Parent Sector : Field Office

Duty Station: Lima

Job Family: Culture

Type of contract : Non Staff

Duration of contract : From 1 to 6 months

Recruitment open to : External candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 11 – DIC – 2025

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

AIM

The objective of this consultancy is to contribute to the identification and diagnosis of actors and chains of non-organic waste recycling in Cusco and Urubamba, through participatory methodologies and with a gender focus, generating reliable technical inputs that guide the identification of green business opportunities and upcycling initiatives, within the framework of the design of community pilots of circular economy of the project.

MAIN FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Within the framework of the implementation of the activities and/or projects of the Culture Sector of the UNESCO Office in Peru, and under the authority of the Head of the UNESCO Office in Peru and the direct supervision of the National Culture Officer and the Project Coordinator, the Specialist in the identification and diagnosis of recycling chains shall:
1. Design the work methodology and establish the technical foundations of the consultancy, ensuring that data collection meets the project objectives and generates reliable information. The tasks include:

• Develop the work plan and detailed timeline.
• Design, in collaboration with the Waste and Circular Economy Specialist, the data collection instruments (censuses and surveys), integrating a gender perspective.
• Validate the methodologies with the core project team.
• Coordinate with local stakeholders to ensure the feasibility of data collection.

2. Identify stakeholders and gather information to build a baseline that allows us to understand their organization and opportunities within recycling chains. Tasks include:

• Register key stakeholders in Cusco and Urubamba (recyclers, municipalities, associations, private sector, educational institutions, tour operators, and communities).
• Design and validate qualitative research strategies (focus groups, interviews, working meetings) with the project’s core team.
• Supervise data collection by the operational team, ensuring quality and consistency.
• Conduct interviews, focus groups, and meetings with strategic stakeholders.
• Consolidate progress in a preliminary database

3. Process and analyze the collected information to transform it into useful evidence for decision-making and the design of community pilot projects. Tasks include:

• Cleanse data from censuses, surveys, interviews, and focus groups.
• Characterize stakeholders and map value chains and material flows.
• Incorporate gender-sensitive analysis to identify inequalities and opportunities.
• Evaluate potential upcycling and green business initiatives.
• Prepare a preliminary report with technical annexes (databases, mappings).

4. Validate and deliver the results, ensuring discussion and approval of the diagnosis with the core team and local institutional stakeholders. Tasks include:

• Present the report at a validation workshop with the core team.
• Facilitate a workshop with municipal authorities and key stakeholders.
• Incorporate feedback received into the final version.
• Submit the final diagnostic as technical input for the project.

5. Other functions assigned by the project coordinator, with the authorization of the National Culture Officer.

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

The professional, under the supervision of the Coordinator of the Culture Sector of the UNESCO Office in Peru, and the Project Coordinator, must rigorously guarantee the effective implementation of the activities and the efficient management of the schedule by preparing the following deliverables:

Product 1

Report on the activities carried out and the following annexes:
a) Detailed work plan and timeline.
b) Data collection instruments (censuses, surveys, interviews, and focus group guides) with a gender focus, validated.
c) Methodologies validated by the project team.
d) Coordination schedules with municipalities, associations, and local stakeholders.
e) Report on the training provided to the field team on the application of surveys and censuses.
f) Certificates of completion of courses: BSAFE, PSEA, and UNESCO Ethics and Integrity.
g) Other documents produced during the month.

After 15 days

Product 2

Report on the activities carried out and the following annexes:
a) Consolidated and updated database of key actors in the recycling chain in Cusco and Urubamba, detailing recyclers, municipalities, associations, the private sector, educational institutions, tour operators, and communities.
b) Technical document describing and validating the qualitative research strategies (focus groups, interviews, working meetings) approved by the project’s core team.
c) Monitoring and follow-up report on the data collection carried out by the operational team, certifying the quality, coherence, and consistency of the censuses and surveys applied.
d) Systematized record and analysis of interviews, focus groups, and meetings with strategic actors, providing relevant input for the recycling chain diagnosis.
e) Other documents produced during the month.

At 60 days

Product 3

Report on the activities carried out and the following annexes:
a) Cleaned and systematized database with the results of censuses, surveys, interviews, and focus groups.
b) Preliminary diagnostic document that includes:
• Detailed characterization of the actors that make up the recycling chain in the intervention areas.
• Value chain and material flow maps that reflect the structure and dynamics of local recycling.
• Gender-focused analysis that highlights inequalities and opportunities within the chain.
c) Other documents produced during the month.

At 85 days

Product 4

Report of the activities carried out and the following annexes:
a) Detailed minutes of the validation workshops with all agreements and contributions recorded.
b) Coordinator’s confirmation document certifying that all the information collected is organized and correctly filed in a folder; please submit the Google Drive link, consolidating photographs, attendance lists, documents, and other evidence of the consultancy.
c) Final document of the actor and recycling chain diagnosis, submitted as technical input for Output 2 of the project.
d) Other documents produced during the month.

At 100 days

(*) As part of Product 1, the consultant must submit certificates for the United Nations Security – BSAFE courses ( https://training.dss.un.org/) , Protection Against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse – PSEA ( https://agora.unicef.org/) and Ethics and Integrity ( https://inspira.un.org/)

Any partial or complete products to be published and/or disseminated as official UNESCO material must have the Organization’s validation/approval. These products must include a table of contents, as well as drafts and/or the final draft. UNESCO’s validation and approval will be carried out by the Program Specialist with prior authorization from the Office Director.

REQUIREMENTS

Education
• University degree in Economics, Sociology, Anthropology, Social Sciences, or related fields.
• Diplomas or specialized courses in solid waste management, circular economy, sustainable value chains, or applied research.
• Additional training in gender perspective and in statistical analysis tools or GIS for mapping actors and value chains will be considered an asset.

Work Experience
• Minimum of five (5) years of general professional experience in projects related to social development, environmental management, circular economy, or applied research.
• Minimum of three (3) years of specific experience in stakeholder identification and analysis, value chains, or market research, preferably in the area of ​​solid waste and recycling.
• Proven experience in the application of participatory methodologies (censuses, surveys, interviews, focus groups) with a gender perspective and in the analysis of quantitative and qualitative data.
• Previous experience working with recycling associations is desirable.

Languages
​​• Spanish (native language).
• English (spoken and written).
• Quechua (desirable).

Other requirements:
• Must reside in Cusco or be available to relocate during the consultancy period.
• Knowledge of the cultural context, gender, and prior experience in international cooperation projects will be valued.

TRIPS

The professional must be available to travel within the country, according to the project’s needs. Travel costs will be covered by the Project, in accordance with UNESCO’s internal regulations.

DURATION

The contract will have a duration of 100 days, subject to budget availability and performance evaluation. The contract does not include any expectation of renewal or conversion to another type of contract, nor does it include coverage for medical services.

APPLICATION TO THE CALL FOR PROPOSALS

Professionals interested in participating should apply to the call for applications and attach the following in a single PDF document:

a) CV personal.

b) Employment History Form.

c) References (name, position, email address and cell phone number) from the last three (3) experiences.

d) Technical Proposal / Economic Proposal.

Download the application form here . Check your downloads folder.

Only those who pass the first evaluation phase will be contacted.

RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION

Please note that all candidates must complete an online application providing full and accurate information by visiting the website: https://careers.unesco.org/

The selection of candidates is based on compliance with the requirements of the call for applications and may include tests and/or assessments, as well as a skills assessment interview.

During the selection process, UNESCO will use communication tools such as videoconferences, emails, and others.

Please note that only selected candidates will be contacted and that those who are in the final selection stage will undergo an evaluation based on the information provided by their references.