Project Assistant at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It contributes to peace and security by promoting international cooperation in education, sciences, culture, communication and information. UNESCO promotes knowledge sharing and the free flow of ideas to accelerate mutual understanding and a more perfect knowledge of each other's lives. UNESCO's programmes contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals defined in the 2030 Agenda, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2015.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Project Assistant

Location: Abuja (FCT)
Employment Type: Contract
Duration of Contract: 1 year
Parent Sector: Natural Sciences Sector (SC)
Job Family: Natural Sciences
Type of contract : Non Staff
Level: Level 2

Overview of the Functions of the Post

• Under the overall supervision of the Head of UNESCO Abuja Office, and direct supervision of the National Professional Officer for Science, and within framework of the India-UN-Nigeria-UNESCO Biodiversity Business project, the Project Assistant will perform the following tasks under the five components of the project.

Ingurgitation / Building Capacity in GEBR and Bio-Business concept:

• Develop TORs, concept note and all other technical documents (Technical note, memo, budget, Agenda, draft letters, visibility materials, template etc.) for the project site consultations, inception and awareness raising on the project.  
• Facilitate all meetings, workshops and consultations arising under the component. 
• Work with the project site focal points in the mapping of all stakeholders at the respective sites
• Develop reports and follow up on the outcomes. 

Studies:

• Develop TORs, Technical Note and all other technical documents (memo, budget, Agenda, template etc.) for the Studies and Information gathering on socio-economic, biodiversity inventory and market studies -towards selection of Green Economy, Income generating activities/alternative livelihoods and Bio businesses. 
• Handle all administrative aspects with respect to commissioning the studies (developing TORs for consultants, selection of consultants, budget, technical note, initiating/managing contracts, following up on deliverables, etc.) 
• Participate in reviewing drafts of the studies. 

Training of communities on selected Bio businesses and Green economy activities / alternative livelihood:

• Handle all administrative aspects of hiring consultant to develop requisite training manuals. 
• Develop TORs, concept note and all other technical documents with respect to:  
  • Strengthening capacity of national stakeholders on the concept biodiversity business and Green Economy in Biosphere Reserve (2nd training) 
  • Training of communities on selected Bio businesses and Green Economy. Income generating activities/alternative livelihood. 
• Develop reports. 

Establishment of Bio businesses and Green economy activities/alternative livelihood   Alternative livelihoods:

• Work with ADM to set out all administrative aspects for procurement of equipment for the different biodiversity businesses. (TORs, technical note, budget, selection of vendors etc.)  
• Work with the project site focal points and vendor to ensure operationalisation of the biodiversity businesses and Green Economy, Income generating activities/alternative livelihood to promote biodiversity conservation, reduce poverty and contribute to sustainable development.

Designation of Shrere Hills as a Biosphere Reserve:

• Work with the project site focal point to facilitate all consultations with the communities. 
• Handle all administrative aspects for production a zonation maps and the completion of nomination dossier.
• Follow up with all aspects towards designation of Shere Hills Forest Reserve as a Biosphere Reserve in the World Network of Biosphere Reserve (WNBR)

Other Duties - The Project Assistant shall also perform the following:

• Contribute to developing Quarterly reports of the project for be submission to the United Nations for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) 
• Facilitate and organize the steering committee meetings (concept to reporting) 
• Facilitate project monitoring meetings.
• Follow up on all processes for evaluation of the project. 
• Handle any other programmatic tasks in the Science sector as may be assigned by the National Profesional officer.  

Required Qualifications
Education:

• Completed Secondary, Technical or Vocational Education. 

Work experience:

• Minimum 5 (five) years of professional experience in administrative services, programmes, project administrative management or related field.
• Experience in backstopping programmeand/or project 

Skills and Competencies:

• Very good knowledge of office software (Outlook, Word, Excel, Power Point, etc.).
• Ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially.
• Ability to work under pressure, flexibility and adaptability to work schedules and priorities according to workload, emergencies and deadlines.
• Ability to design, work and execute tasks independently with thoroughness, care and method.
• Ability to work with and within multicultural teams.

Application Closing Date
27th June, 2024.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online