Consultant - Natural Heritage Projects
OVERVIEW
Parent Sector : Culture Sector (CLT)
Duty Station: Paris
Job Family: Culture
Type of contract : Non Staff
Duration of contract : From 1 to 6 months
Recruitment open to : External candidates
Application Deadline (Midnight Duty Station Time) : 12/05/2025
UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism
OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST
The UNESCO World Heritage Convention brings together almost all countries of the world around a common objective of conserving the most exceptional natural and cultural sites. One of the core missions of the World Heritage Centre of the UNESCO Culture Sector (CLT/WHC) is the pursuit of long-term conservation of biodiversity and sustainable development through the fullest and broadest application of the World Heritage Convention by all relevant stakeholders, from site level individuals to global organizations. Key tasks of the Natural Heritage Unit of the World Heritage Centre include the monitoring of the state of conservation of sites by providing technical assistance, and building capacity in the States Parties through a series of projects on the ground that enable bringing together governments, local communities and indigenous people, private sector and many other stakeholders. Part of the Natural Heritage Unit, the mission of the World Heritage Marine Programme is to ensure effective conservation of existing and potential marine areas of Outstanding Universal Value so they will thrive for generations to come. The Programme has three main areas of focus to fulfill its mission: monitoring sites’ conservation status, connecting a flagship network of site managers, and building resilience and climate adaptation capacity.
Long Description
Within the framework of the implementation of the World Heritage Marine Programme’s extrabudgetary projects “Renforcer l'application de la Convention du patrimoine mondial de 1972 pour la protection des aires marines protégées - Phase V” and “Renforcer la protection des sites du patrimoine mondial marin de l'UNESCO- Phase 2”, the World Heritage Marine Programme is launching a call for expressions of interest from qualified and experienced specialists to contribute to the projects’ implementation and communications outreach.
A. In the framework of the project “Renforcer l'application de la Convention du patrimoine mondial de 1972 pour la protection des aires marines protégées - Phase V” and under the direct supervision and guidance of the Marine Programme Coordinator, the incumbent shall more specifically:
1. Provide technical expertise to support the implementation of the project activities, including:
Long Description
a) Providing technical expertise and assistance to support the overall preparation and organization of a second regional workshop, scheduled for the second half of 2025 (venue to be determined), along the same lines as the regional workshop “First Regional Meeting of UNESCO World Heritage Marine Site Managers in Latin America and the Caribbean” organized from September 8 to 13, 2024 at the Península Valdés World Heritage site in Argentina. The aim of the workshop will be to bring together managers from the sub-Antarctic zone, including the French Austral Lands and Seas (France) and the New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands (New Zealand), as well as the Gough and Inaccessible Islands (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), sites in the Pacific region or sites with specific management features in common, in order to strengthen and promote the management of these sites, particularly with a view to adapting to climate change,
b) Contributing to the development and implementation of at least 1 webinar or online meeting with marine managers on key topics relevant for World Heritage marine sites with common challenges, with the aim of federating, strengthening and consolidating the network of World Heritage marine managers,
c) Assisting with the preparation and participation of the Marine Programme in the Third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC 3) that will be held in Nice (France) in June 2025 and providing inputs, recommendations and technical support to the World Heritage marine managers taking part in the UNOC 3, in particular the 5 World Heritage marine sites in France and Costa Rica, in order to improve the visibility of their contributions on a global scale,
d) Providing technical and content inputs to support the development of content on climate adaptation and marine conservation in general, in particular with regards to the protection of sites’ Outstanding Universal Value, with the aim of strengthening technical expertise for the management and conservation of UNESCO World Heritage marine sites, as part of the assessment of the state of conservation of marine World Heritage sites being prepared for the 47th Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee to be held from July 6 to 16, 2025 in Paris, France, and assisting with the preparation of first drafts and the contribution of the Marine Programme to statutory documents and briefings,
e) Attending the project calls and meetings, and support the maintaining of good relations with the partner of the project throughout the duration of the contract.
2. Provide technical expertise to support the content management of the communications activities of the project, including:
a) Providing inputs to document and widely disseminate success stories, lessons learnt and best practices from the project, with a focus on getting more content together from the on-the-ground work for the World Heritage marine managers webpage,
b) Providing technical inputs to the drafting, preparation, revision and editing of content for UNESCO and World Heritage Centre websites and social media while ensuring systematic, timely and excellence in the production and quality of the materials,
c) Assisting in editing or updating the content of the World Heritage marine managers webpage when needed to ensure projects’ material is consistent, attractive, and up to date,
d) Gathering media material to keep track of published information relating to the project activities for donor reporting.
