Initial Contract Duration: Six months (with possibility of extension)

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, UN Women leads and coordinates United Nations system efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world. It provides strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States’ priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors.

Under its business model of Strategic Note (2026-2029), UN Women ROAS will strengthen partnerships with governments, civil society, regional bodies, international financial institutions, and the private sector to expand influence. Communications will highlight evidence, tell compelling stories, and use Arabic and youth-focused digital campaigns to shift public attitudes on gender equality. 

To accomplish this, ROAS works with partners and offices across 17 countries in the region to implement targeted programmes that support social norms change, women’s economic empowerment, women’s leadership and political participation, women, peace and security, and humanitarian issues, as well as ending violence against women.

In the context of Syria’s evolving political and humanitarian landscape, UN Women is scaling up its engagement to support women’s meaningful participation in relief, recovery and peacebuilding processes. With the political transition following developments in 2024, communications plays a criticial role in amplifying women’s voices, strengthening accountability to women’s organizations, and positioning UN Women as a trusted partner in Syria’s future. To support this priority, UN Women will deploy a Communications Analyst dedicated primarily to the Syria programme, while remaining embedded within the Regional Office for Arab States. 

Under a matrix reporting structure: 

The Communications Analyst will report substantively to the Syria Programme Coordinator/Country Representative (as applicable) on all Syria-related communications planning and outputs.

The Analyst will report technically to the Regional Communication Specialist (ROAS) to ensure alignment with corporate regional standards, strategies, and quality assurance.

The Communications Analyst works in close collaboration with the programme, operations and technical teams at ROAS and Syria Programme, personnel of other UN Agencies, Government officials, media, multilateral and bilateral donors and civil society.

Scope of Work

Lead planning and implementation of communication for the Syria programme 

• Develop and implement a Syria-focused communications and advocacy plan aligned with the Strategic Note and WPS commitments;
• Conduct a communication needs assessment for Syria programme initiatives;
• Integrate communication in programme design, donor reporting and visbility requirements;
• Monitor political, media, and social trends relevant to Syria and prepare regular analysis briefs;
• Support positioning of UN Women in relation to UNSCR 1325, 2254 and transition related processes.

Develop and disseminate advocacy and visibility materials for Syria

• Draft press releases, stories, web articles, briefing notes, talking points and digital content specific to Syria, according to UN Women corporate standards;
• Identify compelling human interest stories aand programme results for corporate amplification; 
• Manage the translation/adaption/rewriting of information received, printing and dissemination of publications and audio-visual materials; 
• Support visbiliy of donor-funded initiatives in Syria in line with agreements;
• Ensure alignment with UN Women corporate communications guidelines and follow guidelines from ROAS.

Coordinate media relations for UN Women ROAS and Syria Programme

• Manage relationships with press in the region; maintain and update database of relevant press in the region, particularly in Syria;
• Respond to a variety of inquiries and information requests; prepare related correspondence;
• Organize roundtable discussions, press conferences, and briefing sessions for press, as required; and
• Prepare media lines and key messages for senior leadership.

Maintain UN Women Syria Programme web/online presence 

• Manage Syria-related web and digital content based on corporate requirements; 
• Develop and manage Syria-focused social media content in consultation with ROAS digital strategy; and
• Upload information to knowledge management system on a regular basis, including news, updates, and resources.

Support regional communications priorities, as required

• Provide targeted communications support to ROAS initiatives when requested and agreed between the Regional Communications Specialist and Syria Programme Coordinator/Country Representative (as applicable)
• Contribute to regional campaigns and knowledge products where Syria content is required;
• Support surge needs during high-level regional moments or emergencies, as appropriate.

Facilitate knowledge building and sharing

• Identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned directly linked to Syria and ROAS programme goals and activities.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of of the Syria Programme and the Regional Office.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: N/A

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

Required 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

• At least 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 media relations is desirable;
• Familiarity with the subjects of Human Rights, Gender, Women, Peace and Security including refugees and humanitarian action is desirable;
• Experience in the use of a modern web-based ERP System, preferably Oracle Cloud, is desirable.

Languages

• Fluency in English and Arabic is required;
• Knowledge of another official UN language is desirable (French).

Initial Contract Duration: Six months (with possibility of extension)

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.