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.

UN Women Country Office in the Kyrgyz Republic was established in 2012 to support the Government and other national stakeholders in implementing international and national commitments on gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, UN Security Council resolutions on women, peace and security, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Guided by the UN Women Strategic Plan and the Country Strategic Note, and operating within the framework of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2023–2027, the National Gender Equality Strategy until 2030, and the National Action Plan on UNSCR 1325, the Country Office leverages its triple mandate of normative support, UN system coordination and operational activities to deliver coherent and impactful results.

UN Women Kyrgyzstan implements a programme that promotes women’s leadership and meaningful participation in all spheres of public and private life; eliminates all forms of violence against women and girls; advances women’s full, equal and effective participation in the peace and security agenda and in all aspects of decision-making; strengthens financing for gender equality; and expands women’s economic empowerment. The Country Office also prioritizes gender-responsive humanitarian action, disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation, and increasingly applies innovation and systems approaches in line with the SDG transformation agenda. UN Women Kyrgyzstan works as a learning and knowledge-sharing organization and promotes an open, collaborative spirit with partners, ensuring synergies across programme interventions, fostering strong and inclusive partnerships, and maintaining a client-focused, results-oriented approach fully consistent with UN Women policies, rules and procedures.

The EU-UN Women Action “Zero VAWG Program” in the Kyrgyz Republic aims to advance gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls by preventing and responding to violence against women and girls (VAWG), through a gender-transformative, community-led approach. The programme prioritizes creating and strengthening leadership spaces for women’s and youth civil society organizations, particularly in rural areas, building on results of the EU–UN Spotlight Initiative (2020–2023), and directly empowering around 140 organizations and 1,400 change leaders, while engaging a wider network of actors and organizations. Its three interlinked components focus on: (i) capacity development to enhance technical, organizational and adaptive leadership for effective EVAWG advocacy and programming; (ii) development and institutionalization of innovative “Zero VAWG” community models, including Standard Operating Procedures; (iii) consolidation and digitization of knowledge on EVAWG through academic, media and other platforms and iv) integrates women economic empowerment initiates.  The Action is fully aligned with the Kyrgyz Republic’s international and national commitments, supports the National Gender Equality Strategy (2022–2030) and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework Strategic Outcome 4, and contributes to UN Women Kyrgyz Republic’s Strategic Note.

Reporting to the UN Women Country Representative and working in close coordination with Project Manager, the Outreach Specialist is responsible for assisting in the planning and implementation of the office communications, outreach and advocacy strategies to increase the standing and awareness of UN Women with partners, the media and the public. 

The Outreach Specialist works in close collaboration with the Programme, Operations and technical teams in the CO team and personnel of other UN Agencies, Government officials, media, multilateral and bilateral donors and civil society. 

Scope of Work:

1- Provide substantive support to the planning and design of external communication and outreach/advocacy strategies and plans

• Develop multi-year, multi-pronged and multi-media communications and outreach strategies, plans and products on EVAWG;
• Provide analysis for elaboration of communication strategies; ensure gender perspective;
• Integrate communication, advocacy and outreach strategies into proposals for project/programmes and other initiatives, as necessary;
• Monitor and analyze print and social media and provide analysis to RO/HQ; and
• Provide inputs and support to the launch of in-country UN Women/ UN system corporate and local campaigns and special events.

2- Coordinate and contribute substantively to the development and dissemination of advocacy materials in the country

• Draft briefing materials, and press releases and coordinate its dissemination through effective channels;
• Identify storylines for publication and articles including contribution of human interest stories for UN Women website and newsletter; 
• Promote and disseminate corporate advocacy materials for launching flagship initiatives, publications, and campaigns;
• Coordinate the translation/adaption/rewriting of information received, printing and dissemination of publications and audio-visual materials; and
• Follow UN Women policies, procedures and guidelines from HQ and RO.

3- Coordinate media relations for the CO

• Coordinate the establishment of relevant relationships;
• Maintain list of relevant media in country; 
• Respond to inquiries for public and UN system information materials;
• Organize roundtable discussions, press conferences and briefing session for press, as required; and
• Draft talking points.

4- Build and maintain partnerships and maintain relations with donors

• Maintain relationships with partners and alliances to enhance visibility; and
• 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, as delegated.

5- Coordinate the CO’s web/online presence 

• Gather information for the development of content for the CO website and social media channels;

• Maintain files, databases, and systems relevant to the CO’s digital presence;

• Track and monitor social media analytics and report relevant information to CO staff;

• Research, compile and produce reports on web statistics on a regular basis and electronic surveys;

• Coordinate CO’s websites’ content and maintenance based on corporate requirements;

• Coordinate CO’s social media accounts and content in line with corporate Social Media Policy; and

• Upload information to knowledge management system on a regular basis, including news, updates, resources.

6- Facilitate knowledge building and sharing

• Identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned directly linked to programme goals and activities; and
• Coordinate and develop the UN Women quarterly Newsletter and support its dissemination.
• Organize and conduct training and workshops on communication and advocacy, as appropriate.
• Participate in regular communications meetings of UN Communications Group and regional communications focal points;
• Provide/ exchange information with HQ and RO in coordination with the Representative.

7- The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation.

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
• Knowledge of web-based management systems
• Knowledge of production, graphic design and photography standards
• Knowledge of social media platforms and experience in social media outreach
• Knowledge of local country media landscape
• Communication, networking and advocacy skills
• Ability to be strategic and analytical
• Knowledge of gender and human rights issues desirable

Minimum Qualifications:

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:

• 0-2 years of professional work experience in public relations, communications or advocacy is required.
• Experience in the use of social media is required.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.), spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems is required.
• Experience in the use of a modern web-based ERP System, preferably Oracle Cloud, is desirable.

Languages:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Fluency in Kyrgyz is required. 
• Knowledge of another official UN language is desirable (French, 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.