UNESCO is recruiting an Associate Grants Management Officer at grade P-1/P-2 for its Division for Partnerships in Paris, France, on a two-year renewable fixed-term contract with an approximate annual starting salary of US$65,970. Applications close on 02 December 2026 at midnight Paris time. At Youth Works Hub, we reviewed the full vacancy notice and set out every duty, requirement and condition below.
Vacancy DPA 086 at a Glance
🔢 Position number: DPA 086
🎚️ Grade: P-1/P-2
🏛️ Parent sector: Division for Partnerships (DPA)
📍 Duty station: Paris
🗂️ Job family: Administration
📜 Contract type: Fixed Term
⏱️ Duration of contract: 2 years, renewable
🚪 Recruitment open to: Internal and external candidates
💵 Approximate annual starting salary: US$65,970
The Core Values UNESCO Asks Staff to Uphold
🎯 Commitment to the Organization
🧭 Integrity
🌐 Respect for Diversity
🏅 Professionalism
What the Partnerships Division Does
The Partnerships Division (DPA) is placed under the Deputy Director-General (DDG) and is responsible for coordinating UNESCO's public and private partners. These include key interlocutors from:
🤲 Bilateral donors
🇺🇳 United Nations and multilateral organizations
🇪🇺 Regional institutions such as the European Union (EU) and regional banks
🙌 Civil society
🎁 Philanthropy and foundations
🏢 Corporations
The Division works to diversify and expand UNESCO's donor base and provides backstopping and guidance to UNESCO Programme Sectors, Field Offices and Category 1 Institutes in support of their efforts to engage with partners and mobilize resources. It is also responsible for the elaboration of strategies for partnership and resource mobilization, and it manages Grants Agreements.
Where This Post Sits and Who It Reports To
The Associate Grants Management Officer works under the overall authority of the Director of the Division for Partnerships, the authority of the Head of the Agreement Management Unit and the direct supervision of the Grants Management Officer.
The incumbent will contribute to the review of donor funding agreements, support the Agreement Management Unit in its efforts to guide implementing units in the area of funding agreements, and help ensure the proper recording of funding agreements.
Supporting the Review of Funding Agreements
The first group of duties involves providing support to the Grants Management Officer in the review of funding agreements:
🔍 Review agreements submitted by Programme Specialists against the relevant standard template or non-standard agreements previously signed with a donor, and provide comments for further decision-making.
🗣️ Assist in the coordination of internal consultations with relevant services such as Legal Affairs, Ethics and the Division of Financial Services, amongst others.
✍️ Support validation processes, including the requests for delegation of authorities for the signature of funding agreements.
Advising Programme Specialists Across the Organization
The post holder provides advice to Programme Specialists at Headquarters, in Field Offices and in Category I Institutes on the set-up of funding agreements as well as in negotiations with donors. The role also includes backstopping for the processing of requests in relation to the implementation of funding agreements, in particular amendments for extensions and budget revisions.
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Keeping Agreement Records and the Pipeline Accurate
🖥️ Oversee the upload of signed agreements and related information, including amendments, narrative reports and financial reports, in ERP Systems.
📋 Ensure that the monitoring list of funding agreements under review is up to date, so that information on funding agreements in the pipeline is accurate.
Contributing to Policy, Guidance and Institutional Memory
The incumbent also contributes to:
📝 Internal briefing notes for senior management
📘 The development and update of policies in the area of grants management
📄 Standard funding agreement templates and related internal guidance notes
🧠 The building of institutional memory in relation to the internal agreement review
Core Competencies Listed for the Role
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
Required Education
Candidates need an advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in finance, business administration, law, economics, accounting, audit or a related field. A first-level university degree in these fields, combined with two additional years of qualifying professional experience, may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
Required Work Experience in Agreements Management
Candidates need at least two years of relevant professional experience in the field of Agreements Management or a related field, of which preferably one year acquired at the international level.
Required Skills for Handling Donor Agreements
🧾 Strong understanding of Agreements Management processes, especially on funding agreements review.
🗺️ Demonstrated knowledge of the international donor landscape.
✉️ Good written and oral communication skills.
