head of office

• Serve as a focal point on UN Women activities open to the press, as necessary;
• Maintain and update database of relevant press in country;
• Respond to request for information and arrange interviews, as delegated;
• Provide substantive inputs to talking points.

 Facilitate knowledge management and sharing

• Contribute to the identification of best practices and lessons learned;
• Organize trainings and workshops on communication practices;
• Provide/ exchange information with HQ and RO, MCO, and COs.

Other

• Perform other tasks as assigned by supervisor;
• Provide support on special web/digital/media projects undertaken by the CO.

Key Performance Indicators:

• Timely inputs to communication and advocacy materials.
• Timely organization of discussions, conferences, briefings and other events.
• Timely provision of relevant background information.
• Accurately edited and well written contents.
• Timely delivery of high quality communication and advocacy materials.
• Webpages are regularly maintained, updated and relevant.

Required Skills and Experience

Education and certification:

• Completion of secondary education required;
• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations or Journalism is an asset.

Experience:

• At least 6 years of progressively responsible experience in providing support to the formulation and implementation of internal and external communications and advocacy strategies and related plans;
• Experience in the use of computers applications and software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) as well as web-based management systems;
• Experience in the use of social media and digital communications.