Consultant on Cultural Policies

Result of ServiceThe Consultant on Cultural Policies reports to the Head of Brazil Office. He/She shall duly and timely perform his/her obligations, under this Terms of Reference. The consultant will work in close collaboration with the UN-Habitat’s operational and technical teams. Work LocationHome-based Expected durationTwo (2) months Duties and ResponsibilitiesBackground The main mandate of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is to promote sustainable development of human settlements and policies conducive to adequate housing for all. Within this framework, UN-Habitat supports central and state governments, as well as local authorities and other partners for the implementation of the Habitat Agenda, the 2030 Agenda with the Sustainable Development Goals and the New Urban Agenda. UN-Habitat helps the urban poor by transforming cities into safer, more inclusive, compact, integrated, resilient and connected places with better opportunities where everyone can live with dignity. It works with organizations at every level, including all spheres of government, civil society, and the private sector to help build, manage, plan and finance sustainable urban development. The Regional Office for Latin American and the Caribbean – ROLAC – is based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Agency puts emphasis on developing and managing activities in the host country. Indeed, for the past years, UN-Habitat has expanded its portfolio in Brazil by working with the three tiers of government to support the formulation and implementation of more effective, sustainable, participative, and socially fairer urban economic, social, and environmental policies. Through a partnership with the Municipality of São Gonçalo, Brazil, to strengthen the urban management structure of the municipality to plan and implement public policies that accelerate the localization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), UN-Habitat is setting up the “Fortalece São Gonçalo” initiative, a project firstly named as “São Gonçalo 2030: Strengthening the planning and management of the Municipality of São Gonçalo to build a more sustainable and safer city, that leaves no one and no territory behind\". As part of the Fortalece São Gonçalo initiative, the Public Policy Observatory is being implemented to consolidate and analyze open data, indicators, and public information. Its goal is to support evidence-based policymaking and align local governance with global sustainable development agendas, particularly the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda. Within this framework, a Thematic Analysis Booklet on Cultural Policies is being produced, drawing on the Observatory’s data to assess São Gonçalo’s cultural policies. The booklet adopts a territory-sensitive and evidence-driven approach, combining quantitative data with qualitative insights from stakeholders and existing documentation. It will explore the reach and impact of local public funding instruments—such as cultural public funding calls, programs, and awards—and offer recommendations to strengthen the municipality’s cultural governance. The preparation of the Thematic Analysis Booklet on Cultural Policies has begun, but to properly complete its development, a Consultant on Cultural Policies is required to ensure the effective implementation of the study methodology, data analysis, and strategic recommendations focused on local cultural governance and public funding instruments. Report to UN-Habitat Manager The Consultant on Cultural Policies reports to the Head of Brazil Office, who will evaluate him/her. Responsibilities The Consultant on Cultural Policies will support the implementation of the project, and its activities, with the following responsibilities: a) Define a detailed Work Plan for the consultancy, including objectives, activities, timeline, and methodologies. b) Participate in meetings with UN-Habitat teams, the Municipality of São Gonçalo, and other relevant stakeholders to align expectations and refine the scope of analysis. c) Collect, systematize, and analyze data from São Gonçalo’s cultural initiatives, particularly public funding instruments such as cultural grants, awards, and programs. The analytical approach adopted by the consultant should, whenever feasible, incorporate territorial, social, and temporal dimensions, including spatial distribution of beneficiaries, population profiles (such as gender, race, age groups, and vulnerable territories), and temporal evolution of cultural funding instruments. d) Assess the beneficiaries' social profile and territorial distribution, access, and impact of cultural policies across the municipality, identifying gaps, challenges, and opportunities for more inclusive and equitable cultural governance. e) Explore the resources and methodologies of the Public Policy Observatory of São Gonçalo. f) Propose indicators and a monitoring framework to support the ongoing monitoring and evaluation of São Gonçalo’s cultural initiatives. The proposed indicators should be measurable, based on available or feasible data sources, clearly linked to the SDGs and local strategic frameworks, and include information on data sources, periodicity, and institutional responsibility for monitoring. g) Develop a Thematic Analysis Booklet on Cultural Policies, integrating quantitative data with qualitative insights (including stakeholder interviews, policy documents, and dashboards). h) Propose strategic recommendations to strengthen cultural governance in São Gonçalo, in line with the SDGs, the New Urban Agenda, and the Strategic Plan “Novos Rumos”. i) Deliver organized documentation of the research process, including datasets, analytical notes, and references used. j) Present the results to UN-Habitat teams and local partners through reports, executive summaries, and presentations in accessible formats. l) Ensure all content is aligned with UN-Habitat standards, methodologies, and expectations, while maintaining confidentiality and data protection protocols. The consultant will be responsible for completing all courses and training activities that are indicated to him/her by his/her supervisor. The security course BSAFE, from UNDSS, is required to be accredited during the first month of employment. The consultant will be responsible for his/her own security, so the person should get familiarized with United Nations security mechanisms and comply with them according to the Framework of Accountability for the United Nations Security Management System. Outputs/Work Assignment The Consultant on Cultural Policies shall assist the implementation of the project, according to the stated responsibilities and the delivery of the following products: Product 1 – Work Plan and Report Outline Description: The Work Plan and Report Outline must contain: (i) a work plan and timeline for the consultancy; (ii) the outline and proposed structure of the Thematic Analysis Booklet on Cultural Policies; (iii) systematization of insights and challenges identified in the presented data and documents; (iv) a list of others data sources, relevant policy documents, and cultural indicators to be used. The Product 1 should include a concise description of the proposed analytical methodology, data sources and validation strategy, as well as a preliminary structure of the report with main sections and subsections. Expected delivery date: 15 days after signing the contract. Product 2 – Thematic Analysis Report on Cultural Policies Description: the report must contain: (i) a consolidated version of analysis of São Gonçalo’s cultural programs and public funding instruments (e.g., cultural grants, awards, etc.); (ii) quantitative and qualitative data analysis, with attention to territorial disparities and population profiles; (iii) discussions and findings on policy gaps and opportunities; (iv) proposed indicators and a monitoring and evaluation framework for cultural initiatives aligned with the SDGs; (v) strategic and actionable recommendations to improve cultural governance and territorial equity aligned with the SDGs; (vi) documentation of all data sources, references, and methodological notes; (vii) executive summary and final presentation (in PPT format). The report must be supported by data extracted from the Public Policy Observatory, as well as existing data and information from the Municipal Secretariat of Culture and other relevant sources. It must include charts, maps, or tables to illustrate findings as needed. In addition, the The Product 2 is expected to present an in-depth diagnostic and analytical assessment, combining data analysis with critical interpretation and actionable recommendations, in a format consistent with other thematic booklets produced under the Fortalece São Gonçalo initiative. Expected delivery date: 50 days after signing the contract. Qualifications/special skillsEducation Required: • Bachelor's degree in Cultural Management, Cultural Production, Public Administration, Social Sciences, Anthropology, Arts, Social Communication, Economy or related fields is required. • Postgraduate degree (Lato Sensu or Stricto Sensu) in Cultural Management, Cultural Production, Public Administration, Social Sciences, Anthropology, Arts, Social Communication, or related fields is desirable, or additional 4 years of relevant technical experience to the post, beyond the requirement. Work experience: • Minimum six (6) years of experience in policy analysis, public administration or cultural projects management in Brazil is required. • Academic background with research experience or publications related to the thematic areas of this position is desirable. • Previous experience within the UN System is desirable. Skills: • Good handling of technological tools, such as Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office, is required. • Professional or academic experience with data analysis is required. • Proficiency in data visualization and use of tools such as Excel, Power BI, or GIS platforms is desirable. • Experience in conducting research and producing evidence-based reports is desirable. • Previous experience in research aligned with the 2030 Agenda and NUA is desirable. Competencies • Professionalism: Experience working in an inter-institutional environment, project management, monitoring-evaluation; approaches and strategies regarding good urban governance and local and regional development. • Planning and organization: Professional approach to work, strong sense of responsibility, operate with minimal supervision; proven organizational skills and ability to manage a workload efficiently and within set deadlines. • Communication: Ability to write clearly and effectively; listen to others, interpret messages correctly and respond appropriately; show openness in information sharing and keep everyone informed; solid abstract reasoning skills together with a proven capacity to write documents for diverse audiences. • Teamwork: Ability to work with teams, demonstrate leadership, conflict management and consensus facilitation skills; ability to work in a multicultural and multi-ethnic environment, and to respect diversity; sensitivity to the main streaming of vulnerability; willingness and ability to work in difficult environments. Knowledge Management • The person must know the processes, procedures, and norms of UN-Habitat, to guarantee an adequate quality of the activities described above, following the standards of the organization. • The person will propose formats and procedures that allow the efficient implementation of the activities related to the project development. • The person must know the file of the Office, work with it, and ensure its proper maintenance, accessibility for all staff, and due updating. • The person will prepare databases related to the project running. • The person will make sure that all relevant technical information will be adequately shared with the correspondent staff. • The person will ensure that all produced material will be fit-for-purpose and delivered, in an organized way, for posterior consultation and use of the Agency. • The person will only share the information produced with the team agency, assuring the privacy of the content. Languages• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat, and Spanish is the working language of the Regional Office. • For the post advertised, fluency in Portuguese is required. Working knowledge of English is desirable. Additional InformationTravel details: Not Applicable. Remuneration LICA 3 (part-time 40%) UNOPS Salary Scale The consultant will receive a total amount of BRL: 8.000, according to the following schedule: • Payment 1 [20%]: Upon delivery and approval of Product 1 (BRL: 1.600) • Payment 2 [80%]: Upon delivery and approval of Product 2 (BRL: 6.400) Notes Appointment against this post is on local basis and only nationals from Brazil or external candidates who hold a permanent visa in Brazil may apply. The extension of this contract is subject to availability of funds and/or performance. Any contract extension is not automatic. It is required for all the curricular information to be inserted in the system, which may take a few hours. Only complete applications in English will be considered. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. Due to the volume of applications received, receipt of applications cannot be acknowledged individually. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. Applications should be submitted through INSPIRA and must include all documents required at the system, please be ready to include the following information at the “Candidate Profile” (CP) at Inspira: • Cover memo (maximum 1 page) • Educational Background (incl. dates) • Professional Experience (assignments, tasks, achievements, duration by years/ months) • Expertise and preferences regarding location of potential assignments • Other Experience and Expertise (e.g. Internships/ voluntary work, etc.)* * Please note that Internships, self-employment and part-time count as 50%. In addition to it, note experience not relevant to the position will not be considered. All applications should be submitted to: Inspira UN-HABITAT does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process. If you have any questions concerning people or companies claiming to be recruiting on behalf of these offices and requesting the payment of a fee, please contact: recruitment@unon.org. No FeeTHE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.