Assistant Director-General for Priority Africa and External Relations

Job Posting Organization:
UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, was established in 1945 with the mission to contribute to peace and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security by promoting international collaboration through educational, scientific, and cultural reforms. With a workforce of over 2,000 employees, UNESCO operates in more than 190 countries, focusing on building the foundations of lasting peace, promoting equitable and sustainable development, and advancing international cooperation in education, the sciences, culture, communication, and information. The organization plays a vital role in addressing complex social, economic, technological, and environmental challenges faced by its member states, ensuring dialogue and mutual understanding among diverse cultures.

Job Overview:
The director-general" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Assistant Director-General for Priority Africa and External Relations is a senior leadership position within UNESCO, responsible for providing strategic leadership and guidance to the Sector for Priority Africa and External Relations. This role involves overseeing the implementation of the Operational Strategy for Priority Africa (2022–2029) and ensuring alignment with UNESCO’s Medium-Term Strategy. The Assistant Director-General will lead efforts to strengthen partnerships with Member States, intergovernmental organizations, and civil society, while also providing political analysis and strategic guidance to inform decision-making. The position requires a strong commitment to advancing gender equality, youth engagement, and crisis response, as well as representing the Director-General in various high-level meetings and conferences.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Assistant Director-General will be responsible for leading the implementation of UNESCO’s Operational Strategy for Priority Africa, ensuring coherence with sectoral priorities. This includes strengthening coordination across sectors and field offices, providing political analysis and strategic guidance, developing high-level partnerships, and overseeing protocol and external relations functions. The role also involves advancing gender equality and youth engagement, supporting vulnerable environments, and ensuring alignment of initiatives with UNESCO’s strategic objectives. The Assistant Director-General will represent the Director-General in relevant meetings and oversee high-priority initiatives as entrusted by the Director-General.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in a discipline related to UNESCO’s mandate, public or business administration, or international relations. A Ph.D. is desirable. Additionally, candidates should have at least 15 years of progressively responsible professional experience in international and intergovernmental cooperation, preferably within the United Nations system. Extensive experience in senior leadership positions related to UNESCO’s mandate is essential, along with knowledge of UNESCO’s strategic objectives and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in a relevant field is required, with a Ph.D. level degree being desirable. The educational background should be closely related to UNESCO’s mandate, public or business administration, or international relations.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible experience in international and intergovernmental cooperation, with a strong preference for experience within the United Nations system. Extensive experience in senior leadership roles related to UNESCO’s mandate is crucial, including assignments at regional or international levels. Experience in political analysis and diplomacy is also required.

Languages:
Excellent knowledge of and drafting skills in either English or French, which are the working languages of the Organization, is mandatory. A working knowledge of the second language is desirable, and knowledge of other official languages of UNESCO (Arabic, Chinese, Russian, or Spanish) is considered an asset.

Additional Notes:
This position is a fixed-term contract for a duration of 2 years, with the possibility of renewal. The approximate annual starting salary for this post is US $246,506, and benefits may include 30 days of annual leave, family allowance, medical insurance, and a pension plan. UNESCO is committed to achieving equitable and diverse geographical distribution and gender parity among its staff members. The organization encourages applications from candidates from non- and under-represented Member States, as well as individuals from minority and indigenous groups and persons with disabilities. All applications will be treated with confidentiality, and UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.