Associate Project Officer

Under the overall authority of the Assistant Director-General for Culture, the general supervision of the Director of World Heritage (DIR/WH), and the direct supervision of the Head of the Africa Unit of the World Heritage Centre (WHC/AFR), the incumbent shall exercise the function of Associate Project Officer and will be responsible for the coordination of the 22 projects of the Africa Unit, financed by Norway contribution to World Heritage in Africa in collaboration with the other Unit’s Staff and the Natural Heritage Unit (NHU) colleagues, and will be responsible for the planning, coordination, development and implementation of the following specific projects:

Design the State of Conservation for the removal of sites from the List in danger and make proposals for long-term conservation.

Pilot project for Lake Ounianga (Chad), on Indigenous knowledge system to support conservation and improve local communities’ well-being

Capacity building activities on risk management.

Assist in the statutory work in cooperation with the African States Parties from Western and Central Africa, the African World Heritage Fund, the UNESCO Field Offices in Africa, and the Advisory Bodies.

Contribute to the fundraising strategy established by the Culture sector to support World Heritage activities in Africa.

In particular, s/he will be responsible for:

• Organisation of capacity building activities such as training awareness raising in consultation with the relevant partners and African States Parties for the removal of sites from the World Heritage list in danger and implementing activities aimed to improve the conservation and management of sites with the involvement of communities living around the properties.
• Coordination of the 22 projects of the Africa Unit financed by Norway’s contribution to World Heritage in Africa in collaboration with the other Unit’s Staff and the Natural Heritage Unit (NHU) colleagues and ensuring a regular follow-up, reporting to the donor, preparing briefings and communication material for web news.
• Piloting project for Lake Ounianga (Chad): joint proposal with the UNESCO Science Sector on Indigenous knowledge system to support conservation and improve local communities’ well-being and organizing capacity-building activities in collaboration with universities and learning institutions which developed curricula on Rock art conservation.
• Organisation of capacity building activities on risk management, strengthening the capacities of World Heritage Sites management in several States Parties by enhancing the effectiveness of the management and protection mechanism of their sites, in collaboration with ICCROM, the AWHF and EPA and assisting the site managers and the resource persons to monitor and guide the preparation and submission of the first draft of their risk management plan, following a 5-day practical field workshop,
• Drafting the State of Conservation reports and other related documents for the implementation of the World Heritage Committee decisions, in cooperation with the African States Parties from Western and Central Africa, the African World Heritage Fund, the UNESCO Field Offices in Africa, and the Advisory Bodies
• Carrying out reactive monitoring and advisory missions, assisting in the implementation of International Assistance, and participating in statutory meetings.

Required Qualifications:

Education:

• Advanced University Degree (Masters or equivalent) in the field of culture, heritage conservation and management, or a related field.

Work Experience:

• A minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional experience in the field of conservation of natural and cultural heritage, and related fields of which preferably at least one (1) year acquired at the international level.

Skills And Competencies:

• Strong planning and organizational skills; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor own work plan; ability to meet tight deadlines as well as flexibility to adjust work schedules and priorities.
• Ability to develop clear goals that are consistent with agreed procedures.
• Strong organizational and communication skills, both oral and written.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a team and maintain effective working relationships with people of different nationalities and cultural backgrounds.
• Good IT skills.

Languages:

• Excellent knowledge of English (written and spoken) or French and good knowledge of the other.

Source:  https://careers.unesco.org/job/Paris-Associate-Project-Officer-(Culture)/790618602/