Consultant (Documentary Heritage Unit)
JOB DETAIL
OVERVIEW
Parent Sector : Communication and Information Sector (CI)
Duty Station: Paris
Job Family: Communication and Information
Type of contract : Non Staff
Duration of contract : From 7 to 11 months
Recruitment open to : External candidates
Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 15-AUG-2023
UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism
OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST
The Communication and Information Sector’s mission is to promote freedom of expression, media development and media literate societies, and to build knowledge societies through fostering universal access to information, innovation for sustainable development and the preservation of documentary heritage. (The role of this vacant position does not include responsibility for UNESCO’s wider external communications, which is managed by the Division for Communications and Public Engagement).
The UNESCO Memory of the World (MoW) Programme is implementing the 36-month extrabudgetary project “Consolidating the Gains in Policy Development and Capacity Building for the Preservation and Accessibility of Documentary Heritage” (hereafter referred to as “project”) supported by Japanese Funds-in-Trust (JFIT), which aims to:
- Follow up and further promote policy advocacy and awareness-raising on disaster risk reduction and management for preservation of documentary heritage through global partnerships, so that policymakers and memory institutions have further developed policies and strategies on preservation, access and awareness.
- Strengthen building capacity of memory institutions especially in LDCs, SIDS, Africa and Asia and the Pacific to enhance knowledge of and techniques about sustainable preservation of, and access to documentary heritage, with a specific focus on disaster risk reduction and management.
Under the overall authority of the Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, and the direct supervision of the Head of the Unit for Documentary Heritage, the consultant shall, in close cooperation and collaboration with the Documentary Heritage Unit and the Junior Professional Officer concerned, provide implementation and global communication support for the project. In particular, the consultant shall:
Long Description
I. Assist in organizing the 4th MoW Global Policy Forum planned in 2024, including assisting in identifying the speakers of the Forum, developing the agenda of the Forum, call for participants, liaising/communicating with the speakers, external stakeholders and participants of the Forum, coordination with relevant sections/units in UNESCO.
II. Facilitate the implementation of the findings/outcomes of the global survey of the national MoW committees around the world which was initiated by the MoW Programme in 2022, including more specifically by:
a) Coordinating with identified national MoW committees in order to address their needs;
b) Reaching out to Member States where no national committees exist in order to provide them with support for possible establishment of such committees;
c) Liaising with the MoW Programme Secretariat to ensure that all particulars of national MoW committees are reflected on the revamped MoW website.
Long Description
III. Draft a communication strategy for the project, in full cooperation with the CPE focal point for the CI Sector, Regularly review and update it as needed; provide new ideas and suggestions on how to enhance visibility and outreach. It will include:
a) Drafting press releases, news items, content for project web page (both texts and visuals) for UNESCO’s website, email campaigns and social media content in full cooperation with CI/EO.
IV. Draft an annual narrative progress report of the project in English by December 2023 according to designated UNESCO template to be presented at the annual donor meeting.
V. Finalize and follow up on the action steps presented in the annual project report for all the immediate stakeholders and the larger public, based on the above item IV annual narrative progress report of the project by March 2024. It will include:
a) Proposing a structure for the report, a method for its elaboration including identifying possible contributors, identifying images and creating tables and charts to insert in the report, a timeline from planning until dissemination of the report. Propose as well, a communication plan for its eventual dissemination.
b) Liaising with UNESCO colleagues in charge of implementation of the activities, production, design and printing of the report, web edition, translation in French and Spanish, and external communication for dissemination of the report.
Long Description
VI. Assist in supporting the implementation of the activities planned in the project document as well as for emerging initiatives in the MoW-JFIT framework.
VII. Use the network of partners established as part of the implementation of this project to identify memory institutions that may be encouraged to apply for grants within the framework of the new MoW Programme global initiative to safeguard documentary heritage at risk in Least Developed Countries and SIDS.
DELIVERABLES
- Monthly report on the activities undertaken and progress of the work carried out as part of the contract.
- Annual narrative progress report of the project for the donor to be submitted by December 2023 (Item IV).
- Annual project report submitted by March 2024 (item V).
COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)
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REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education
- Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in the field of information, communication, archival science, records management, or related discipline including history, archeology, sociology, heritage studies.
Work Experience
- A minimum of 2 years relevant professional work experience in project implementation in the field of cultural heritage, archives or library science, of which preferably at least 1 year at the international level.
- Experience in organizing international conferences.
- Experience in developing and implementing communication outreach strategy of a project at international level.
Skills/Competencies
- Excellent organizational, coordination and interpersonal skills.
- Very good analytical, drafting and editing skills in English with the ability to produce quality reports, news items etc.
- Proven expertise in writing in English concise reports, documents for international organizations.
- Good analytical skills with ability to undertake research including the collection and synthesis of information from various sources.
- Proven ability to work effectively in a team and maintain effective working relations in a multicultural environment.
- Proven ability to communicate, advocate, and exchange with colleagues, staff and stakeholders within and outside the Organization.
- Excellent IT skills. Knowledge of graphic design softwares (canva, in-design, etc.).
Languages
- Excellent knowledge of English and good knowledge of French.
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Work Experience
- Experience with the United Nations System or in an international development cooperation.
- Relevant professional experience in UNESCO’s programmes and/or normative tools in the field of communication and information.
- Experience in documentary heritage preservation projects.
Skills/Competencies
- Familiarity with the Memory of the World Programme, including the 2015 Recommendation Concerning the Preservation of, and Access to, Documentary Heritage Including in Digital Form.
Languages
- Knowledge of Spanish and/or Arabic.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Interested candidates should complete the on-line application, download and complete the Employment History form (Word file). At the end of the Word file, insert extra pages with the following required information:
Part 1: Technical Proposal:
- an up-to-date curriculum vitae;
- a statement indicating how their qualifications and experience make them suitable for the assignment;
- an indication of the approach (methodology, detailed workplan) he/she would adopt to carry out the assignment; including any inputs that may be required from UNESCO;
- list of relevant publications, if any. Provide link or URL to view online.
Part 2: Financial Proposal:
- A competitive fee for the assignment, which should be quoted in EUR (or USD) and expressed on a monthly basis (with maximum amount of 3,100EUR per month) – the overall cost of the assignment, expressed as an overall lump-sum.
Additional Information:
- The selected candidate will work remotely. No travel supported.
- This consultancy is for a period of 11 months.
- Estimated contract dates from August 2023 to July 2024.
Application should be submitted in just one file with all the documents required (pdf format) to be uploaded in the application section ‘Employment History Form”. Only applications providing the information requested under the application procedure will be considered.
SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS
Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information. To apply, please visit the UNESCO careers website. No modifications can be made to the application submitted.
The evaluation of candidates is based on the criteria in the vacancy notice, and may include tests and/or assessments, as well as a competency-based interview.
UNESCO uses communication technologies such as video or teleconference, e-mail correspondence, etc. for the assessment and evaluation of candidates.
Please note that only selected candidates will be further contacted and candidates in the final selection step will be subject to reference checks based on the information provided.
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UNESCO recalls that paramount consideration in the appointment of staff members shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, technical competence and integrity. UNESCO applies a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of harassment. UNESCO is committed to achieving and sustaining equitable and diverse geographical distribution, as well as gender parity among its staff members in all categories and at all grades. Furthermore, UNESCO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Candidates from non- and under-represented Member States (last update here) are particularly welcome and strongly encouraged to apply. Individuals from minority groups and indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality. Worldwide mobility is required for staff members appointed to international posts.
UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.
