UNESCO Project Officer (SHS) – Social and Human Sciences in Brasilia, Brazil – Apply by September 1, 2025
UNESCO Project Officer (SHS) – Social and Human Sciences in Brasilia, Brazil – Apply by September 1, 2025. Apply for the Project Officer (Social and Human Sciences) position at UNESCO in Brasilia, Brazil. This role offers a unique opportunity to support, implement, and monitor innovative programs under UNESCO’s Social and Human Sciences (SHS) mandate. Contribute to projects promoting technical cooperation, stakeholder engagement, and social development, including the Criança Esperança Programme. Enhance your career with a leading UN agency while making a lasting impact in Brazil. (This article is for informational purposes only; we are not affiliated with UNESCO.)
Background & Job Description
UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, promotes international collaboration in education, science, culture, and social development. Within Brazil, UNESCO focuses on strengthening the capacity of public and private institutions, civil society organizations, and local communities to achieve sustainable social and human development outcomes.
The Project Officer (SHS) position is located in Brasilia under the Social and Human Sciences (SHS) Sector and reports to the UNESCO Brazil Director, with direct supervision from the SHS Programme Officer. The incumbent will support the elaboration, execution, monitoring, and evaluation of SHS projects, oversee technical cooperation agreements, and assist with the Criança Esperança Programme, a key initiative supporting social projects through NGOs.
This role is especially suited for candidates with expertise in project management, programmatic coordination, and stakeholder engagement in the social sciences, human development, or public policy fields.
Key Responsibilities
1. Planning and Programme Support
- Assist the SHS Programme Coordinator in mapping development priorities and technical cooperation needs in Brazil.
- Contribute to the UNESCO Brasilia Office’s planning documents, including IT-based management tools such as Core Manager.
- Propose annual action plans for assigned SHS themes.
2. Technical Cooperation and Project Management
- Prepare and revise project proposals, suggesting cross-cutting UNESCO activities and regional collaborations.
- Manage technical cooperation agreements, ensuring budgets, evaluations, and documentation comply with UNESCO requirements.
- Provide technical expertise and strategic guidance to strengthen project design, implementation, and monitoring.
- Organize and revise UNESCO publications, draft reports, presentations, and other project-related documents.
3. National Negotiations and Fundraising
- Represent UNESCO at qualified meetings and participate in technical groups as directed.
- Negotiate with donors and partners, developing work plans and drafting new project agreements.
- Identify opportunities for UNESCO SHS expertise to address local social challenges in Brazil.
4. Management and Oversight
- Supervise sector Programme Assistants involved in SHS projects.
- Participate in NGO project selection and monitoring for the Criança Esperança Programme.
- Conduct performance evaluations, support monitoring visits, and assist in annual reviews of the online selection tool.
- Support Steering Committee meetings and technical missions as needed.
UNESCO Project Officer (SHS) – Social and Human Sciences in Brasilia, Brazil – Apply by September 1, 2025
Required Qualifications
Education
- Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Social or Human Sciences.
Work Experience
- 4–6 years of experience in project design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation within social sciences, public policy, or related fields.
- At least 3 years of programmatic and financial management of technical cooperation projects or NGO programs.
- Experience coordinating relations with stakeholders, including communication and presentation of programme outcomes.
- Experience in strategic engagement with civil society organizations and managing expenditures at national or international levels.
Languages
- Proficiency in Portuguese and English is required.
Skills and Competencies
- Strong ethics, initiative, creativity, discretion, and sound judgment.
- Proactive, able to work under pressure with timely responses and accuracy.
- Team-oriented, autonomous, and results-driven.
- Analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
- Experience in resource mobilization and negotiation.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills with attention to clarity and coherence.
- Good IT skills, including Microsoft Office and web-based management systems.
- Strong interpersonal skills for multicultural work environments.
Desirable Qualifications
- Specialized training in fields relevant to this position.
- Experience organizing and coordinating public selection processes.
- Prior work experience in UN agencies.
- Knowledge of SAP or similar ERP systems.
- Working knowledge of another UNESCO official language (French or Spanish).
Employment Conditions
- Contract type: Non-Staff (Service Contract), SC8 level, 1-year duration.
- Working schedule: Monday–Thursday (8:30–12:30 / 14:00–18:00), Friday (8:30–14:00).
- Monthly remuneration: BRL 16,368.99 (local currency).
- Contract renewal depends on budget availability and satisfactory performance.
Application Process
- Applications must be completed online via the UNESCO careers website.
- Candidates may be assessed through tests, interviews, and reference checks.
- UNESCO does not charge fees for recruitment and upholds a zero-tolerance policy for harassment.
- Preference is given to candidates from non- and under-represented Member States.
Keywords:
UNESCO Brasilia jobs, Project Officer SHS, Social and Human Sciences careers, Criança Esperança Programme, UNESCO Brazil employment, UN development jobs, technical cooperation projects, social development programs, stakeholder engagement careers, international organization jobs
