Coordinator for Cultural and Creative Industries Engagement in Nepal

Contract

This is a UNV National Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Specialist contracts.

UNESCO contributes to building peace and fostering sustainable development and intercultural dialogue in Nepal through education, sciences, culture, communication and information.

UNESCO works to attain quality education for all, focusing on gender equality and adult literacy, to mobilize scientific knowledge and science policy for sustainable development, to preserve cultural heritage, promote cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue, and to empower people through the free flow of ideas and access to information and knowledge. To achieve these objectives, UNESCO actively participates in the work of the UN Country Team in Nepal and closely cooperates with other development partners in the country.

The UNV will be a part of the Culture Unit of the Office and supervised by the Programme Officer for Culture.

The UNV assignment is for coordinating the active involvement of multi-stakeholders - youth, indigenous communities, artists, creators and diaspora of individuals, groups or societies, including policy makers to explore the assets of cities potential in terms of cultural and creative industries and facilitating the proceedings of a multiprong dialogue to support sustainable development of cities and communities.

A part of the assignment will be to explore the potential of considering cities of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur of the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage property as UNESCO Creative Cities and establishment of a formal application for at least one city to join the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN - https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities). This designation aims at strengthening cooperation between cities (national/international), develop partnerships with stakeholders, strengthen cultural and creative industries, stimulate innovation and creativity, integrate culture into development plans and policies.

The UN 2030 Agenda for sustainable development recognizes and highlights the importance of the local dimensions in achieving the sustainable development goals. The outbreak of the pandemic has had a deep impact on culture sector, yet it has further illustrated the power of culture and creativity as a resource for recovery and resilience. Through partnerships with cities, UNESCO seeks to support them in addressing the multiple challenges they face, while acknowledging the cities’ fundamental role in sustainable development and their potential to capitalize on the culture and creativity of the dynamic young populations to deliver social, economic and other benefits for the cities and communities.

Within the delegated authority and under the direct supervision of Programme Officer for Culture, the National UNV Specialist will:

1. Identify and map relevant stakeholders - youth, indigenous communities, artists, creators, and diaspora of individuals, groups or societies, including policy makers and existing or new players, potential actors with their role/strength within the three cities of Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Property, notably, Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur;
2. Assist in establishing a core consultative group involving relevant stakeholders to facilitate proceeding of a multiprong dialogue to support sustainable development of cities and communities and in particular to explore the potential of considering Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur as UNESCO Creative Cities;
3. Implement relevant background research and prepare mapping of cultural and creative assets of the cities including the impact by COVID-19 pandemic, particularly those in the creative field concerned – that may be highlighted and tapped into locally and internationally in making creativity as essential driver of sustainable urban development;
4. Identify initiatives and good practices exploring examples from within the cities and other countries in the region or outside that are applicable to Nepal and

- demonstrate the use of cultural and creative industries in local socio-economic plans; - connect local economies to boost new creative approaches to safeguard and promote cultural and creative assets of the local communities; - enhance the diversity of cultural expressions aiming to safeguard community practices, and promote contemporary urban narratives and spaces for cultural expression with new technologies, for the social, economic and other benefits for cities and communities; 5. Engage with the consultative group, organize and participate in meetings involving relevant like-minded entities, individuals, and organizations from the public and private sectors, academia and civil society, professional associations and cultural institutions, including youth, indigenous groups and prominent actors, creators, professionals and practitioners to: - exchange ideas, explore synergies and brainstorm the creative cities fields, - identify suitable narrative for each city that complements vision and efforts of the corresponding cities and communities for the establishment of Nepal’s first application to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities), - explain how they consider that culture and creativity – particularly in the creative field concerned – can act as a driver for identifying the main development opportunities and challenges facing the cities, - identify interventions that seek to maximize the potential of the cities’ creative field for sustainable urban development and mitigate/resolve the challenges the cities face; 6. Work in collaboration with the consultative group, stakeholders of creative field and cities concerned to elaborate strategy, actions and initiatives that broaden opportunities for creators and professionals in creative and cultural industries and aimed at strengthening role of culture and creativity as a strategic factor in the socio-economic development of the cities and in urban regeneration to support preparation of the application/s; 7. Share progress of work in regular meetings and in coordination with the Communication Officer, create and disseminate relevant impact stories/outreach contents to stimulate discussions and inform policies; 8. Undertake other tasks related to the above as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day); • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; • Provide annual and end of assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers; • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Results/expected outputs:

• As an active UNESCO team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNESCO and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including: • Mapping of assets of selected city/ies in terms of cultural and creative industries prepared; • Process for formal designation of at least one of the Cites of Kathmandu, Lalitpur, or Bhaktapur into UNESCO Creative Cities Network (https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/) initiated; • Strengthened dialogue and cooperation among stakeholders, communities and cities and experts on diverse ways in which the Creative Cities embrace culture and creativity in their local strategies, policies and actions to achieve the 2030 Agenda; • Knowledge and understanding of the community on innovative approaches of Creative Cities Network enhanced; • Periodic progress reports; • A diagnostic summary report reflecting on the outcome of the dialogues and consultations with stakeholders, aiming to share experiences and stimulate other cities to undertake similar efforts; • Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment • A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed

• Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNESCO; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UNESCO’s procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented; • Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNESCO in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority; • Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues; • Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment. • Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities; • Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups; • Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary; • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNESCO’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

at the national and/or international level in working with cultural and creative industries and/or living heritage or other relevant programmes; experience with creative economy and sustainable development is an asset, as is experience working in the UN or other international development organization.

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. National UN Volunteers are part of the malicious insurance plan.