Associate Project Officer (Culture)

The Associate Project Officer supports the implementation of projects aimed at strengthening the capacities of African States Parties to identify, prepare and advance World Heritage nominations and to reinforce the conservation and management of heritage sites. The role involves project planning, coordination, monitoring, reporting, and capacity-building activities focused on cultural and natural heritage conservation in Africa.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the implementation of projects supporting African States Parties in strengthening their institutional and technical capacities for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention, including three (3) projects funded by Oman, Japan and India.
• Support project planning, coordination, monitoring, reporting, budget follow-up and liaison with national authorities, experts, donors, UNESCO partners and other relevant stakeholders.
• Assist with the organisation and delivery of capacity reinforcement activities, including workshops, training sessions, expert missions and knowledge-sharing initiatives to strengthen the skills of national practitioners, heritage professionals, institutions and communities, with particular attention to women, youth and local stakeholders involved in heritage identification, conservation and management.
• Assist with supporting African States Parties and heritage stakeholders in strengthening their capacities to engage in World Heritage processes, including the preparation and revision of Tentative Lists, Preliminary Assessments, nomination-related processes and management frameworks, while ensuring that activities respond to national priorities and promote sustainable heritage practices.
• Contribute to the implementation of the Modern Heritage by supporting the development of conceptual frameworks and operational tools.
• Undertake administrative, financial and operational follow-up of project activities, including the preparation of contracts, monitoring tools, technical and financial reports, communication materials and visibility activities, while contributing to resource mobilization efforts and the overall strategy to strengthen the representation and conservation of African heritage on the World Heritage List.
• Support and provide advice to States Parties on the related projects and assist in the implementation of related International Assistance requests.

Requirements

• Advanced University Degree (Master’s or equivalent), preferably in the field of culture, heritage conservation and management, humanities, international relations, political science or a related field.
• A minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional experience in the field of conservation of natural and cultural heritage and related field, of which preferably at least one (1) year acquired at the international level.
• Experience in project management.
• Relevant experience in heritage conservation.
• 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 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.
• Excellent knowledge (written and spoken) of English or French and good knowledge of the other.
• Professional experience in the United Nations System or other international development organization(s) (desirable).
• Good knowledge of the World Heritage Convention (desirable).
• Knowledge of UNESCO's mandate in the field of culture, including its conventions and programmes (desirable).
• Knowledge of another/other official language(s) of UNESCO (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish) (desirable).

Skills

• Heritage Conservation
• Project Management
• Cultural heritage management
• Natural Heritage Conservation
• Workplan Development
• Project Coordination
• Project Monitoring
• Capacity Building
• Organizational Planning Skills
• Communications Skills
• IT Skills
• Knowledge of World Heritage Convention
• Knowledge of UNESCO Culture Mandate
• International Relations
• Report Writing

Languages

English, French