Deputy Programme Coordinator (Science), Maputo

## Deputy Programme Coordinator (Science), Maputo - Organization:UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization - Office:UNESCO in Maputo, Mozambique Description of assignment title:Deputy Programme Coordinator (Science) Assignment country:Mozambique Work location:On UN premises Expected start date:10/19/2026 Duration:12 months(with possibility of extension)Long-term benefits and allowances Sustainable Development Goal:13. Climate action Host entity:UNESCO Mozambique Volunteer category:Expert UCoS from Apr2026 Work schedule:Full-time Number of Assignments:1 Mission and objectives: - UNESCO's mission is to contribute to the building of a culture of peace, the eradication of poverty, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information - Natural disasters are a common occurrence in Southern Africa, particularly in Mozambique and Zimbabwe, where communities are exposed to cyclones, floods, droughts, and heatwaves. The region continues to face increasing climate variability and extreme weather events, placing pressure on vulnerable communities, ecosystems, and infrastructure. - To address hydrometeorological risks, UNESCO is implementing two regional projects: 'Building community resilience to climate-induced multi-hazards in the Buzi, Pungwe and Save (BuPuSa) Transboundary River Basins', which aims to reduce vulnerability and strengthen resilience of communities and institutions to multi-hazard risks and a complementary regional initiative titled 'Building Resilience to Wildfires and Extreme Heat through Innovative Early Warning and Community-Based Solutions in Mozambique and Zambia' which strengthens resilience through innovative early warning systems integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI), IoT sensors, satellite data, and community-based communication platforms, alongside ecosystem-based adaptation approaches and community capacity building. Within this framework, the Deputy Project Coordinator will support the implementation and coordination of both projects in Mozambique, ensuring strong synergies, effective delivery, and alignment with UNESCO’s disaster risk reduction and climate resilience priorities. - The Deputy Project Coordinator will support the implementation of projects by coordinating daily activities and managing the entire project cycle, including planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting. The role involves close collaboration with government entities, technical partners, and communities to ensure effective delivery of early warning and resilience interventions. The incumbent will also support data-driven decision-making, stakeholder coordination, and compliance with project requirements to achieve measurable and sustainable results. The estimated allocation of time between the two projects, based on scale and budget, is 70% for BuPuSaand 30% for Wildfires. - Candidate must be a national, legal resident or hold refugee status in the country of assignment. Assignment requirements - Portuguese, Level: Fluent, Required - English, Level: Working knowledge, Required Required education level: - Master's degree in Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Environmental Sciences, Climate Change, Disaster Risk Management, Project Management, Education, Social Sciences, or related field. Competencies and values: - • Adaptability and flexibility - • Judgement and decision-making - • Planning and organizing Skills and experience: - Progressively responsible experience in project coordination, implementation, and monitoring, ideally within multi-stakeholder or development settings. - Proven experience in monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL), including data collection, analysis, and reporting, is required. - Strong organizational, analytical, and communication skills are essential, as well as demonstrated ability to support planning processes, track project progress, and coordinate with government counterparts, partners, and communities. - Portuguese (written and spoken) is required, along with a strong working knowledge of English. - Ability to travel to field locations and work in challenging environments is essential. - Experience in climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, or early warning systems will be considered a strong asset. - Prior experience with the United Nations or familiarity with UN procedures and systems is desirable. Area(s) of expertise: - Community development, Project management, programme development, strategy, Emergency preparedness, crisis response