Project Officer, UNESCO Phnom Penh, Cambodia

OVERVIEW

Parent Sector:                Science Unit, UNESCO Cambodia
Duty Station:                  Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Type of contract:            Service Contract
Level:    SC8
Duration of contract:     12-month contract, subject to satisfactory performance and fund availability.
Recruitment opens to:   Cambodian National
Application Deadline:    7 March 2025
 

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

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

I.    Background
As the only United Nations specialized agency with a specific mandate for science, UNESCO works to advance and promote science in the interests of peace, sustainable development, and human livelihoods, in close collaboration with its Member States and a wide variety of partners. Recognizing the urgent need to address cross-cutting global issues such as climate change and natural disaster reduction, UNESCO has acted as a catalyst for many initiatives with far-reaching implications for sustainable human security and well-being.

UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) is a scientific program launched in 1971 that aims to improve the relationship between people and their environments. It uses Biosphere Reserves (BR) as a tool to promote the conservation of biodiversity and its sustainable use.

As part of the global UNESCO-Guerlain partnership, UNESCO has been conducting a scientific initiative to promote sustainable beekeeping, which aims to foster biodiversity conservation, food security, ecotourism development, and the development of local communities’ livelihoods, with a specific focus on women’s empowerment.

The "Groundwater Resources in the Greater Mekong Subregion" project, funded by the Adaptation Fund (ADF), focuses on groundwater management and climate resilience in Cambodia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Thailand, and Vietnam. The project aims to develop policies, improve technical systems for monitoring and management, and build capacity through education and technical assistance.

The "Enhancing sustainability of the Transboundary Cambodia-Mekong River Delta Aquifer" project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), focuses on improving the governance and sustainable utilization of the shared Cambodia-Mekong Delta Aquifer. The project involves joint scientific studies, piloting solutions for transboundary groundwater management, establishing cooperation mechanisms, implementing legal and policy reforms, and enhancing institutional capacity.
 

Long Description

II.    Scope of the assignment 

Under the overall authority of the Head of Office, UNESCO Phnom Penh and the direct supervision of the National Project Officer, Sciences Unit, and in close collaboration with UNESCO HQ in Paris and relevant UNESCO Offices (Bangkok and Hanoi), the National Project Officer will:
1.    Project implementation
•    Assist in the implementation and day-to-day operation of the projects in Cambodia by developing annual work plans in close collaboration with the Natural Science Team in Phnom Penh, the Regional Technical Coordinator, international partners, and national counterparts, and ensuring the regular functioning of the project activity plan.
•    Draft, provide inputs for, and review project and technical reports, including progress narratives, donor reports, thematic papers and concept notes.
•    Organize and facilitate workshops, conferences, and consultation meetings and prepare meeting notes and minutes and provide support for follow-up activities.
•    Assist the Unit in designing communication materials, including website news articles, social media content, and advocacy materials, to ensure the wide circulation of UNESCO’s initiatives related to groundwater resources among relevant stakeholders.
•    Map projects, experts, and stakeholders related to groundwater, and build a network.
•    Build partnerships and strengthen coordination by liaising with academic institutes, universities, research institutes, and stakeholders working on the projects, and by enhancing coordination among various actors to promote the effectiveness and efficiency of project and activity implementation.
•    Support and engage in capacity-building efforts, particularly in water security, climate change resilience, and the sustainable management of groundwater resources.
•    Support the project team, experts, consultants, mission teams (both international and national), and partners in managing and conducting field missions.

2.    Assist in data collection and analysis and generating, tracking and consolidation of project information
•    Regularly collect both quantitative and qualitative data, information, and photo captions at events and activities, and maintain them as recorded files.
•    Systematically collect, consolidate, arrange, translate, and present data and information for groundwater project stakeholders.
•    Conduct project monitoring and field missions and provide technical and operational support for the collection of data, maps, and information related to groundwater in Cambodia.
 

Long Description

3.    Assist in knowledge management and best practice sharing among stakeholders.
•    Facilitate the identification and development of best practices, and use them for information sharing and knowledge management, including lessons learned and related subjects.
•    Capture lessons learned and successful project activities in the form of documentations, short stories, case studies, and photos. Constantly share these within and beyond the project intervention target area through existing information-sharing networks and forums to promote project visibility, especially for ADF, GEF, and UNESCO.

