Call for applications: UNESCO culture and heritage consultant in Harare

The position is open to external candidates and the successful individual will be based in Harare.

The initiative seeks to assess the integration of culture and heritage in disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation mechanisms (disaster risk assessments, strategies, plans, policies, laws and frameworks) in nine Southern African countries covered by UNESCO ROSA (Botswana, eSwatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe).

Assignment

Within the framework of the above context and under the overall authority of the regional director and representative of UNESCO Southern Africa and the direct supervision of the head of the Culture Unit, the consultant shall:

• Conduct an assessment of the integration of culture and heritage in disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation in nine Southern African countries. The objectives of the assessment are to:
  • Analyse the extent to which culture and heritage are integrated in National Disaster Risk Strategies and/or Emergency Preparedness Plans in nine Southern African countries. The analysis should identify any gaps, compare and contrast the situation among the nine countries, and provide recommendations to develop culture and heritage-based risk reduction, mitigation and adaptation strategies to reduce the impacts of climate change.
  • Map out and analyse key cultural and heritage institutions and Disaster Risk Management agencies or institutions in each of the nine countries. These should include, among others, National Heritage Councils, National Arts Councils, National Disaster Risk Management Agencies and Ministries responsible for culture, heritage and disaster risk management, key cultural and heritage assets that are susceptible to climate change-induced disasters and the specific vulnerabilities associated to them in each of the nine countries and climate change-induced risks affecting culture and heritage in each of the nine countries, including natural and man-made hazards. Note: The findings of the assessment, including recommendation to develop culture and heritage-based risk reduction, mitigation, and adaptation strategies to reduce the impacts of climate change, will be presented during an online stakeholders’ meeting to be organised by UNESCO.
• Revise and finalise the report taking into account inputs and feedback from the online stakeholders’ meeting and submit the final report to UNESCO.

Deliverables

The consultant shall submit the following:

• Technical and financial proposal clearly outlining how the assessment will be conducted and the associated financial costs.
• Work plan.
• Comprehensive assessment report that should contain the following, among other things, executive summary, methodology, findings of the assessment.
• Recommendations and policy directions to enhance the integration of culture and heritage in disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation strategies in the nine Southern African countries. Annex: Key cultural and heritage institutions and Disaster Risk Management agencies or institutions and their contact details.

Competencies (core/managerial)

• Accountability (C).
• Communication (C).
• Innovation (C)
• Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C).
• Planning and organising (C).
• Results focus (C).
• Teamwork (C).
• Professionalism (C).

For detailed information, applicants should consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.

Required qualifications

• A master’s degree in Disaster Risk Reduction, Culture and Heritage Management, Monitoring and Evaluation or any other related field.
• At least five years of working experience in disaster risk reduction, monitoring and evaluation or cultural heritage management.
• Proven experience of conducting assessments and evaluations in the past.
• Excellent English (both written and oral).
• Excellent research and writing skills.

Desirable qualifications

• UN work experience.
• Knowledge of Portuguese

Benefits and entitlements

Remuneration will be negotiated based on the Financial and Technical proposal of the selected candidate.

Selection and recruitment process

Interested qualified and suitable candidates should apply online using the UNESCO careers page before 22 March. They should send the following to [email protected] with a copy to [email protected]:

• Technical and financial proposal (max four pages) describing how they intend to undertake the assignment and the associated costs.
• Detailed CV.
• Samples of previous work done (max two samples).
• Brief work plan and timeline.

Note: Only selected candidates will be further contacted and candidates in the final selection step will be subject to reference checks based on the information provided.

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The assessment will consider the current risks related to climate change, investigate the level of integration of culture and heritage in the Disaster Risk Management mechanisms as a key component to reduce disaster risk and contribute to climate change adaptation for each of these countries, and analyse any response mechanisms that are in place. It will provide key recommendations and policy directions to develop culture and heritage-based risk reduction, mitigation, and adaptation strategies to reduce the impacts of climate change on local communities’ livelihoods, cultural practices, and tangible heritage in the countries covered.

“Culture and heritage are increasingly affected by disasters and conflicts throughout the world, due to a variety of factors, including natural hazards, climate change and political instability, which often reinforce each other,” UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa said in a statement. “Such crises have caused extensive damage to, if not the complete loss of, innumerable cultural and natural heritage sites, museums and cultural institutions, and have affected intangible cultural heritage practices and cultural expressions.”

View the original call here.