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 Womenโs Empowerment, taking place on June 2-3, 2025, in Dakar and online (hybrid format)
This high-level gathering will bring together key stakeholdersโincluding development partners, foundations, civil society, and the private sectorโto drive meaningful discussions and shape actionable solutions that will advance gender equality in the region.ย
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.ย
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 sessionsโboth 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.Consultantโs 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:
Please visitย this linkย for more information on UN Womenโs Values and Competencies Framework:ย
Functional Competencies:
Proven experience as an event host, MC, or moderatorโideally 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.). Strong organizational skills and the ability to adapt under pressure. Experience working with hybrid AV/production teams. Background in events, media, communications, or public speaking. Multilingual or multicultural communication skills. Knowledge of Gender Equality, Philanthropy and SDGs is desired.Education
Bachelorโs degree in communications, Event Management, Media Studies, Performing Arts, Public Relations, or a related field. Equivalent professional experience in lieu of formal education may be considered.Experience:
Minimum 5 years of experience in public speaking, event hosting, moderating panels, or similar roles. Demonstrated experience with hybrid or virtual events (e.g., webinars, live-streamed conferences). Proven ability to engage large and diverse audiences both in-person and online. Familiarity with event scripts, agendas, and live cue coordination. Comfortable working with technical production teams (audio/visual, streaming, lighting, etc.). Experience facilitating interactive discussions or Q&A sessions with speakers, panelists, and audiences.Languages:
Fluency in English and French are required
Statements :
In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment.
Diversity and inclusion:
At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates,ย and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age,ย ability, national origin,ย or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.
If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.
UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere toย UN Womenโsย policiesย and proceduresย andย theย standardsย of conduct expected of UN Women personnelย and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.)
Note: Applicants must ensure that all sections of the application form, including the sections on education and employment history, are completed. If all sections are not completed the application may be disqualified from the recruitment and selection process.
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