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Consultancy to Support the Review and Streamlining of UNESCO's Project Cycle

OVERVIEW

Parent Sector : Bureau of Strategic Planning (BSP)

Duty Station: Paris

Job Family: Management/Audit/Oversight

Type of contract : Non Staff

Duration of contract : From 1 to 6 months

Recruitment open to : External candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Duty Station Time) : 20/08/2025

 

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

 

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

As part of ongoing efforts to enhance programme quality, operational efficiency and ensure consistency across its programme management processes as part of its broader results-based management and project cycle management, UNESCO is launching a review of its programming framework. The aim is to streamline internal processes related to the planning, designing, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of projects and programmes.

 

In this context, UNESCO is seeking the services of a qualified consultant to carry out a comprehensive review of its current programme and project cycle, typologies, and templates and to propose actionable recommendations for improvement.

Long Description

Background

UNESCO is the United Nations organization that promotes cooperation in education, science, culture and communication to foster peace worldwide. The Organization provides key services for its Member States, setting global norms and standards, developing tools for international cooperation, producing knowledge for public policies, and building global networks of sites and institutions inscribed on its lists to create solutions to some of the greatest challenges of our time, and foster a world of greater equality and peace. Protecting biodiversity, responding to artificial intelligence, advancing quality education, safeguarding heritage, and ensuring access to reliable information are some examples of the work that UNESCO does with its Member States across the globe.

 

UNESCO’s Bureau of Strategic Planning (BSP) has been working to strengthen the Organization’s capacity for strategic direction, programme development, effective implementation, results-based monitoring and reporting, and resource mobilization. These efforts aim to sharpen UNESCO’s comparative advantages, ensure that priorities are adequately resourced with high-quality funding, and enhance the Organization’s ability to deliver meaningful results, including sustainable impact at the global and field level. To support this vision, there is a recognized need to further streamline procedures and internal processes to enable UNESCO to respond more swiftly and with agility to emerging opportunities, while maintaining strong accountability and risk management. This transformation is to be underpinned by the ambition to develop a compelling investment case for the Organization, strengthen the link between results and resources, and shift from small-scale, fragmented projects to large-scale, multi-year, high-impact programmes and portfolios that can drive UNESCO’s growth in quality funding and development effectiveness.

Long Description

Scope of Work

The Consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:

  1. Mapping of Current Practices
    • Conduct a detailed mapping of existing practices related to UNESCO’s project cycle, including identifying and categorizing typologies of initiatives and the related processes, workflows, approval and oversight processes, and decision points.
    • Take stock of needs and challenges faced by UNESCO in the management of projects and programmes, including related to monitoring practices, through consultations with relevant HQ and field staff and document reviews.
  2. Benchmarking of UN Practices
    • Carry out a benchmarking exercise to assess project cycle management practices of other UN agencies, with a particular focus on Specialized UN Agencies.
    • Identify and document the advantages and disadvantages of different approaches and systems in use in relation to UNESCO’s needs.
  3. Proposal of Programme/Project Typologies
    • Develop a proposal for typologies of programmes and projects that reflect the diversity of initiatives UNESCO implements, establishing processes and procedures requiring efforts commensurate to the expected results.
    • Ensure clear categorization and consistent use of terminology and approaches across UNESCO’s corporate systems for planning, monitoring, and reporting.
  4. Assessment of Templates and Guidance
    • Review existing project-related templates, tools, and guidance used by UNESCO.
    • Gather and analyze feedback from UNESCO staff on the pros and cons of these materials, especially in terms of usefulness and clarity, including from a partnerships perspective.
    • Propose revisions or new templates based on the identified typologies, also integrating internal feedback and benchmarking findings, reflecting good practices within UNESCO and the wider UN system, including from a viewpoint of donor expectations.

 

Deliverables

The Consultant is expected to submit the following deliverables, corresponding to the tasks above:

  • Report 1: Mapping of UNESCO’s current project cycle and needs assessment.
  • Report 2: Benchmarking report of UN agency practices with comparative analysis.
  • Report 3: Proposed typology of programmes/projects and proposed enhancement of approval and oversight processes.
  • Report 4: Revised versions of project-related templates, tools, and guidance notes.

 

All deliverables are to be submitted in English in both Word and PDF formats.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Proven expertise in project and programme management, preferably within the UN system or international organizations.
  • Strong experience in process review, benchmarking, and organizational change management.
  • Experience in results-based management (RBM), UN programme planning and implementation, and monitoring and reporting frameworks.
  • Excellent analytical, writing, and communication skills in English.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested candidates are invited to submit an Expression of Interest including:

  • A brief proposal outlining the approach and methodology;
  • A detailed CV demonstrating relevant qualifications and experience;
  • A financial proposal.

 

Deadline for submission of Expression of Interest: 20 August 2025

Duration of contract: 1 September 2025 – 31 December 2025

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