PROJECT ASSISTANT

OVERVIEW

Parent Sector : Culture Sector (CLT)

Duty Station : South Africa

Job Family : Culture

Type of contract : Non Staff

Level : Level 1

Duration of contract : 1 year

Recruitment open to : Internal and external candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Duty Station Time) : 04-NOV-2025

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

Only Nationals of South Africa can apply for this position.

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

The project, “Africa-Europe Partnerships for Culture : Promoting Culture and Heritage-based Sustainable Tourism in Southern Africa” funded by the European Union and implemented by the UNESCO Regional Office in Southern Africa project aims to foster culture and heritage-based sustainable tourism and strengthen cultural production capacities in six Southern African countries, namely Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe. It will promote regional integration, foster sustainable social and economic development, and build bridges between the people and communities of Southern African countries through the development of attractive and meaningful culture and heritage-based itineraries. These itineraries will attract visitors and encourage responsible travel while fostering longer stays in destinations, encouraging travellers to experience the local culture and history, and promoting a deeper knowledge and appreciation of the values associated to these destinations.

UNESCO is seeking a Project Assistant to provide overall administrative and logistical support for the smooth implementation of the project in close collaboration with all key partners, particularly the EU Delegations in the 6 countries, national authorities and local communities.

Under the overall authority of the UNESCO Regional Director and Representative for Southern Africa, the direct supervision of the Head of Culture Unit, the Project Assistant will provide overall administrative and logistical support to the project team. This post will be based in Pretoria, South Africa and specific tasks and responsibilities will include the following :

• Provide administrative support to the Project Coordinator and the Project Communication and M&E Officer to effectively implement the project in the 6 participating countries.
• Assist in planning and organization of meetings, workshops, conferences, and other events relating to project, ensuring that all logistics such as hotel and conference bookings as well as transportation are in place.
• Prepare draft TORs for various contracts for service providers supporting Projects.
• Prepare payment requests and follow‑up to ensure that service providers receive their funds on time.
• Develop and implement a tracking system for all contracts to ensure that deliverables are submitted on time and report any delays to the Supervisor on time.
• Follow‑up with implementation partners to ensure timely delivery of work plans, budgets, and procurement plans for the project.
• Participate in Project meetings and workshops and take Minutes for proper record keeping.
• Support communication and visibility efforts for the project by assisting in the production of communication materials publications brochures etc.
• Maintain e‑files as well as paper files for the Project in compliance with the Organization's records management policy and for audit and evaluation purposes.
• Undertake any other relevant activities as deemed necessary for the proper operation of the project.
• Undertake any other relevant tasks as assigned by the Supervisor.

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

WORK EXPERIENCE

SKILLS / COMPETENCIES

LANGUAGES

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Please note that all candidates applying for this post must be nationals of South Africa.

Candidates must complete an online application and provide complete and accurate information. To apply, please visit the UNESCO careers website. No modifications can be made to the application submitted.

The evaluation of candidates is based on the criteria in the vacancy notice, and may include tests and / or assessments, as well as an interview.

UNESCO uses communication technologies such as video or teleconference, e‑mail correspondence, etc. for the assessment and evaluation of candidates.

Please note that 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.

UNESCO recalls that paramount consideration in the appointment of staff members shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, technical competence and integrity. UNESCO applies a zero‑tolerance policy against all forms of harassment. UNESCO is committed to achieving and sustaining equitable and diverse geographical distribution, as well as gender parity among its staff members in all categories and at all grades. Furthermore, UNESCO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Candidates from non‑ and under‑represented Member States are particularly welcome and strongly encouraged to apply. Individuals from minority groups and indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality. Worldwide mobility is required for staff members appointed to international posts.

UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.

Please note that UNESCO is a non‑smoking Organization.

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