National Programme Officer (Social and Human Sciences) Re-advertisement (Maputo, Mozambique) contract

Post Number : 6MZSHS0002PA

Grade : NO-B

Parent Sector : Social and Human Sciences Sector (SHS)

Duty Station: Maputo

Job Family: Social and Human Sciences

Type of contract : Project Appointment

Duration of contract : 1 year

Recruitment open to : Internal and external candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 30-OCT-2024

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

Only Nationals of Mozambique are eligible to apply for this position

Duration of contract: 1 year with the possibility of extension subject to availability of funds and satisfactory performance
 

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) contributes to peace and security by promoting international cooperation in education, natural sciences, social and human sciences, culture, and communication and information. UNESCO promotes knowledge sharing and the free flow of ideas to accelerate mutual understanding and a more perfect knowledge of each other’s lives. The Organization comprises 194 Member States and 12 Associate Members and employs over 2,300 staff members from 170+ nationalities at its Headquarters and 54 field offices worldwide.

This position is located in UNESCO’s Social and Human Sciences Sector (SHS), which strives to accomplish a fundamental humanist mission by enhancing efforts against violence, racism and discrimination, combatting gender stereotypes, deploying the power of sports for social inclusion, promoting intercultural dialogue and supporting youth, women and people with disabilities. SHS collaborates with Member States to protect scientists and trust in science through UNESCO’s 2017 Recommendation on Science and Scientific Researchers and enhance the science-policy nexus via the Management of Social Transformation (MOST) Programme. 
SHS also focuses on fostering inclusive societies and ensuring the ethical development of emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), in line with UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Ethics of AI. This global standard aims to leverage the positive impact of AI while addressing its inherent risks. Getting AI governance right is one of the most consequential challenges of our time, and countries around the world are now in the process of implementing the Recommendation, with UNESCO supporting them through various capacity-building efforts.

The incumbent will work in the UNESCO Office in Maputo which plays an important role in the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) in Mozambique. The broader scope of SHS Sector programmes include the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Youth, Gender, Persons with Disability (PWD), support to the enhancement of the ‘Social Fabric’, and Sports. The Office currently drives a vibrant social inclusion programme, through the implementation of two extra-budgetary projects, one on Ending Stigma and Discrimination – Breaking the Cycle of Poverty and Marginalization of Persons with Disabilities (PWD) in Mozambique, and another focusing on the Protection and Promotion of the Human Rights of Persons with Albinism. 

Under the overall authority of the Assistant Director-General for the Social and Human Sciences Sector (ADG/SHS), direct supervision and guidance of the Head of the UNESCO Office in Maputo, and in close cooperation with SHS staff at Headquarters and UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa in Harare, and in coordination with other Programme Sectors and Administration of other Offices, the National Commissions for UNESCO (NATCOM) and development partners, the incumbent will participate in the development and the implementation of the Sector’s priorities and support programmes to Mozambique. Her/his work will be guided by the UNESCO’s Medium-Term Strategy, the government’s Five-Year Development Plan, the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) for Mozambique, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the African Union (AU) 2063 The Africa We Want, with AI, youth, gender and life skills among the top priorities.

In this context, the incumbent will assist UNESCO’s actions on social and human sciences in Mozambique, and will be responsible for the following:

Programme and Project Development and Implementation:

• Support advancement of better governance of AI, through the implementation of the Recommendation on the Ethics of AI. This involves supporting the national deployment of AI Readiness Assessments in the region, identifying strategic opportunities, expanding networks and contacts, and developing and executing work plans.
• Support advancement of SHS priorities on championing the anti-racism and anti-discrimination agenda; promoting trust in science and protecting scientists and scientific freedom; leveraging sports for social inclusion via Fit for Life; promoting gender equality, intercultural dialogue, and youth-led initiatives; and facilitating social and human science-based policymaking through the MOST programme.
• Contribute technical inputs for the development, administration and implementation of programmes and projects reinforcing national capacities.
• Draft detailed work plans, task descriptions, budgets and output indicators for projects.
• Support the implementation and monitor activities and projects within established work plans and document progress against predefined performance indicators.
• Carry out situational analysis, and compile data and inputs for concept notes, publications, briefings and documents.
• Provide substantive, logistical and administrative support to projects, consultations, meetings, events and missions.
• Monitor, track and report on regular and extra-budgetary project implementation and outputs within the Mozambique Office using relevant UNESCO tools.  
• Provide inputs for the preparation of methodological and other guides for implementation and evaluation for use within Mozambique Office and as a contribution to national capacity development.
• Support the Programme Specialist in multi-sectoral and cross-country programmatic activities and initiatives in the Region.

