Individual Consultant (mid/senior-level)

Title: Individual Consultant (mid-level)

Type of Contract: Individual Consultant

No of Incumbents: 1

Organizational Unit: UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia (Natural Sciences Unit)

Primary Location: UNESCO Beijing

Recruitment open to: Internationally

Expected Contract Duration: 4 months, with the possibility of extension subject to satisfactory achievement of agreed deliverables 

Deadline: 20 March 2025 (midnight, Beijing time)

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE CONSULTANCY

Background

Three significant upcoming publications on Strategic Groundwater Management , and Sustainable Water Infrastructure, and Aligning Spatial Economic and Water Resources Planning have been developed in collaboration with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the General Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Planning and Design (GIWP) of the Ministry of Water Resources of China. These publications build upon our previous successful partnership with WWF and GIWP, which resulted in the influential 2016 book on drought risk management, a testament to our joint commitment to addressing critical water management issues. The current work, led by esteemed experts, including Robert Speed, Yuanyuan Li, and others, offers a comprehensive framework for sustainable groundwater management, a resource that is increasingly under threat globally. These books strategic insights and actionable guidance are in line with UNESCO’s mission and directly support the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 6 on Clean Water and 

Sanitation. It is designed to have a global reach, providing valuable knowledge to policymakers, practitioners, and academics worldwide.

Description of Responsibilities:

Under the overall authority of the Director of the Beijing Multisectoral Regional Office and the direct supervision of the Programme Specialist for Natural Sciences, the consultant will provide technical assistance and coordination for the UNESCO publication process of the three volumes by performing but not limited to the following tasks: 

·Draft the publication agreement between partners 

·Coordinate the adoption and signature of the publication agreement 

·Take action for the submission of the draft documents to the UNESCO publication board 

·Liaise with partners and authors to ensure the final drafts are submitted on time 

·Coordinate the copy editing and layout design of the Book 

·Prepare necessary materials and documents for the launch of the books at suitable events 

·Coordinate the distribution of the books with relevant partners and stakeholders 

·Submit monthly reports in English, a minimum of 10 pages including annexes written as a technical and narrative report depending on the activities undertaken during the specific month, no later than: 

31 March 2025 

Publication Agreements: 

· Finalized drafts of publication agreements with WWF, GIWP, and the selected publishing entity. 

· Completion of signature processes for agreements. 

Content Review and Expert Feedback:

·Conducted an initial detailed review of the two ready manuscripts: 

· Provided expert feedback focusing on technical accuracy, structure, and alignment with UNESCO’s mission and SDG 6. 

·Initiated discussions with the authors of the third manuscript to track progress and identify challenges delaying submission. Coordination and Liaison Activities: 

·Facilitated initial meetings between authors, editors, and the publishing entity to align expectations and workflows. 

·Developed a revised timeline considering the delayed readiness of the third manuscript. 

Monthly Report: 

·Submission of a 10+ page report including: 

·Progress on agreements and signatures 

·Summary of feedback provided on the two ready manuscripts 

·Meeting summaries and a mitigation plan for the delayed third manuscript 

30 April 2025

Content Refinement for Ready Manuscripts: 

·Reviewed revised drafts of the two manuscripts after incorporating first-round feedback. 

·Provided targeted feedback on enhancing clarity, consistency, and technical rigor.

Editing and Layout Process for Ready Manuscripts: 

·Initiated the first round of copy editing and layout development for the two manuscripts. 

·Liaised with editors and designers to ensure editorial changes respected content integrity. 

Third Manuscript Progress: 

·Provided guidance to the authors of the third manuscript to accelerate its completion. 

·Established clear deadlines and support mechanisms to ensure readiness for May. 

Launch Planning: 

·Drafted preliminary agendas for book launches, focusing initially on the two ready publications. 

·Identified potential launch venues and target audiences. 

Monthly Report: 

·Included updates on manuscript revisions, editing progress, and the third manuscript’s status. 

31 May 2025 

Final Review for Ready Manuscripts: 

·Conducted comprehensive final reviews of the two manuscripts postediting. 

·Verified incorporation of all feedback and ensured consistency in technical content. 

·Provided final approval for printing and digital formatting of the two manuscripts. 

Layout and Design Finalization for Ready Manuscripts: 

·Worked with the publishing entity to finalize layouts, covers, and design elements. 

·Ensured materials adhered to UNESCO’s publishing standards and accessibility guidelines. 

Third Manuscript Submission: 

·Received and conducted an initial review of the third manuscript. 

·Provided initial expert feedback with a condensed timeline to maintain overall project deadlines. 

Launch Preparations: 

·Finalized event agendas for the launch of the first two publications. 

·Developed promotional materials (invitations, press releases, social media content). 

Monthly Report: 

·Documented final approvals for the first two manuscripts, progress on the third manuscript, and launch preparation details. 

June 2025 

Publication Production: 

·Oversaw printing and digital production of the two ready publications. 

·Conducted quality checks on final proofs. 

Third Manuscript Editing and Layout: 

·Coordinated an expedited editing and layout process for the third manuscript. 

·Liaised closely with the publishing entity to meet compressed deadlines. 

Pre-Launch Activities for Ready Publications: 

·Distributed promotional materials for the launch events. 

·Finalized logistics for events, including venue bookings, speaker confirmations, and media outreach. 

Monthly Report: 

·Included production updates, third manuscript editing progress, and detailed launch logistics. 

31 July 2025 

Book Launch Events: 

·Successfully supported launch events for the available publications, ensuring broad stakeholder engagement. 

·Collected and analyzed participant feedback and media coverage. 

Finalization of Third Manuscript if not ready: 

·Completed final reviews, edits, and layout adjustments for the third manuscript. 

·Approved for printing and digital release with an anticipated postproject launch plan. 

Distribution and Outreach: 

·Managed distribution of the first two publications (both physical and digital). 

·Developed a dissemination plan for the third publication to be implemented after the contract’s end. 

Final Report Submission: 

·Submitted a comprehensive final report detailing.

· Achievements for each manuscript. 

·Challenges and solutions regarding the third manuscript delay. 

·Launch event outcomes and recommendations for future initiatives. 

Monthly Report:

·Included event summaries, distribution details, and reflections on the entire publication process. 

·Submit to UNESCO Office Beijing a final report on the activities no later than 31 July 2025;

·Assist with other tasks as assigned by the Programme Specialist and the Director of the Office.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

Advanced degree in environmental sciences, engineering, and environmental economics and environmental law.

WORK EXPERIENCE

A minimum of 5 years of relevant job experience. 

SKILLS/COMPETENCIES

Excellent technical knowledge and writing skills.

LANGUAGES

Excellent knowledge of English (oral and written).

HOW TO APPLY

The technical and financial proposal following the template attached in annex and CV in English must be received by UNESCO no later than 20 March 2025 (Midnight Beijing Time), Expressions of Interest shall be sent by e-mail to UNESCOBeijing office jobvacancy@unesco.org (max. 10 pages)

A WRITTEN EXAMINATION MAY BE USED IN THE EVALUATION OF CANDIDATES.

Annex. Proposal template