Communications Assistant, South Africa, July 2025 – NGO Jobs

Assignment country: South Africa

Expected start date: 10/01/2024

Sustainable Development Goal: 5. Gender equality

Volunteer category: National UN Volunteer Specialist

Host entity: UN Women South Africa Multi-Country Office (SAMCO)

Type: Onsite

Duration: 12 months

(with possibility of extension)

Number of assignments: 1

Duty stations: Pretoria

Details

Mission and objectives

UN Women is the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. A global champion for women and girls, UN Women was established to accelerate progress on meeting their needs worldwide.

UN Women supports UN Member States as they set global standards for achieving gender equality, and works with governments and civil society to design laws, policies, programmes and services needed to ensure that the standards are effectively implemented and truly benefit women and girls worldwide.

Context

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. The UN Women South Africa Multi-Country Office (SAMCO), represents five countries of the Southern African Customs Union(SACU): Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa (where the office is located.) This five countries are all members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Task description

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of

 Communication Analyst or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UNV Communication Assistant will: 1. Provide administrative support in the development of a coherent SAMCO communications and advocacy strategy;

• Provide background information for the development of the CO/MCO’s communication strategy;
• Provide logistical support to advocacy efforts and campaigns by organizing roundtable discussions, press conferences, and other publicity events and providing inputs to briefing materials and press releases, as necessary.

2. Provide administrative support to the development of SAMCO’s advocacy materials;

• Gather identifying storylines and achievements within SAMCO;
• Draft press releases, articles, key messages and other advocacy materials;
• Review translations, contact with printers and other suppliers to ensure production;
• Maintain library/ database of reference materials and photos;
• Follow guidelines from Regional Office of East and Southern Africa and Headquarters.

3. Provide support in the management of SAMCO’s social media presence and website;

• Gather information for the development of content for SAMCO’s website hosted at the Regional Office and social media channels;
• Update the website and social media channels, as required;
• Maintain files, databases, and systems relevant to SAMCO’s digital presence.

4. Provide media relations support to SAMCO’s head of office;

• Maintain and update database of relevant press in country;
• Respond to request for information, as delegated;
• Gather and compile inputs for talking points;
• Facilitate knowledge management and sharing;
• Contribute to the identification of best practices and lessons learned;
• Organize trainings and workshops on communication practices;
• Provide/ exchange information with HQ and RO, MCO, and COs.

5. Other related duties;

• Provide photography and videography support for MCO events when necessary;
• Perform other tasks as assigned by supervisor;
• Provide support on special web/digital/media projects undertaken by SAMCO; and
• Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

Eligibility criteria

Age: 18 – 80

Nationality

Candidate must be a national or legal resident of the country of assignment.

Requirements

Required experience

3 years of experience in providing support to the formulation and implementation of internal and external

 communications and advocacy strategies and related plans;

eXayHWZ BVUcJh

• Experience in the use of computers applications and software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) as well as web-based management systems;
• Experience in the use of social media and digital communication.
• Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills;
• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development;
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment;
• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines;
• Have affinity with or interest in gender equality and women economic empowerment volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.

Area(s) of expertise

Communication

Driving license

Languages

English, Level: Fluent, Required

Required education level

Bachelor degree or equivalent in Communications, Public Relations or Journalism or any other related field.

Competencies and values

• Professionalism;
• Awareness and Sensitivity regarding Gender Issues;
• Integrity;
• Teamwork and respect for diversity;
• Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise;
• Planning and organizing;

•  Communication;
• Flexibility;
• Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement;
• Leading by Example;
• Stakeholder Engagement

Other information

Living conditions and remarks

The Republic of South Africa is a large country of nine provinces with different climates, races, languages, creeds, cultures, religions and human activity. The landscape is also diverse, with mountains, plains, farmlands, bushveld scrub and arid deserts, each of the many different parts supporting its own distinctive plant and animal life. The country’s multi-cultural and multi-lingual society fuses to make this “Rainbow Nation” a rich and rewarding experience for you as a United Nations official and as a visitor. Pretoria is the duty station for most UN staff. Pretoria, also called Tshwane, is the administrative capital of South Africa. Founded in 1855, its metropolitan area is in excess of 900 square kilometres. The Union Buildings are the location for the offices of the President, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and other senior officials. Pretoria is located in Gauteng province, the smallest of South Africa’s nine provinces in area but the largest in population. Johannesburg, the largest city in the country, is located in Gauteng approximately 45 minutes by car from Pretoria.

UNVs receive the below entitlements:

• A monthly Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) of ZAR 22405.24;
• A once of $400 entry lumpsum;
• Medical and Annual leave;
• Comprehensive insurance;
• Access to all the learning platforms;
• A once of exit lumpsum at the end of your assignment.

Inclusivity statement

United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements

Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policy

Source