B. In the framework of the project “Renforcer la protection des sites du patrimoine mondial marin de l'UNESCO- Phase 2” and under the direct supervision and guidance of the Marine Programme Coordinator, the incumbent shall more specifically:
1. Provide technical expertise to support the implementation of the project activities, including:
a) Providing technical and content inputs to support the development of content on climate adaptation and marine conservation in general, in particular with regards to the protection of sites’ Outstanding Universal Value, with the aim of strengthening technical expertise for the management and conservation of UNESCO World Heritage marine sites, as part of the assessment of the state of conservation of marine World Heritage sites being prepared for the 47th Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee to be held from July 6 to 16, 2025 in Paris, France, and assisting with the preparation of first drafts and the contribution of the Marine Programme to statutory documents and briefings,
b) Facilitating the development and implementation of a pre-feasibility study conducted by global experts in blue carbon at the Banc d'Arguin National Park (BANP) World Heritage Site in Mauritania, to help identify necessary steps to develop a blue carbon project that will build resilience in the park’s blue carbon ecosystems, which represent the third-largest carbon store among the 51 UNESCO World Heritage marine sites,
c) Attending the project calls and meetings, and support the maintaining of good relations with the partner of the project throughout the duration of the contract.
2. Provide technical expertise to support the content management of the communications activities of the project, including:
a) Providing inputs to document and widely disseminate success stories, lessons learnt and best practices from the project, with a focus on getting more content together from the on-the-ground work for the World Heritage marine managers webpage,
b) Delivering feedback and content recommendations to provide communication support to the Monaco Explorations when needed (communication support to be defined jointly with their team),
c) Providing technical inputs to the drafting, preparation, revision and editing of content for UNESCO and World Heritage Centre websites and social media while ensuring systematic, timely and excellence in the production and quality of the materials,
d) Assisting in editing or updating the content of the World Heritage Marine Programme webpages when needed to ensure projects’ material is consistent, attractive, and up to date,
e) Gathering media material to keep track of published information relating to the project activities for donor reporting.
Deliverables and timeline
The list of deliverables is set out below. The Individual Specialist shall submit in electronic format, for approval by UNESCO:
• Monthly summary reports describing the progress in the activities undertaken as specified in A.1.a to B.2.e and in delivering the outputs related to the work assignment by the end of each month. The progress reports will include the following deliverables:
a) Recommendations on the implementation of the regional workshop as mentioned in article A.1.a (max. 2 pages),
b) Recommendations on the implementation of a webinar or online meeting as mentioned in article A.1.b (max. 1 page),
c) Recommendations on the preparation of the Marine Programme’s participation in the Third UN Ocean Conference as mentioned in article A.1.c (max. 1 page),
d) A short technical review on the state of conservation of marine World Heritage sites being prepared for the 47th Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee as mentioned in articles A.1.d and B.1.a (max. 3 pages),
e) Recommendations on the implementation of the blue carbon pre-feasibility study at the Banc d'Arguin National Park as mentioned in article B.1.b (max. 1 page),
f) Recommendations for the content of the projects’ webpages as mentioned in articles A.2.b and B.2.c (max. 2 pages)
• A final report summarizing the activities carried out, achievements, challenges and lessons learnt over the contract period.
COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)
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REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education
• University degree or Master degree in environmental science, climate science, sustainable development, natural sciences, or related field.
Work Experience
• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in environment, climate change, sustainable development, environmental policy or natural sciences, preferably at the international level.
Skills and Competencies
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in the field of natural World Heritage
• Demonstrated knowledge and applied experience in the field of climate change for World Heritage
• Ability to implement project communication and publications strategies
• Communicates sensitively and effectively across different constituencies
• Excellent communication skills, excellent writing skills
• Demonstrated ability to conceptualize issues and analyze data to compile and synthesize information in coherent and succinct formats
• Excellent coordination and organization skills
• High attention to detail, proactivity and ability to work under tight deadlines
• Dedicacy, ability to work efficiently in a multi-cultural environment and team spirit
Languages
• Fluent oral and writing skills in English. Basic or good knowledge of French. Both languages will be needed for the implementation of the work.
APPLICATION PROCESS
The consultant contract will have a duration up to 6 months, with a probationary period of 1 month. The appointment is non-career and does not carry any expectancy of renewal or conversion to another contract. Medical health care is not provided.
Interested candidates should complete the on-line application, and submit the following documents as a single PDF document or complete the Employment History form (Word file) with the following required information:
• An up-to-date CV stating details of education qualifications, work experience and contact details. Please highlight relevant prior experience or relevant work completed recently.
• An expression of interest outlining how the candidate meets the criteria, explain the candidate’s interest, their capability and qualifications to perform the tasks. The cover letter shall include a daily/monthly fees in EUR or USD.
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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