Consultant (Open Solutions)

JOB DETAILS

Type of contract : Consultant Contract

Level : Level 3 - Senior

Hiring Unit : Communication and Information Sector (CI)

Duty Station : Paris

Work location : Remote

Duration of contract : 11 months

Hiring open to : External candidates

Application deadline (Midnight UTC+1 Time) : 18/08/2026

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

OVERVIEW

As a standard setter and laboratory of ideas, UNESCO leads global efforts on open solutions—initiatives that foster inclusive knowledge sharing and innovation. This includes key normative instruments such as the 2019 Recommendation on Open Educational Resources (OER) and the 2021 Recommendation on Open Science, as well as pilot projects that promote Open Access to Scientific Information, Open Data, and Free and Open-Source Software (FOSS).

UNESCO defines Open Solutions as digital public goods that are created and shared under open copyright licenses. These solutions respect the intellectual property rights of the original creators while enabling users to engage in one or more of the following actions: re-use, re-purpose, adaptation, and/or redistribution.

Under the overall authority of the Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, the Director of the Division for Digital Inclusion and Policies and Digital Transformation (CI/DPT), with the collaboration of the Director of the UNESCO Liaison Office in Brussels, and the direct supervision of the Senior Programme Specialist responsible for Open Solutions and digital competencies, in consultation with the Chief for the Unit for Documentary Heritage, the individual specialist will specifically undertake the following tasks in line with 43C/5 Outputs 7.3.CI and 4.3.CI.

ASSIGNMENTS

1. Support the operationalisation of Open Data activities under the UNESCO-KISTI Collaboration.

a. Refine the benchmark framework for assessing national and institutional Open Data strategies, building on the strategy document prepared in the first implementation year. The final version should incorporate feedback from UNESCO, KISTI, and relevant stakeholders.

b. Finalise the draft toolkit for Open Data platforms, incorporating feedback from UNESCO, KISTI, and relevant stakeholders.

c. Prepare an implementation note on the use of the Open Data benchmark framework and toolkit in selected county(ies) or institutional contexts.

4. Consolidate and report on Open Data and Diamond Open Access activities under the UNESCO-KISTI Collaboration.

a. Produce a concise summary report with recommendations for the next implementation phase of the UNESCO-KISTI Collaboration.

b. Prepare the 2026 annual report on activities under the UNESCO-KISTI Collaboration.

2. Elaborate and strengthen methodologies and guidance to enhance Diamond Open Access in Asia and Africa.

a. Produce a Diamond Open Access pilot analysis methodology, based on lessons learned from the country analysis developed in the first implementation of the first year of the KISTI project as well as other relevant inputs.

b. Finalise the guidelines for Diamond Open Access, including replicable workflows for future country applications, based on the draft prepared in the first implementation of the first year of the KISTI project as well as other relevant inputs.

c. Prepare a concise implementation note identifying priority actions, capacity needs, and possible next steps for Diamond Open Access in Asia and Africa.

3. Enhance awareness of the importance of preserving and providing access to source code as digital documentary heritage in the framework of the Memory of the World Programme as well as software management systems.

a. Facilitate the exchange of good practices for preserving and ensuring the accessibility of source code as digital documentary heritage within the Memory of the World Programme as well as software management systems. This will include organising at least two information-sharing meetings among relevant stakeholders, such as the Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies du numérique (INRIA), the Software Heritage Initiative, and KISTI itself.

b. Finalise the draft issues paper exploring how software source code can be recognised and preserved as digital documentary heritage, promoted and used as an information/intellectual asset for sustainable development. The first draft was prepared in the first implementation year. The final version should incorporate feedback from UNESCO, KISTI, and relevant stakeholders.

c. Support Open Solutions Team in the thematic preparation, development of the event´s concept note and participate in the programme committee of the 2027 UNESCO-Software Heritage Symposium.

4. Consolidate and report on Open Data and Diamond Open Access activities under the UNESCO-KISTI Collaboration.

a. Produce a concise summary report with recommendations for the next implementation phase of the UNESCO-KISTI Collaboration.

b. Prepare the 2026 annual report on activities under the UNESCO-KISTI Collaboration.

Long Description

5. Support the implementation and advancement of the UNESCO Open Solutions Programme, with a view to fostering inclusive knowledge sharing, digital inclusion, and equitable access to information:

a. Prepare a 10-minute PowerPoint presentation for International Open Access Week 2026 on Diamond Open Access and its contribution to UNESCO's Open Solutions ecosystem. The presentation will address equitable access to scientific knowledge, community-led multilingual scholarly communication, public digital infrastructure, and the relationships between Diamond Open Access, Open Science, Open Data, and Open Educational Resources.

b. Prepare a draft issues paper on Open Solutions as digital public goods for knowledge, science, and learning. The paper will examine policy, capacity building and sustainability considerations related to Open Educational Resources, Diamond Open Access, Open Data, and Free and Open Source Software (FOSS), including their contribution to public digital infrastructure, information resilience, and inclusive digital transformation.

c. Prepare a report on UNESCO's engagement with the Digital Public Goods Alliance and related multi-stakeholder initiatives relevant to Open Solutions.

