The Rising Nations Initiative (RNI) is a Member States-led initiative supported by DSI, guided by a core group of champions, including the Pacific atoll countries. Officially launched on 28 September 2022, its objective is to press forward efforts towards protecting the statehood of Pacific atoll countries, preserving their sovereignty, and safeguarding the rights and heritage of affected populations. In this regard, the RNI aims to mobilize the needed political momentum for prompt action at all levels to highlight the climate emergency facing the Pacific atoll countries and inspire global and local action, including through intergovernmental processes of the United Nations.
In collaboration with the German Archaeological Institute (DAI), the RNI is supporting the Government of Tuvalu in developing an online repository of Tuvaluan culture and heritage. Through systematic collection management, integration of dispersed Tuvaluan archives worldwide, and the respectful inclusion of oral traditions and intangible knowledge, the project safeguards invaluable cultural resources for future generations. The initiative will enable Tuvaluan communities to become custodians of their own narratives, while fostering partnerships with global institutions, expanding access for scholars and the public, and positioning Tuvalu as a leader in digital heritage preservation. Ultimately, the Repository strengthens cultural resilience, promotes knowledge-sharing, and ensures that Tuvaluan identity and memory remain visible, accessible, and vibrant in the digital era.
Under the umbrella of the secretariat and board of the Rising Nations Initiative, whose secretariat is hosted at UNOPS, the Project Management Support Specialist / Digital Collections Archivist will be responsible for supporting the Project Lead on the implementation of the Tuvalu Online Repository Project. The incumbent will develop the collections-management guide; map museums and libraries holding Tuvaluan artifacts; contribute to building and maintaining partnerships with these institutions; and support the development of the repository database, including through the transfer of existing photographs and videos, as well as the production of new visual documentation of Tuvaluan artifacts housed in these collections.
S/he will report to the Head of the Rising Nations Initiative Secretariat. The incumbent is expected to contribute directly to the timely, high-quality, and on-budget delivery of activities in accordance with established project timelines.
Planning & Coordination
Contribute to the development and execute comprehensive strategies, policies, procedures, and best practices that support access, records management, interactive engagement, and the long-term preservation of digital and physical collections; in particular, through the timely, high-quality, and on-budget delivery of the collections management guide.
Plan and coordinate with DAI and other stakeholders, including a dedicated Technical Advisory Group, key activities such as collections management, the oral history initiative, community engagement, and the application of UI/UX design principles.
Define metadata rules, standards, and workflows for sustainable digital curation.
Develop policies and standards that address digital sovereignty, privacy, and data governance issues as they pertain to digital collections.
Support the definition of a sustainable, locally-owned process for the acceptance, evaluation, and accessioning of new materials in accordance with the Repository’s policies and priorities.
Project Implementation
Ensure timely, high-quality, and on-budget finalization of the repository database as a core deliverable for 2026, in consultation with the IT/Data Management Specialist and web/UX provider.
Support the project lead to ensure the effective transfer of existing photographs/video or contracts of new photographs/video/scans/digital models of Tuvaluan artifacts from institutions holding Tuvaluan artifacts.
Ensure proper documentation, metadata creation, and official recording of materials to integrate them into the permanent collection.
Create original, collection-level catalog records for archival materials in accordance with professional standards (e.g., RDA, MARC21).
Prepare materials for digitization, including scanning, photographing, indexing, and describing digital images or audio files.
Develop technical and structural metadata.
Ensure quality control of all data entered into networked databases, maintaining local agency on content and metadata, and compliance with ethical and legal standards.
Knowledge management & Innovation
Build (through an initial mapping exercise) and maintain in-depth knowledge of Tuvaluan collections – including artifacts, photographs, audio-visual materials, archival records, and research reports – held in museums, archives, and institutions worldwide.
Maintain up-to-date knowledge of copyright, donor agreements, and permissions issues relevant to the processing, digitization, and access of digital and born-digital materials.
Contribute to the development and management of new collection initiatives, including acquisitions, research, and the curation of online exhibitions, public programs, and events that highlight Tuvaluan culture and heritage.
Stakeholders Engagement
Actively prioritize the involvement of Tuvaluan community members as knowledge holders and research authorities,; ensuring that community values and cultural protocols are reflected in the stewardship and interpretation of the collections.
Ensure culturally appropriate handling of sensitive content in consultation with community representatives and cultural protocols.
Lead the inclusion and respectful representation of traditional knowledge, oral traditions, and other intangible aspects of Tuvaluan culture within the Repository.
Actively build and maintain relationships with institutions holding Tuvaluan artifacts to support research, access, and collaboration.
Strengthen the Repository’s and visibility,; supporting collaboration with lending institutions, donors, and service providers to expand the Repository’s reach and impact.
Support patrons, researchers, educators, and community members in accessing and using the Repository’s collections; offering guidance and research assistance, helping facilitate scholarly and community-led inquiries.
Provide support to partnerships and fundraising efforts for the Repository project, including with lending institutions, donors, and service providers.
Communication
Prepare content and materials for communications and marketing activities aimed at engaging stakeholders, raising awareness about the Repository’s mission, and promoting its collections and initiatives.
Contribute to the interpretation and contextualization of materials for both research and public engagement.
Develop and explore repository-related activities such as exhibits, public events, marketing, and fundraising.
