UNESCO is inviting qualified communication and media professionals to apply for a Project Communication Assistant position in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The position is based in the UNESCO Natural Sciences Sector and offers a 12-month Service Contract at SC5 level, with a base monthly gross salary of US$1,312.16.
The role focuses on communications for two major UNESCO climate and cryosphere projects in Central Asia, providing an opportunity for professionals with experience in communication, journalism, public relations, digital media, website development and social media to work on international development and environmental projects.
Important: The vacancy currently provided by UNESCO has an application deadline of 23 August 2026 at midnight UTC+5. The position is therefore a 2026 recruitment opportunity with work extending into 2027, rather than a vacancy whose application deadline is in 2027.
UNESCO Project Communication Assistant 2027 Overview
| Opportunity | Details |
|---|---|
| Organization | UNESCO |
| Position | Project Communication Assistant |
| Contract | Service Contract |
| Level | SC5 |
| Hiring Unit | Natural Sciences Sector |
| Location | Almaty, Kazakhstan |
| Work arrangement | On site |
| Contract duration | 12 months |
| Monthly gross salary | US$1,312.16 |
| Eligibility | External candidates |
| Application deadline | 23 August 2026 |
| Required experience | At least 2 years |
| Languages | English and Russian |
The successful candidate will work under the overall authority of the Director of the UNESCO Almaty Office, with supervision from project management officials and coordination with the Programme Specialist for Natural Sciences.
About the UNESCO Project Communication Assistant Position
The Project Communication Assistant will contribute to communications for two UNESCO projects focused on climate adaptation, glacier-related risks and sustainable development in Central Asia.
The first is the Adaptation Fund-supported GLOFCA project, which focuses on reducing the vulnerability of populations in Central Asia to glacier lake outburst floods in a changing climate.
The second is the GEF-UNDP-UNESCO Cryosphere project, which focuses on strengthening the resilience of Central Asian countries through regional cooperation, assessment of glacio-nival systems and integrated approaches to sustainable development and climate change adaptation.
What Will the Project Communication Assistant Do?
The successful applicant will be responsible for a broad range of communication and visibility activities.
Develop Communication Strategies
The Project Communication Assistant will contribute to implementing communication strategies for both projects and their activities while ensuring that communications comply with UNESCO communication guidelines as well as the requirements of the Global Environment Facility and Adaptation Fund.
Support Project Promotion
The position involves designing, planning and reviewing Terms of Reference for project promotion and visibility activities, as well as assisting with contract preparation and final evaluations.
Work With Media
The successful candidate will identify relevant media partners and develop media mailing lists covering organizations interested in reporting on project activities.
The role also includes developing an engagement plan to support long-term relationships with media partners.
Manage Newsletters
The Project Communication Assistant will oversee the publication of six-monthly newsletters in collaboration with project implementation teams, national coordinators in Central Asian countries and project partners.
The role also involves creating and maintaining mailing lists for the newsletters.
Manage Project Websites
The successful candidate will regularly update project websites by preparing and uploading:
- News stories
- Human-interest stories
- Articles
- Project activity updates
- Other communication materials
The position will also involve proposing improvements, redesigns and further development of the project websites.
Manage Social Media
The Project Communication Assistant will propose social media strategies and publish content on platforms including:
The successful candidate may also provide project-related content for publication through UNESCO Almaty communication channels.
Produce Videos
The role includes developing, shooting and editing short videos related to the projects.
This can involve reviewing project documents, recording interviews, collecting archive material, producing compilations and preparing voiceovers. The candidate will also work with national coordinators on video production.
Photography and Field Work
The successful candidate may accompany project partners to field locations to obtain photographs and video footage from pilot sites when required by the Project Management Unit in Almaty.
Graphic Design
The position also involves overseeing the production of graphic designs required for project promotional activities.
Knowledge Management and Publications
The Project Communication Assistant will coordinate knowledge management activities and support the preparation of publications, knowledge products, reports and presentations designed to communicate project results to wider audiences.
