Programme Assistant

OVERVIEW

Position Number: PAX 021

Grade: G-5

Parent Sector: Priority Africa and External Relations Sector (PAX)

Duty Station: Paris

Job Family: General Administrative Support

Contract Type: Fixed Term

Duration of contract: 2 years, renewable

Recruitment open to: Internal and external candidates

Application deadline (Midnight Paris Time): 28/09/2026

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

(Only candidates who are entitled to work in France may apply to this position).

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

UNESCO recognizes Africa’s vital role in global peace, security and prosperity. Through Priority Africa, the Organization promotes education, culture, science and communication as key drivers for addressing challenges, strengthening national capacities and preserving the continent’s rich cultural heritage. By fostering partnerships, inclusive policies and equitable access to knowledge and technologies, UNESCO seeks to advance innovation, resilience and sustainable development, enabling African societies to unlock their full potential and build a prosperous future.

The Division of Priority Africa is located in the Sector for Priority Africa and External Relations.

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

Under the overall authority of the Assistant Director-General for Priority Africa and External Relations (ADG/PAX) and the direct supervision of the Director of the Division of Priority Africa (PAX/AFR), the Programme Assistant will provide direct assistant to the Director in order to ensure quality and consistency of the flow of office work and management of the information of the Division.

KEY ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

In particular, the incumbent will:

• Attend meetings with Member States, partners, Programme Sectors and Field Offices, prepare minutes, and follow up on action items. Collaborate with team members to assess needs for meetings, events, and travel, and guide document processing timelines and procedures.
• Provide support for the coordination of conferences, events, and outreach activities with Member States, regional organizations, and relevant sectors.
• Support the review of documents, briefing notes, and reports for meetings, incoming correspondence, and ensuring dissemination of timely responses and draft formal communications. 
• Support coordination of the programme activities, prepare for project evaluations, and review budgetary data. Support project and programme reporting as well as monitoring, in coordination with UNESCO's Sectors and Field Offices.
• Assist in all administration-related matters, Maintain and update filing systems, ensuring proper organization and retention of programme and project documentation.Manage contractual documents, requisition processing, and payment tracking, ensuring financial compliance and timely updates to responsible officers.
• Manage the Director's calendar, ensuring appointments are scheduled and confirmed, queries are addressed, and correspondence is handled efficiently.

COMPETENCIES - Core (C) & Managerial (M)

• Communication (C)
• Accountability (C)
• Innovation (C)
• Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C)
• Planning and organizing (C)
• Professionalism (C)
• Results focus (C)
• Teamwork (C)
• Professionalism (C)

Short Description

For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

• Completed secondary, technical, and/or vocational school.

Work Experience

• At least five (5) years of relevant work experience in providing programme and administrative support services, or related tasks/fields, in a national and/or international environment.

SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

• Good interpersonal and communication skills, including drafting skills.
• Good organizational and coordination skills.
• Ability to work effectively within tight deadlines, to deal with complex and sensitive situations and flexibility to adjust work schedules/priorities.
• Sense of diplomacy, discretion, good sense of judgement and professional integrity.
• Capacity to handle information objectively, precisely and confidentially.
• Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships, team-worker oriented.
• Capacity to deal efficiently and tactfully with different partners/institutions and other stakeholders at all levels in a multicultural environment.
• Excellent IT skills with proficiency in the use of MS Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.).

LANGUAGES

• Excellent knowledge (oral and written) of English and French.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

• Training/certification in administration and/or office management, or in any other related field.

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Relevant experience within the UN system or in an international organization/institution. 
• Experience in providing programme and administrative support services.

SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

• Familiarity with the work and general functioning of international organizations and/or of the UN system.
• Knowledge of the Africa region. 

LANGUAGES

• Knowledge of another official language of UNESCO (Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish).

BENEFITS AND ENTITLEMENTS

UNESCO’s salaries consist of a basic salary and other benefits which may include if applicable: 30 days annual leave, family allowance, medical insurance, pension plan etc. 

The approximate annual starting salary for this post is 43 734 Euros €.

For full information on benefits and entitlements, please consult our Guide to Staff Benefits.

SELECTION AND HIRING PROCESS

Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information, by the above deadline.

To apply, please visit the UNESCO Careers website. No modifications can be made to the application once submitted. 

The process may include pre-recorded video interviews and/or written assessments, interviews with a Panel, as well as reference checks. In addition, candidates may be requested to provide additional information which may be pertinent to the position’s qualifications.  

Please note that all candidates, whether selected or not, will be informed of the outcome of their application in due course. 

Short-listed candidates may also be added to Talent Pools; subject to their consent (i.e. Data Privacy Statement).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• UNESCO recalls that paramount consideration in the appointment of staff members shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, technical competence and integrity.
• UNESCO applies to a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of harassment.
• UNESCO is committed to achieving and sustaining equitable and diverse geographical distribution, as well as gender parity among its staff members in all categories and at all grades. Furthermore, UNESCO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Candidates from non- and under-represented Member States (last update here) are particularly welcome and strongly encouraged to apply.
• lndividuals from minority groups and indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.
• All applications will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality.
• Geographical mobility is required for staff members appointed to UNESCO’s international posts.
• In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. UNESCO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO. The list can be accessed through the link: https://www.whed.net
• The statutory retirement age at UNESCO is 65 years.
• UNESCO appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by the Organization, is required for International Professional positions.
• UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.