Consultant on Documentary Heritage

OVERVIEW

Parent Sector : Field Office

Duty Station: Bangkok

Job Family: Communication and Information

Type of contract : Non Staff

Duration of contract : From 7 to 11 months

Recruitment open to : External candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 01-DEC-2025

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

1. OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

Within the framework of  the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)’s Communication and Information (CI) programme, in particular its Outcome 6 on “promoting freedom of expression and the right to information” and Outcome 8 on “fostering knowledge sharing and skills development in the digital age”, the UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok and Office for UN Coordination for Asia and the Pacific (hereinafter called UNESCO Bangkok) requires an Individual Specialist to closely coordinate the smooth planning, implementation and reporting of the projects on building capacity for the monitoring and preservation of documentary heritage in the Asia-Pacific region, and fostering universal access to information and knowledge in the Mekong countries, with specific advocacy on gender mainstreaming.

2. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the overall authority of the Regional Director of the UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok, and the direct supervision of the Adviser for Communication and Information, the Individual Specialist shall undertake the following assignments:

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

2.1 Support the implementation of the Japanese Funds-in-Trust project “Glass Plate Photography Collections at Risk in Asia: Preservation and Digitization of Archaeological and Ethnographic Collections” in close consultation with partners and key stakeholders. These responsibilities include:

a. Organize and facilitate consultative meetings with stakeholders;

b. Prepare the second phase of project implementation plan on assessing the state of preservation of glass plate negatives collections;

c. Assist in the development of preservation plans and guidelines for each target institution;

d. Identify suitable digitization processes and resource persons for digitization;

e. Engage with partners, experts, resource persons, beneficiary groups and contractors to ensure the smooth implementation of the project and achievement of targeted results;

f. Monitor project progress and ensure timely delivery of outputs;

g. Prepare regular progress reports;

h. Promote the visibility of the project and support with input for reports on project implementation.

2.2 Support the implementation of activities under the UNESCO Memory of the World (MoW) programme in Asia & the Pacific in close consultation with the Memory of the World Committee for Asia and the Pacific (MOWCAP), national committees for the MoW, National Commissions for UNESCO, memory institutions from Southeast Asia and UNESCO field offices. These responsibilities will include:

a. Contributing directly to the work of MOWCAP Secretariat, including organizing statutory and the coordination of the 2026 cycle of nominations to the MOWCAP Regional Register;

b. Coordinate the organization of the 2026 MOWCAP General Meeting, to be held in Jakarta, Indonesia in June 2026, in close collaboration with MOWCAP and the National Archives of the Republic of Indonesia.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

2.3 Support initiatives in the Mekong Region related to the International Decade on Indigenous Languages (IDIL):

- Plan for programme-related activities, including national and regional initiatives on localizing the Global Action Plan for IDIL 2022-2032 in the Mekong sub-region.
 

2.4 Support the identification and exploration ofnew partnerships for CI programme related to Item 2.1 and 2.2 in coordination with:

- J-FIT, K-FIT and other resources and partners for future funding and collaboration opportunities.

2.5 Undertake other tasks as and when assigned by the supervisor and the Director:

a. Assist in planning and coordinating publications and other communication materials in close coordination with the Communications and Public Engagement unit;

b. Assist the CI unit in drafting speeches, PowerPoints, meeting reports, etc.
 

2.6 Undertake missions as necessary and approved by the Supervisor:

a. Undertake mission to Yogyakarta, Indonesia, in January 2026 to participate and co-facilitate the JFIT Regional Training on Preserving Glass Plate Negatives at Risk in Asia;

b. Undertake a mission to Jakarta, Indonesia, in June 2026 to participate and co-facilitate the MOWCAP General Meeting 2026.

Related supporting documents such as receipts, air ticket itinerary, boarding pass, visa fee receipts, etc. shall be submitted for reimbursement. UNESCO will apply deductions for DSA based on the actual meals and terminal fares subsidized by the organizer in accordance with its policy.

2.7 Submit the following deliverables to UNESCO Bangkok for its approval:

a. Monthly report detailing activities undertaken for each month period.

b. Mission report to Yogyakarta, Indonesia and travel documents such as air ticket itinerary, boarding pass, etc. by 19 February 2026.

c. An implementation plan for the digitization of the glass plate negatives collection by 31 March 2026.

d. A progress report on J-FIT “P Glass Plate Photography Collections at Risk in Asia: Preservation and Digitization of Archaeological and Ethnographic Collections” by 30 May 2026.

e. Mission report on the outcome of the MOWCAP General Meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia, and MOWCAP Regional Register 2026 cycle of nominations by July 2026.

f. An assessment report on the state of preservation of the target glass plate negatives collections and preservations plans for each target institution by 31 October 2026;

g. A final report that includes achieved outcomes/outputs during the contract period by 1 December 2026.

3.  Location and Travel

a. The assignment is primarily home-based in any location, working remotely with potential travel to Bangkok.

b. The Individual Specialist may be required to travel on missions directly related to projects and implementation during the assignment. The Individual Specialist should travel economy class and receive DSA at the standard rate (and which should be reduced, as necessary, when the number of days of DSA exceeds the limits stipulated in the table of rates published by ICSC). DSA is only payable to individuals carrying out assignments away from their usual place of residence or work. The Individual Specialist is expected to make her/his own travel arrangements and should be provided with a lump sum to cover travel-related expenses in accordance with UNESCO rules and regulations.  Travel-related expenses (e.g. the cost of tickets, terminal fares and DSA) must be fixed and agreed between the parties. The Individual Specialist is responsible for obtaining UNDSS security clearance prior to each approved mission.

Timeframe

4. Timeframe (tentative)

6 January 2026 – 5 December 2026 (11 months)

5. Deliverables and Payment 

Payment of each installment will be made upon submission of the deliverable by the due date.

6. COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

-

7. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

An advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent and above) in the field of history, archaeology, humanities, social sciences or related areas.

Work Experience:

Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible relevant work experience in the field of heritage documentary, of which at least five years were acquired at the regional/international level.

Skills and Competencies:

• Knowledge of Asia-Pacific heritage archives and media and literacy issues
• Proven conceptual and analytical skills
• Effective planning and organizing ability
• Capacity to follow up and coordinate independently with minimal supervision
• Proven ability to work efficiently in a dynamic and multicultural team environment
• Excellent coordination and interpersonal skills
• Proven capacity to build and maintain effective partnerships inside and outside the organization
• Ability to work under pressure

Languages:

Excellent knowledge of English; knowledge of other UNESCO official languages is an asset.

8. APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested candidates should click on “Apply Now” and upload the following documents as a single PDF document in place of the Employment History Form.

a. an up-to-date curriculum vitae;

b. a cover letter indicating how your qualifications and experience make you suitable for the assignment;

c. Approach and methodology for carrying out the assignment (maximum 2, A4 pages), a workplan and comments on the Terms of Reference, in brief, if any, and;

d. The proposed consultancy fee for the assignment, quoted in USD and inclusive of all costs. Please indicate both the monthly fee and the estimated mission cost.

UNESCO places great emphasis on ensuring that the objectives of the work assignment, as described in the Terms of Reference, are met. Accordingly, in evaluating the proposals for the assignment, attention will focus first and foremost on the technical elements.

From those proposals deemed suitable in terms of the criteria in the Terms of Reference, UNESCO shall select the proposal that offers the Organization the best value for money.

Assessment

• Only applications providing the information requested in the application procedure will be considered.
• Evaluation of qualified applicants may include an assessment exercise and a competency-based interview.
• Due to the large number of applications, we are able to inform only the successful candidate(s) about the outcome or status of the selection process.

9. SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

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