Consultant for Water Governance and Heritage Safeguarding

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. The organization operates in over 190 countries and has a workforce of around 2,000 employees. UNESCO aims to build peace in the minds of men and women, focusing on education, natural sciences, social/human sciences, culture, and communication/information.

Job Overview:
The Consultant for Water Governance and Heritage Safeguarding will work under the authority of the Director of the UNESCO Regional Office in Beirut and will be directly supervised by the Chief of Sector Natural Sciences. This position involves close collaboration with various national counterparts, including ministries and local authorities, to implement the project 'BIRKET—Reclaiming Traditional Communal Irrigation Pools in South Lebanon.' The consultant will be responsible for coordinating technical efforts, overseeing project implementation, and ensuring effective communication among stakeholders. The role emphasizes the integration of water governance with heritage safeguarding, requiring the consultant to generate evidence, raise awareness, and apply UNESCO's Water Museums Network toolkits. The consultant will also be tasked with co-designing a Water Heritage Trail and Museum concept, ensuring that the project aligns with UNESCO's objectives and standards.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for a variety of tasks including: implementing the project workplan and timeline, convening monthly check-ins, and issuing progress notes. They will lead both archive and field research, delivering a bilingual birket dossier that includes maps, photos, and infographics. The consultant will also produce a travelling exhibition and prepare inclusive studios/charrettes for the Water Heritage Trail and birket/public space designs. Additional responsibilities include drafting municipal operation and maintenance bylaws, irrigation schedules, and user standard operating procedures. The consultant will coordinate the production of 15 reels and one documentary, maintain a central photo/video bank, and prepare media kits for project launches and exhibitions, ensuring proper branding across all materials.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in relevant fields such as Natural Sciences, Environment, Earth Sciences, Hydrology, Basic Sciences, or Engineering. They should have a minimum of 7 to 10 years of progressively responsible experience in water governance, irrigation management, and natural resources heritage conservation, particularly in Lebanon. Candidates should demonstrate strong policy-to-practice fluency, technical confidence in reviewing project drawings and bills of quantities, and excellent drafting skills for reports and policy briefs. Additionally, candidates should have experience in public communication and visibility with donor branding, as well as good program and project management skills.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in relevant fields such as Natural Sciences, Environment, Earth Sciences, Hydrology, Basic Sciences, or Engineering is required. A PhD degree or equivalent in the natural sciences, particularly water sciences, is desirable.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of 7 to 10 years of progressively responsible experience at the intersection of water governance, irrigation management, and natural resources heritage conservation in Lebanon. Experience with specialized UN agencies, NGOs, and international technical cooperation organizations is preferred. Candidates should also have a proven track record in project proposal writing and successful fundraising in the area of water governance.

Languages:
Excellent knowledge of English and Arabic is mandatory. Knowledge of at least one other official UNESCO language (Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish) is desirable.

Additional Notes:
The contract duration is from 7 to 11 months, with the possibility of renewal based on funding availability and satisfactory performance. The position is open to external candidates based in Lebanon. The consultant will be expected to work full-time and may need to engage in international travel as required by the project. Compensation details will be discussed during the recruitment process, and UNESCO emphasizes a zero-tolerance policy against harassment, promoting diversity and inclusion in its workforce.