Consultant (Culture / Radio Education Project)

The Consultant will provide technical oversight and contract management for vendors under the Radio Education Project, ensuring compliance with quality standards and deliverables. Additionally, the role supports the Culture Sector in organizing events and capacity-building activities under the Culture Programme.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical oversight and contract management of vendors and service providers engaged under the Radio Education Project, applying sound technical criteria to assess compliance with agreed specifications, quality standards, timelines and deliverables.
• Provide technical guidance to vendors on content, methodology and production standards, resolving implementation challenges through evidence-based problem-solving and technical troubleshooting.
• Conduct substantive technical review and quality assurance of vendor deliverables (educational and cultural content, materials, reports, etc.), assessing them against project objectives, technical specifications and results frameworks, and provide structured feedback for improvement.
• Undertake technical monitoring and performance assessment of vendors, including field-based verification as required, applying monitoring and evaluation (M&E) tools to identify risks, quality gaps or implementation irregularities and recommend corrective measures.
• Conduct technical validation of vendor outputs against contractual deliverables to inform and authorize payment processing, in coordination with the Administrative/Finance Unit.
• Apply UNESCO's results-based management and online contract management systems to support evidence-based tracking, analysis and reporting on project implementation.
• Provide technical inputs and data analysis for donor engagement, including preparing briefing notes, presentations and analytical materials for donor meetings, as needed.
• Develop content for project reports and design and draft Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and Terms of Reference (TORs) for vendors and service providers, ensuring alignment with project methodology and quality standards.
• Undertake any tasks related to procurement and financial management under the supervision of the Administrative Officer of UNESCO Islamabad Office.
• Provide technical and programmatic support to the Culture Sector in the design, planning and delivery of capacity-building sessions and technical events under the Culture Programme, including substantive input on methodology and content.
• Develop technical and analytical content for agendas, concept notes, briefing notes and other programmatic documents underpinning Culture Programme activities.
• Document and analyze outcomes of Culture Programme events, translating discussions and findings into structured technical reporting and knowledge products.
• Provide liaison and analytical support between the Culture team and relevant stakeholders and partners to ensure evidence-based, coordinated programme delivery.
• Perform other related tasks as may be assigned by the Project Officer (Education) and/or the National Professional Officer (Culture).

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in social sciences, development studies, project/programme management, or another related field from a recognized institution.
• Minimum of 2 years of relevant professional work experience.
• Demonstrated technical experience in contract management, including developing technical specifications, reviewing deliverables against quality standards, and applying M&E tools for monitoring and evaluation.
• Experience applying results-based management (RBM) methodologies and gender mainstreaming approaches in development initiatives.
• Experience drafting technical documents such as Terms of Reference (TORs), Requests for Proposals (RFPs), or technical/analytical reports.
• A master’s degree in the field of culture, cultural studies, heritage management or a similar field is an asset.
• Experience working on culture or heritage-related projects.
• Previous work experience within the United Nations System.
• Knowledge about radio programming in Pakistan.
• Strong organization and coordination skills.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Ability to work effectively, set priorities, and work within tight deadlines.
• Ability to draft high-quality, clear, concise documents and reports.
• Ability to build and maintain partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, including vendors.
• Excellent presentation skills and ability to communicate effectively.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with proven ability to maintain effective working relations within a multi-cultural environment.
• Excellent IT skills, including office productivity tools and online collaboration tools.
• Excellent knowledge (written and spoken) of English and good knowledge of Urdu.

Skills

• Contract Management
• Technical Specifications
• Monitoring and Evaluation
• Result-Based Management
• Gender Mainstreaming
• Technical Document Development
• Terms of Reference
• Request for Proposals Drafting
• Culture Project Management
• Heritage Management
• Radio Programming Knowledge
• Organization and Coordination
• Analytical Skills
• Report Writing
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Presentation Skills
• Office Productivity Software
• Collaboration Tools

Languages

English, Urdu