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.
Established by UN General Assembly Resolution 50/166 in 1996, the United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence against Women (UN Trust Fund) is the first and remains the only global UN funding mechanism dedicated exclusively to providing direct grants to civil society organizations working to prevent and end all forms of violence against women and girls (EVAW/G). Since 2010, UN Women has administered the UN Trust Fund on behalf of the UN system, providing a strong institutional foundation and field support through a global infrastructure of country and regional offices.ย
With nearly three decades of experience, the UN Trust Fund has become a key global mechanism for funding initiatives that aim to eliminate violence against women and girls. It plays a critical role in fostering collaboration across governments, UN agencies, and civil society to address the root causes and consequences of violence, aligning its work with broader international policies and frameworks. The UN Trust Fund focuses on providing long-term grants to organizations that work in diverse contexts, particularly those representing marginalized groups, such as indigenous women, women living with disabilities, and women from rural or conflict-affected areas. Its investments are survivor-centered and aim to have sustainable, long-term impacts. To date, the UN Trust Fund has funded over 700 initiatives in over 140 countries and territories, significantly contributing to global efforts to end violence against women and girls.ย
As the UN Trust Fund approaches its 30th anniversary and prepares its final Strategic Plan (2026-2030) before the conclusion of the Agenda for Sustainable Development, it faces a pivotal moment to reassess its position within the ending violence against women (EVAW) ecosystem. This comes amid unprecedented global backlash against gender equality, compounding crises affecting women's organizations, and funding challenges rippling through the sector. This moment necessitates not only strengthened communications but a strategic redefinition of the Fund's role as a forward-thinking, impactful actor embodying 21st century feminist funding principles. The position will focus on reimagining how the UN Trust Fund conveys its narrative, responds to emerging trends, and demonstrates its unique value to enhance visibility and mobilize resources effectively.
Specifically, the purpose of this position is to lead the development and implementation of an action plan that will help position the Trust Fund boldly within a shifting landscape, aligned with the new Strategic Plan for 2026-2030. The role will ensure clear communication of the Fundโs added value to donors, partners, and the wider EVAW ecosystem (with an emphasis in the UN System), aligning short-term advocacy and resource mobilization efforts with its long-term systems-change vision. Additionally, the position will foster the application of social innovation tools such as strategic foresight, co-creation, and behavioral insights, building innovation capabilities within the Trust Fund and its partners to ensure continued relevance in addressing emerging challenges.
Description of Responsibilitiesย
Under the supervision of the Resource Mobilization and Partnerships Lead, in collaboration with the Knowledge Learning and Advocacy Lead, and with the overall strategic guidance of the UN Trust Fundโs Chief, the consultant will be responsible for the following duties:ย
1. Lead the Development and Implementation of an Integrated Strategic Communications Plan for Advocacy and Resource Mobilization (2025-2026)
- Define and standardize messaging around the UN Trust Fundโs strategic relevance, niche, and long-term vision, based on the new Strategic Plan 2026-2030;
- Identify strategic advocacy objectives, key events, and activities supporting short-term and long-term goals, including the 30th anniversary, Strategic Plan launch, and rebranding;
- Develop the Plan, including deliverables and budget, manage its implementation and monitor its progress.
- Provide advocacy support to the Resource Mobilization Manager as needed.
2. Consolidate the Strategic Communications Infrastructure
- Improve data management systems for easy access to portfolio data supporting advocacy and resource mobilization efforts;
- Enhance the availability of high-quality photographs and improve the repository to support advocacy and communications needs;
- Systematize the collection of human impact stories in collaboration with portfolio managers;
- Establish efficient workflows for creating, disseminating, and archiving knowledge and communications products;
- Develop and manage a procurement plan for key communications products, overseeing contracts with vendors.
3. Coordinate Key Strategic Communications and Advocacy Products
- Provide strategic contributions to the 30th Anniversary campaign, overseeing the development of communication products (e.g., visuals, videos, social media content);
- Oversee rebranding efforts, ensuring consistent messaging across all materials;
- Lead the development of key reports, such as the CSW-HRC and UN Trust Fund Annual Reports;
- Provide strategic inputs to the conceptualization of new knowledge products and lead the development of audience-centered spinoff products to promote selected practice-based knowledge products in collaboration with the Monitoring and Evaluation team;
- Organize and implement advocacy and communications outreach events.
4. Harness Innovation for Dynamic Advocacy, Partnerships and Resource Mobilization, in line with โUN 2.0.โย
- Test alternative communication tactics to boost visibility and influence, incorporating behavioral insights and strategic foresight tools;
- Engage stakeholders in co-creating knowledge and communication products to increase reach and impact;
- Explore horizon scanning and trends analysis to identify emerging risks and opportunities for advocacy and partnerships;
- Foster joint innovation skill-building with UN Trust Fund partners to enhance resilience and adaptability.
5. Guide the Strategic Communications Team
- Provide leadership, direction, and guidance to the communications team;
- Manage report preparation and support development and review of teamwork plans and budgets, ensuring effective implementation.
- Oversee multimedia projects, including the editing, design, and production of external communications materials (website, case studies, social media).
Workplace and Official Travel
This is a home-based position.ย
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 visitย this linkย for more information on UN Womenโs Values and Competencies Framework:ย
Functional Competencies:
- Strong technical knowledge of the different components of knowledge managementย
- Experience designing and implementing dedicated advocacy strategies for learning, related to ending violence against women and girls;
- Demonstrated success inย coordinating successful knowledge exchange networks/communities of practice;
- Broad and in-depth knowledge in social development issues particularly those pertinent to UN Women strategic priorities on ending violence against women and / or womenโs rights;ย
- Knowledge on how to synthesize information and to write clear, concise and reports;ย
- Excellent oral skills and written communication skills.ย
- Experience in navigating UN systems and requirementsย
- Delivering reports in line with UN requirements
Required Qualifications
Education and Certification:
- Advanced university degree in evaluation, social science or related field, or combination of first level degree with relevant experience. ย
- A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
- A minimum of 7 years professional experience in gender equality, preferably in the field of ending violence against womenย
- Proven experience in knowledge management strategies;ย
- Experience working in an international organization, or similar complex organization, is an asset;ย
- Experience in knowledge exchange, collaboration and co-creation activities highly desirable;ย
ย Language Requirements:ย ย
- Fluency in English (oral and written) is required.ย
- Fluency in Spanish (oral and written) is desirable.ย
- Fluency in French (oral and written) is desirable.ย
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,ย and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age,ย ability, national origin,ย 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 toย UN Womenโsย policiesย and proceduresย andย theย standardsย of conduct expected of UN Women personnelย 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.
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