Associate Project Officer (Education)

Under the overall authority of the Assistant Director General for Education and the Director of the Division for Peace and Sustainable Development, the overall guidance of the Chief of Section on Global Citizenship and Peace Education, and the direct supervision of the Programme Specialist/Team Leader for Memory and Non-discrimination, the incumbent is responsible for coordinating education programs that deal with violent pasts, embedded in UNESCO’s wider programs on Global Citizenship Education and ensuring alignment with the 2023 Recommendation on Education for Peace, Human Rights and Sustainable Development.

Background Information

UNESCO is the agency of the United Nations system with a mandate to promote education about the Holocaust and genocide. Based on UNESCO General Conference Resolution 34C/61 and supported by United Nations Resolution 60/7 on Holocaust Remembrance (2005), and resolution 61/255 on Holocaust denial (2007), the Organization supports Member States in strengthening education about the Holocaust and genocide and promotes education that helps to address violent pasts and prevent future mass atrocities.

UNESCO’s work in the field of Holocaust and genocide education is part of the Organization’s work on Global Citizenship Education (GCED). GCED is a strategic area of UNESCO’s Education Sector programme and builds on the work of peace and human rights education. UNESCO understands GCED as an educational approach that nurtures a sense of belonging to a common humanity through promoting values, attitudes and skills that are based on and instill respect for human rights, gender equality, and social justice. Global Citizenship Education (GCED) is at the core of Target 4.7 of Sustainable Development Goal 4 on Education.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Programme Officer will contribute to the development and coordination of the Sector’s activities relating to education about violent pasts, with focus on Holocaust and genocide education, in partnership with relevant stakeholders in the field. This includes:

1. 1. Support management of the 2025 cycle of the International Program on Holocaust and Genocide Education (IPHGE).
   2. Support the coordination of UNESCO’s new multisectoral work in Rwanda for building capacities of memorial sites for education.
   3. Support the organisation of events and conferences such as International Days, in consultation with UNESCO’s programme Sectors and partners.
   4. Support the development and publication of technical guidance on violent pasts education, including coordination of document production (copyediting, design and layout), translations and adaptations for regional and national contexts, as possible, in close cooperation with Field Offices and relevant UNESCO services. Support the launch of new publications.
   5. Strengthen the network of key partners in the field of work of Global Citizenship and Peace Education with a focus on education about violent pasts.
   6. Remain well versed about new research and global trends in Education and contribute to the development of concept notes and project documents related to the Section’s work.
   7. Analyze and compile background data to support resource mobilization efforts, including identifying funding opportunities, contributing to the preparation of funding proposals= and follow-up.
   8. Support communication (website, social media and other supports), outreach, advocacy, on all above-mentioned activities.