Consultant on Media Development and Digital Competencies Education (Re-advertised) (Bangkok, Thailand) contract

Parent Sector : Communication and Information Sector (CI)

Duty Station: Bangkok

Job Family: Communication and Information

Type of contract : Affiliated personnel

Duration of contract : From 7 to 11 months

Recruitment open to : External candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 16-MAR-2026

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

Within the framework of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)’s Communication and Information (CI) programme, in particular its Output on ‘Member States and media institutions enabled to strengthen media development and media pluralism, including through the International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC)’ and Output on ‘Member States have enhanced their policies for inclusive digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI) development, and are enabled to address the digital and knowledge divides, including gender-based divides’, the UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok and Office for UN Coordination for Asia and the Pacific, (hereinafter “UNESCO Bangkok”) is recruiting an Individual Specialist to support the planning, implementation, and reporting of projects aimed at strengthening information integrity and access, as well as promoting responsible digital transformation across the Mekong countries.

Under the overall authority of the Regional Director of the UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok and Office for UN Coordination for Asia and the Pacific, and the direct supervision of the Regional Adviser for Communication and Information, the Individual Specialist shall undertake the following assignments:

1.Provide strategic contribution for the planning, implementation, and reporting of the UNESCO–CODEMAO Youth Coding Initiative in Thailand, including:

a. Developing the project workplan and undertake the execution of all project activities in Thailand;

b. Engaging with all project stakeholders to ensure effective coordination, smooth implementation, and the mobilization of additional resources to strengthen project outcomes;

c. Advise on project financial resource utilization and all procurement and recruitment processes associated with activity implementation;

d. Providing timely monitoring, reporting, and evaluation to assess project effectiveness, collect feedback, and identify priorities for promoting equality and inclusiveness throughout the five-year implementation cycle.

2. Support the planning, implementation, and reporting of UNESCO projects on freedom of expression, access to information, and media and information literacy (MIL), including:

a. Facilitating the implementation of key CI grant programmes on media development in the Mekong countries, including the International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC), the Multi-Donor Programme on Freedom of Expression and the Safety of Journalists (MDP), and the COP30 Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change;

b. Advancing UNESCO’s MIL initiatives in the Mekong region, including the MIL Cities framework and youth-focused MIL interventions, by coordinating activities, mobilizing stakeholders, strengthening partnerships, and enhancing outreach and visibility;

c. Assisting in the flagship activity organization and advocacy efforts for UNESCO international days such as the International Day for Universal Access to Information, the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, and the World Press Freedom Day.

3. Support the planning, implementation, and reporting of UNESCO projects on advancing digital transformation and the ethical use of AI in the Mekong region, including:

a. Promoting UNESCO’s global initiatives on AI empowerment for journalists, newsrooms, and civil servants in the Mekong region by coordinating activities, mobilizing stakeholders, strengthening partnerships, and enhancing outreach and visibility;

b. Providing knowledge and technical support to projects and activities aimed at enabling youth voices and ensuring their safe and meaningful participation in the online civic space.

4. Implement the final phase of the Japanese Funds-in-Trust project “Consolidating the Gains in Policy Development and Capacity Building for the Preservation and Accessibility of Documentary Heritage,” including: 

a.  Coordinating the translation of the UNESCO Toolkit Building Resilience into 2 Asia-Pacific languages;

b.  Developing activities and communication materials for introducing the toolkit and sharing practical guidance on its use with local practitioners;

c.  Assisting in budget monitoring and final project reporting before its completion.

5. Support CI Bangkok in developing workplans and periodic reports for regular programmes and the above projects to the Headquarters, donors, Member States, and other stakeholders for the biennium 2026-2027.

6. Assist in the development of publications, presentations and other communication materials related to the projects and activities mentioned above in close coordination with the Communications and Public Engagement (CPE) Unit.

7. Undertake missions and other tasks related to the above projects as and when assigned by the supervisor and the Director.

8. Submit the following deliverables to UNESCO for its approval by the end of the contract:

a.    The 2026–2027 strategic workplan for the UNESCO–CODEMAO Youth Coding Initiative in Thailand by April 2026.
b.    Draft proposal for a national MIL curriculum development initiative in Thailand by May 2026.
c.    Progress report on the translation of the UNESCO Toolkit Building Resilience into 2 Asia-Pacific languages and its subsequent promotion activities by June 2026.
d.    Inputs to the narrative and financial report of the JFIT-MEXT project “Consolidating the Gains in Policy Development and Capacity Building for the Preservation and Accessibility of Documentary Heritage” by July 2026.
e.    List of schools, teachers, students, newly-engaged partners and other stakeholders participating in the 2026 UNESCO–CODEMAO Youth Coding Initiative in Thailand by  August 2026.
f.    Draft concept note and agenda for a youth digital competencies enhancement activity by  September 2026.
g.    Implementation progress report of CI activities on advancing digital transformation and the ethical use of AI by October 2026.
h.    Annual activity report including breakdown of expenses of the UNESCO–CODEMAO Youth Coding Initiative and the project’s 2027-2029 implementation strategy by November 2026.
i.    Final implementation report on the assigned projects and activities to be incorporated into CI’s annual reports to the Headquarters, donors, Member States, and other stakeholders by December 2026.
j.    Narrative report of the IPDC projects implemented in 2026 in the template provided by the IPDC Secretariat and open call for 2027 IPDC proposals, a pre-screening report of the proposal jury committee and final-nominated proposals by January 2027.
k.    A final report that includes achieved outcomes/outputs during the contract period by February 2027.

Location and Travel:

• The Individual Specialist will be based in Bangkok, Thailand and work within the premises of the UNESCO Bangkok office.
• The Specialist may be required to travel on mission directly related to programmes or projects implementation during the assignment. The Specialist should travel economy class and received DSA at the standard rate (and which should be reduced, as necessary, when the number of days of DSA exceeds the limits stipulated in the table of rates published by ICSC). DSA is only payable to individuals carrying out assignments away from their usual place of residence or work. The Specialist is expected to make her/his own travel arrangements and should be provided with a lump sum to cover travel-related expenses in accordance with UNESCO rules and regulations. Travel-related expenses (e.g. the cost of tickets, terminal fares and DSA) must be fixed and agreed between the parties.

Timeframe (tentative)

April 2026 – March 2027 (11 months) 

Payment Schedule

Payment of each installment will be made upon submission of the deliverable by the due date.

Education:

An advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent and above) in the field of communication arts, communication design, journalism, international relations, social sciences or related areas.

Professional Work Experience:

Minimum 2 years of work experience in coordinating media development or digital competencies education projects at the national, regional or international level.

Skills and Competencies:

• Extensive expertise and hands-on experience in educational and cultural project management and strategic planning in Asia and the Pacific
• Proven conceptual and analytical skills
• Effective planning and organizing ability
• Capacity to follow up and coordinate independently with minimal supervision
• Proven ability to work efficiently in a dynamic and multicultural team environment
• Excellent coordination and interpersonal skills
• Proven capacity to build and maintain effective partnerships inside and outside the organization

Languages:

Excellent knowledge of English; knowledge of other UNESCO official languages is an asset.

Interested candidates should click on “Apply Now” and upload the following documents as a single PDF document in place of the Employment History Form.

1. an up-to-date curriculum vitae;
2. a cover letter indicating how your qualifications and experience make you suitable for the assignment;
3. Approach and methodology for carrying out the assignment (maximum 2, A4 pages), a workplan and comments on the Terms of Reference, in brief, if any, and;
4. The proposed consultancy fee for the assignment, quoted in USD and inclusive of all costs. Please indicate both the monthly fee and the estimated mission cost.