The Position:

Nepal is highly vulnerable to natural disasters and humanitarian crises, including earthquakes, floods, landslides, and other emergencies, which often disproportionately affect women and girls. These crises exacerbate pre-existing vulnerabilities, disrupting access to critical services and leaving communities unprepared to address the heightened risks of gender-based violence (GBV) and the unmet needs for sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services. In emergencies, access to life-saving SRH care and robust mechanisms to prevent and respond to GBV are essential to safeguarding the health, safety, and dignity of affected populations.

Recognizing these challenges, the development of culturally appropriate and actionable information, education, and communication (IEC) materials has been prioritized to strengthen awareness and response mechanisms for GBV and SRH in emergencies. These materials will serve as critical tools to guide communities, service providers, and stakeholders in effectively addressing GBV and SRH needs during humanitarian crises.

The initiative will be implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Women, Children, and Senior Citizens under the leadership of the GBV Sub-Cluster. Provincial-level consultations, community feedback, and stakeholder validation processes will ensure that the IEC materials are contextually relevant, practical, and aligned with the needs of diverse communities in high-risk areas. Through this effort, UNFPA aims to enhance preparedness, build capacity, and empower individuals and communities to respond to GBV and SRH challenges effectively during emergencies.

The Communications Consultant will develop culturally sensitive and actionable IEC (Information, Education, and Communication) materials focused on addressing GBV and
SRH needs in emergency contexts. The consultant will work closely with the Ministry of Women, Children, and Senior Citizens under the guidance of the GBV Sub-Cluster and in collaboration with UNFPA. This role involves stakeholder consultations, material development, validation processes, and finalization of IEC tools to ensure their relevance and effectiveness in high-risk and diverse community settings.

The Consultant will report to the Humanitarian Specialist and through her to the Deputy Representative as well as to the entire Humanitarian Response team assigned by the Resident Representative.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.  UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

The Consultant will develop culturally sensitive and actionable IEC (Information, Education, and Communication) materials focused on addressing GBV and
SRH needs in emergency contexts. The consultant will work closely with the Ministry of Women, Children, and Senior Citizens under the guidance of the GBV Sub-Cluster and in collaboration with UNFPA. This role involves stakeholder consultations, material development, validation processes, and finalization of IEC tools to ensure their relevance and effectiveness in high-risk and diverse community settings.

You would be responsible for:

• Conduct consultations and stakeholder meetings at federal and provincial levels, including the Ministry of Women, Children, and Senior Citizens, GBV Sub-Cluster members, and implementing partners, to gather inputs and define priorities for IEC materials.
• Design and develop IEC materials for GBV and SRH in emergencies, ensuring content is culturally appropriate, actionable, and aligns with national policies and
  guidelines.
• Organize and facilitate focus group discussions with women and girls in high-risk provinces (both hill and Terai areas) to collect feedback and ensure
  materials are contextually relevant.
• Lead provincial-level validation workshops to finalize the IEC materials engaging UNFPA provincial focal point, and gather inputs from stakeholders, including local authorities and community representatives.
• Revise and finalize the IEC materials based on feedback from the focus group discussions and validation workshops.
• Ensure the IEC materials incorporate elements of risk communication and are accessible, inclusive, and practical for use by diverse stakeholders, including
  communities and service providers.

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

• Master’s degree in journalism, mass communication, public health, gender studies, or a related field.

Knowledge and Experience: 

• At least 2-5 years of experience in developing and designing communication materials, including IEC materials, for humanitarian or development contexts.
• Proven ability to create culturally sensitive, high-quality communication materials tailored to diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated understanding of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), and their importance in emergency settings.
• Experience working with diverse teams, including government stakeholders, civil society, and community representatives, particularly in Nepal.
• Strong knowledge of SRHR and GBV issues within the Nepalese context, including familiarity with national policies and frameworks.
• Excellent writing, storytelling, and design skills for producing impactful communication materials.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to effectively engage with stakeholders and facilitate participatory processes.
• Proven ability to manage multiple tasks, work under pressure, and meet tight deadlines.
• Proficiency in tools for communication material development, including
• Microsoft Office Suite and design tools like Adobe Creative Suite.

Languages: 

• Fluency in written and spoken Nepali and English is required.
• Knowledge of additional local languages in high-risk provinces will be an advantage.

Required Competencies: 

Values:

Exemplifying integrity,

Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,

Embracing cultural diversity,

Embracing change.

Core Competencies: 

Achieving results,

Being accountable,

Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,

Thinking analytically and strategically,

Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships.

Compensation and Benefits:

 This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA’s workforce – click here to learn more.

Disclaimer:

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements.

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants’ bank accounts.

Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.