Research, Knowledge Management

• Assist in conducting research and analysis and prepare data and inputs for documents, projects and proposals as well as conventional and on-line publications, visibility and public information materials, and social media and website content.
• Ensure that knowledge management, websites and information systems are up-to-date and accessible to Office staff. 

Partnership and Outreach:

• Analyze and compile background data for potential partnerships and fundraising events and opportunities.
• Support UNESCO Mozambique Office and corporate communication by drafting and generating brochures, leaflets, social media content and other visual, online and written communication and information materials.
• Assist resource mobilization efforts by preparing specific inputs for the development of concept notes, and project and funding proposals on the basis of available situational analysis and needs assessments and in accordance with the C/5.
• Assist in planning and implementing outreach and visibility activities aimed at programme promotion and expansion.
• Draft inputs for the UNESCO Mozambique Office’s contribution to UNSDCF, Common Country Assessment (CCA), Country Programme Document (CPD), Country Action Plan (CAP) and to other relevant national planning exercises of countries in its region.  
• Liaise with colleagues within the SHS Sector and in other Sectors, in other Offices, and Headquarters to discuss developments and opportunities, as required. 
• Stay abreast of relevant new developments, advancements, and best practices within the areas of responsibility in order to inform and support office colleagues, UN, government relevant institutions, the NATCOM, civil society on policy formulation, project development, resources and best practices.
• Participate in relevant UN Joint agencies’ contributing to UNESCO’s work within the framework of the UNSDCFs. This includes participation in other opportunities that may arise at national, regional and at UNESCO HQ levels to benefit from winning opportunities that may arise.

Education

• Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in the field of Social and Human Sciences, Human Rights, Political Sciences, International Relations and/or related disciplines.

Work Experience

• Minimum 2 (two) years of relevant professional experience in the field of social and human sciences, political sciences, international relations at the national or sub-regional level.
• Experience working in the implementation of national and/or sub-regional projects in the area of social and human sciences.
• Experience in fundraising and resource mobilisation and establishing and maintaining relations with donors.
• Experience using web-based information management systems.
   

Skills and Competencies

• Proven organizational and coordination skills, with the ability to take initiative, establish priorities, monitor work plans and report on actions and projects.
• Strong project management skills.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills; ability to deal efficiently with partners at different levels.
• Ability to participate in negotiations.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment with excellent interpersonal skills and cultural sensitivity
• Ability to establish, maintain working relations with national and local authorities and key civil society, stakeholders such as national and international organizations in the region.
• Capacity to adapt and adjust work schedules and perform diligently under pressure.
• Excellent knowledge management with a deep understanding of emerging communication and information technologies and their potential uses.
   

Languages

• Excellent knowledge (written and spoken) of English and Portuguese.

Education

• Advanced training/certification in the governance/coordination of artificial intelligence and its ethical and social implications, digital technologies, environment and climate change and resilience and/or other related fields.

Work Experience

• Experience in UNESCO’s Programmes and/or normative tools in the field of social and human sciences.
• Experience with the United Nations System, multilateral settings/cooperation and development.
• Experience with inter-agency mechanisms of the United Nations System. 
• Experience working with an Enterprise Resource Planning system (ERP).

Skills and Competencies

• Familiarity with key mechanisms such as the Common Country Assessment (CCA), United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), United Nations Country Team (UNCT), and United Nations Inter-Agency initiatives.

Languages

• Knowledge of another official language of UNESCO (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish).