OVERVIEW

Parent Sector : Education Sector (ED)

Duty Station: Nineveh

Job Family: Education

Type of contract : Non Staff

Duration of contract : 4 months

Recruitment open to : Internal and external candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 28.02.2024

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

Background 

The Mosul University library was extensively damaged during the conflict with ISIL/Da’esh. The space once housed more than one million books, periodicals, manuscripts, and government publications from as early as the 1920s. As a house of learning and knowledge at the center of the University, the Library was among the first institutions targeted by ISIL/Da’esh after their occupation of Mosul in 2014. The Library was deliberately set on fire, almost all of its collection was destroyed, and its building was severely damaged. In the absence of the central library, more than 60,000 students, university lecturers, and staff did not have easy access to the required literature for their research and academic projects. UNESCO aims to build resilience and promote rapid recovery and transition in Mosul. Education provides physical, psychosocial, and cognitive protection that can sustain and save lives during a crisis. Education remains a fundamental human right, and quality learning opportunities should be available for all ages. The Mosul University library plays an important role in realizing this objective by supporting the revival of the spirit of Moslawi youth, ensuring access to a safe learning environment, especially for young girls, and fostering peaceful coexistence among the youth of Mosul. The physical infrastructure rehabilitation of the Central Library was completed in February 2022, but the operationalization of the library requires urgent support to put in place the necessary measures for designing library functionalities and providing the modern tools and instruments necessary to effectively perform those functionalities from acquisition to archiving and digitization of the existing old and new library materials and holdings. Additionally, technical and professional capacity strengthening of the library staff through tailored practical training programs is essential. Currently, the gaps within institutional and professional capacities of the Central Library undermine the wider investment and prospects of the university in offering a holistic approach to learning and research.

Long Description

Project Objectives, Results and key Activities

With the overall objective of making the Mosul University Library fully functional and ensuring that it is perceived as an essential knowledge resource and a cultural connecting place, UNESCO will implement the following activities:
1- Capacity-building: Develop and implement a training program for more than 87 Library staff in various areas such as access to services, acquisitions, cataloging, archive management, conservation, digitization, repository management, reference services, Koha LIS (Library Information System) use and communication. The training program will employ a cascaded approach, beginning with intensive training for a core group of up to 20 staff members. These trained individuals will then transfer their knowledge to the remaining library staff members, ensuring comprehensive capacity-building across various library functions throughout the project duration.
2- Application of the LIS: Selection, customization and deployment of an enterprise software solution, covering the Library local functions and remote e-services, including acquisition, warehousing, interchange and virtual integration with other libraries’ content and catalogues, cataloging, classification, collection management, local and remote access and circulation/borrowing/reading/interlibrary loan, reference services, research and instruction, patron and subscriber relation management, management of scanned materials, periodicals, ebooks, rare materials and manuscripts.  The selected LIS to be applied in the library is Koha. The procurement of the system in in progress and expected to be in place by March 2024. 

3- Conservation, restoration, digitization, and indexing/cataloguing: Restoration, preservation, conservation, digitization and bookbinding of rare and other endangered library materials including manuscripts and historical documents, through the establishment of an on-site laboratory with modern chemical and mechanical technologies. 
4- Partnerships: Establishment of partnerships with relevant institutions across the world, thereby reinforcing sustainability of the library’s functions and operations. These partnerships shall, in particular, facilitate the provision of international expert advice and support to capacity building as well as result in agreements on acquisitions of relevant up-to-date knowledge material. 
The Capacity Building Consultant will be in charge of leading the implementation of the first output of the project on capacity building for the library staff in the aforementioned library’s functions. He/ She will be working collaboratively with the MoHESR (Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research), University of Mosul, and UNESCO team.

Long Description

Duties and Responsibilities of Consultant

Under the overall authority of UNESCO Director and Representative to Iraq and direct guidance and supervision of the Chief of Education and the Project Officer, UNESCO Iraq Office, the Consultant shall be responsible for leading the Project Capacity Building component, through the achievement of the following objectives and tasks:

Objectives to be achieved by the consultant:
1.    Identification of staff capacity gaps and training needs. 

2.    Planning, implementing and supervising the capacity building activities, including the trainings that will be conducted by the contracted company, providing the library staff with the required skills, capacities and knowledge in the different library functions.

3.    Following up the use of the Koha Library Information System and provide guidance and advice to the library staff. 

4.    Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting to the project stakeholders.  

