Result of Service

The photographer’s services will be considered satisfactory upon delivery of high-quality, professionally edited photographic outputs that accurately document UN events, field visits, programme activities, and official engagements in line with the Terms of Reference. Outputs shall demonstrate technical quality, relevance to the assignment brief, a balanced range of images, timely submission, and full compliance with UN branding, ethical, consent, confidentiality, and metadata requirements. Final acceptance of services will be based on the completeness and quality of each assignment package, including edited high-resolution and web-ready images, captions, and any requested event/photo reports, as reviewed and approved by the RCO Communications Unit. Deliverables will include, but not be limited to:

Edited, high-resolution photo sets per assignment
Captioned image packages aligned with UN communication standards
Event/photo reports (if requested) Indicative Rates (to be proposed by consultant):
One hour rate
Half-day rate (up to 4 hours)
Full-day rate (up to 8 hours)

Work Location

Turkmenistan

Expected duration

6 months

Duties and Responsibilities

Turkmenistan has been a member of the United Nations since 2 March 1992. The UN system supports national development priorities aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through joint programming under the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2026–2030. The UN Resident Coordinator’s Office leads strategic communications and advocacy efforts to ensure visibility of UN results and partnerships. High-quality photography is essential to enhance storytelling, media outreach, reporting, and digital engagement. Under the overall guidance of the Head of RCO and direct supervision of the RCO Communications Unit, the photographer will: A. Pre-Shoot Preparation

Review assignment briefs and agree on visual approach and shot list
Coordinate logistics, timing, and location access with RCO focal points
Ensure readiness of equipment for indoor and outdoor shooting conditions B. Photography Services
Capture high-quality professional photographs at: o UN events, meetings, and field visits o High-level visits and official ceremonies o Programme activities and human-interest stories
Ensure a mix of: o Action shots, portraits, contextual images, and wide shots
Follow UN ethical standards (including consent and dignity of subjects) C. Post-Production
Edit, colour-correct, and optimise images for: o Web and social media o Print and reports
Deliver curated photo sets per assignment with captions and metadata D. Delivery and Archiving
Submit selected high-resolution and web-ready images within agreed timelines (typically 24–72 hours)
Ensure proper file naming, cataloguing, and archiving standards E. Compliance
Ensure all images comply with UN branding, visibility, and consent requirements
Respect confidentiality and sensitive content guidelines

Qualifications/special skills

High school diploma or equivalent is required. Bachelor's degree in communication, journalism, international relations or related area is desirable. At least 10 years of relevant experience including experience photography and photo editing is required. Experience in producing human centred and documentary style content is desirable. Experience producing content for digital and social media platforms is desirable. Ability to work with sensitivity to context, reputational considerations, and clearance requirements is required.

Languages

Fluency in Turkmen and Russian languages is required. Knowledge of English language is desirable.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

Photographer for the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office