UN Women: Artistic Photographer, Tirane Albania, Consultant Contract (Retainer)

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. UN Women Albania is currently implementing its Strategic Note (SN) 2022-2026 which aims to ensure that “All Women and girls enjoy and exercise their human rights in a gender equal society and meaningfully contribute to Albania’s sustainable and inclusive socio-economic development and EU integration”. Across its interventions, UN Women Albania, 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. Under the overall supervision of the Communications Specialist, and in close coordination with UN Women Communications team, the Artistic Photographer will be engaged on an assignment basis to provide professional photography services in Ukraine in support of UN Women communications priorities. The selected candidate is expected to work on UN Women assignments to capture high-quality, ethical, and compelling photographs of women and girls in humanitarian and crisis-affected settings. Assignments may include, but are not limited to, documenting programme activities with special focus on humanitarian settings, field missions, advocacy initiatives, community-based interventions, and high-level visits, in line with UN Women’s mandate, UN Women’s programme priorities in the country. The assignment may involve travel to field locations, subject to security clearance and operational requirements. The Creative Photographer is expected to work independently while maintaining regular communication with UN Women throughout the assignment period. All photographs produced under this engagement will be the property of UN Women, and usage rights will be governed by UN Women policies and contractual agreements. UN Women should have the option to purchase and obtain the right to use pre-existing photographs from the Creative Photographer’s portfolio, where relevant and appropriate. Such materials may be acquired subject to mutual agreement on usage rights, licensing terms, and compliance with UN Women’s ethical standards, safeguarding principles, and visibility guidelines. Description of Responsibilities/ Scope of Work Undertake photography assignments in the field, ensuring respectful, dignified, and rights-based visual representation of women and girls. Adhere strictly to UN Women’s ethical guidelines, safeguarding principles, consent protocols, and branding and visibility standards. Coordinate closely with UN Women communications focal points to understand assignment objectives, key messages, and deliverables. Deliver edited, publication-ready photographs within agreed timelines and technical specifications, suitable for use across digital platforms, publications, reports, and archival purposes. Ensure that the final image files are in the agreed formats (e.g. high-resolution JPEG/TIFF and web-optimized versions), properly captioned and tagged where required, and submitted within the agreed timeframe for each assignment. Ensure that all visual materials align with UN Women’s values, do no harm principles, and security considerations, particularly in sensitive or high-risk environments. Deliverables The consultant will be responsible for producing the following deliverables: Digital Photography Outputs A curated set of digital high-resolution, professionally edited photographs per assignment, capturing women and girls as direct beneficiaries across our areas of intervention, as well as UN Women programme activities, advocacy initiatives, and field missions, as applicable. Images suitable for use across UN Women digital platforms, publications, reports, social media, and archival purposes. Up to a mutually agreed number of minor revisions to selected photographs, where required, to ensure alignment with assignment objectives and UN Women branding standards. Pre-Existing Photography (Where Applicable) A selection of relevant pre-existing photographs from the photographer’s portfolio, made available for review and potential purchase by UN Women, subject to agreed usage rights and licensing terms. Captions and Metadata Accompanying captions and basic metadata for each image, including location, date, context, in line with UN Women visibility and communications guidelines. Consultant’s Workplace and Official Travel This is a home-based consultancy. The assignment does not require continuous presence at UN Women premises; all coordination will be conducted remotely, in close collaboration with UN Women’s communications team. Official travel in the country may be required, as per the assignments and in consultation with UN Women. 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: Demonstrates strong visual storytelling skills, mastery of composition, lighting, and narrative framing relevant to social change, gender equality, and human-interest documentation. Applies a nuanced understanding of local contexts, social norms, and gender dynamics when capturing images and interacting with subjects. Ensures respectful engagement, informed consent, confidentiality, and adherence to UN ethical standards in all interactions and photographic practices. Maintain high-quality delivery under challenging circumstances, including travel to diverse environments, changing field conditions, and tight timelines. Collaborates effectively with community members, CSOs, UN Women teams, and local partners to identify stories and ensure accurate representation. Ability to deliver high-quality results under tight deadlines. Education and Certification: Bachelor’s degree in photography, visual arts, media studies, communications, journalism, or a related field is required. Formal training or certification in photography, visual communication, media production, or a related field is an asset. A Master’s degree in arts, media, communications, or a related discipline would be an asset. Experience: At least 7 years of proven experience in documentary or photojournalistic projects, preferably focused on human rights, gender equality, or social issues. Demonstrated experience with international organizations or media outlets. Provide online link of portfolio of professional experience and photographs related to this call. Languages: Fluency in Albanian and English is 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, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, 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 to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel 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. Apply To This Job