Photojournalist (Retainer) - Home based with field visits in Gaza

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. Placing women’s rights at the centre of all its efforts, the UN Women leads and coordinates the United Nations system efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world. It provides strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States’ priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors. 

UN Women’s triple mandate, along with its global network and deep policy and programming expertise, continues to endow the Entity with a unique capacity to: (i) support Member States to strengthen global norms and standards for gender equality and women’s empowerment, and mainstream gender perspectives in other thematic areas; (ii) promote coordination and coherence across the UN system to enhance accountability and results for gender equality and women’s empowerment; and (iii) undertake operational activities to support Member States, upon their request, in translating global norms and standards into legislation, policies and strategies at country level. 

UN Women plays an innovative and catalytic role in the State of Palestine since its inception in 1997 (as UNIFEM). In line with the national priorities, the work of UN Women for the period 2023-2025 is aligned with three of the Palestine United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework’s (UNSDCF) outcomes:

•            Palestinians have greater access to economic opportunities that are inclusive, resilient, and sustainable, including decent employment and livelihoods opportunities in an empowered private sector.

•            Palestinians, including the most vulnerable, have equal access to sustainable, inclusive, gender responsive and quality social services, social protection, and affordable utilities.

•            Palestinian governance institutions, processes, and mechanisms at all levels are more democratic, rights-based, inclusive, and accountable.

Its three-year Strategic Note supports the efforts to achieve measurable results in country in terms of four UN Women global Strategic Plan impacts (2022-2025): (SP Impact 1). Governance and participation in public life; (SP Impact 2). Women’s Economic Empowerment; (SP Impact 3). Ending Violence Against Women and Girls and; SP Impact 4. Women peace and security, Humanitarian & Disaster Risk Reduction. 

As catalysts for change, communication, media and advocacy together constitute an essential strategy to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment, as well as diffuse and protect women’s rights. They offer tools to address the disparities women and girls face, to give voice to misrepresented and marginalised communities and groups to promote information exchange, change social attitudes, assist in the development of better public policies and aid programming, and to ensure accountability of decision-making and duty-bearers. Through its mandate, UN Women has a clear responsibility in communicating on and advocating for women’s human rights and empowerment.

UN Women Palestine is seeking a professional photojournalist to document events related to women in Gaza comprehensively. This role will involve capturing photos and videos that highlight women's diverse experiences, showcasing their strength, resilience, and the unique challenges they face in the current socio-political landscape.

The photojournalist will be responsible for:

• Event Coverage: Attending and documenting various events, workshops, and initiatives focusing on women's empowerment and rights in Gaza. This includes capturing moments that reflect the community's spirit and the ongoing efforts to support women and girls.
• Story Development: Creating compelling narratives through visual storytelling that convey the personal experiences of women in Gaza. This could involve interviews, candid moments, and the portrayal of everyday life, illustrating both struggles and triumphs.
• Content Creation: Produce high-quality photos and videos tailored to the program's needs, including thematic campaigns, awareness initiatives, and special projects. The content will be designed to resonate with diverse audiences and promote engagement on social media.
• Adaptability: Flexibly responding to the evolving needs of the program, ensuring timely coverage of events or urgent topics that arise, and maintaining a keen understanding of the cultural and social context of the communities