NATIONAL PROJECT OFFICER (SB-4 SC8/NOA Min)

OVERVIEW

Parent Sector : Communication and Information Sector (CI)

Duty Station: Kyrgyzstan

Job Family: Communication and Information

Type of contract : Non Staff

Level : Level 4

Duration of contract : 1 year

Recruitment open to : Internal and external candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Duty Station Time) : 23-OCT-2025

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

(Only candidates entitled to work in Kyrgyzstan may apply for this post)

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Within the framework of the “Empowering Youth to Building Bridges for Social Cohesion” extra-budgetary project (hereinafter “Project”) of UNESCO Regional Office in Almaty funded by UN Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) and jointly implemented together with United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), as a lead agency in the project, and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), UNESCO intends to address social polarization by equipping youth, including adolescents, from diverse backgrounds, with peacebuilding competencies and skills such as social and emotional skills, media and information literacy skills, communication and expression, cooperation and teamwork, identity and self-esteem. Additionally, the project will build capacities of people to bridge differences in a non violent manner and counter the prevalence of violent culture. In doing so, it will emphasise developing skills for constructive communication, critical evaluation of diverse information flows, and promoting Media and Information Literacy (MIL) as a key tool for navigating today’s complex information ecosystems. By fostering MIL competencies, young people will learn to identify, analyse, and counter disinformation, misinformation and hate speech, which are significant drivers of polarization. Empowered as agents of non-violent culture, the young people will be enabled to implement a wide array of initiatives aimed at social cohesion. Youth-led facilitation of exchanges of perspectives, knowledge, resources between communities, schools and individuals representing these major social divides is among the projects’ strategies. The project will contribute to information integrity by addressing hate speech while protecting freedom of expression to foster tolerance and respect for difference.

Long Description

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the overall supervision of the Director of UNESCO Almaty and the immediate supervision and guidance of the National Programme Officer for Communication and Information (CI), and Education Programme Specialist, the National Project Officer will support and contribute to the implementation of the Project under CI and ED portfolio in these following areas:

A) TECHNICAL IMPLEMENTATION AND COORDINATION
   a. Contribute to the design, development, coordination, implementation, and evaluation of Project activities.
   b. Assist in preparation and revising (if necessary) of Project work plans, budgets, and output indicators.
   c. Provide inputs for preparation of Project periodic reports as required.
   d. Monitor Project progress, final reports and financial disbursements to ensure conformity to work plans and alignment to UNESCOs rules and regulations.
   e. Ensure the involvement and ownership of relevant partners and stakeholders in coordination and implementation of Project activities.
   f. Assist in organization and delivery of capacity-building activities.
   g. Disseminate information on Project initiatives and activities to ensure project visibility.
   h. Supports unit in mainstreaming gender equality effectively throughout the project activities, reports, research, and analysis.
   i. Support unit in arranging meetings/project events, minutes of meetings, monitors follow-up actions, etc.
   j. Draft memos, reports, and other project-related correspondence.
   k. Provide substantive logistical and administrative support to project procurement, consultations, meetings, networking and partnership initiatives, events, and missions.

B) PROJECT ADMINISTRATION
   a. Track, retrieve, research files, reports, records and past practices; gather and collate background information; verify information for relevance and accuracy; analyze and summarize information; identify elements of interest; prepare draft dockets and charts; and assemble documents, prepare reports, presentations, etc. according to established standards and formats.
   b. Maintain internal and external relations for effective implementation of Project activities; participate in meetings and other activities with relevant partners and stakeholder; minute taking, undertake missions; assist in resource mobilization by supporting development of new project concept notes and proposals; assist in identifying potential donors and partners, with guidance from the CI National Programme Specialist and Education Programme Specialist.
   c. Provide guidance to contractors on Project reporting requirements, rules & procedures, and ensure completeness and accuracy of data submitted. Monitor submission timelines for deliverables as stipulated in contractual documents, follow up with contractors in a timely manner, and notify and/or alert supervisors if delays are expected or errors/omissions/discrepancies are observed and undertake the necessary corrective actions. Support unit in reviewing deliverables for quality & acceptability per TORs/contractual documents. Verify Payment Requests against contractual obligations in DUO. Prepare/submit approved payment requests to Admin for settlement.
   d. Maintain up-to-date electronic and/or hard-copy Project documentation, records, data sources on budgetary data and other administrative files, etc.
   e. Provide general office assistance, draft correspondence, emails and support development of a variety of reports, charts/tables to document/ transmit administrative or budgetary information. Verify outgoing correspondence for completeness, accuracy and compliance with UNESCO format standards and respond to enquiries.
   f. Handle routine administrative tasks.

