OVERVIEW

Parent Sector : Communication and Information Sector (CI)

Duty Station: Paris

Job Family: Communication and Information

Type of contract : Affiliated personnel

Duration of contract : From 7 to 11 months

Recruitment open to : External candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 22-MAR-2026

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

The Communication and Information Sector’s mission is to promote freedom of expression, media development and media literate societies, and to build knowledge societies through fostering universal access to information, innovation for sustainable development and the preservation of documentary heritage. (The role of this vacant position does not include responsibility for UNESCO's wider external communications, which is managed by the Division for Communications and Public Engagement.)

The Memory of the World (MoW) Programme was set up in 1992 in order to preserve documentary heritage, in addition to promoting its identification and accessibility by the public. Its Secretariat is based in the Documentary Heritage Unit (DHE), set up in 2020 to manage the MoW Programme. The Unit is located in the Division for Digital Inclusion, Policies and Transformation in the Communication and Information Sector.

Long Description

Work assignment:

Under the overall authority of the Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, the direct supervision of the Head of the Documentary Heritage Unit, and in close cooperation with the Associate Programme Specialist concerned, the Individual Consultant shall support the implementation and monitoring of activities pertaining to documentary heritage. In particular, the consultant shall:

I. Coordinate activities under initiatives funded by the Republic of Korea, including the follow-up to the "Support to the Amadou Hampaté Bâ Foundation for Enhanced Preservation and Accessibility of its Collections," the current edition of the UNESCO/Jikji Memory of the World Prize, and other collaborative efforts with the International Centre for Documentary Heritage (ICDH). This includes by:

a) liaising with UNESCO responsible officers and project beneficiaries, following-up on implementation and providing technical backstopping when necessary;
b) reviewing and refining activities and proposing to adjust programmatic and financial plans as needed;
c) collecting information on the implementation of the initiatives and producing reports, analytical and briefing notes, and generating high visibility materials on the undertakings;
d) liaising with the authorities of Republic of Korea, as needed, and ensuring fluid communication on project implementation and results.

II. Contribute to the work on digital heritage, including software source code, in partnership with the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (KISTI) and French National Institute for Research in Computer Science (Inria). This includes supporting the organization of the Software Heritage Symposium.

III. Ensure the MoW database is regularly updated for the Secretariat’s mailing list and website, while actively contributing to the updates of the MoW website, particularly in the sections for the MoW International Register and MoW Committees.

IV. Contribute to the preparation of the Unit’s briefings, reports, background papers, strategy documents, communications (news articles and social media content), and event management for the unit as required.

V. Deliverables:
Monthly report on the activities undertaken and progress of the work carried out as part of the contract (I, II, III, IV) .

Long Description

Long Description

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

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REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in the field of information, communication, archival science, records management, or related discipline including history, archeology, sociology, heritage studies.

Work Experience

• A minimum of 2 years relevant professional work experience in project implementation in the field of cultural heritage, archives or library science, of which preferably at least 1 year at the international level.
• Experience in compilation and drafting high-quality analytical and project progress reports.
• Experience in developing and implementing communication outreach strategies for the wider dissemination of project outcomes and organizational visibility at international level.
• Experience focused on communication and information in project implementation in the field of cultural heritage, archives or library science, or communication and information sector in other organizations.

Skills/Competencies

• Excellent organizational, coordination and interpersonal skills.
• Very good analytical, drafting and editing skills in English with the ability to produce quality reports, news items etc. for international organizations.
• Excellent skills to disseminate the achievements of the project worldwide.
• Proven ability to work effectively in a team and maintain effective working relations in a multicultural environment.
• Proven ability to communicate, advocate, and exchange with colleagues, staff and stakeholders within and outside the Organization.
• Excellent IT skills. Knowledge of graphic design software (Canva, in-design, etc.).

Languages

• Excellent knowledge of English and good knowledge of French.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Work Experience

• Experience with the United Nations System or in an international development cooperation.
• Relevant professional experience in UNESCO’s programmes and/or normative tools in the field of communication and information.
• Experience in documentary heritage preservation projects.

Skills/Competencies

• Familiarity with the Memory of the World Programme, including the 2015 Recommendations Concerning the Preservation of, and Access to, Documentary Heritage Including in Digital Form.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

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