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) : 10-DEC-2025
UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism
OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST
UNESCO Diversity of Cultural Expressions Entity promotes the diversity of cultural expressions and the creative economy as vectors for sustainable development. Its mission is to ensure the effective implementation and monitoring of the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions and the 1980 Recommendation concerning the Status of the Artist. The Entity fosters international cooperation by providing assistance to governments around the world to design, monitor, and evaluate policies. It also provides support to the sound decision-making of the Conventionโs governing bodies through knowledge sharing and data collection, analysis, and distribution.
Since 2014, UNESCO Diversity of Cultural Expressions Entity has implemented, with funding from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), a global cooperation programme at the intersection of culture, policymaking and sustainable development. The programme promotes participatory, transparent and evidence-based approaches to design and monitor policies for creativity, in line with the objectives of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (2005). To date, over 30 countries have benefited from capacity-building and policy support aimed at strengthening cultural governance systems and advancing the creative economy. Within this framework, UNESCO assists Parties to the Convention in preparing their national Quadrennial Periodic Reports (QPRs), fostering multi-stakeholder dialogue, and enhancing knowledge of cultural policies worldwide. The data and analyses drawn from these reports feed into UNESCOโs Re|Shaping Policies for Creativity global report series and the Policy Monitoring Platform. The programme places a particular emphasis on promoting gender equality in the cultural and creative sectors, supporting the design of gender-transformative policies and fostering womenโs participation and leadership in cultural life.
The current Programme Cooperation Agreement began in 2022 and remains valid until 31 December 2025. Within this framework, an external evaluation is being conducted until the end of 2025 by an independent partner. As part of the renewal process for the next Programme Cooperation Agreement, negotiations with the donor will take place in the first semester of 2026. The standard duration of Programme Cooperation Agreements is four years.
Long Description
Work assignment
In that framework, under the overall authority of the Assistant Director-General for Culture, the general supervision of the Chief of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions and the direct supervision of the Head of the Programme Specialist from the Programme and Capacity Building Unit, the consultant shall:
1. Completion of the SIDA III project โReshaping policies for creativity and artistic freedomโ
Finalize the external evaluation report process of phase III following internal consultation review. Elaborate the final project report, including consolidation of the results achieved, promotion of the actions carried out, and integration of the conclusions and recommendations of the external evaluation.
2. Design of the new cooperation programme with Sweden
Long Description
TIMETABLE AND DELIVERABLES
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The contractor will submit the following deliverables, for validation by UNESCO, within the expected duration of the contract, as indicated below:
By 28 February 2026: Final report of the external evaluation of Phase III. By 31 March 2026: Final project report of Phase III. By 30 April 2026: Progress report on the conceptual development of the new cooperation programme. By 31 May 2026: Progress report on the conceptual development of the new cooperation programme. By 30 June 2026: Comprehensive project document for the new cooperation programme. By 31 July 2026: Methodological guide for UNESCO field offices for implementation .
Work Location โ UNESCO Headquarters, 7 Place de Fontenoy, 75007 Paris (France).
Expected duration โ 6 months
COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial) Professionalism (C)
- For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education:
Advanced university degree (Masterโs degree) in disciplines in the field of culture.Work Experience
A minimum of 5 years of professional experience acquired in the field of culture of which preferably 3 years at the international level.Long Description
Skills and Competencies
Good knowledge and proven expertise in the coordination of multilateral cooperation projects. Strong ability to collect, synthesize and analyse information from various sources and formulate research documents. 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. Strong IT skills.
Languages
Excellent knowledge of both English and French (speaking, reading and writing) and good knowledge of the other language.DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Work experience
Experience with the implementation of the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. Experience in gender equality in the field of cultural and creative industries. Professional experience in the United Nations system.
Skills and Competencies
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: