Consultant - Inventorying and Safeguarding of Yazidi Intangible Cultural Heritage in Iraq

Organizational Context

UNESCO Iraq, in collaboration with local partners, is dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of the Yazidi community. This initiative addresses the profound impact of past occupation by strengthening local capacities for community-based inventorying and documentation. The project focuses on revitalizing cultural identity and social cohesion through research, documentation, and digital tools, ensuring the transmission of heritage knowledge to younger generations.

Job Purpose

The primary purpose of this consultancy is to provide expert technical leadership and guidance for the "Inventorying and Safeguarding of Yazidi Intangible Cultural Heritage in Iraq" project. This involves building the capacity of local community members in ICH inventorying through specialized workshops and overseeing the community-based inventory processes to ensure data quality and validation. The consultant will play a crucial role in documenting the non-religious aspects of Yazidi ICH, aiming to create a comprehensive, quality-assured digital inventory and an online database accessible to the community, particularly youth. The ultimate goal is to foster strengthened identity, continuity, and social cohesion within the Yazidi community.

Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the Head of UNESCO Iraq Office and the direct supervision of the Senior CLT Project Officer, the Senior Consultant will provide technical leadership in accordance with UNESCO's 2003 Convention. Key responsibilities include preparing and delivering specialized workshops to build the capacity of local community members in ICH inventorying. The consultant will oversee the community-based inventory processes, ensuring the quality, accuracy, and validation of all collected data. Furthermore, the role involves supporting the preparation and dissemination of a comprehensive inventory of Yazidi intangible cultural heritage. This includes guiding the documentation of non-religious ICH aspects, contributing to the creation of a searchable online database, and ensuring the final inventory is quality-assured and ready for publication, thereby supporting the transmission of heritage knowledge.

Work Experience

A minimum of 10 years of professional experience in intangible cultural heritage (ICH), cultural heritage management, or community-based cultural documentation is required. Demonstrated experience in implementing ICH safeguarding, documentation, and inventorying projects is essential, along with proven expertise in UNESCO's 2003 Convention and community-based inventorying methodologies.

Skills

Essential skills include strong technical knowledge of ICH safeguarding and inventorying processes, excellent analytical, organizational, and project management capabilities. Proficiency in facilitation, communication, and intercultural collaboration is vital. The ability to work independently, meet deadlines, and produce high-quality reports and documentation is also crucial.

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