Consultant - MONDIACULT 2025 (Culture)
OVERVIEW
Parent Sector : Culture Sector (CLT)
Duty Station: Paris
Job Family: Culture
Type of contract : Non Staff
Duration of contract : From 7 to 11 months
Recruitment open to : External candidates
Application Deadline (Midnight Duty Station Time) : 22-MAY-2025
UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism
Background
As part of its mandate, the Special Projects and Partnerships (EO/SPP) unit is responsible for overseeing the preparation and implementation of the UNESCO World Conference on Cultural Policies – MONDIACULT 2025, to be held in Barcelona from 28 September to 1 October 2025. To ensure the successful organization of the Conference, the unit requires additional support in key preparatory activities.
MONDIACULT 2025 will focus on the follow-up of the six priority domains of the MONDIACULT 2022 Declaration (cultural rights; digital technologies in the culture sector; culture and education; economy of culture; culture and climate action; culture, heritage and crisis) and on two focus areas: artificial intelligence (AI) and culture, and culture and peace.
Purpose of the Consultancy
The consultant will support the preparation and implementation of MONDIACULT 2025, with a particular focus on the production and revision of knowledge and information materials (revision of content developed for the Conference, data collection, preparation of analytics, production of communication materials, among others). Peace and culture will receive special attention, including the coordination of an expert group tasked with preparing policy orientations for UNESCO Member States and relevant stakeholders. Additionally, the consultant will contribute to developing initiatives involving youth and artists and to mobilizing resources for these activities.
A key responsibility will be conducting qualitative and quantitative assessments on culture-related matters. The consultant will also play an essential role in designing and implementing the programme for MONDIACULT 2025, ensuring effective coordination with the team, partners, and stakeholders.
Work assignment
Under the overall authority of the Assistant Director-General for Culture (ADG/CLT), the general supervision of the Chief of the Executive Office (EO/CLT), and the direct supervision of the Programme Coordinator for Special Projects and Partnerships (CLT/EO/SPP), the consultant will support various activities, with a particular focus on the following:
Long Description
- Support content-related production, review, and dissemination for MONDIACULT 2025’s priorities and focus areas, including:
- Producing information materials, drafting reports, and preparing documents following UNESCO standards.
- Identifying, compiling, analyzing, and reporting quantitative and qualitative data on MONDIACULT 2025’s priority areas.
- Reviewing reports and other key documents to ensure technical and academic rigor.
- Supporting activities related to the youth engagement strategy.
- Supporting activities related to the digital library, including document selection and review.
- Supporting activities related to the Expert Group on AI and Culture, including production of documents.
- Support any publication processes relevant for the Conference.
- Support the coordination of the UNESCO Expert Group on Culture for Peace, closely assisting the Group Chair by:
- Drafting, reviewing, editing, and organizing key documents related to the preparation of the Culture for Peace policy orientations document.
- Facilitating communication among members, coordinating meetings, and assisting the Chair during working sessions.
- Coordinating the finalization of the publication, including final revision, peer review and publication-related processes.
- Support the incorporation of the publication into Conference programming.
- Contribute to a communications plan to promote the publication long-term.
- Support the overall coordination of MONDIACULT 2025’s preparatory activities, particularly in the six priority domains outlined in the MONDIACULT 2022 Declaration and the two new priority domains.
- Contribute to designing the general programme for MONDIACULT 2025, ensuring good coordination with the respective teams and stakeholders.
TIMETABLE AND DELIVERABLES
Long Description
- Activity Report – Work plan and activities carried out by the UNESCO Expert Group on Culture for Peace.
- Activity Report – Pre-existing contributions received for the digital library, received separately from the call for contributions, including a summary of materials, documents and collection tools and strategies.
- Activity Report – Materials received through the call for contributions for the digital library, including review and acceptation status, a summary of materials, documents and collection tools and strategies.
- Mid-term Progress Report – Status update on the work of the UNESCO Expert Group on Culture for Peace.
- Final Report – Comprehensive report on the work of the UNESCO Expert Group on Culture for Peace, including communication and dissemination.
- Activity Report – Preliminary summary of MONDIACULT 2025 stakeholder engagement and side events, including attendance, activities and key outcomes.
- Final Activity Report – Overview of documents produced as follow-up to MONDIACULT 2025, post conference, including preparatory and concluding activities.
Work Location – Home based
Expected duration – 7 months
COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)
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REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education:
- Advanced university degree in disciplines related to policy design, international development and inclusion.
Work Experience
- A minimum of 5 years of professional experience acquired in the fields of policy and inclusion, of which preferably 2 years at the international level.
- Proven experience in conducting internationally comparative quantitative and qualitative research in the fields of policy and inclusion.
Long Description
Skills and Competencies
- Excellent analytical and drafting skills.
- Excellent communication skills (written and oral) in English and Spanish, and able to exchange information on complex issues.
- Proficiency in both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, with the ability to analyze data, interpret and report findings, draft policy recommendations, and present to expert audiences in innovation policy contexts.
- Good knowledge and proven expertise in the coordination of multilateral cooperation projects.
- Proven ability to collect, synthesize and analyse information from various sources and formulate research documents.
- Proven experience in drafting multidisciplinary innovation-oriented policy reports.
- Proven experience in presenting technical findings to wide audiences.
- Proven experience in facilitating high-level working groups.
- Excellent organization and planning skills, including the ability to organize own work priorities and deadlines.
- Ability to interact efficiently with a wide range of partners and stakeholders within and outside the organization.
- Ability to work both independently and in a multicultural and multilingual environment.
Languages
- Excellent knowledge of both English and Spanish (speaking, reading and writing).
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Education
- Master degree in disciplines related to policy and international development.
Work experience
- Professional experience in the United Nations system.
- Expert knowledge of UNESCO Culture Conventions and its Programmes.
Languages
- Knowledge of another/other UNESCO official language(s).
APPLICATION PROCESS
Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information.
To apply, please visit the UNESCO careers website. No modifications can be made to the application submitted.
Interested candidates should complete the on-line application, download and complete the Employment History form (Word file). At the end of the Word file, insert extra pages with the following required information:
A written proposal comprising:
- An up-to-date CV;
- A brief technical proposal outlining the approach and methodology for the assignment in line with the terms of reference
- A competitive fee for the assignment quoted in EUR (or USD) and expressed on a monthly basis.
SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS
Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information. To apply, please visit the UNESCO careers website. No modifications can be made to the application submitted.
The evaluation of candidates is based on the criteria in the vacancy notice, and may include tests and/or assessments, as well as an interview.
UNESCO uses communication technologies such as video or teleconference, e-mail correspondence, etc. for the assessment and evaluation of candidates.
Please note that only selected candidates will be further contacted and candidates in the final selection step will be subject to reference checks based on the information provided.
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