National Project Officer (Disaster Risk Management and Climate Resilience) (Hanoi, Viet Nam) contract Full Time

Parent Sector: Natural Sciences Unit, UNESCO Country Office in Viet Nam 

Duty Station: Hanoi, Viet Nam

Type of contract: Non-staff

Duration of contract: 12 months (with the possibility of extension, subject to performance and project needs)

Recruitment open to: Vietnamese National only

Application Deadline (Midnight Hanoi Time): 26 Feb 2026

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

I. BACKGROUND

The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized international agency that was founded in 1945. Through its activities within the fields of education, social and natural science, culture and communication and information, UNESCO is actively contributing to the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, UNESCO’s Medium Term Strategy 2022-2029 and the 2022-2026 One Strategic Plan of the UN in Viet Nam, and Sendai Framework in Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030)

UNESCO Natural Science section focuses on implementing major programmes related to freshwater, marine, ecological, earth and basic sciences while also promoting innovative technology and capacity-building initiatives in these fields. Within the framework of the Natural Sciences sector, the UNESCO Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP), founded in 1975, is a long-term programme executed in successive eight-year phases. IHP is the only United Nations intergovernmental programme devoted to water research, management, and related education and capacity development. In Vietnam, UNESCO has been implementing the IHP Phase IX: Science for a Water Secure world in a changing environment during 2022-2029, to assist strengthening national capacity in addressing water security and climate change’s challenges in new context.  

Within the framework of IHP phase IX (2022-2029), UNESCO Vietnam will be implementing projects in fresh-water field, disaster risk reduction and management, and climate resilience in Vietnam. The project is to support Vietnam in strengthening capacity in water-related disaster risk preparedness and response, improvement of early warning system, climate and disaster risk analysis and school safety etc.

UNESCO Office in Vietnam is looking for a National Project Officer to be responsible for preparation and implementation for the Disaster Risk Management and climate change resilience projects in Viet Nam mentioned above, which to start in late March/ealry April 2026. 

Only Vietnamese nationals will be considered for this position. The position will work on fulltime basis at UNESCO Country Office in Hanoi (expected to start from March 2026). The position may be extended upon fund availability and performance.

II.  Key assignments

Under the overall authority of the Head of UNESCO Ha Noi Office and under the direct supervision of the Chief of Natural Sciences Unit, the National Project Officer (DRM & Climate Resilience) will provide support to plan, coordinate and implement the projects on disaster risk reduction and climate change resilience within the framework of IHP IX programme, specifically be responsible for the following assignments:

Projects Implementation

• Coordinate and oversee the preparation/inception phase of the projects in Vietnam (foreseen to start in late Mar/Apr 2026), in close cooperations with national counterparts (at central and provincial level);
• Responsible for developing the workplans, implementation and day-to-day coordination/management, to ensure timely delivery of projects’ objectives and outputs in line with approved project documents, work plans, and in accordance with UNESCO’s rules and regulations
• Undertake technical tasks, organize activities, mobilize experts, both from the UNESCO and external national and international consultants, and all arrangements related to the project/activity implementation as required
• Coordinate and supervise activities in closely working with counterparts, including and ensure all key stakeholders are informed on a regular basis on progress of the project if appropriate;
• Ensure project visibility, communication, and dissemination of results, as well as accountability, in working closely with Communication and Education Officers

Maintain effective liaison and partnerships with government counterparts, participating agencies, and other partners, and other partners as required, to ensure due accountability and efficient implementation

M&E and Reporting

• Provide support for the monitoring, and regular reporting on the progress of the project against annual work plans, project’s M&E indicators, and identify issues that need urgent attention.
• Coordinate and lead the M&E data compilation for monitoring effectively and timely reporting of the projects, lead the drafting of the periodic narrative reports; strengthen project implementation through evidence generated from monitoring, evaluation;
• Regularly oversee the financial and administrative aspects of the projects and make revisions of the work plans and budget in the course of implementation, as necessary, in coordination with relevant UNESCO units (Education, Finance & Administration Section).
• Report on the progress of activities/projects on a regular basis to the Chief of Natural Science Unit;
• Assist the Chief of the Natural Sciences unit in disaster risk management related activities under the IHP IX progamme in Vietnam and provide support in developing the relevant projects;
• Perform other tasks, as deemed appropriate by the Head of UNESCO Ha Noi Office and the Chief of Natural Science Unit.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in the relevant fields, such as water resources management, water sciences, natural sciences, environmental sciences, Climate Change, disaster risk management etc. or any relevant field; specializations in environment and/or hydrology and/or water resources management, Disaster risk Management are most desired;  

Work experience

• At least four (4) years of relevant progressively professional experiences in working on natural resources management, climate change, water resources, development or any relevant fields;  

• Familiarity with international DRR and climate frameworks (e.g. Sendai Framework, climate adaptation approaches) and their application at national or local level. 
• Demonstrated experience in project coordination or management, including planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting. 

• Sound knowledge of the major development issues with regards to DRR, water resources and climate change in Viet Nam;
• Proven experiences in coordination and/or managing development projects, particularly at national level;

• PhD’s degree in relevant field will be a plus.
• Sound knowledge and/or experiences of the major development issues with regards to environment, water resources and climate change in Mekong delta is a plus;
• Experiences in ODA projects’ management in Vietnam is a plus;
• Experience working on inter-governmental and/or inter-agency processes is desirable.
• Prior UN experience or international organizations is an asset;