UNESCO is recruiting an Associate Project Officer (Education) at grade P-1 for its Education Sector in Paris, France, on a one-year Project Appointment with an approximate annual starting salary of USD 65,970. The post sits in the Section of Education for Inclusion and Gender Equality, is open to internal and external candidates, and applications close on 10 November 2026 at midnight Paris time. At Youth Works Hub, we read the full vacancy notice to set out every duty, requirement and condition of this post in one place.
What the Associate Project Officer (Education) Role Is About
The Associate Project Officer will carry out a range of substantive tasks to support the successful implementation of the activities of the Section of Education for Inclusion and Gender Equality. The post works under the direct supervision of the Programme Specialist.
The work has three aims: to strengthen evidence and systems for gender-transformative education, to strengthen the systematic integration of gender equality considerations across education sector programming, and to support monitoring, reporting and accountability on gender equality in and through education.
The Post at a Glance
The vacancy notice lists the key facts of the position in its overview.
🔢 Position Number: ED/PA 266
🪜 Grade: P-1
🏫 Parent Sector: Education Sector (ED)
🗼 Duty Station: Paris
🧱 Job Family: Education
📝 Contract Type: Project Appointment
⌛ Duration of Contract: 1 year
🚪 Recruitment Open To: internal and external candidates
🕛 Application Deadline: 10 November 2026, midnight Paris time
The one-year contract comes with the possibility of extension, subject to availability of funds and satisfactory performance.
Where the Post Sits Inside UNESCO
Within the UNESCO Education Sector, the Division for Education 2030 hosts the Section of Education for Inclusion and Gender Equality (ED/E30/IGE). The Section supports Member States and other partners in the implementation of activities to achieve gender equality and inclusion in and through education.
Its work is tied to Sustainable Development Goals 4 and 5, which cover inclusive quality education and lifelong learning, and gender equality.
The Three Pillars Guiding the Section's Work
The Section's work is guided by the UNESCO strategy for gender equality in and through education. The strategy rests on three pillars, each aiming to support a different kind of change.
📊 Better data to inform action for gender equality in and through education
📜 Better legal, policy and planning frameworks to advance rights
📖 Better teaching and learning practices to empower
Coordination and Partnerships Across UNESCO
The Section supports coordination across UNESCO to ensure coherence, complementarities and synergies within the Education Sector and across UNESCO programme sectors, field offices and institutes, as well as with external partners.
It also leads and contributes to many initiatives for collective action to advance gender equality in and through education. These initiatives involve civil society, academia, bilateral and multilateral agencies and the private sector.
Building Gender Capacity Inside the Education Sector
The Section also supports capacity development of the gender architecture of the Education Sector. The aim is to ensure sufficient capacity for mainstreaming gender equality in several parts of UNESCO's work.
🧭 Assessment
🗺️ Planning
✍️ Proposal development
📈 Monitoring and evaluation
📣 Communication of work on gender equality in and through education
Reporting Lines and Authority
The notice sets out a clear chain of authority for the post. The Associate Project Officer works under the overall authority of the Assistant Director General for Education and the Director of the Division for Education 2030. The Chief of the Section of Education for Inclusion and Gender Equality holds the overall oversight, and the Programme Specialist provides the direct supervision.
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Key Roles and Responsibilities
The incumbent will take on the following tasks.
🌐 Support gender-related follow-up to the Transforming Education Summit (TES), including by analyzing the evidence on countries' progress and good practice through the Global Accountability Dashboard of the Global Platform for Gender Equality in and through Education, which UNESCO co-hosts, to strengthen UNESCO's support to advance girls' education
🤝 Support information and evidence sharing at key international education moments
🔭 Contribute to internal and external post-2030 processes
👥 Support coordinating an expert group on gender and education to improve cross-national data on gender equality and education and inform the post-2030 agenda, to identify key data gaps and priority areas for improvement, and to initiate a process for actionable recommendations
📚 Support the coordination of cross-sectional work on curriculum under the 3G MapED project and follow-up work on indicator development
💬 Support the coordination of the internal UNESCO community of practice on gender equality and education, alongside supporting an internal knowledge hub to strengthen knowledge flow
🛠️ Support a systematic approach to continuous capacity building of UNESCO colleagues in the field and at Headquarters
🚨 Support providing technical inputs on gender equality and education and strengthen the systematic integration of gender equality across education programming, particularly in Education in Emergencies
🗂️ Support monitoring and reporting as well as fundraising efforts of the Section
➕ Carry out additional tasks as requested by the supervisor and the Chief of Section
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Core Competencies Listed for the Post
UNESCO lists eight core competencies for this post, and refers candidates to the UNESCO Competency Framework for detailed information.
