Hiring Office:

UNFPA Uzbekistan

Purpose of consultancy:

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is the lead United Nations agency for ensuring the sexual and reproductive health rights and choices for all. The work of UNFPA is based on the premise that all human beings are entitled to equal rights and protections. UNFPA focuses on women and young people because these are groups whose ability to exercise their right to sexual and reproductive health is often compromised. UNFPA’s aspiration is to contribute to achieving the following transformative and people-centred goals by 2030:

• end unmet need for family planning,
• end maternal death, and
• end violence and harmful practices against women and girls.

In 2025      UNFPA enlarge its      focus on increasing awareness among the population, including women, adolescent girls, partners, and families, on maternal and reproductive health and rights, women’s empowerment, health literacy, informed choice in contraception, and bodily autonomy through the development and dissemination of communication materials, publications, and broadcasts. 

The purpose of the consultancy is to support the strategic visibility, advocacy, documentation, and digital engagement of UNFPA Uzbekistan programme interventions under the 2026 Results and Resources Plan. The consultant will ensure consistent, high-quality, rights-based, and gender-sensitive communication aligned with UNFPA strategic priorities and the national reforms.

National consultant on communication and social norm change will contribute to the development and dissemination of communication materials, publications, and broadcasts; monitor media coverage to ensure strong visibility; and analyze public feedback to inform and adjust communication approaches through the following:

1. Support to implementation of Communication Action Plan

• Contribute to periodic update of the Communication Action Plan aligned with the 2026 Results and Resource Plan.
• Support Integration of gender-transformative, rights-based, and evidence-based messaging into all communication materials.
• Provide inputs to communication materials  and talking points for senior management when required.

1. Support implementation of CP Outputs

• Contribute to the development and implementation of communication and visibility materials aligned with UNFPA mandate, programme interventions, and donor requirements, ensuring compliance with UNFPA branding and visibility standards.
• Support documentation of programme implementation, including field visits, workshops, awareness campaigns, events, and key milestones, and develop human-interest stories, results briefs, and publication-ready communication products.
• Develop, adapt, and disseminate communication and IEC materials across print, digital, web, and social media platforms, ensuring bilingual content (Uzbek and English) where required.
• Draft, edit, and publish communication content, including press releases, media articles, website updates, and social media posts, and coordinate production of multimedia materials (audio, video, and written content).
• Support communication planning and coverage of programme events, trainings, media briefings, public discussions, and awareness campaigns aimed at social and behavioural change.
• Contribute to communication aspects of partnerships, advocacy initiatives, and collaboration with media, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders.
• Monitor media coverage and digital engagement, compile analytics and documentation, and provide recommendations to strengthen communication performance and outreach.

1. Support to Knowledge Management and Documentation

• Collect, systematize, and archive photos, videos, testimonials, and communication outputs.
• Support conducting professional photo sessions on programme thematic areas
• Support maintenance of a structured repository of UNFPA programme -related communication materials.
• Collaborate with designers, videographers, and photographers to ensure high-quality outputs.
• Assist in preparation of procurement requests for communication materials and provide technical input into specifications.
• Draft or support drafting Terms of Reference (TORs) for communication vendors.
• Draft short impact briefs based on results and information collected from programme and aligned with indicators and milestones.
• Contribute to quarterly newsletters (English and Uzbek).
• Support tracking communication-related indicators (e.g., number of media partnerships, campaigns conducted)
• Contribute to programme/ project donor with evidence of visibility and outreach results and support consolidation of programme documentation.

1. Support implementation of EU WEE social norm change activities

• Support in organizing capacity building for journalists, content creators, and influencers on gender-sensitive reporting and inclusive SRHR communication.
• Contribute to development and support in implementation of innovative and inclusive communication solutions to promote SRHR, gender equality, and transform harmful social norms 
• Contribute to interactive youth sessions in education institutions on gender equality, reproductive rights, and healthy relationships to promote informed decision-making on marriage and family life
• Contribute to preparation for capacity-building workshops for religious leaders on gender equality, reproductive health, and prevention of gender-based violence implemented by IP

Duration and working schedule:

The consultant’s contract period is for 10 months with 22 days within one month.

Expected start of the consultancy – 10 March 2026 till 31 December 2026.

Place where services are to be delivered:

Tashkent with possible travel to project sites

Delivery dates and how work will be delivered (e.g. electronic, hard copy etc.):

Consultant will be responsible for the following deliverables:

• Submission of a monthly consultancy report within 5 calendar days after the end of each month, including progress update, links to published materials, media monitoring results, and analytics.
• Minimum 8 social media posts per month (Instagram, Facebook, X), including Uzbek and English adaptation.
• Report on Media monitoring and compilation of coverage links 
• At least one professional photo session per month organized (15–20 edited, captioned, high-resolution photographs).
• Photo documentation and archiving (as required).Development of at least 10 visual cards per month for social media posts, aligned with UNFPA branding guidelines.
• Specifications for visibility and advocacy materials when required.

Periodic Deliverables (Integrated into Monthly Workplan)

• At least one human interest story per quarter.
• One in-depth media article every two months.
• Minimum one UNFPA website update per quarter.
• Inputs to quarterly Newsletter (English and Uzbek).
• IEC products are produced at least twice per year.

Deliverables within EU WEE activities

• Draft presentations and interactive activities for capacity building for journalists, content creators, and influencers on gender-sensitive reporting and inclusive SRHR communication.
• Draft concept on communication solutions to promote SRHR, gender equality, and transform harmful social norms 
• Content-wise contribution to presentations and interactive activities for interactive youth sessions in education institutions on gender equality, reproductive rights, and healthy relationships to promote informed decision-making on marriage and family life
• Content-wise contribution to presentations and interactive activities for capacity-building workshops for religious leaders on gender equality, reproductive health, and prevention of gender-based violence implemented by IP

Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements, periodicity format and deadline:

UNFPA Programme Associate on Advocacy and Communication will directly monitor and supervise activities related to the consultancy and other Programme Specialists  will be contacted for quality assurance.

Supervisory arrangements:

Communications and Advocacy Programme Associate will directly supervise activities related to the assignment.

Expected travel:

Consultant will undertake necessary travels within the country to conduct shooting for publications and human interest stories. Travel expenses will be covered in line with UNFPA’s travel policy and applicable financial regulations.

Required expertise, qualifications and competencies, including language requirements:

• Bachelor degree in social science, humanities, philology, journalism and/or other related fields;
• At least 5 years of professional experience, in the field of journalism, communication, advocacy;
• Proven ability to write creatively;
• Existing portfolio of stories;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate to prevent and mitigate tensions;
• Excellent command of the Uzbek and any other local language, good command of English;
• Understanding and respect of the mission and core values of UNFPA and active upholding of United Nations guiding principle;
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team.

Inputs / services to be provided by UNFPA or

implementing partner (e.g. support services, office space, equipment), if applicable:

The consultant will work remotely with a requirement to be present in the office for three days. UNFPA Uzbekistan will provide a laptop, internet access, and a desk.

In case of travel UNFPA will cover travel and DSAs.

Other relevant information or special conditions, if any:

The payment will be disbursed on a monthly basis upon submission of the monthly report and relevant deliverables.

In case the report is deemed to have been completed to a standard that does not fully satisfy UNFPA performance criteria, the Fund reserves the right to withhold the payment in part or in full.