UN Women: Moderator, Conference on Sustainable Philanthropy and Remittances for GEWE, Dakar, Senegal, International Consultancy - Homebased

Background:

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 Regional Office for West and Central Africa (WCARO), in collaboration with the Ford Foundation, is organizing a conference on Sustainable Philanthropy and Remittances for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, taking place on June 2-3, 2025, in Dakar and online (hybrid format)

This high-level gathering will bring together key stakeholders—including development partners, foundations, civil society, and the private sector—to drive meaningful discussions and shape actionable solutions that will advance gender equality in the region. 

UN Women WCARO is hiring 2 dynamic, articulate, and confident individual consultants to serve as both Masters of Ceremony (MC) and Facilitators for the conference. This is a highly visible role that requires a charismatic presence, excellent communication skills, and the ability to manage time and people with ease.

Reporting line

The consultants will report to UN Women WCARO Partnerships and Resource Mobilization Specialist and will work in close collaboration with UN Women WCARO communication team and co-hosting organizations. 

Description of Responsibilities /Scope of Work

The ideal candidate excels at public speaking, understands the unique demands of hybrid formats, and can balance live audience energy with virtual engagement. They will set the tone for the event, engage the audience, ensure seamless transitions, and facilitate insightful panel discussions or Q&A sessions—both on stage and through screens. They will keep the event on track.

• Serve as the public-facing host of the event, welcoming attendees, introducing speakers or sessions, and maintaining energy and flow throughout the program.
• Engage both in-person and virtual audiences, adapting tone and delivery to ensure inclusivity and real-time interaction across platforms.
• Ensure smooth transitions between sessions, coordinating with speakers, performers, and production teams to stay on schedule.
• Facilitate panel discussions and speaker interactions, guiding conversations, posing thoughtful questions, and keeping dialogue balanced and on topic.
• Manage Q&A sessions across formats, fielding audience input from both live attendees and online platforms (chat, polls, Q&A tools).
• Collaborate with technical and production teams to handle timing, audiovisual cues, and streaming elements for a seamless hybrid experience.
• Improvise professionally in the face of unexpected changes, maintaining composure and keeping the audience informed and engaged.

Hybrid Format Considerations:

• Maintain awareness of both physical and virtual audience needs.
• Use hybrid-friendly tools (polls, live Q&A, chat engagement) to create a unified event experience.
• Stay conscious of camera presence, speaking clearly for remote participants while managing the room dynamic.
• Work closely with producers and virtual support staff to sync live and digital segments smoothly.

Consultant’s Workplace and Official Travel

This is a home-based consultancy, with presence needed on 2 and 3 June 2025 in Dakar, Hotel Noom where the conference will take place.

Competencies :

Core Values:

• Integrity;
• Professionalism;
• Respect for Diversity.

Core Competencies:

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

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Values and Competencies Framework: 

Functional Competencies:

• Proven experience as an event host, MC, or moderator—ideally in hybrid or virtual environments.
• Outstanding verbal communication and stage presence.
• Confident on camera and in-person, with the ability to engage large, diverse audiences.
• Technically proficient with virtual event platforms (Zoom, Webex, Hopin, etc.).