Media Monitors - Communications support for the 2026 16 Days of Activism

Host entity: UN Women Malawi

Areas of expertise: Communication, advocacy, public information, Community development

Application deadline: 26/11/2026

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. It works globally to make the vision of the Sustainable Development Goals a reality for women and girls and stands behind women’s equal participation in all aspects of life, focusing on four strategic priorities:

Women lead, participate in and benefit equally from governance systems
Women have income security, decent work and economic autonomy
All women and girls live a life free from all forms of violence
Women and girls contribute to and have greater influence in building sustainable peace and resilience, and benefit equally from the prevention of natural disasters and conflicts and humanitarian action
UN Women also coordinates and promotes the UN system’s work in advancing gender equality, and in all deliberations and agreements linked to the 2030 Agenda. The entity works to position gender equality as fundamental to the Sustainable Development Goals, and a more inclusive world.

Assignment context

The period from 25 November to 10 December 2026 marks the annual 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, a global campaign dedicated to raising awareness and mobilizing action to end violence against women and girls. This year’s theme is UNiTE to End Violence against Women and Girls: Ensure justice, protect survivors, end impunity.
In Malawi, the campaign provides an important platform for promoting gender equality, advocating for survivor-centred responses, challenging harmful social norms, and strengthening accountability systems that prevent and respond to violence against women and girls.

Media and digital platforms play a critical role in influencing public attitudes and shaping conversations around gender equality and women's rights. Responsible reporting and strategic communication can contribute significantly to increased awareness, improved public discourse, and positive social change.
To support these objectives, UN Women Malawi seeks to mobilize a network of online volunteers who will contribute to digital advocacy throughout the campaign period.

Guidelines for Volunteers

1. Participate in the mandatory orientation and onboarding programme before commencing assignments.
2. Adhere to campaign messaging, branding guidelines, and communication protocols pro-vided by UN Women.
3. Uphold principles of gender equality, inclusivity, and survivor-centred communication.
4. Maintain confidentiality of any non-public information shared during the assignment.
5. Refrain from publishing content that may stigmatize survivors or reinforce harmful stereotypes.
6. Submit deliverables according to agreed timelines and reporting formats.
7. Maintain professional conduct across all communication channels and social media platforms.

Task description

Under the guidance of the UN Women Malawi Communications Team, volunteers will participate in a mandatory orientation and thereafter undertake assignments as follows:

Before the Campaign

1. Attend a virtual orientation on
2. Familiarise themselves with assigned media outlets and monitoring templates.

During the Campaign (25 November-10 December 2026)

Volunteers will monitor media coverage related to gender-based violence and gender equality across assigned media outlets, including television, radio, print, community and online platforms.

Assigned Media Categories

• Electronic (Television and Radio), Community Radio and Print Media

Deliverables

1. Daily submission of findings in the online monitoring matrix
2. Documentation of notable stories and trends
3. Submission of a final analytical report highlighting: media coverage related to gender-based violence and gender equality

Skills and experience

• Strong analytical and reporting skills.
• Access to television, radio and/or newspapers
• Experience in media monitoring

General Requirements

• Commitment to gender equality and women's rights
• Ability to work independently
• Strong communication skills
• Reliable internet connectivity

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