🗣️ Communication
🧾 Accountability
💡 Innovation
🔄 Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement
📅 Planning and organizing
🏁 Results focus
🫱 Teamwork
🎖️ Professionalism
Core Values of UNESCO
The notice names four UNESCO core values that apply to all staff.
🏢 Commitment to the Organization
🛡️ Integrity
🤲 Respect for Diversity
🧠 Professionalism
Education Required
The required qualification is an advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent). Accepted fields are Education, Gender, Social Sciences, Human Sciences, International Development or other related fields.
Work Experience Required
The post asks for up to 2 years of relevant work experience in the field of gender equality and education.
Skills and Competencies Required
The vacancy notice lists six skills and competencies.
🎯 Good knowledge of gender equality in and through education, including on data
🔬 Strong analytical and coordination skills
🖋️ Excellent writing, research and communication skills
🧗 Ability to work independently, suggest practical solutions and effectively follow up on management decisions
🧩 Ability to be a team player, with strong interpersonal skills
💻 Competence in the use of Microsoft applications including Word, Excel and PowerPoint, databases and office software and multimedia packages
Language Requirements
UNESCO asks for excellent knowledge (written and spoken) of English or French and good knowledge of the other language. Knowledge of another UNESCO official language, in particular Spanish, is an asset.
Salary and Benefits
The approximate annual starting salary for this post is USD 65,970. UNESCO's salaries consist of a basic salary and other benefits, which may include, if applicable, the following.
🏖️ 30 days of annual leave
👪 Family allowance
🩺 Medical insurance
🏦 Pension plan
For full information on benefits and entitlements, candidates are pointed to UNESCO's Guide to Staff Benefits.
The Selection and Hiring Process
All candidates must complete an online application and provide complete and accurate information by the deadline. Applications are made through the UNESCO Careers website, and no modifications can be made once an application is submitted.
The process may include several stages.
🎥 Pre-recorded video interviews
📄 Written assessments
🪑 Interviews with a Panel
☎️ Reference checks
Candidates may also be asked to provide additional information that may be pertinent to the position's qualifications. All candidates, whether selected or not, will be informed of the outcome of their application in due course. Short-listed candidates may also be added to Talent Pools, subject to their consent (the Data Privacy Statement).
Diversity and Who Is Encouraged to Apply
UNESCO is committed to achieving and sustaining equitable and diverse geographical distribution, as well as gender parity among its staff members in all categories and at all grades. It is also committed to workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture.
Candidates from non-represented and under-represented Member States are particularly welcome and strongly encouraged to apply. Individuals from minority groups and indigenous groups, and persons with disabilities, are equally encouraged to apply.
Credentials and Degree Verification
If your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degrees, diplomas or certificates required for this position. UNESCO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited or recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) and UNESCO.
Conditions of Appointment
The notice sets out several general conditions for international posts.
🧳 Geographical mobility is required for staff members appointed to UNESCO's international posts
🏥 UNESCO appointments are subject to medical clearance
🛂 Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by the Organization, is required for International Professional positions
🎂 The statutory retirement age at UNESCO is 65 years
🔐 All applications will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality
UNESCO's Hiring Principles
UNESCO recalls that the paramount consideration in the appointment of staff members is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, technical competence and integrity. It applies a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of harassment, and it does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UNESCO Associate Project Officer (Education) job in Paris?
It is a P-1 Project Appointment (position number ED/PA 266) in UNESCO's Education Sector in Paris. The post supports the Section of Education for Inclusion and Gender Equality in strengthening evidence and systems for gender-transformative education.
Who can apply for this UNESCO post?
Recruitment is open to internal and external candidates. Candidates need a Master's degree or equivalent in a related field and up to 2 years of relevant experience in gender equality and education. Candidates from non-represented and under-represented Member States are particularly welcome.
How long is the contract and can it be extended?
The contract is a Project Appointment of 1 year. It comes with the possibility of extension, subject to availability of funds and satisfactory performance.
How much does the Associate Project Officer (Education) earn?
The approximate annual starting salary for this post is USD 65,970. Other benefits may include 30 days of annual leave, family allowance, medical insurance and a pension plan, where applicable.
Which languages do I need?
You need excellent written and spoken English or French and good knowledge of the other language. Knowledge of another UNESCO official language, in particular Spanish, is an asset.
How does the selection process work?
You complete an online application on the UNESCO Careers website, and it cannot be modified once submitted. The process may include pre-recorded video interviews, written assessments, interviews with a Panel and reference checks.
Does UNESCO charge a fee to apply?
No. UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.
Deadline
⏳ 10 November 2026 (midnight Paris time)
Links
🔗 Application (UNESCO Careers): https://careers.unesco.org/talentcommunity/apply/1375985457/?locale=en_GB
🔗 Job description (UNESCO Careers): https://careers.unesco.org/job/Paris-Associate-Project-Officer-%28Education%29/1375985457/
