Project Officer

Under the overall authority of the Assistant Director-General for Culture (ADG/CLT), the general supervision of the Director of the World Heritage Centre (DIR/WH), and the direct supervision of the Head of the Natural Heritage Unit of the World Heritage Centre (WHC/NHU), the incumbent shall be responsible for coordinating the Rapid Response Facility (RRF) project and provide technical support for the implementation of activities related to Natural Heritage in Africa . The incumbent shall also provide technical support in the further development of high-quality data, tools, and methodologies for the monitoring of the state of conservation of World Heritage sites.

In particular, the incumbent shall:

• Coordinate, monitor, provide inputs and finalize contributions to the overall implementation of the Rapid Response Facility (RRF), including technical support in the review of RRF grant applications in consultation with relevant experts and UNESCO field offices, the preparation of administrative and contractual arrangements with programme partners, and support to communication and outreach activities of the facility.
• Coordinate the overall implementation and provide technical support for the implementation of activities related to Natural Heritage, including design, development, implementation and monitoring of programmes and project activities focusing on priority areas related to biodiversity issues in Africa.
• Lead the preparation of capacity-building workshops, training material, policy briefs and data collection in coordination with relevant partners, including the Advisory Bodies to the World Heritage Committee and UNESCO networks.
• Contribute to the coordination and production of high-quality data, tools, and methodologies to support the implementation of the World Heritage Convention and the protection of World Heritage sites; support the publication and dissemination of guidelines and other policy and capacity development materials, documents, and technical products to enhance knowledge sharing within UNESCO networks.
• Contribute to the application and development of data and information management systems, notably on the use of geospatial data to support the implementation of activities related to the work programme of the Unit.
• Contribute to the resource mobilization of the Unit, engaging proactively in the drafting and presentation of new proposals for voluntary contributions as well as in the management of voluntary contributions-funded projects with particular focus on freshwater, marine and coastal ecosystems, climate change and biodiversity in collaboration with other UNESCO Sectors.
• Support communication and outreach activities of the Unit. Prepare monitoring and progress reports in accordance with UNESCO’s and donor’s requirements.
• Provide support to the Head of Unit for the monitoring and reporting on the activities by providing assistance on the gathering of information, the updating of the projects database. 

Required Qualifications:

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in environmental sciences or related field.

Work experience:

• Minimum of 4 (four) years of relevant professional experience in the areas of environmental sciences research and education, of which preferably 2 (two) years acquired at international level.
• Demonstrated professional experience in proposal writing, resource mobilisation and partnership building.
• Relevant experience in implementing projects on natural heritage notably in developing countries.

Languages:

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

Source: https://careers.unesco.org/job/Paris-Project-Officer-(Culture-Natural-Heritage)/815578302/