Head of the Africa Unit

Post Number : WHC 027

Grade : P-4

Parent Sector : Culture Sector (CLT)

Duty Station: Paris

Job Family: Culture

Type of contract : Fixed Term

Duration of contract : 2 years

Recruitment open to : Internal and external candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 22-OCT-2020

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

The Head of the Africa Unit, under the overall authority of the Assistant Director-General for Culture and the direct supervision of the Director of the World Heritage Centre, leads, manages and oversees the work of the Unit’s staff for the effective implementation of the World Heritage Convention in the Africa Region, with a special focus on conservation of World Heritage sites, as well as ensuring the reporting to Governing Bodies and contributing to resource mobilization.

In particular, the incumbent is responsible for the following:

Lead the implementation of the World Heritage Convention in the Africa Region: 

• Coordinate the implementation of the World Heritage Convention and its related activities by States Parties in the Region.
• Coordinate and collaborate with the relevant partners and organizations in the Region, including Category 2 Centres, for the promotion of effective policies and programmes for World Heritage conservation.
• Organize and carry out missions of technical advice, assistance and monitoring.
• Oversee and coordinate the monitoring of the state of conservation of properties inscribed on the World Heritage List and the List of World Heritage in Danger in the States Parties of the Africa Region including reactive and reinforced monitoring and by the organization and implementation of field missions.
• Coordinate Periodic Reporting, preparation and follow-up of Actions Plans with the States Parties of the Region.
• Provide leadership, guidance and supervision to the staff of the Unit.
• Organize training and capacity building courses and workshops, participating in the identification of experts and participants.
• Draft and edit reports, documents and publications related to the implementation of the World Heritage Convention.

Promote international co-operation in the Africa Region:

• Prepare, develop and backstop World Heritage projects entrusted to UNESCO by bilateral and multilateral Donors, for implementation in the Region, and contribute actively to the planning and implementation of protection, conservation and rehabilitation activities.
• Provide technical assistance and advice to the States Parties of the Region in preparing projects for International Assistance financed by the World Heritage Fund as well as by other bi-  and multilateral sources.
• Select, hire and brief consultants and experts, plan and monitor their work.

Support the World Heritage Statutory Bodies:

• Prepare the required documents for the General Assembly of States Parties and the World Heritage Committee and related meetings, implement their decisions and recommendations, and to this purpose liaise with the Advisory Bodies to the World Heritage Committee (ICOMOS, IUCN, ICCROM).
• Contribute to the organization of all the above meetings and participate in them.

Contribute to the implementation of the priorities of the Culture Sector:

• Design, implement, monitor and report on work plans and projects of the approved Programme and Budget (C/5; EX/4).
• Contribute to the implementation of UNESCO global priorities and to transversal issues identified as priorities by the Culture Sector.
• Mobilize voluntary contributions for programmes and projects in line with the priorities of the C/5 Programme and Budget and the Culture Sector's Resources Mobilization Framework.
• Develop and establish appropriate partnerships and ensure their implementation and reporting to donors and Governing Bodies.

Education

• Advanced University degree (Master’s or equivalent) in the field of Architecture, Heritage, Culture, Humanities, International Relations, Law, Development Studies, Natural Sciences, Ecological Sciences, or related areas.

Work Experience

• A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible and relevant professional experience in Cultural/Natural Heritage, and/or in the field of culture, and/or in nature conservation.

• Relevant experience acquired at the international level.

• Experience in designing, managing and implementing policies, programmes and projects related to heritage conservation and/or nature conservation.

• Experience in the preparation of statutory meetings and documents, as well as discussion papers.

• Experience in resources mobilization and partnership development.

• Experience leading and managing teams of professionals in a multicultural work environment.

Skills and competencies

• Good knowledge of UNESCO’s standard setting instruments and programmes in the field of culture and excellent knowledge of the 1972 Convention.

• Good knowledge of the African Continent geopolitical context, challenges and priorities, in particular in the field of cultural and natural heritage.

• Familiarity with the work and general functioning of international organizations and/or the UN system.

• Strong analytical, anticipation, problem solving, organizational and coordination skills.

• Good budget analysis and management skills.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills, and in particular capacity to collect, synthesize and analyze information from various sources and to write documents in a clear and concise manner.

• Ability to take initiative, to manage heavy workload, and to work under pressure, with capacity for accuracy, paying close attention to detail and quality of work.

• Ability to ensure substantive quality control of inputs on subjects matters.

• Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to maintain effective working relations within a multi-cultural environment, diplomatic skills with excellent political awareness and understanding.

Languages

• Excellent knowledge of either English or French, with good knowledge of the other language.

Education

• Advanced University degree (PhD) related to the fields of Architecture, Heritage, Culture, Humanities, International Relations or Law, Development Studies, Natural Sciences, Ecological Sciences, or related areas. 

Work Experience

• Experience in assessing, designing, implementing and monitoring activities, with a strong commitment to evidence-based, context-driven, flexible and principled programming.

• Experience in the administrative system of the Organization.

Languages

• Knowledge of other official UNESCO languages (Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Spanish).