Job summary:

This position is located in UNESCO’s Social and Human Sciences Sector (SHS) which strives to accomplish a fundamental humanist mission enhance efforts against violence, racism and discrimination, combat gender stereotypes, deploy the power of sports for social inclusion, promoting intercultural dialogue and supporting youth, women and people with disabilities. SHS collaborates with Member States to protect scientists and trust in science through UNESCO’s 2017 Recommendation on Science and Scientific Researchers, and enhancing the science-policy nexus via the Management of Social Transformation (MOST) Programme.

SHS also focuses on fostering inclusive societies and ensuring the ethical development of emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), in line with UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Ethics of AI. This global standard aims to leverage the positive impact of AI while addressing its inherent risks. Getting AI governance right is one of the most consequential challenges of our time, and countries around the world are now in the process of implementing the Recommendation, with UNESCO supporting them through various capacity-building efforts.

The successful candidate will lead UNESCO’s actions on Social and Human Sciences in Central Africa, and be responsible for the following:

• Provide strategic advice for the advancement of better governance of AI, through the implementation of the Recommendation on the Ethics of AI. This involves guiding the national deployment of AI Readiness Assessments in the region, identifying strategic opportunities, building networks and contacts, and developing work plans.
• Manage the advancement of SHS priorities on championing the anti-racism and anti-discrimination agenda; promoting trust in science and protecting scientists and scientific freedom; leveraging sports for social inclusion via Fit for Life; promoting gender equality, intercultural dialogue, and youth-led initiatives; and facilitating social and human science-based policy-making through the MOST Programme.
• Manage, coordinate, implement and monitor SHS Programmes in the countries covered by the office, in line with the C/5 Programme and Budget document, the UNESCO Country Programming Documents, the countries’ United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and other common UN strategic country instruments, particularly through capacity building, policy advice, technical assistance, and networking of relevant stakeholders in the SHS Sector’s fields of competence.

• Provide strategic and operational advice to Governments in close cooperation with the SHS Sector at Headquarters, in SHS thematic areas. Provide input, including data and statistics for the preparation of reports and briefings on the implementation of Programmes and projects.
• Develop strategic partnerships and mobilize extra-budgetary resources (with particular emphasis on UN funds) to reinforce the Regular Programme. Promote and strengthen partnerships and networking, as well as research and capacity-building, on SHS Sector priority areas namely with African social scientists ‘organizations.
• Increase the relevance and the impact of SHS Programmes on the ground and create synergies between needs on the ground and what UNESCO and SHS can offer.

Under the overall authority of the Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences (SHS) and the direct supervision of the Director of the UNESCO Regional Office for Central Africa based in Yaoundé, Cameroon, the incumbent will be responsible for the design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of the UNESCO Social and Human Sciences Programme for the countries covered by the Office. He/she will ensure SHS’s contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and to the Agenda 2030, as well as to the United Nations Country Team’s (UNCT) programmatic work and Delivering as One exercise in the countries covered by the Office. S/he will work within the frameworks of UNESCO’s Medium-Term Strategy (C/4s), its approved Programme and Budget (C/5) and according to global development plans such as the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

COMPETENCES (Fondamentales / Managériales)

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s) in the field of social and human sciences, political science or a related discipline.

Work Experience

• Minimum 7 years of progressive relevant professional experience in the areas of social and human sciences at national and international level.
• Experience in one or more of the following thematic areas: management of social transformations, social inclusion, intercultural dialogue, bioethics and ethics of science and technology including issues of artificial intelligence, youth and sport.
• Experience in fund raising and resource mobilization.
• Experience in conducting research and producing research papers.
• Demonstrated capacity to provide guidance and to lead and motivate a multicultural team with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

Skills/Competencies

• Good knowledge of UNESCO’s work in the field, and familiarity with SHS Sector activities.
• Good analytical, organizational and project management skills.
• Proven ability to communicate (in writing and oral), advocate, and negotiate with colleagues, staff and stakeholders at all levels within and outside the organization.
• Proven ability to provide high-level advice and technical support in public policy, planning and research.
• Strong sense of responsibility, tact and discretion.
• Excellent coordination and interpersonal skills, flexibility, drive and enthusiasm.
• Capacity to build and maintain effective working relations with national/local authorities, relevant institutions, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations.
• Ability to participate effectively in high-level negotiations with internal and external partners.

Languages

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

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Advanced university degree (Ph.D. or equivalent) in social and human sciences or a related discipline.

Work Experience

• Demonstrated experience in international cooperation Programmes.
• Demonstrated experience in establishing and maintaining professional networks.
• Research and analysis in the fields relevant to the post as demonstrated through authored peer-reviewed publications).

Skills/Competencies

• Good knowledge of UNESCO’s work, and familiarity with Social and Human Sciences Sector activities.
• Knowledge of the geopolitical context of the region.

Languages

• Knowledge of another official language of UNESCO (Arabic, Chinese, Russian and/or Spanish).