Parent Sector : Natural Sciences Sector (SC)
Duty Station: Paris
Job Family: Natural Sciences
Type of contract : Non Staff
Duration of contract : From 1 to 11 months
Recruitment open to : External candidates
Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) :10 January 2025
UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism
In accordance with the UNESCO Programme and Budget 2024–2025 (42C/5), Major Programme II: Natural Sciences, Output 4.SC4 Member States capacities strengthened to improve STI policies, access to scientific and technological advancements and enhance knowledge sharing, including through Open Science, work under the overall authority of the Director of the Division of Science Policy and Basic Sciences, and under the direct supervision of the Chief of the Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Section (SC/PCB/STIP), the consultant will:
Work assignment
A. Science Diplomacy Support
The consultant will plan and organise the technical preparatory meeting, including developing comprehensive background documentation, strategic briefing materials, and coordinating expert inputs to establish a technical foundation for the 2025 Global Ministerial Dialogue on Science Diplomacy.
The consultant will coordinate the contributions from experts in science diplomacy and synthesise these inputs to produce a draft Declaration on Science Diplomacy. This document will reflect the collective insights, principles, and recommendations of experts, serving as a foundational text for adoption and endorsement during the Ministerial Dialogue.
The consultant will develop a concise policy brief examining the intersection of quantum technology and science diplomacy. The paper will analyse the current state of quantum technology development, including geographical distribution and key stakeholders, with particular emphasis on governance challenges and equity considerations. The brief will address the predominantly private sector governance of this technology, explore potential benefits and challenges that science diplomacy could address, and propose frameworks for shared development and new governance models.
The consultant will offer on-site support during the 2025 Global Ministerial Dialogue on Science Diplomacy and prepare a summary report of the proceedings. Responsibilities include assisting with logistical arrangements, coordinating with stakeholders, facilitating sessions as needed, ensuring the smooth execution of the event to meet its objectives, and producing a report documenting the key outcomes of the Dialogue.
B. GO-SPIN Enhancement
The consultant will conduct an analysis of science, technology, and innovation (STI) policy information collection practices across major international organisations. This assessment will map existing frameworks, identify methodological gaps and overlaps, and analyse technical challenges in data standardisation. Building on this analysis, the consultant will develop recommendations for advancing inter-organizational collaboration, including a detailed concept note outlining potential mechanisms for harmonisation through a technical workshop, complete with objectives, key participants, expected outcomes, and implementation considerations.
The consultant will design a new data model for the GO-SPIN platform that accommodates data elements from UNESCO's Open Science Recommendation. This involves analysing the requirements and key components of the Open Science Recommendation, reviewing the existing GO-SPIN data structures, and identifying necessary enhancements.
The consultant will work on aligning the taxonomies used in GO-SPIN with those of the OECD STIP Compass. This involves cooperation with the OECD to map and reconcile classification systems and terminologies to enhance interoperability and data sharing between the two platforms, thereby enriching the data available to stakeholders.
DELIVERABLES
A. Science Diplomacy Support
B. GO-SPIN Enhancement
C. G20 Research and Innovation Contributions
Travel:
If deemed necessary by UNESCO, the Individual Specialist may be required to travel in order to perform some of the work described above.