Programme Assistant – Culture Sector

The UNESCO Regional Office for the Gulf States and Yemen (hereinafter ‘the Office”) is based in Doha and covers the six Gulf countries comprising the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of Kuwait, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Sultanate of Oman, the State of Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, as well as the Republic of Yemen. The vision of the UNESCO Office for the Gulf Countries and Yemen is to “empower women and men to contribute to peaceful and inclusive knowledge-based societies, through education, the sciences, culture, and communication, and information, in partnership with Member States, the private sector, and civil society, to fulfill the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).” In consultation with national and regional stakeholders, the Office sets a local programme of action based on UNESCO’s global priorities and five major programmes as defined in the Programme and Budget for 2026-2027 (42 C/5).

Within UNESCO’s mandate, the Culture Programme is firmly anchored in the Organization’s cultural conventions and recommendations, which provide an internationally agreed framework for heritage, cultural and creative industries, cultural policy development and international cooperation. These instruments guide UNESCO’s work in safeguarding tangible and intangible cultural heritage, strengthening the capacities and the role of museums, promoting the diversity of cultural expressions, protecting underwater cultural heritage, and combating the illicit trafficking of cultural property. To this end, UNESCO Office for the Gulf States and Yemen has identified the following priority areas for the Culture sector: Safeguarding tangible cultural heritage, including monuments, archaeological sites, historic cities, and cultural landscapes. Safeguarding intangible cultural heritage, with a focus on community-based approaches, capacity building, inventorying, and policy support. Strengthening museums as key institutions for transmitting heritage, education, research, and access to cultural life, including support to museum professionals and institutional frameworks. Combating the illicit trafficking of cultural property, through awareness-raising, capacity building, international and regional cooperation. Protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions, including cultural and creative industries. Culture and arts education in the Gulf region and Yemen. Protection of underwater cultural heritage, including capacity building and regional cooperation. Promoting the integration of culture into sustainable development policies, highlighting culture’s role in social cohesion, resilience, and inclusive economic development. Enhancing regional and international cooperation among Gulf States and Yemen, including partnerships with experts, institutions, and category 2 centres under the auspices of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and UNESCO chairs.

Under the direct supervision of the Director of the UNESCO Office for the Gulf States and Yemen and the supervision of the Culture Programme Specialist, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: 1) Contribute to the design, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of projects and activities in the field of culture in the countries covered by the UNESCO Regional Office for the Gulf States and Yemen. 2) Support projects, activities and initiatives related to tangible cultural heritage, intangible cultural heritage, museums, underwater cultural heritage, the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions, and the fighting against illicit trafficking of cultural property, in line with UNESCO’s conventions and recommendations. 3) Assist in the preparation of project proposals, concept notes, work plans, budgets, studies, and analytical reports, including desk research and background documentation for internal and external partners. 4) Contribute to coordination and regular exchanges with government counterparts, experts, non-governmental organizations, Category 2 centres, and other relevant stakeholders, as well as with colleagues across UNESCO sectors. 5) Support the organization of meetings, conferences, capacity-building workshops, training activities, and consultation sessions, both online and in person, including preparation of agendas, participant lists, background materials, and documentation. Assist in the preparation of communication and visibility materials, including news articles, presentations, briefing notes, and other outreach content related to culture programmes and activities. Contribute to awareness-raising and advocacy activities highlighting the role of culture, museums, and heritage protection in sustainable development and social cohesion. Support administrative and operational tasks related to project implementation, including follow-up with partners, coordination of inputs, and documentation of activities, as required by the supervisor. Perform any other duties related to the Culture Programme as may be requested by the Head of the Culture Unit or the Director of the Office.