Call for international consultant on the coordination of publications, events and stakeholder outreach actions

This call for expressions of interest is for an individual consultant interested in working on a full-time basis to take charge of the coordination of publications, events and stakeholder outreach actions of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions entity of UNESCO. The contract will be from 1 February to 31 December 2022.

Background

The 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 that promote the diversity of cultural expressions and the creative economy. It also coordinates and monitors the Convention’s statutory obligations, notably by providing support for the sound decision-making of the Convention’s governing bodies through knowledge sharing and data collection, analysis, and distribution. 

Under the overall authority of the Assistant Director-General for Culture, the general supervision of the Chief of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (DCE) Entity and the direct supervision of the Head of Programmes and Stakeholder Outreach Unit and other DCE colleagues, the incumbent will be responsible for the coordination of DCE publications, events and stakeholder outreach actions.

Scope of the work:

Within this context, the individual consultant will:

1. Ensure the coordination of DCE publications by:

1. Providing support to produce the Entity’s publications, through adequate planning and monitoring of production schedules, ensuring compliance with UNESCO publications guidelines and related administrative procedures, coordinating publications-related contracts, copyright permissions forms, ISBN applications, and ensuring design cohesiveness;
2. Assisting in the identification of relevant themes for publications, the selection of external experts to contribute to them, the review of submitted manuscripts and the identification of peer reviewers;
3. Providing cross-cutting support for the preparation of manuscripts of publications of the diversity of cultural expressions entity, notably through the drafting of textual elements such as prefaces, introductions, glossaries, bibliographies, etc. and design of computer graphics and copy-editing;
4. Contributing to drafting and editing the Entity’s publications, including by ensuring the integration of relevant data collected through the different monitoring mechanisms managed by the Entity (quadrennial periodic reports, surveys on the implementation of the 1980 Recommendation concerning the Status of the Artist, etc.), and conducting complementary research, when necessary;
5. Contributing to the development of communication materials (web page, press release, mail chimp, social media, etc.) to ensure appropriate dissemination of the Entity’s publications;

2. Ensure the coordination of various events/meetings by:

1. 1. Developing a 2022 DCE event calendar in consultation with DCE colleagues and relevant colleagues of UNESCO, referring to relevant international days as an opportunity to raise awareness of issues covered by the 2005 Convention (e.g., World Art Day of 15 April, World Book and Copyright Day of 23 April, World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development of 21 May, etc.);
   2. Implementing the event calendars in consultation and partnership with relevant UNESCO colleagues (e.g., screening of films, organization of debates involving artists, organization of publication launches, etc.)
   3. Developing a monitoring tool to assess the impact of the DCE events on the 2005 Convention stakeholders.

3. Implement the stakeholder outreach strategy of the 2005 Convention, by:

1. 1. Elaborating a set of stakeholder mappings to identify relevant stakeholders to be mobilized at the regional and global levels for the promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions;
   2. Devising ways to invite a diverse range of groups and individuals to participate in new communities of practice in order to build new partnerships and networks advocating for action, change and learning opportunities in monitoring areas of the 2005 Convention such as gender equality, digital environment, media diversity, artistic freedom, etc.;
   3. Promoting the UNESCO/Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman International Prize for the Creative Economy as a way to reach out to creative entrepreneurs and link them to the work of the 2005 Convention. 

Deliverables and timeframe

The individual consultant shall submit to UNESCO, in electronic format, the following deliverables:

1. On or before 31 March 2022, a DCE event calendar for 2022/2023 including the list of publications to be produced and released
2. On or before 31 May 2022, an interim report providing information about stakeholder mapping
3. On or before 31 July 2022, an interim report on at least 2 events or publications carried out to promote the work of the diversity of cultural expressions
4. On or before 30 September 2022, an interim report on the launch of a new call for applications for the UNESCO/Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman International Prize for the Creative Economy
5. On or before 30 November 2022, an interim report on new partnerships including co-editing and networks mobilized
6. On or before 31 December 2022, a final report providing information about how the call for applications of the UNESCO/Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman International Prize for the Creative Economy was promoted among various stakeholders and outcome of the call and also assessing the impact of the DCE publications launched in 2022, the events organized, and stakeholder outreach actions

Duty Station. UNESCO HQs in Paris

Implementation period:  1 February to 31 December 2022

Qualification requirements

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Advanced University Degree (Master’s or equivalent) in the field of communication, humanities, culture, cultural industries and/or cultural policies or a related area.       

Work experience

• A minimum of ten years of professional experience in managing publications, events and stakeholders outreach in the field of culture and international cooperation
• Proven experience in the organisation of outreach and awareness raising events and meetings at the international level in the field of culture and/or sustainable development
• Experience at an international organization or United Nations agency

Skills/Competencies

• Good knowledge and understanding of the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions
• Proven ability to draft clearly and concisely and to produce high quality analysis and synthesis documents
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate a publication production process effectively;
• Ability to manage a heavy workload, paying close attention to detail and quality of work while meeting deadlines
• Excellent IT skills, including in standard office software and in database management and data visualization
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment and to maintain trust-based working relations in a multicultural team
• Strong planning and organisational skills
• Familiarity with UNESCO’s operations and procedures

Languages

• Excellent knowledge of English or French and good knowledge of the other language.

Application process:  

Interested candidates are invited to submit their detailed CV in English or French accompanied by a work plan and a financial proposal using the standard template quoted in USD.

Expressions of interest should be submitted by e-mail to convention2005.call@unesco.org clearly indicating “Call for international consultant on the coordination of publications, events and stakeholder outreach actions” in the subject.

Selection will be based on the candidate’s level of expertise and experience and his/her ability to meet fully the requirements as defined in the Job Opening.

Closing Date of Applications: 24 January 2022