Long Description

C) COMMUNICATION AND OUTREACH
   a. Plan and prepare periodic communication outputs to ensure Project visibility. This includes the drafting and/or production of public information materials, such as news items, infographics, and other necessary documents or materials, for UNESCO Almaty’s website, newsletter and social media channels in coordination with Public Information unit or other relevant team (if necessary).
   b. Liaise with respective ministries and governmental structures involved in the project and provide timely information to them
   c. Liaise with UNICEF, UNFPA and Project donor to share project updates and results, and engage with them for their participation in key activities.

D) MONITORING AND REPORTING
   a. Report Project results to the Education Programme Specialist and CI National Programme Specialist and keep regular communication to ensure timely reporting, and full alingment of Project activities with the UNESCO global mandate in Education and CI. 
   b. Closely monitor the implementation of Project activities and ensure an accurate and systematic collection of data and project information for donor reports.
   c. Contribute to the preparation of periodic progress reports on project implementation per the requirements of UNESCO and Project donor.

The National Project Officer may perform any other duties deemed necessary or relevant to his/her responsibilities, as outlined above, by immediate supervisor or the Director of UNESCO Almaty.

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

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REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION
   • Advanced university degree (master's or equivalent) or bachelor’s degree + 2 (two) additional years of working experience in education, freedom of expression, mass communication, human rights, international communications, peacebuilding or related fields, especially in the Kyrgyz Republic or in the Central Asian region (5 (five) years in total).

WORK EXPERIENCE
   • A minimum of 3 (three) years of relevant work experience in education, freedom of expression, mass communication, human rights, international communications, peacebuilding or related fields, especially in the Kyrgyz Republic or in the Central Asian region.

SKILLS/COMPETENCIES
   • Demonstrate good knowledge and understanding of education policy, global citizenship education, as well as human rights-related issues and processes in the areas of freedom of expression, access to information and global discussions on hate speech and disinformation especially in the context of social media platforms,
   • Ability to administer independent research and analysis, draft reports, and communicate proficiently in a multicultural setting,
   • Ability to coordinate multi-stakeholder initiatives, including governmental entities, and manage projects including monitoring and reporting.
   • Good ICT skills with proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office

LANGUAGES
   • Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English and Russian languages.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

WORK EXPERIENCE
   • Experience in the UN System or international organization, international non-governmental organizations, or similar entities, or with PBF-funded projects.
   • Certification or experience in project management.

LANGUAGES
   • Good knowledge of written and spoken Kyrgyz language.

BENEFITS AND ENTITLEMENTS

• Salary: base monthly gross USD 1,795.86
(monthly rates in reference to the local UN FTA salary scales of the locally recruited staff, corresponding to 66% of the gross base salary; subject to change in case of changes in local UN salary scale).
   

• Medical and Pension Coverage.
As additional payment, upon proof of enrolment in an appropriate pension and/or medical scheme, the following contributions will be added to the SC holder's remuneration:
   (a) up to 10% of the SC holder's remuneration to represent UNESCO's sole contribution for pension; and
   (b) up to 5% of the SC holder's remuneration to represent UNESCO's sole contribution to medical insurance.
The SC holder must provide the proof of affiliation to local or private social security scheme if in receipt of an additional payment.

• Income Tax.
The remuneration paid to SC holders is not exempt from any income tax which may be levied by the tax authorities in the country where work is performed or any other tax authorities.

UNESCO shall not reimburse any taxes, duties or other contributions for which the SC holder may be personally liable in respect of payments made under the terms of his/her contract.

SC holders will be solely and personally responsible for complying with tax laws that are applicable to them, and for paying any taxes (in particular income tax), duties or other contributions for which they may be personally liable, under any tax laws applicable to them, in respect of any payments made to them under the terms of their SC contract.

• UNESCO's salaries are paid in the currency established by the local UN System (currently in USD).

• Annual leave is granted at the rate of 2,5 working days for each completed month of service. The annual leave entitlement must be taken in full during the contract period.

• Please note that UNESCO is a non-smoking Organization.

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

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PLEASE NOTE THAT ONLY PRE-SELECTED CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED.
A WRITTEN EXAMINATION MAY BE USED IN THE EVALUATION OF CANDIDATES.
UNESCO DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS.
WOMEN CANDIDATES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.