CONSULTANT (CULTURE / RADIO EDUCATION PROJECT)

JOB DETAILS

Type of contract : Consultant Contract

Level :  Level 1 - Junior

Hiring Unit : Culture Sector (CLT)

Duty Station : Islamabad

Work location : On site

Duration of contract : 8 months

Hiring open to : External candidates

Application deadline (Midnight UTC+5 Time) : 30/07/2026

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

OVERVIEW

Based on its learning from the Radio Education programme implemented amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, UNESCO, in collaboration with and support from the Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, developed a project, “Radio Education: Promotion of Learning through Radio in Marginalized Areas of Pakistan”. The project aims at enhancing access to schools, communities, and youth in isolated areas of Pakistan to improve learning opportunities through an Interactive Radio Instruction (IRI) approach. The project is implemented in six target districts: Lower Kohistan, Mohmand, and Swat in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; Loralai in Balochistan; and Diamer and Ghizer (Gupis-Yasin) in Gilgit-Baltistan.

The project is a multi-sector intervention with a focus on practical knowledge pertaining to Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and Global Citizenship Education (GCED), while culture has been integrated as an integral part of the project to promote the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of Pakistan through broadcasting customized radio content in the target areas.

Under the overall authority of the Director of the UNESCO Islamabad Office, and the direct supervision of the Project Officer (Education), Radio Education Project, and in close coordination with the National Professional Officer (Culture), the Consultant will be primarily responsible for contract and vendor management under the Radio Education Project, and will additionally provide support to the Culture Sector in the organization of events and capacity-building activities under the Culture Programme.

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ASSIGNMENTS

Main Tasks - Radio Education Project (Technical Contract and Vendor Management)

1. Provide technical oversight and contract management of vendors and service providers engaged under the Radio Education Project, applying sound technical criteria to assess compliance with agreed specifications, quality standards, timelines and deliverables.
2. Provide technical guidance to vendors on content, methodology and production standards, resolving implementation challenges through evidence-based problem-solving and technical troubleshooting.
3. Conduct substantive technical review and quality assurance of vendor deliverables (educational and cultural content, materials, reports, etc.), assessing them against project objectives, technical specifications and results frameworks, and provide structured feedback for improvement.
4. Undertake technical monitoring and performance assessment of vendors, including field-based verification as required, applying monitoring and evaluation (M&E) tools to identify risks, quality gaps or implementation irregularities and recommend corrective measures.
5. Conduct technical validation of vendor outputs against contractual deliverables to inform and authorize payment processing, in coordination with the Administrative/Finance Unit.
6. Apply UNESCO's results-based management and online contract management systems to support evidence-based tracking, analysis and reporting on project implementation.
7. Provide technical inputs and data analysis for donor engagement, including preparing briefing notes, presentations and analytical materials for donor meetings, as needed.
8. Develop content for project reports and design and draft Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and Terms of Reference (TORs) for vendors and service providers, ensuring alignment with project methodology and quality standards.
9. Undertake any tasks related to procurement and financial management under the supervision of the Administrative Officer of UNESCO Islamabad Office.

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Additional Tasks - Culture Sector Technical Support

1. Provide technical and programmatic support to the Culture Sector in the design, planning and delivery of capacity-building sessions and technical events under the Culture Programme, including substantive input on methodology and content.
2. Develop technical and analytical content for agendas, concept notes, briefing notes and other programmatic documents underpinning Culture Programme activities.
3. Document and analyze outcomes of Culture Programme events, translating discussions and findings into structured technical reporting and knowledge products.
4. Provide liaison and analytical support between the Culture team and relevant stakeholders and partners to ensure evidence-based, coordinated programme delivery.
5. Perform other related tasks as may be assigned by the Project Officer (Education) and/or the National Professional Officer (Culture).

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CONTRACT DURATION

8.5 months (15 August 2026 - 30 April 2027)

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DELIVERABLES

Payment will be made on a monthly basis in local currency (PKR), upon submission of the above-mentioned deliverables and their satisfactory acceptance by the supervisors.

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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 (master’s degree or equivalent) in social sciences, development studies, project/programme management, or another related field from a recognized institution.

WORK EXPERIENCE: 

• Minimum of 2 years of relevant professional work experience.
• Demonstrated technical experience in contract management, including developing technical specifications, reviewing deliverables against quality standards, and applying M&E tools for monitoring and evaluation.
• Experience applying results-based management (RBM) methodologies and gender mainstreaming approaches in development initiatives.
• Experience drafting technical documents such as Terms of Reference (TORs), Requests for Proposals (RFPs), or technical/analytical reports.

   

  Desirable Qualifications

• Education

  A master’s degree in the field of culture, cultural studies, heritage management or a similar field is an asset.

  Work Experience

  • Experience working on culture or heritage-related projects.
  • Previous work experience within the United Nations System.
  • Knowledge about radio programming in Pakistan.

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SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES:

• Strong organization and coordination skills.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Ability to work effectively, set priorities, and work within tight deadlines.
• Ability to draft high-quality, clear, concise documents and reports.
• Ability to build and maintain partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, including vendors.
• Excellent presentation skills and ability to communicate effectively.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with proven ability to maintain effective working relations within a multi-cultural environment.
• Excellent IT skills, including office productivity tools and online collaboration tools.

LANGUAGES:

• Excellent knowledge (written and spoken) of English and good knowledge of Urdu.

APPLICATION PROCESS

APPLICATION: Interested candidates should click on APPLY Now, then download and complete the Employment History Form (Word file). At the end of word file insert extra pages with the following required documents:

• A letter of expression of interest
• An updated Curriculum Vitae
• A Financial proposal indicating monthly and daily rate (in US$ and inclusive of income tax or any other applicable taxes).
• The contact details of three referees.

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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.