🧩 Demonstrated ability to work in a team, participate in unit meetings and maintain effective working relationships in a multicultural environment.
🔄 Flexibility to adjust work schedules and manage competing priorities, organizing and prioritizing workloads to meet established deadlines.
English and French Requirements
The post requires excellent knowledge (written and spoken) of English or French and very good knowledge of the other language.
What Would Strengthen a Candidacy
UNESCO also lists the following desirable qualifications:
🌏 Professional experience gained in multicultural working environments.
🏫 Familiarity with the work and general functioning of international organizations and/or the UN System.
🙋 A client-oriented approach, with the ability to identify client needs and suggest appropriate solutions.
🗨️ Knowledge of another official language of UNESCO: Arabic, Chinese, Russian and/or Spanish.
Salary, Leave and Other Entitlements
The approximate annual starting salary for this post is US$65,970. UNESCO's salaries consist of a basic salary and other benefits, which may include, if applicable:
🌴 30 days annual leave
🧒 Family allowance
🩺 Medical insurance
🏦 Pension plan
Full information on benefits and entitlements is available in UNESCO's Guide to Staff Benefits.
How UNESCO Selects Candidates
All candidates must complete an online application and provide complete and accurate information by the deadline. No modifications can be made to the application once it has been submitted.
The process may include:
🎥 Pre-recorded video interviews and/or written assessments
⚖️ Interviews with a Panel
☎️ Reference checks
Candidates may also be requested to provide additional information 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 under the Data Privacy Statement.
UNESCO states that it does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process. For more on telling genuine offers from fake ones, see how Youth Works Hub checks opportunities.
Degree Verification Through the World Higher Education Database
If your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s), diploma(s) or certificate(s) 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
🧳 Geographical mobility is required for staff members appointed to UNESCO's international posts.
🛂 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.
🏥 UNESCO appointments are subject to medical clearance.
🎂 The statutory retirement age at UNESCO is 65 years.
🔒 All applications will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality.
UNESCO's Commitments on Diversity and Conduct
UNESCO recalls that paramount consideration in the appointment of staff members shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, technical competence and integrity. The Organization applies a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of harassment.
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- 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.
Find more international organization vacancies like this one in the Jobs section of Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the salary for the UNESCO Associate Grants Management Officer post?
The approximate annual starting salary for this post is US$65,970. UNESCO's salaries consist of a basic salary and other benefits, which may include, if applicable, 30 days annual leave, family allowance, medical insurance and a pension plan.
How long is the UNESCO Associate Grants Management Officer contract?
The post is a fixed-term contract of two years, and it is renewable. The grade is P-1/P-2 and the duty station is Paris.
Can external candidates apply for vacancy DPA 086?
Yes. Recruitment for this post is open to both internal and external candidates. Candidates from non- and under-represented Member States are particularly welcome and strongly encouraged to apply.
Is a Master's degree required for this UNESCO post?
An advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in finance, business administration, law, economics, accounting, audit or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in these fields may be accepted in lieu of it when combined with two additional years of qualifying professional experience.
How much experience does the Associate Grants Management Officer need?
Candidates need at least two years of relevant professional experience in Agreements Management or a related field. Preferably one of those years was acquired at the international level.
Which languages are needed for this job at UNESCO in Paris?
The post requires excellent knowledge, written and spoken, of English or French and very good knowledge of the other language. Knowledge of another official UNESCO language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian and/or Spanish) is desirable.
Can I change my UNESCO application after submitting it?
No. UNESCO states that no modifications can be made to the application once it has been submitted, so all information needs to be complete and accurate before the deadline.
What assessments are part of the UNESCO selection process?
The process may include pre-recorded video interviews and/or written assessments, interviews with a Panel, and reference checks. Candidates may also be asked for additional information pertinent to the position's qualifications.
Does UNESCO charge a recruitment fee?
No. UNESCO states that it does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.
Deadline
⏳ 02 December 2026
Links
🔗 Apply online: https://careers.unesco.org/talentcommunity/apply/1376435557/?locale=en_GB
📰 Official vacancy notice: https://careers.unesco.org/job/Paris-Associate-Grants-Management-Officer/1376435557/
📖 World Higher Education Database (WHED): https://www.whed.net
