Under the overall authority of the Assistant Director-General, Natural Sciences (ADG/SC), guidance from the Director of the Division of Water Sciences (DIR/SC/HYD), Secretary of the Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP) and direct supervision from the Chief of Section of Groundwater Sustainability and Water Cooperation (SC/HYD/GSW), the incumbent will be the responsible officer for the Thematic Area on “Urban/rural water including transition to circular economy and related changes” and will also provide contribution to other thematic areas under the section including groundwater resources, management, governance and cooperation. S/he will design the relevant strategies, policies, objectives, and deliverables and define priorities and pursue extrabudgetary resources. The incumbent will also develop, coordinate, implement workplans and monitor programme and project activities, along the line of IHP strategic plan, related operational plan as outlined in UNESCO's medium-term strategy (C/4) and budget (C/5). In particular, the incumbent will:
Coordinate production of scientific knowledge base, tools and methodologies and produce high quality publications on the assigned thematic responsibilities along the line with the C4/C5, and IHP strategic priorities and 2030 development agenda, Urban agenda and other related international agendas.
Ensure the development and delivery of a wide spectrum of programmes and projects, and advocate for UNESCO’s position in the context of UN fora and platforms, within the scope of the assigned Thematic Areas, and deliver to Member States visible and high-quality expected results on assigned thematic areas.
Facilitate and support research, networking, and capacity building programmes to help IHP national committees and Member States on the implementation of IHP priorities related to urban/rural water and related changes.
Provide advisory services to Member States on the attainment of the priorities along the line of 2030 development agenda, Sendai Framework and Paris agreement and Urban agenda.
Promote and facilitate the deployment of relevant products for resilient urban/rural water management in Member States and produce relevant publications and ensure wide disseminations to member states and stakeholders.
Maintain relations with professional, scientific and UN organizations and create and support scientific network related to urban/rural.
Initiate, coordinate and mobilize extrabudgetary resources to support Regular Programme activities and implement, monitor related projects and programmes in line with approved objectives and planned deliverables.
Provide technical and managerial support for the execution of activities, projects and programs implemented by the GSW section.
Required Qualifications
Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Water Sciences, Hydrogeology, Environmental Science and Engineering.
Work Experience
A minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible relevant professional experience in the field of hydrology and water management, including in formulation, implementation and evaluation of projects/programmes related to assessment of freshwater resources of which preferably 3 years acquired at the international level.
Demonstrated work experience on urban/rural water management.
Demonstrated partnership, networking and fundraising experience.
Skills and Competencies
Strong conceptual and analytical skills, as well as solid drafting skills.
Strong knowledge in the field of water resources engineering and hydrology.
Proven ability to prepare high quality technical documents and reports.
Knowledge about water in both developed and developing world.
Capacity to build and maintain partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.
Proven ability in fund raising and resource mobilization.
Excellent programme and project management skills.
High degree of independence, in addition to well‐developed capacities for teamwork in multicultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.
Languages
Excellent knowledge of English (written and spoken).