Main Tasks and responsibilities of the consultant:

•    Considering the already listed training needs (Koha system, RFID and IT related trainings, digitization, quality control and metadata creation, cataloguing, circulation, acquisition, repository management, patrons service, archiving, Audio-Visual Production and Documentation, use of library services such as interlibrary loans.), the consultant should work jointly with the contracted company for the development of training programmes, planning and implementation of the trainings to the relevant library staff in the different divisions . 
•    The consultant should supervise the theoretical and hands-on training sessions and Identify of the challenges and further training needs for the staff.
•    Design and deliver the needed training sessions, ensuring alignment with the functionalities and features of the Koha system.
•    Monitor and evaluate the capacity-building efforts, tracking the progress of library staff in adopting the new system and addressing any challenges that arise.
•    Facilitate the transfer of knowledge and skills to internal staff who can serve as trainers or provide ongoing support after the consultant’s engagement concludes.

•    Support and monitor the hands-on training to be carried out by the trained group to the rest of library staff during their work, ensuring an effective on-job training. 
•    Regular reporting of progress and challenges to project stakeholders, providing updates on the status of capacity-building efforts.    

Long Description

Consultancy Deliverables: Monthly payment will be dependent on the achievement of each deliverable within the project timeframe below.

Deliverable 1: Training inception report including a comprehensive work plan specifying the training modules, duration, and methods tailored to address the identified needs of the library staff, by 10.04.2024.

Deliverable 2: Develop the pre and post-training questionnaires for the training evaluation, by 20.04.2024.

Deliverable 3: Provide progress report on the capacity-building activities. The report should include updates on the monitoring and evaluation of the activities and the identified further training needs, by the 10.05.2024.

Deliverable 4: Develop and deliver the needed training and orientation programs to the key library staff, to be completed by 10.06.2024.

Deliverable 5: Prepare a brief report on the hands-on training conducted by the trained staff to the remaining library staff during their work, to be completed by 30.06.2024.

Deliverable 6: Develop a comprehensive capacity building report, to include the achievements, evaluation, capacity building sustainability planning and recommendations for further improvements, by 10.07.2024.

The consultant should work together with UNESCO team and the library administration, on following up, monitoring and reporting on the implementation of capacity building activities. Remuneration is according to UNESCO rules and regulations based on qualifications and experience. Payment of remuneration will be linked to acceptance of the deliverables as per the agreed work plan.

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)
Accountability (C)
Communication (C)
Innovation (C)
Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C)
Planning and organizing (C)
Results focus (C)
Teamwork (C)
Professionalism (C)
–
For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.

Required Qualifications

Academic Qualifications

Advanced University degree in Library and Information Science or other relevant fields.

Work Experience

•    Proven experience, for a minimum of 5 years, in information management and library staff training.
•    Demonstrated ability to train and transfer knowledge to library staff.
•    Proven experience in managing libraries, including relevant work on Library Information Systems.
•    Previous experience in developing and delivery of library training programs.
•    Proven track record of successfully leading and supervising similar projects. 

Language

• Excellent knowledge of English (written and spoken)
 

Desirable Qualifications

Academic & Work Experience Qualifications

•    Background knowledge of the Iraqi and Moslawi context and the related UNESCO educational interventions.
•    7 years of experience with INGOs, and United Nations entities within the MENA region.
•    Experience with academia and universities in the Middle East region specifically in Iraq.

Language

• Good Knowledge of Arabic (written and spoken)

Application Process

Interested candidates should click on “Apply Now”, then download and complete the Employment History form (Word file). At the end of the Word file, insert extra pages with the following required information in English:
* Upon completing the Word file with all the requested information above, upload the file at the “My Employment History Form / My Documents” section of the online application form. Only applications with the below requested information will be considered.
1- A Technical Written proposal (2-3 Pages Maximum) consisting of:
•    Comments on the Terms of Reference, if any (in brief);
•    An up-to-date curriculum vitae (CV), and a statement indicating how your qualifications and experience make you suitable for the assignment.
•    A description of your proposed approach and methodology for undertaking the assignment.
•    A work plan with detailed milestones and key deliverables/activities as per the terms of reference.
•    List of work assignments and/or THREE (03) contacts as references – to be filled and returned to UNESCO as part of the submission.

2-A Financial proposal in US dollars. Any travel and subsistence requirements should be indicated separately. Please design the payment scheme against a clear and specific set of deliverables and milestones as reflected in the work plan.
 

Selection and Recruitment Process

Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information. To apply, please visit the UNESCO careers website. No modifications can be made to the application submitted.

The evaluation of candidates is based on the criteria in the vacancy notice, and may include tests and/or assessments, as well as a competency-based interview. 

UNESCO uses communication technologies such as video or teleconference, e-mail correspondence, etc. for the assessment and evaluation of candidates.

Please note that only selected candidates will be further contacted and candidates in the final selection step will be subject to reference checks based on the information provided.

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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. UNESCO 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. Furthermore, UNESCO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Candidates from non- and under-represented Member States (last update here) are particularly welcome and strongly encouraged to apply. Individuals from minority groups and indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality. Worldwide mobility is required for staff members appointed to international posts.

UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.