Service Contract (Mangrove Conservation) Project Officer

Organizational Context

UNESCO's Ecological and Earth Sciences Division supports Member States in strengthening ecosystem resilience, biodiversity conservation, and climate adaptation across UNESCO-designated sites. This role contributes to the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme, focusing on enhancing mangrove conservation and restoration in biosphere reserves and coastal ecosystems. The position operates under the overall supervision of the Director of the Ecological and Earth Sciences Division and the direct supervision of a Programme Specialist.

Job Purpose

The Associate Project Officer will contribute to project coordination, analytical reporting, stakeholder engagement, and communication activities. This involves supporting the day-to-day coordination of project activities, ensuring smooth communication and timely follow-up with participating sites and partners. The role also includes logistical and administrative preparation for missions, meetings, and events, maintaining updated planning tools, and organizing project information repositories. The incumbent will track progress of field activities, maintain monitoring dashboards, and support the consolidation of non-technical inputs for internal progress updates. Additionally, the role involves coordinating the circulation of communication materials, maintaining contact lists, and assisting in the organization of dissemination events and exchanges, focusing on logistics and coordination.

Responsibilities

Support the day-to-day coordination of project activities, ensuring smooth communication and timely follow-up with participating sites and partners. Assist in the logistical and administrative preparation of missions, meetings, and project-related events, including travel arrangements, documentation flow, and participant coordination. Maintain updated planning tools, calendars, and internal tracking systems to support efficient project implementation. Organize and maintain project information repositories, ensuring documents, correspondence, and partner inputs are properly archived and accessible. Compile and structure contributions from biosphere reserves, national committees, and partner institutions to support internal decision-making processes. Track progress of field activities and partner deliverables through regular communication with site managers and national focal points. Maintain monitoring dashboards and follow-up tables to support internal oversight of timelines, milestones, and administrative requirements. Coordinate the circulation of communication materials produced by technical teams, ensuring they reach relevant audiences and platforms. Maintain contact lists, distribution channels, and communication workflows to support visibility actions. Provide support to facilitate routine communication with biosphere reserve managers, community representatives, youth networks, and institutional partners. Support the organization of participatory processes by coordinating invitations, logistics, and documentation. Initiate administrative, procurement, and contractual arrangements, and prepare contracts in accordance with financial rules and regulations. Support budget monitoring by tracking expenditures and preparing internal summaries for project managers.

Work Experience

A minimum of two years of relevant professional experience in ecosystem conservation, biodiversity restoration, climate adaptation, or sustainable development, with at least one year at the international level. Proven experience in coordinating projects is required.

Skills

Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills. Excellent written and oral communication abilities. Proficient in drafting quality reports. Experience in producing analytical reports, synthesizing information, or conducting stakeholder consultations. Ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment and coordinate with multiple stakeholders. Strong IT skills, including spatial analysis and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

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