Communications Associate for Gender & Gender-Based Violence (GBV)

Host entity: UNFPA KHM

Volunteer type: National

Areas of expertise: Communication, advocacy, public information, Project management, programme development, strategy, Translation and interpretation

Application deadline: 28/08/2026

Mission and objectives

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 new Strategic Plan (2022-2025), focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning, and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff/volunteers, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA Cambodia’s 6th Country Programme (CP) 2019 – 2023 has three outcomes (i) sexual and reproductive health and rights; (ii) adolescents and youth; and (iii) population dynamics and data, with gender as a cross-cutting programmatic focus. The 6th UNFPA country programme signals a transition towards upstream policy support to the Royal Government of Cambodia and would therefore have more dedicated resources and capacities to provide strategic guidance and analysis in its respective outcome areas.

Assignment context

This UN Volunteer assignment is part of UNFPA Cambodia's gender-based violence (GBV) programme, supported under the ACCESS 2 Program (Strengthening the Prevention and Coordination of Gender-Based Violence Services in Cambodia), funded by the Australian Government. Reducing gender-based violence and harmful social norms and practices is one of the three key transformative results for UNFPA Cambodia. UNFPA Cambodia is in the middle of its Country Programme 7, which has a strong emphasis on progressing gender equality, addressing harmful social norms and an expanded portfolio on gender-based violence.

Gender-based violence is a serious and widespread problem in Cambodia which, due to strict patriarchal culture and norms, is estimated to be significantly under-reported. About one in five women (19.6 per cent) experienced physical, sexual or emotional intimate partner violence in the prior 12 months, and only a quarter of women experiencing violence seek help from formal service providers. Other forms of violence include sexual violence, sexual harassment and harmful practices such as child and early marriage.

The Communications Associate for Gender & GBV will be part of the GBV team, working closely with the National GBV Programme Specialist, with technical support from an International Programme Specialist, GBV, and in coordination with the Country Office Communications, Advocacy and Partnership Specialist, under the overall programme team led by the Assistant Representative. Technical supervision will be provided by the Programme Specialist, GBV, and the GBV Technical Specialist team in the Asia Pacific Regional Office (APRO).

Task description

Under the direct supervision of the Programme Specialist, Gender and GBV, with matrix reporting to the Communications, Advocacy and Partnership Specialist, the Communications Associate for Gender & Gender-Based Violence (GBV) will undertake the following tasks:

1. Maintain and update social media by introducing more multimedia components, making the platforms more interactive, user-friendly, innovative and creative. Current platforms include the website, Facebook, X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and others such as TikTok.
2. Provide translation and interpretation to a consistent standard for all UNFPA Cambodia products and events related to GBV, ensuring that correct terminology and interpretation is provided in Khmer, in line with global standards for GBV, and is sensitive and accurate.
3. Assist programme colleagues on GBV team outreach activities such as events, campaigns and missions, including supporting the country office's communications and visibility, interpreting sensitive GBV topics, and helping craft key messages, stories and case studies.
4. Assist programme colleagues to translate and document success stories, human interest stories and case studies from the field in writing and/or visual images.
5. Support the GBV programme team to produce and translate GBV-related promotional materials such as factsheets, leaflets, posters and brochures.
6. Support tracking of social media on GBV, ensuring the office is aware of social media trends, comments and views in order to better target stakeholders, including traditional and digital media monitoring.
7. Support the GBV team in maintaining excellent partnerships.
8. Support the Communications, Advocacy and Partnership Specialist to develop and implement GBV-related communications products, including ensuring accuracy of translated GBV terminology, photography, videography, drafting social media content, collecting information, data and interviews, human interest stories, documentation and artwork design.

All actions will be conducted in strict adherence to UNFPA rules and regulations and donor requirements, and will follow ethical guidelines for communications on GBV, ensuring the protection of the dignity and privacy of affected individuals.

Results/expected outputs: efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNFPA and its beneficiaries. The assignment will contribute to effective communications that advocate and inform the public, donors and other stakeholders about UNFPA's work to address GBV and harmful social norms, towards the transformative result of zero gender-based violence and harmful practices.

Skills and experience

• 2 years of related experience in media communication, journalism, advocacy or social development and gender project support roles (minimum requirement).
• Good knowledge of Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher); knowledge of design programs (Canva, Piktochart, Photoshop) is an advantage.
• Good knowledge of IT and office equipment (photocopiers, scanners).
• Knowledge and experience with communication applications such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet.
• Knowledge and understanding of social media; use of applications to aid drafting minutes and other writing requirements is an advantage.
• Ability to understand and comply with the rules and regulations of the organization.
• Skill in translation/interpretation of development documents is preferred (asset).

Competencies and values

• Adaptability and Flexibility: flexibility and willingness to try different things and to change direction as needed.
• Commitment and Motivation: self-motivated, ability to work independently on assigned tasks and to work under pressure and with tight deadlines.
• Communication: positive and effective communication skills; ability to raise and communicate issues to programme leads and management as needed; ability to work effectively under pressure and in a multicultural environment.
• Ethics and Values: principled; applies key values and principles including equality and non-discrimination, transparency and good governance; excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; able to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels.
• Working in Teams: ability to work in a team and share tasks.
• Problem Solving: ability to problem-solve and be solutions-focused; positive attitude and willingness towards learning and sharing.

Living conditions

As this is a National UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. Phnom Penh is a family duty station (classification B) with good access to accommodation, food, medical facilities, banking services and communications infrastructure.

You can check full entitlements at the duty station at https://app.unv.org/calculator.
The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos.

Full eligibility requirements, conditions of service and application instructions are available on the official UNV platform.