Project Officer

OVERVIEW

Parent Sector : Natural Sciences Sector (SC)

Duty Station: Paris

Job Family: Natural Sciences

Type of contract : Non Staff (Service Contract)

Level : Level 4

Recruitment open to : External candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 16 Sep 2024

Duration of contract : 1 year (renewable for a second year, pending satisfactory performance and funds availability)

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

Background

Within the framework of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP) IX Phase and in line with the activities of the Section on Capacity Development and Water Family Coordination (SC/HYD/CDW), the Division of Water Sciences (SC/HYD) of UNESCO is jointly co-coordinating the United Nations Water (UN-Water) SDG 6 Capacity Development Initiative (CDI)  with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA).

Within this context, UNESCO is hiring  a Project Officer who will support  SC/HYD/CDW  and the Division of Water Sciences with the planning, organization, execution and reporting of a series of activities related to CDI including, but not limited to, the identification of the pilot countries for CDI, stakeholder’s identifications, workshop organizations, gaps assessment, capacity development plan and key performance indicator (KPIs) design and implementation, as well as high level follow up and evaluation.  

Under the overall supervision of the Director of the Division Water Sciences (HYD), direct supervision of the Chief of Section on Capacity Development and Water Family Coordination (CDW), the Project Officer will carry out the following duties:

Tasks and deliverables

Tasks and deliverables:

• Support the general coordination at UNESCO, through the Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP), of the UN-Water SDG 6 Capacity Development Initiative (CDI).
• Permanently liaise with UN DESA (as co-coordinator of the CDI together with UNESCO), the UN-Water Technical Advisory Unit (UN-Water TAU), and the IHE Delft Institute for Water Education in the Netherlands.
• Ensure frequent and transparent communication with the CDI membership and inclusive, inter-sectoral implementation of the CDI activities together with CDI members, government counterparts, UN Resident Coordinator and Country Teams and other relevant  stakeholders.
• Prepare communications and documents to be presented at UN-Water Meetings, at sessions of the Intergovernmental IHP Council and Bureau, as well as at other relevant meetings and events.
• Coordinate the call, preparation, implementation, reporting and follow-up to regular and ad hoc meetings of the CDI coordination team (UN DESA and UNESCO, UN-Water TAU, and also IHE Delft), and of the members of the CDI (including other UN-Water Members and Partners).
• Provide technical support and coordinate the participation as well as engagement and presentation of the CDI at relevant upcoming events, including the organization of technical meetings, and prepare the corresponding reports and documents.
• Draft formal communications and take care of the technical communications regarding the CDI. Support the identification, engagement of the CDI, and design as well as implementation of initial actions of the CDI in pilot countries, including as necessary drafting documents for the engagement of consultants, undertaking missions, organizing workshops, communicating with CDI members and national counterparts.

• Coordinate the technical communication with the counterparts of the Government of Spain, as first donor to support the coordination and implementation of the CDI.
• Contact potential additional donors and support the mobilization of additional resources and fundraising for the CDI.
• Prepare timelines and workplans, including budgeting and responsibilities, as well as other documents and inputs about the CDI, as requested by the IHP Secretariat.
• Conduct Mapping Exercise Survey of UN-Water family’s capacity development resources.
• Maintain and develop a database of capacity development resources and expertise of all CDI Members and concerned stakeholders.
• Ensure continuous contact with Countries interested or involved in the CDI.
• Draft technical and background documents and concept notes.
• Prepare a costed workplan and create a monitoring strategy.

Possible additional elements:

• Provide technical inputs for the creation of a website (Development of CDI Learning Platform) and other communication and dissemination materials for the CDI, including through a mapping of the capacity development offered from UN-Water Members and Partners to Member States.
• Provide project management support to other projects and activities the section implements, in the areas of Thematic Areas of Ecohydrology, Water Quality and Water Education.

During the assignment period, the Project Officer/Manager shall work full-time at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Project Management, International Collaboration, Capacity Development or a similar topic.

Work Experience

• Minimum 5 (five) years of relevant working experience in project management, with at least 3 (three) years in an international setting.
• Proven experience to prepare and monitor workplans and budgets.
• Proven experience in conceptualizing and drafting reports and concept notes.

Skills/Competencies

• Excellent project management and coordination skills.
• Ability to maintain effective working relations within a multicultural environment.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including ability to draft, edit and produce reports on relevant issues.
• Strong IT skills, including with Microsoft Office software.
• Ability to use project management software.

Language

• Excellent knowledge of English and/or French and good knowledge of the other language.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Work Experience

• Previous working experience with UNESCO would be an asset.
• Familiarity with development and water issues would be an asset.

Language

• Knowledge of another UN official language (Arabic, French, Russian, Spanish) would be an asset.

ASSESSMENT

An assessment exercise may be used in the evaluation of candidates

BENEFITS AND ENTITLEMENTS

(Only candidates’ resident in France with a valid work permit, or nationals from the European Union, may apply for this post)

The remuneration paid to the service contract (SC) holder is not exempt from any income taxes which may be levied by the French tax authorities. The SC Holder is affiliated to the French social security scheme (Régime général de la sécurité sociale et des prestations familiales). Consequently, the employees’ social contributions to this scheme will be deducted from the gross remuneration paid by the Organization. UNESCO is not subject to the French unemployment scheme (UNEDIC – Pôle Emploi) and complementary retirement schemes (Retraite complémentaire Agirc/Arrco).

Please note that UNESCO is a no-smoking Organization.

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

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