Senior Consultant - MONDIACULT 2025 (Culture)

OVERVIEW Parent Sector: Culture Sector (CLT)

Duty Station: Paris

Job Family: Culture

Type of contract: Non Staff

Duration of contract: From 7 to 11 months

Recruitment open to: External candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Duty Station Time): 13-MAR-2025

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

Background

Within the Culture Sector Executive Office (CLT/EO), the Special Projects and Partnerships (EO/SPP) unit supports cross-cutting initiatives and special projects in the field of culture, ensuring their coordinated implementation and monitoring. These activities align with priority thematic areas outlined in internationally agreed documents, particularly the MONDIACULT 2022 Declaration.

As part of its mandate, the EO/SPP unit is responsible for overseeing the preparation and implementation of the UNESCO World Conference on Cultural Policies - MONDIACULT 2025, to be held in Barcelona from 28 September to 1 October 2025. To ensure the successful organization of the Conference, CLT/EO requires additional support in key preparatory activities, including the production of information and knowledge materials, revision of content developed for the Conference, stakeholder consultations, coordination, data collection, partnership strengthening, production of communication materials, and resource mobilization.

MONDIACULT 2025 will focus on the follow-up of the six priority domains of the MONDIACULT 2022 Declaration (cultural rights; digital technologies in the culture sector; culture and education; economy of culture; culture and climate action; culture, heritage and crisis) and on two focus areas: artificial intelligence (AI) and culture, and culture and peace.

Purpose of the Consultancy

The consultant will support the preparation and implementation of MONDIACULT 2025, with a particular focus on the production and revision of knowledge and information materials. AI and culture will receive special attention, including the coordination of an expert group tasked with preparing policy orientations for UNESCO Member States and relevant stakeholders. Additionally, the consultant will contribute to developing initiatives involving youth and artists and to mobilizing resources for these activities.

A key responsibility will be conducting qualitative and quantitative assessments on culture-related matters. The consultant will also play an essential role in designing the programme for MONDIACULT 2025, ensuring effective coordination with the team, partners, and stakeholders.

Under the overall authority of the Assistant Director-General for Culture (ADG/CLT), the general supervision of the Chief of the Executive Office (EO/CLT), and the direct supervision of the Programme Coordinator for Special Projects and Partnerships (CLT/EO/SPP), the consultant will support various activities, with a particular focus on the following:

Work assignment

Tasks:

Long Description

• Support content-related production, review, and dissemination for MONDIACULT 2025's priorities and focus areas, including:
  • Producing information materials, drafting reports, and preparing documents following UNESCO standards.
  • Identifying, compiling, analyzing, and reporting quantitative and qualitative data on MONDIACULT 2025's priority areas.
  • Reviewing reports and other key documents to ensure technical and academic rigor.
  • Supporting activities related to the digital library, including document selection and review.
  • Supporting activities related to the Expert Group on Culture and Peace, including production of documents.
• Support the coordination of the UNESCO Expert Group on Artificial Intelligence and Culture, closely assisting the Group Chair by:
  • Drafting, reviewing, editing, and organizing key documents related to the preparation of the AI and Culture policy orientations document.
  • Facilitating communication among members, coordinating meetings, and assisting the Chair during working sessions.
  • Contributing to the design, resource mobilization, implementation, and evaluation of AI-related initiatives for MONDIACULT 2025 by preparing concept notes and funding proposals.
  • Ensuring coordination with the host country and relevant stakeholders for AI-related activities.
• Support the overall coordination of MONDIACULT 2025's preparatory activities , particularly in the six priority domains outlined in the MONDIACULT 2022 Declaration and the two new priority domains.
• Contribute to designing the general programme for MONDIACULT 2025, ensuring good coordination with the respective teams and stakeholders.

TIMETABLE AND DELIVERABLES

The contractor will submit the following deliverables, for validation by UNESCO, within the expected duration of the contract, as indicated below:

The consultant will submit the following deliverables for validation by UNESCO within the expected contract duration:

Long Description

• Activity Report - Work plan and activities carried out by the UNESCO Expert Group on Artificial Intelligence and Culture.
• Activity Report - Proposal for resource mobilization for MONDIACULT 2025's artistic AI-related initiatives.
• Activity Report - Knowledge pieces produced for MONDIACULT 2025, including a summary of materials, documents and collection tools and strategies.
• Activity Report - Summary of documents produced towards MONDIACULT 2025.
• Mid-term Progress Report - Status update on the work of the UNESCO Expert Group on Artificial Intelligence and Culture.
• Final Report - Comprehensive report on the work of the UNESCO Expert Group on Artificial Intelligence and Culture.
• Activity Report -Knowledge pieces revised in preparation for MONDIACULT 2025, including a summary of them.
• Final Activity Report - Overview of documents produced as follow-up to MONDIACULT 2025, post conference, including preparatory and concluding activities.

Work Location - Partly on site, partly home based

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial) Accountability (C)

Communication (C)

Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C)

• Advanced university degree in disciplines related to policy design, including innovation.

Work Experience

• A minimum of 10 years of professional experience acquired in the field of policy and innovation of which preferably 5 years at the international level.
• Proven experience in conducting internationally comparative quantitative and qualitative research in the fields of policy and innovation.

Long Description Skills and Competencies

• Excellent analytical and drafting skills.
• Excellent communication skills (written and oral) in English and Spanish, and able to exchange information on complex issues.
• Proficiency in both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, with the ability to analyze data, interpret and report findings, draft policy recommendations, and present to expert audiences in innovation policy contexts.
• Good knowledge and proven expertise in coordination of multilateral cooperation projects.
• Proven ability to collect, synthesize and analyse information from various sources and formulate research documents.
• Proven experience in drafting multidisciplinary innovation-oriented policy reports.
• Proven experience in presenting technical findings to wide audiences.
• Excellent organization and planning skills, including the ability to organize own work priorities and deadlines.
• 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.

Languages

• Excellent knowledge of both English and Spanish (speaking, reading and writing) and good knowledge of French.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS Education

• Doctorate in disciplines related to technology innovation.
• Professional experience in the United Nations system.
• Expert knowledge of UNESCO Culture Conventions and its Programmes.

Languages

• Knowledge of another UNESCO official language will be an asset.

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 brief technical proposal outlining the approach and methodology for the assignment in line with the terms of reference
• A competitive fee for the assignment quoted in EUR (or USD) and expressed on a monthly basis.

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT 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.

The evaluation of candidates is based on the criteria in the vacancy notice . click apply for full job details