OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

Under the overall authority of the Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences (ADG/SHS), guidance from the Director for Social Policies and supervision of the Chief of the Section for Management of Social Transformations and Foresight, the Associate Programme Specialist will contribute to the overall success of UNESCO’s Management of Social Transformation programme (MOST). The Associate Programme Specialist, based at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, works within the frameworks of UNESCO’s Medium-Term Strategy (C/4), the approved Programme and Budget (C/5), and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The incumbent will play a crucial role in analysing global trends and policies related to social justice, and will provide valuable insights and recommendations to advance the goals of the MOST programme, including its work on social issues, philosophy and the humanities. Concretely, the Associate Programme Specialist shall undertake the following duties and responsibilities:

Long Description

Programme and Project Support:

• Contribute to the implementation of the MOST Comprehensive Strategy 2022-2029 and its Plan of Action, with particular focus on the humanities workstream and on reduction of inequalities.
• Provide support and coordinate the work of the Secretariat of the MOST programme through the monitoring, assessing and updating of its Plan of Action in the assigned areas of work, producing reports, as well as preparing consultations, MOST Intergovernmental Council (IGC) sessions, and MOST Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) meetings.
• Establish synergies between MOST’s cooperation with La Caixa Foundation, the Bridges coalition and UNESCO Small Island Developing States (SIDS) priority in view of strengthening the contributions of social and human sciences to the agenda of just climate transition.
• Support the coordination of the UNESCO prizes attached to MOST in the area of social and human science research.
• Assist with communication and advocacy within MOST Programme at the international, regional and national levels, including the drafting of high-level speeches and talking points.

Research and Knowledge Management:

• Support conceptualization and development of high-impact, policy-oriented and multi-disciplinary knowledge products under MOST on the intersectionality of inequalities, including through the dimensions of social, economic, digital, spatial, environmental and knowledge divides.
• Contribute to the organization, running and follow-up on knowledge/policy seminars and forums, policy-relevant debates and capacity-building activities benefiting both research and policy actors.
• Support the enhancement of integrated social and human science analytical frameworks and innovative methodologies to improve understanding of the complex interaction contributing to different societal trends, pursuing synergies with UNESCO prizes attached to MOST section and their work.
• Invest in personal and professional learning with respect to contemporary research in social and human sciences, maintaining personal knowledge and expertise.
• Seek, exchange, obtain and clarify input and information from other SHS Sections and from Members States.
• Contribute to documenting and maintaining the digital and shared institutional memory of the MOST programme.
• Draft technical and policy documents for consideration of the Section for Management of Social Transformation, as well as policy briefs, peer reviewed publications, meeting materials and other communications aimed to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Organize the UNESCO activities linked to philosophy and the humanities.

Partnerships:

• Establish and maintain professional contacts with relevant external actors and stakeholders.
• Research and identify potential partnerships and fundraising events, dialogues and other opportunities.
• Assist in resource mobilization for programmes and projects.
• Prepare briefings, statements, presentations, and reports.
• Support collaborative activities related to partnerships for colleagues at Headquarters, Field Offices and other Sectors.

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in the social and human sciences or related discipline.

Work Experience

• Minimum two years of progressive relevant professional experience in the area of the social and human sciences, inclusive development, multi-disciplinary research and knowledge production or related field.
• Experience liaising and collaborating with stakeholders.

Skills and competencies

• Capacity to build and maintain effective working relations with national/local authorities, relevant institutions, and intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations, including through networking.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, in particular the ability to collect, synthesize and analyze information from various sources and on this basis, draft working and information documents in a clear and concise manner.
• Capability to provide quality and timely support and services.
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to work in a multicultural team with sensitivity and respect for diversity.
• Good IT skills, including knowledge of standard office software.

Languages

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

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Work Experience

• Demonstrated experience in international cooperation programmes.
• Work experience on building knowledge-policy nexus, with particular focus on the supporting social sciences, philosophy and humanities’ contributions.
• Relevant international experience.

Skills and competencies

• Familiarity with the work and general functioning of international organizations, the United Nations System or multilateral institutions/organization settings.

Languages

• Knowledge of another official language of UNESCO (Arabic, Chinese, Russian and/or Spanish)