OVERVIEW

Parent Sector : Social and Human Sciences Sector (SHS)

Duty Station: Paris

Classification of duty station: [[filter12]]

Standard Duration of Assignement : [[filter13]]

Job Family: Social and Human Sciences

Type of contract : Non Staff

Duration of contract : From 7 to 11 months

Recruitment open to : External candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 16-AUG-2023

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

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

Strategic foresight is part of a broader effort to transform and modernize the United Nations into a UN 2.0 with a “Quintet of Change” in data, digital, innovation, strategic foresight and behavioural science. The purpose is to build stronger skills and expertise to effectively deliver on UN mandates and to better assist Member States in navigating the opportunities and challenges of the twenty-first century.

The UN Futures Lab Network, as proposed in the UN Secretary-General’s 2021 Our Common Agenda report, is one way for the UN system to come together to build strategic foresight capacity and approaches jointly in a coordinated, coherent, and effective manner. The UN Futures Lab Network is coordinated by an interagency Global Hub and includes the Executive Office of the Secretary-General (EOSG), UN Global Pulse, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Development Coordination Office (DCO), and UNESCO. The UN Futures Lab Network/Global Hub is driving the establishment of a UN Strategic Foresight Community of Practice, which will play a key role in building internal foresight capabilities across the UN system. The UN Strategic Foresight Community of Practice will be led by UNESCO, in close collaboration with the UN Futures Lab Network/Global Hub.

This project position is part of an innovative, time-bound, cross-functional and inter-agency team – located at UNESCO in the Social and Human Sciences Sector, especially in the Futures Literacy and Foresight Programme, working under the “Managing Social Transformation (MOST)” pillar. To ensure alignment and review progress of project deliverables, the project position will also work closely with the Executive Office of the Secretary-General (EOSG) through the Strategic Planning and Monitoring Unit (SPMU) that oversees implementation of the Quintet of Change across the UN and leads the other UN 2.0 Communities of Practice (data, innovation, and behavioural science).

Long Description

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The consultant, under the overall authority of MOST & Foresight Chief of Section, and the direct supervision of the Head of Futures Literacy & Foresight, will be responsible for facilitating the UN Strategic Foresight Community of Practice (CoP) and to ensure alignment with the overall UN 2.0 Framework.
The specific duties are as follows:

• Facilitate the UN Strategic Foresight CoP;
• Design, coordinate and deliver events for the UN Strategic Foresight CoP;
• Drive stakeholder engagement via the UN Strategic Foresight CoP platform;
• Contribute to broader efforts to transform and modernize the Organization into a United Nations 2.0.

DELIVERABLES

1) Facilitate the UN Strategic Foresight Community of Practice (CoP):
a. Prepare a strategic foresight action plan and timeline
b. Using customer relations management systems (CRM), track and report on progress made towards the targets and objectives in the strategic foresight action plan;
c. Build and maintain the online repository of foresight best practices/lessons learned and other knowledge products created within the framework of the CoP;
d. Conduct research and draft supporting documents, including timelines, bi-weekly status updates, participants’ guides, background notes, outcome reports, etc.;
e. Attend regular meetings to ensure alignment and co-creation with UN Futures Lab Network/Global Hub.

2) Design, coordinate and deliver events for the UN Strategic Foresight Community of Practice (CoP):
a. Identify all preparatory and logistical elements needed for the UN Strategic Foresight CoP activities, campaigns and events, allowing for better use of foresight in action;
b. Deliver regular, high-quality foresight events, webinars, trainings, workshops and knowledge-exchanges;
c. Liaise and work with staff responsible for certain event tasks and lead weekly planning calls and meetings to track status of deliverables and ensure effective and efficient execution of all tasks for events;
d. Manage invitation and registration processes, including sending out invites, tracking of responses and conducting follow up, as well as maintaining participants’ records;
e. Provide quality assurance for printed material, graphics and videoconference components.

3) Drive stakeholder engagement via the UN Strategic Foresight Community of Practice (CoP) platform:
a. Work with UN focal points in advancing concepts for better experience, ideas and knowledge-sharing to improve Community Members’ understanding and skills, enabling honest exchanges of challenges and lessons learned;
b. Work towards the creation of a supportive environment for members to connect and build relationships with others in the field that might also lead to internal data sharing, joint approaches to training, recruitment and resource mobilization via the CoP platform;
c. Keep up to date with developments and trends in foresight, campaign and community management;
d. Develop CoP newsletters and other engaging material on foresight-driven change, challenges, and solutions;
e. Build online sites, training materials and guides to empower users in strategic foresight implementation.

Long Description

4) Contribute to broader efforts to transform and modernize the Organization into a United Nations 2.0:
a. Contribute to promote foresight culture, ensuring quality exchange, peer learning and information sharing among UN entities by connecting the work with the activities carried out in the former HLCP Foresight Network;
b. Connect with other UN 2.0 communities of practice (data, innovation, and behavioural science), in order to contribute to building a “United Nations 2.0;
c. Perform other duties as may be reasonably required and in line with the scope of services above.

APPLICATION PROCESS/PROCEDURE

Interested candidates should complete the on-line application and upload in place of the Employment History Form, the following documents as a single PDF document:

Part 1. Technical proposal:
a. up-to-date curriculum vitae(s);
b. a statement indicating how their qualifications and experience make them suitable for the assignment;
c. a recent sample of similar assignments;

Part 2: Financial Proposal:
A competitive fee for the overall cost of the assignment (lump-sum) which should be quoted in USD

Additional Information:
The selected candidate shall be responsible for obtaining any necessary visas and shall be working at UNESCO HQ in Paris. Travel to Paris is not covered.

Timeframe: The consultancy is foreseen to begin in the second half of August 2023.

Long Description

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

Accountability (C)

Communication (C)

Innovation (C)

Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C)

Planning and organizing (C)

Results focus (C)

Teamwork (C)

Professionalism (C)

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For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework .