Project Officer (Culture)

OVERVIEW

Post Number : 4AFCLT0010PA

Grade : P-3

Parent Sector : Culture Sector (CLT)

Duty Station: Kabul

Job Family: Culture

Type of contract : Project Appointment

Duration of contract : 1 year

Recruitment open to : Internal and external candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 2-MAR-2021

 

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

 

Duration of contract: One (1) year with the possibility of an extension subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funds.

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

Committed to the Afghanistan Millennium Development Goals, National Development Strategy and Compact, the Afghanistan National Peace and Development Framework (ANPDF 2017-2021) and the UNESCO Country Strategy 2018-2021 for Afghanistan, UNESCO, as a specialized agency of the United Nations system, promotes education, science, culture, communication and access to information in order to foster peace through dialogue. UNESCO also strives to tackle poverty, strengthen sustainable development, uphold respect for diversity and human rights, build knowledge societies and media pluralism and work towards gender equality, thereby helping to bring about a more successful and prosperous Afghanistan.

 

Within this overall framework, UNESCO is currently engaged in a number of operational projects that aim at supporting the Afghan Government and its relevant national and local authorities to protect and promote the diverse cultural heritage and in doing so, to contribute to the social and economic development of the country. Three of such initiatives involve specific activities aimed at the sustainable and long-term protection and management of the two properties listed as World Heritage in Afghanistan, the Minaret and archaeological remains of Jam, The cultural landscape and archaeological remains of the Bamiyan Valley and “Silk Roads Heritage Corridors in Afghanistan, Central Asia and Iran – International Dimension of the European Year of Cultural Heritage”.

 

The Jam property, located in a remote mountainous area with limited accessibility was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2002 and simultaneously placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger. Since 2002, UNESCO has commissioned a number of reports on the Minaret of Jam, many of which containing relevant recommendations to its safeguard from both natural and human-induced hazards. A new project “Safeguarding the Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam, Afghanistan – Phase I” is currently being implemented, focusing on the overall protection, structural stability and monitoring of this unique property.

 

The Bamiyan property was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2003 and also placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger. Following several joint-initiatives between UNESCO and the Afghan authorities, a new project entitled “Sustainable Management of the Bamiyan World Heritage property - Preparing the removal of Bamiyan from the List of World Heritage in Danger” is now being implemented, aiming at ensuring sustainable development in Bamiyan through the establishment of a proper foundation for the protection and use of the World Heritage property, and for the removal of Bamiyan from the List of World Heritage in Danger. Furthermore, and although touching some tangible heritage aspects, the Silk Roads project is mainly focusing on the revival of some intangible heritage aspects of the Bamiyan Valley.

Long Description

Under the overall authority of the Director of the UNESCO Kabul Office and the direct supervision of the Programme Specialist and in consultation with the UNESCO World Heritage Centre (Paris), the Project Officer shall:

1. Manage the overall implementation and coordination of the three projects, ensuring the achievement of expected results, by:

• Preparing any project-related work plans;
• Providing inputs to procurement operations required;
• Supervising and coordinating all activities of staff, consultants and any other service providers, hired within the framework of the projects; 
• Liaising regularly with national and local Government authorities, donor representatives and other relevant national and international stakeholders. 

Long Description

2. Ensure the monitoring and evaluation of project implementation and the reporting on activities, by: 

• Conducting reviews, preparing periodic reports, briefings and other documents to be shared with the relevant Government authorities and the donors;
• Ensuring regular follow–ups on the implementation of contracts, providing technical input and review, and assessing the quality of services provided;
• Monitoring project activities and conducting updates of log frames, as required. 

 

3. Advise the relevant Afghan authorities on the safeguarding and management of cultural heritage in Afghanistan and the implementation of UNESCO’s standard-setting instruments, especially its cultural conventions, in consultation with the respective entities of the Culture Sector.

Long Description

4. Liaise closely with relevant stakeholders and participate in coordination meetings with other UN agencies, as appropriate, and the UNESCO World Heritage Centre to ensure that technical requirements for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention are maintained and the decisions of the World Heritage Committee are closely followed-up for the removal of the two endangered World Heritage properties from the List of World Heritage in Danger and strengthen other project outputs and build synergies with other UNESCO and UN programmes and activities.

5. Contribute to resource mobilization and the design and preparation of new projects/programmes addressing heritage conservation and management, culture and development in Afghanistan, as appropriate, in close consultation with the Culture Sector and the Bureau of Strategic Planning. 

6. Undertake missions as necessary for the projects’ implementation and carry out other activities as requested by the supervisor.

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial) Communication (C) Accountability (C) Innovation (C) Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C) Planning and organizing (C) Results focus (C) Teamwork (C) - For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

 

Education 

 

• Advanced University degree (Master’s or equivalent) in culture, cultural heritage-related field, including conservation architecture, archaeology and heritage management.

 

Work Experience 

 

• A minimum of 4 years of relevant professional experience in an heritage-related field. 

 

• Experience with coordinating heritage-related projects, including archaeological management and conservation, development of budget estimates and coordination of field work and personnel.

 

Skills & Competencies

 

• Sound knowledge of UNESCO mission, strategies and standard-setting instruments.
• Leading and supervising skills.
• Analytical, priority-setting, problem-solving and implementation skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish effective working relationships, both within and outside the Organization.
• Excellent writing skills and ability to develop reports, briefings and project proposals.
• Good IT skills, knowledge of standard office software (word processing, spreadsheets). 

 

Languages

 

• Excellent knowledge of the English language (both written and spoken).

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

 

Work Experience 

 

• Relevant experience in Afghanistan and/or working on a UNESCO project in a post-conflict context.
• Relevant professional experience at the international level.
• Previous experience in a conflict/post-conflict context.

 

Skills & Competencies

 

• Excellent knowledge of the 1972 Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, especially of the State of Conservation process. 

Languages

 

• Knowledge of another UNESCO official languages (Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish).

BENEFITS AND ENTITLEMENTS

UNESCO’s salaries consist of a basic salary and other benefits which may include if applicable: 30 days annual leave, family allowance, medical insurance, pension plan etc.

 

For more information in benefits and entitlements, please consult ICSC website.

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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