Mission and objectivesSince wars begin in the minds of men and women, it is in the minds of men and women that the defences of peace must be constructed. UNESCO Constitution What is UNESCO? UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It seeks to build peace through international cooperation in education, sciences and culture. UNESCO's programmes contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals defined in the 2030 Agenda, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2015. UNESCO's History As early as 1942, in wartime, the governments of the European countries, which were confronting Nazi Germany and its allies, met in the United Kingdom for the Conference of Allied Ministers of Education (CAME). World War II was far from over, yet those countries were looking for ways and means to rebuild their education systems once peace was restored. The project quickly gained momentum and soon acquired a universal character. New governments, including that of the United States, decided to join in. Upon the proposal of CAME, a United Nations Conference for the establishment of an educational and cultural organization (ECO/CONF) was convened in London from 1 to 16 November 1945. Scarcely had the war ended when the conference opened. It gathered together representatives of forty-four countries who decided to create an organization that would embody a genuine culture of peace. In their eyes, the new organization was to establish the โintellectual and moral solidarity of mankindโ and thereby prevent the outbreak of another world war.
ContextThis volunteer assignment directly supports the UNESCO Regional Office for the Gulf States and Yemenโs strategic objective to broaden and strengthen its donor base, particularly through deeper engagement with regional philanthropic institutions, foundations, and development partners. In line with UNESCOโs global efforts to enhance resource mobilization and strategic partnerships, the Office is placing increased emphasis on building a robust knowledge base around donor priorities, funding mechanisms, and partnership trends in the Gulf and beyond. The contribution of the volunteer will be embedded within a broader program of donor intelligence gathering, pipeline development, and proposal support. This is particularly important in a context where the Office is managing multiple concept notes, initiating new outreach efforts, and aligning its programming with emerging donor interests in areas such as education, climate resilience, cultural heritage protection, and digital transformation. The volunteerโs work will provide the analytical foundation needed to position UNESCO more effectively with both traditional and non-traditional donors. Their research will inform the design of engagement strategies, the preparation of funding proposals, and the articulation of value propositions tailored to specific donor profiles.
Task DescriptionThe volunteer will provide research and analytical support to help identify and qualify prospective donors and funding opportunities relevant to UNESCOโs mandate, with a particular focus on regional actors but not only. This work will inform the development of concept notes, engagement strategies, and tailored pitches to prospective partners. Under the guidance of the Partnerships Officer, the volunteer will: - Conduct desk research on regional and global donors, including foundations, funds, and private sector entities; - Map current funding priorities, thematic focus areas, and geographic scope of key regional donors; - Compile donor profiles, funding trends, and partnership models relevant to UNESCOโs areas of work; - Identify upcoming calls for proposals or expressions of interest where applicable; - Prepare briefing notes or short digests to support internal discussions and donor engagement planning. UNESCO will provide guidance, templates, and access to relevant internal materials. The volunteer will not be expected to directly contact donors. The outputs of this assignment are: - Donor profiles and research notes, including thematic focus and funding mechanisms. - Structured donor mappings and one matrix dedicated to Yemen for internal use; - Updates or short briefs on emerging opportunities (as relevant).
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