6. Support partnership development, stakeholder engagement, and fundraising opportunity mapping related to Open Solutions initiatives related to relevant European Union networks and other related funding bodies, by:

a. Prepare a monthly briefing note on policy, funding, and partnership opportunities relevant to UNESCO's Open Solutions portfolio, covering Open Data, Diamond Open Access, Open Educational Resources, FOSS, and Digital Public Goods initiatives.

b. Facilitate engagement with relevant stakeholders and preparing summary reports that identify opportunities for fundraising collaboration, knowledge exchange, and resource mobilisation.

7. All documents produced under this contract should not exceed 10 pages in Standard English each (approximately 320 words/page), excluding annexes.

CONTRACT DURATION

11 months

DELIVERABLES

• Monthly reports on advancement on terms of reference activities.

Long Description

COMPETENCIES - Core (C) & Managerial (M)

• Communication (C)
• Accountability (C)
• Innovation (C)
• Knowlegde sharing and continuous improvement (C)
• Planning and organizing (C)
• Results focus (C)
• Teamwork (C)

For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in Natural Sciences, Public Policy and/or related field(s)
  
  

Work experience

• Minimum 10 years of relevant professional experience in areas related to scientific research, international cooperation for sciences and/or related fields.

Long Description

Skills and competencies

• Excellent communication skills, excellent writing skills.
• Demonstrated ability to conceptualize issues and analyze data to compile and synthesize information in coherent and succinct formats.
• Advocates effectively.
• Excellent interpersonal skills for teamwork in a multicultural setting and ability to interact effectively with different stakeholders inside and outside the Organization
• Excellent IT and analytical skills including the ability to extract, analyze and synthesize credible information from electronic knowledge systems to support decision making and planning related to scientific research and scholarly publications.
• Capacity to work in a team as well as independently.
• Knowledge of UNESCO/UN rules and procedure.
• High attention to detail and ability to work under tight deadlines.
• Ability to work efficiently in a multi-cultural and multi-lingual environment and team spirit.
  
  

Languages

Excellent knowledge of English and satisfactory knowledge of French.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• PhD in Natural Sciences, Public Policy and/or related field(s)

Work experience

• Working experience in intergovernmental bodies or development organizations
• Demonstrated experience in supporting multi-stakeholder cooperation at the regional and/or global level related to science issues related to scholarly publications, open data and/or source code within software management systems.
• Demonstrated expertise in Diamond Open Access, Open Data Guidelines, software source code and/or FAIR principles.
• Working experience UNESCO Normative Instruments.
• Demonstrated experience with European Union funding programmes and the European research and innovation ecosystem
• Experience at the regional and/or international level implementing open science, open data, and/or open access policies

Languages

• Knowledge of Arabic, Chinese, Russian and/or Spanish will be an asset.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested candidates should complete the on-line application and complete the Employment History form (Word file). At the end of the Word file, insert extra pages with the following required information:

Part 1: Technical Proposal:

• A letter indicating how their qualifications and experience make them suitable for the assignment.
• A personal CV
• List of relevant publications, if any. Provide link or URL to view online.

Part 2: Financial Proposal

• A competitive fee for the assignment, which should be quoted in USD (or EUR) and expressed on a monthly basis (with maximum amount 6500 EUR monthly)

Additional Information:

• The selected candidate will work at a distance
• Contract duration is for a period of 11 months.
• Estimated contract start date: 1 September 2026

Only applications providing the information requested under application procedure will be considered.

Long Description

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information, by the above deadline.

To apply, please visit the UNESCO Careers website. No modifications can be made to the application once submitted.

The process may include pre-recorded video interviews and/or written assessments, interviews with a Panel, as well as reference checks. In addition, candidates may be requested to provide additional information which may be pertinent to the position’s qualifications.

Please note that all candidates, whether selected or not, will be informed of the outcome of their application in due course.

Short-listed candidates may also be added to Talent Pools; subject to their consent (i.e. Data Privacy Statement).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• UNESCO recalls that paramount consideration in the appointment of personnel shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, technical competence and integrity.
• UNESCO applies a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of harassment.
• lndividuals from minority groups and indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.
• All applications will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality.
• UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the hiring process.