Media Expert

UN Women is supporting the Zimbabwe Gender Commission to run the Gender Commission which is a mechanism that documents women’s experiences in women’s political participation.  The Gender Observatory requires the support of a media expert to join their team and monitor gender issues in electoral related news broadcast/published in the mainstream media (print and electronic) as well as social media platforms.

The Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) is an Independent Commission established in terms of Section 232 and 245 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe and operationalized through the Zimbabwe Gender Commission Act (Chapter 10:31). The Commission is mandated inter alia: to monitor issues concerning gender equality to ensure gender equality as provided in the Constitution; to investigate possible violations of rights relating to gender; to receive and consider complaints from the public and to take such action regarding the complaints as it considers appropriate and to conduct research into issues relating to gender and social justice, and recommend changes to laws and practices which lead to discrimination based on gender, among others.

Pursuant to its monitoring role, the commission established the 2023 Gender Observatory to monitor gender issues during the 2023 Harmonised Elections.

The objectives of the Gender Observatory are:            

• To capture and document key gender issues throughout the electoral cycle in the forthcoming 2023 harmonised elections;
• To offer a clear platform for coordination amongst various actors including the National Gender Machinery, Chapter 12 Institutions, Government, Security Sector and Civil Society Organisations on gender responsive electoral processes;
• To identify gaps and recommend to policy makers interventions and strategies to address identified gender disparities; and
• To carry out a gender analysis of the electoral process as part of strengthening.

1. Media Expert

With the direct supervision of and reporting to the Director – Gender Equality Promotion and overall supervision of UN Women 

Purpose of the position:

The media expert is expected to monitor gender issues in electoral related news broadcast/published in the mainstream media (print and electronic) as well as social media platforms.

Scope of work:

1. Analyse the current media landscape from a gender perspective (before, during and post-election period);
2. Conduct media monitoring to track trends and coverage of gender specific issues during elections particularly in campaign messages;
3. Analyse the representation of both female and male candidates in the election campaigns;
4. Monitoring the election coverage through analysing the news coverage of the election campaigns of each political party and monitoring the amount of airtime given to male and female candidates and analysing the gender balance of the coverage;
5. Monitor the use of language used by candidates and other media houses during the election campaigns and identify gender stereotypes or language that reinforces gender bias;
6. Monitoring social media platforms for inappropriate behaviour, hate speech and discriminatory comments towards female candidates:
7. Analyse the portrayal of candidates in the media, including image, tone, and language used to describe them;
8. Stay abreast with developments concerning the 2023 harmonised elections; and
9. Produce daily media briefs on gender and elections.

• Respect for Diversity
• Integrity
• Professionalism

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues
• Accountability
• Creative Problem Solving
• Effective Communication
• Inclusive Collaboration
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Leading by Example

Functional Competencies

• Strong communication and analytical skills
• A team player
• Ability to work with minimal supervision and under pressure
• Flexibility and positive attitude
• Ability to speak in two local languages (Ndebele or Shona)

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Core Values and Competencies: https://www.unwomen.org/–/media/headquarters/attachments/sections/about%20us/employment/un–women–values–and–competenciesframework–en.pdf?la=en&vs=637

• Minimum of a degree in media, journalism and communication;
• A qualification in gender studies is an added advantage;
• At least five years working experience in the relevant field;
• Knowledgeable of the media environment in Zimbabwe;
• Knowledgeable of gender policies and frameworks at national, regional and international level; and
• Experience in gender-related work is an added advantage.

Please attach a completed P11 to your application. Kindly note that applications without a completed and signed UN Women P-11 form will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment.

UN Women Personal History form (P-11) can be downloaded from http://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/employment .

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.)

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