National Programme Officer

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

The focus of the Social and Human Sciences Sector (SHS) at UNESCO is to foster inclusive societies and ensure the ethical development of emerging technologies, including of Artificial Intelligence (AI). In November 2021, UNESCO’s Member States adopted the Recommendation on the Ethics of AI, a global standard aimed at leveraging the positive impact of AI while addressing its inherent risks. Getting AI governance right is one of the most consequential challenges of our time, and countries around the world are now in the process of implementing the Recommendation, with UNESCO supporting them through various capacity-building efforts.

• In addition, SHS strives to accomplish its fundamental humanist mission, which calls for enhancing the efforts against racism and discrimination, deploying the power of sports for social inclusion, promoting intercultural dialogue and supporting youth and women. SHS collaborates with Member States to advance UNESCO’s 2017 Recommendation on Science and Scientific Researchers, focusing on the protection of scientists and enhancing the science-policy nexus via the Management of Social Transformation (MOST) programme.
• Under the overall authority of the Assistant Director-General for the Social and Human Sciences’ Sector (ADG/SHS) and the direct supervision of the Head of the UNESCO Juba Office, the incumbent will contribute to the design, coordination and implementation of activities carried out under Major Programme III – Social and Human Sciences (SHS) in South Sudan in view of supporting the Member State in its effort to implement its National Development Plan (NDP) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and contribute to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union Agenda 2063. S/he will work within the frameworks of UNESCO’s Medium-Term Strategy (C/4s), the approved Programme and Budget (C/5) and according to global development plans such as the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• The incumbent shall work as part of the Interdisciplinary team in the UNESCO Office in Juba, collaborating with relevant stakeholders and with technical guidance from SHS Programme Divisions at UNESCO Headquarters and the Social and Human Sciences Programme Specialist at the Multisectoral Regional Office in Nairobi.

In this context, the incumbent will:

Programme and Project Support:

• Contribute technical inputs for the development, administration and implementation of programmes and projects reinforcing national capacities.
• Draft detailed work plans, task descriptions, budgets, and output indicators for projects. Identify areas for improved project alignment with UNESCO, national, regional and global social and human sciences’ goals (i.e. SDGs).
• Implement specific project activities within established work plans and document progress against predefined performance indicators.
• Carry out situational analysis, and compile data and inputs for concept notes, publications, briefings and documents for Field and HQ use.
• Provide substantive, logistical, and administrative support to projects, consultations, meetings, events and missions.
• Monitor, track and report on regular and extra budgetary project implementation and outputs within the Juba Office, including using relevant tools such as the Core Manager.
• Provide inputs for the preparation of methodological and other guides for implementation and evaluation for use within Juba Office and as a contribution to national capacity development.
• Prepare inputs to documents for the Governing Bodies (Executive Board and the General Conference) and reporting and ad hoc documents of concerned internal services to UNESCO and United Nations Country Teams (UNCTs), funds and programmes, donors and other external development partners.
• Act as lead worker for local support staff as relevant.

Research and Knowledge Management:

• Conduct research and analysis, and prepare data and inputs for documents, projects and proposals as well as conventional and on-line publications, visibility and public information materials, and social media and website content.
• Ensure knowledge management, websites and information systems are up to date and content is easily accessible to Field Office staff.
• Upload to automated systems (SharePoint) and other platforms the institutional memory of own office.
• Contribute inputs to the design of project progress and performance monitoring tools.
• Analyse best practices and current trends to contribute inputs to the knowledge base.

Partnership:

• Analyse and compile background data for potential partnerships and fundraising events and opportunities.
• Support Field Office and corporate communication by drafting and generating brochures, leaflets, social media content and other visual, online and written communication and information materials.
• Assist financial resource mobilization efforts by preparing specific inputs for the development of concept notes, and project and funding proposals on the basis of available situational analysis and needs assessments and in accordance with the C/5.
• Assist in planning and implementing outreach and visibility activities aimed at programme promotion and expansion.
• Draft inputs for the Field Office’s contribution to the UNSDCF, Common Country Assessment (CCA), Country Programme Document (CPD), Country Action Plan (CAP) and to other relevant national planning exercises.
• Liaise with colleagues within the Sector and in other Sectors, in own and other Field Offices, and Headquarters to discuss developments and opportunities.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in the field of social and human sciences, political sciences, international relations, or a related discipline.

Work Experience

• Minimum 2 (two) years of relevant professional experience in the field of social and human sciences, political sciences, international relations at the national or sub-regional level.
• Experience working in the implementation of national and/or sub-regional projects in the area of social and human sciences, fundraising and financial resource mobilisation and establishing and maintaining relations with donors.

Language

• Excellent knowledge of English.

Source: https://careers.unesco.org/job/Juba-National-Programme-Officer-(Social-and-Human-Sciences)/795741702/