Responsibilities include producing and disseminating social media content, developing concepts for flyers, brochures, banners and videos, supporting communications at project events and managing project knowledge and information across platforms.
UNESCO Project Communication Assistant Eligibility
Applicants must have completed a higher education degree in mass communication, media studies, journalism, or a relevant field involving information and communication technology and knowledge society issues.
Candidates must also have at least two years of relevant professional experience in communication and information, public advocacy, marketing, public relations, website development, social media or another relevant field.
Required Skills
UNESCO is looking for candidates who can communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders and who have strong negotiation, networking, organization and coordination skills.
Candidates should also be able to work effectively within multicultural teams, take initiative, manage priorities and meet tight deadlines.
Good ICT skills are also required, including proficiency in Microsoft Office applications such as:
- Outlook
- Word
- Excel
- PowerPoint
Practical experience with CorelDraw or another vector graphics program, Photoshop or another raster graphics program, Adobe Premiere or another video editing program, and WordPress is also required.
Language Requirements
Applicants must have excellent written and spoken English and Russian.
Experience working on communications related to environmental or natural sciences would be an advantage.
UNESCO also considers experience working with or building partnerships involving UN agencies, private-sector organizations, civil society and NGOs desirable.
UNESCO Salary and Benefits
The Project Communication Assistant position offers a base monthly gross salary of US$1,312.16.
UNESCO notes that this monthly rate is based on the local UN salary scale for locally recruited staff and corresponds to 66% of the gross base salary. The rate may change if the local UN salary scale changes.
Additional benefits include possible contributions toward pension and medical coverage.
Subject to the applicable conditions and proof of enrollment in an appropriate pension or medical scheme, UNESCO states that contributions may include:
- Up to 10% of remuneration toward pension
- Up to 5% of remuneration toward medical insurance
Annual leave is granted at a rate of 2.5 working days for each completed month of service, with the entitlement to be taken during the contract period.
Applicants should note that the remuneration is subject to applicable income taxes and that UNESCO does not reimburse taxes or other personal statutory obligations.
Contract Duration
The contract is initially for one year, with a three-month probation period.
The position is an on-site role in Almaty, Kazakhstan, rather than a fully remote position.
Who Can Apply?
The vacancy is open to external candidates, but UNESCO specifically states that only candidates who are entitled to work in Kazakhstan may apply.
This is an important requirement for international applicants because eligibility to apply is connected to the candidate’s right to work in Kazakhstan.
UNESCO Application Deadline
The application deadline is 23 August 2026 at midnight UTC+5.
Applicants should submit their applications before the deadline and carefully review the vacancy requirements before applying.
How to Apply for the UNESCO Project Communication Assistant Job
Candidates must complete an online application through the UNESCO Careers website and provide complete and accurate information.
UNESCO states that applications cannot be modified after submission.
The recruitment process may include:
- Pre-recorded video interviews
- Written assessments
- Panel interviews
- Reference checks
- Requests for additional information relating to the candidate’s qualifications
UNESCO also states that it does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.
Why This UNESCO Opportunity Is Worth Considering
This position could be particularly relevant for communication professionals interested in international development, climate change, environmental communication, science communication and the work of the United Nations.
The role combines traditional communication responsibilities with digital media, social media, website management, graphic design, video production, media relations, field activities and knowledge management.
It also provides an opportunity to contribute to projects addressing climate resilience and glacier-related risks across Central Asia.
Final Thoughts
The UNESCO Project Communication Assistant position in Almaty offers a combination of communications, digital media and international development experience. The role requires a relevant higher education qualification, at least two years of professional experience, strong English and Russian skills, and practical experience with digital communication and creative software.
The current vacancy has a 23 August 2026 deadline, a 12-month contract, and a US$1,312.16 monthly gross base salary, with potential pension and medical contributions subject to the stated conditions.
Candidates should carefully check their eligibility to work in Kazakhstan and review the complete vacancy requirements before submitting an application.
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