Cultural Emergency Response Support Officer

Host entity: UNESCO

Volunteer type: International

Areas of expertise: Emergency preparedness, crisis response, Art, design, culture

Application deadline: 04/11/2026

Mission and objectives

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) promotes peace and sustainable development through education, science, culture, communication, and information. As the only UN agency with a cultural mandate, UNESCO plays a leading role in safeguarding cultural heritage, supporting creative industries, and advancing cultural diversity, particularly in contexts of crisis and displacement.
The UNESCO Regional Office for Culture in the Arab States (Cairo) leads regional efforts to:
• Safeguard tangible and intangible cultural heritage;
• Support inclusive cultural policies and creative economies;
• Integrate culture into humanitarian action, emergency response, and sustainable de-velopment frameworks.

The Office works closely with national governments, civil society, UN agencies, and regional institutions to coordinate strategic cultural responses in times of crisis.

Assignment context

The Arab region holds some of the world’s richest and most diverse cultural heritage, including ancient monuments, historic cities, traditional practices, and contemporary expressions of creativity. However, this cultural wealth is increasingly under threat due to armed conflict, forced displacement, climate change, natural disasters, urban expansion, and illicit trafficking of cultural property.
In this context, the UNESCO Cairo Office plays a vital role in supporting Member States and communities in crisis preparedness, cultural heritage protection, and resilience building through the implementation of key international frameworks such as:
• The 1954 Hague Convention and its Protocols;
• The 1972 World Heritage Convention;
• The 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage;
• The 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Ex-pressions;
• The 1980 Recommendation on the Status of the Artist;
• The 2022 MONDIACULT Declaration on Cultural Policy and Sustainable Develop-ment;
• The 2024 Culture and Arts Education Framework.

To address current emergencies affecting displaced communities, particularly from Sudan and Palestine, UNESCO Cairo has launched the “Artists in Transit” initiative within the framework of Culture in Emergency programme. This community-based programme provides safe spaces and professional opportunities for displaced artists and creatives living in Cairo. It uses art and culture to support psychosocial well-being, intercultural dialogue, and economic resilience.

The appointment of a UN Volunteer to support this initiative reflects the value of volunteerism in promoting cultural rights, community resilience, and inclusive recovery. This role contributes directly to UNESCO’s regional strategy and the broader UN goal of integrating culture into humanitarian action and the SDGs—particularly SDG 16 as well as SDG 4 and SDG 11.

Task description

Under the direct supervision of the Director of the UNESCO Regional Office for Egypt and Sudan / Liaison Office with the League of Arab States, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

A. “Artists in Transit” Initiative
• Coordinate and support artistic residencies, workshops, performances, and exhibitions led by displaced artists.
• Liaise with community organizations, facilitators, and cultural institutions to ensure smooth delivery of programme activities.
• Assist in outreach and engagement of displaced Sudanese and Palestinian artists and creatives to co-develop cultural initiatives.

B. Community-Based Education and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET ) Integration
• Support the design and implementation of informal education and training activities linking cultural expression with practical vocational skills.
• Collaborate with the UNESCO education sector and TVET experts to develop training modules in crafts, design, media production, and digital storytelling.
• Promote skills recognition and explore certification pathways in cooperation with Egyptian training and educational institutions.

C. Culture in Emergency Programme
• Support the preparation of concept notes and project proposals under the Culture in Emergency programme.
• Assist in resource mobilisation and partnership building.

D. Communication, Visibility, and Advocacy
• Document success stories, collect testimonies, and produce communication materials to raise the visibility of the initiative.
• Support advocacy efforts for the cultural rights of displaced persons through events, campaigns, and partnerships with media outlets.
• Contribute to digital storytelling and social media outreach for the project.

E. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting
• Support the development of tools for tracking progress, participation, and the qualitative impact of cultural and TVET activities.
• Prepare inputs for internal and donor reports, including success stories and lessons learned.
• Maintain accurate records and documentation of activities and partnerships.

F. Partnerships and Volunteer Engagement
• Coordinate with local NGOs, cultural institutions, and community-based organizations to align efforts and avoid duplication.
• Identify opportunities for collaboration and referrals between culture, education, and protection sectors.
• Mobilize local youth and volunteers to contribute to programme activities and outreach.

During the first month of the assignment, the UN Volunteer will work closely with his/her direct supervisor to finalize an agreed-upon work plan. The work plan should outline key objectives and activities and include regular check-ins with the supervisor to review progress and receive performance feedback.

Skills and experience

Demonstrated interest and/or experience in:
• The field of culture, arts, community-based education, and cultural policy development.
• Proven experience in culture project management, particularly in displacement or emergency settings.
• Familiarity with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) Conventions and the Arab region context is highly desirable.
• Previous experience as a volunteer and/or experience of another culture (e.g., studies, volunteer work, internship) would be highly regarded.

Skills in:
• Strong research and analytical skills, with the ability to synthesize data and policy frameworks.
• Demonstrated ability to work with diverse stakeholders, including artists, displaced communities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and public institutions, preferably in the Arab region.
• Excellent communication skills in English, including drafting reports, proposals, and briefs, as well as preparing infographics.

Competencies and values

- Accountability
- Adaptability and Flexibility
- Building Trust
- Client Orientation
- Commitment and Motivation
- Commitment to Continuous Learning
- Communication
- Creativity
- Empowering Others
- Ethics and Values
- Integrity
- Judgement and Decision-making
- Knowledge Sharing
- Leadership
- Managing Performance
- Planning and Organizing
- Professionalism
- Respect for Diversity
- Self-Management
- Technological Awareness
- Vision
- Working in Teams

Living conditions

Cairo, Egypt is a family duty station with a wide range of services (health, education and leisure) and good living conditions. It has long been a center of the region’s political and cultural life, with high levels of tourism. Like other similar cities, Cairo offers good quality of life in terms of access to shopping centers, banks, medical services, educational facilities, cultural events, etc. The Arab Republic of Egypt has a unique geographical position in Northeast Africa, at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, on the Mediterranean and Red Sea, and its connection to Sub Saharan Africa through the Nile Valley.

UN International Associate Volunteer gets the following package:
• Volunteer Living Allowance (around USD 2025.23/Month)
• Entry Lump-Sum = USD 3500 (one-time payment)
• Exit Lump-Sum upon completion of contract.
• Medical and life Insurance premium/Cigna (100%) and dependents policy.
• Access to UNV E-Campus for training and learning including access to LinkedIn learning.

The Conditions of Service, available here: https://explore.unv.org/cos
Full information on entitlements at the duty station can be accessed here: https://app.unv.org/calculator

Full eligibility requirements, conditions of service and application instructions are available on the official UNV platform.