4.    Support the implementation of the Women for Bees programme in Cambodia
•    Provide inputs to terms of reference, project documents, concept notes, reports, and other documents relevant to the bee programme in Cambodia.
•    Support the monitoring of activities, including following up with partners and experts, and conducting site visits.
•    Coordinate with communities, partners, experts, and other stakeholders, including the Ministry of Environment.
•    Develop awareness-raising and visibility materials, including web stories and social media posts.
•    Organize workshops and consultative meetings, prepare meeting notes, and support follow-up activities.
•    Support the preparation of a National Plan for Sustainable Beekeeping and Native Bee Conservation in Cambodia.

5.    M&E and Reporting
•    Responsible for monitoring and regularly reporting on the progress of the project against annual work plans and project output indicators in Cambodia, and identifying issues that need urgent attention by the project teams and counterparts.
•    Coordinate and lead the M&E data compilation for effective monitoring and timely reporting of the project, providing inputs or suggestions for the effective implementation of the project plan, generated outputs, and achievable objectives.
6.    Provide technical assistance and support to the Unit to promote and expand UNESCO’s Natural Science initiatives in Cambodia, including enlisting UNESCO-designated sites (Biosphere Reserves, Geoparks and World Heritage), Education for Sustainable Development, and other initiatives. This includes conducting research and analysis, drafting thematic papers, concept notes, and project documents, supporting partnerships with relevant stakeholders.
7.    Participate in meetings, workshops, and trainings, and report/share the results with the Natural Sciences Unit and other stakeholders.
8.    Assist in translating documents and interpreting from English to Khmer and vice versa, as required.
9.    Carry out any additional tasks and responsibilities as assigned by the Natural Sciences Unit and the Head of Office, UNESCO Phnom Penh.
 

Long Description

UNESCO COMPETENCIES (Core/Managerial)
Accountability (C)
Communication (C)
Innovation (C)
Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C)
Planning and organizing (C)
Results focus (C)
Teamwork (C)
Building partnership (C)
Professionalism (C)
 

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REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in in a subject related to natural resource management/environmental scientist, such as water resources management, water sciences, natural sciences, environmental sciences, Climate Change etc. or any relevant field is required; specializations in environment and/or hydrology and/or water resources management are most desired; 

Work experiences

•    At least two (2) years of relevant professional experiences in working as environmental scientist and on natural resource management and/or transboundary water resources management, hydrology, Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), water-related hazard/ risk reduction, as well as climate change adaptation and resilience, and/or relevant fields 
•    Experience working with ministries, national or provincial institutions that are concerned with natural resource and/or environmental management.
•    Sound knowledge of the major development issues with regards to environment, water resources and climate change in Cambodia; 
•    Proven experiences in coordination and/or managing development projects, particularly at national level; 
•    Demonstrated experience and skills in project management.
•    Demonstrated experience in partnerships management related projects.

Skills/Competencies
•    Excellent coordination and interpersonal skills
•    Proven capacity to build and maintain effective partnerships inside and outside the organization.
•    Proven conceptual and analytical skills related to the water resource management, conservation of biodiversity, sustainable livelihoods, and stakeholder’s coordination.
•    Good Knowledge and understanding of government functioning.
•    Ability to take initiative, establish priorities and capacity to work efficiently under pressure.
•    Comfortable with working in a multicultural workplace, ability to work in a team and manage other people to achieve shared objectives.
•    Excellent computing skills including MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and related programmes;
•    Highly organized and self-motivated; 
•    Demonstrated personal sensitivity and commitment to the values and principles of equity, gender equality and cultural diversity; 
 

Languages
•    Excellent written and spoken English.
•    Excellent written and spoken Khmer
 

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

•    Sound knowledge and/or experiences of the major development issues with regards to environment, water resources and climate change in Mekong delta is a plus.
•    Experiences in ODA projects’ management in Cambodia is a plus.
•    Experience working on inter-governmental and/or inter-agency processes is desirable.
•    Prior UN experience or international organizations is an asset.
 

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS