Programme Specialist

OVERVIEW
**Post Number**: SHS 350
**Grade**: P-3
**Parent Sector**: Social and Human Sciences Sector (SHS)
**Duty Station**: Paris
**Job Family**: Social and Human Sciences
**Type of contract**: Fixed Term
**Duration of contract**: 2 years, renewable
**Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time)**: 10-MAR-2025
**UNESCO Core Values**: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism
OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) contributes to peace and security by promoting international cooperation in education, natural sciences, social and human sciences, culture, and communication and information. UNESCO promotes knowledge sharing and the free flow of ideas to accelerate cross cultural mutual understanding. The Organization comprises 194 Member States and 12 Associate Members and employs over 2,300 staff members from 170+ nationalities at its Headquarters and 54 field offices worldwide.
UNESCO's work on youth leverages the wealth of knowledge, expertise and capacities in all the areas of its mandate, and builds comprehensive and systemic interventions on youth and with the meaningful engagement of young people. The key objective of the Youth Programme at the Social and Human Sciences Sector is to strengthen the capacities of youth stakeholders, to generate knowledge, and to support youth actions, networks, and spaces, so as to help develop and implement youth-focused policies and programmes addressing multidimensional societal challenges faced by youth. To achieve this, the work of the Youth Section is developed around four key building blocks: (i) Knowledge on youth (ii) Policy solutions (iii) Youth-led action and innovation iv) Capacity development. The Youth Section also acts as coordinator of Youth as a priority Group across the Organization.
The incumbent of the post will work under the overall authority of the Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences (ADG/SHS), guidance from the Director of the Division of Research, Ethics and Inclusion, and direct supervision of the Chief of Section. S/he will be responsible for implementing, monitoring and reporting on sectional, cross-sectional and divisional, regular and extra-budgetary projects and programmes related to youth as a priority group, and providing recommendations on project feasibility, as well as identifying potential collaborations and ensuring regular communications and exchange amongst teams, colleagues, peers and stakeholders. The work will be carried out within the framework of UNESCO’s Medium-Term Strategy (C/4s), the approved Programme and Budget (C/5) and global development plans such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Long Description
**Within this context, the incumbent will**:
Contribute to reinforcing youth as a priority group within UNESCO and with external partners.
Oversee youth programme projects, including thematic responsibilities, advocacy, organisation of events (such as the UNESCO Youth Forum) and meetings, as well as resource mobilization, partnerships, and administrative tasks.
Ensure technical support for the development and implementation of youth projects, managing contracts and finances, coordinating staff, and overseeing monitoring and evaluation processes.
Contribute to knowledge base development, including research on emerging youth issues.
Conduct feasibility studies, propose collaborative projects, and engage in policy discussions to strengthen youth as a priority group.
Keep abreast of developments in the field of youth to advise governments, ministries, youth stakeholders, partners and colleagues on policy, project development, and best practices.
COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial) Accountability (C) Innovation (C) Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C) Planning and organizing (C) Results focus (C) Teamwork (C) Communication (C) - For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in the field of social and human sciences, humanities, law, political sciences, international relations, communications, economics or other related areas in the field of social sciences.
Work Experience
Minimum four (4) years of progressive professional experience relevant to research in social sciences, social policy and social transformation of which preferably 2 years acquired at international level.
Proven experience in leading high-quality research and analysis on related themes.
Proven experience in fund-raising and other resource mobilization mechanisms and in managing knowledge-led programmes and projects on related themes.
Skills and Competencies
Good knowledge of UNESCO’s work and familiarity with SHS Sector activities.
Good analytical, organizational and project management skills.
Proven ability in programme management, including the monitoring and reporting of programme activities