Background
The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) is an autonomous institution within the United Nations that conducts independent research on disarmament and related problems, particularly international security issues. The vision of UNIDIR is a stable and more secure world in which States and people are protected from threats of arms-related violence. The role of UNIDIR is to support Member States, the United Nations and policy and research communities in advancing ideas and actions that contribute to a more sustainable and peaceful world. UNIDIR is based in the Palais des Nations, Geneva.
UNIDIR is looking to recruit consultants who will be engaged on a retainer basis to provide professional filming and photography services to programmes and projects as required.
Responsibilities
Under the supervision of the requesting UNIDIR Programmes the contractor shall perform the following tasks:
- Recording high‑quality video footage, ensuring professional framing and lighting.
- Taking high‑quality photographs, ensuring professional composition and lighting.
- Edit raw footage into polished videos, ensuring clarity, coherence and professional quality.
- Apply UN branding guidelines, including logos, fonts and colour schemes.
- Add captions/subtitles in English (and other languages if required).
- Incorporate graphics, animations and transitions where appropriate.
- Ensure audio quality (noise reduction, volume balancing).
- Deliver videos in multiple formats suitable for web, social media and presentations.
- Maintain consistency in style and tone across all videos.
- Consult with UNIDIR on a regular basis to receive and incorporate feedback from the project team and coordinate as necessary with other individual contractor(s) working on this project to ensure consistency.
Total number of hours
Dates and hours to be agreed upon on case by case basis.
Qualifications and experience
Education
A Certificate/Diploma in an area related to Arts/Audio-Visual Arts is desirable.
Experience
A minimum of 2 years of relevant experience in audio-visual fields, including videography and photography, is required.
Language
Fluency in English is required.
Assessment
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by an interview.
Travel
There is no travel requirement.
Payment terms
Upon submission of invoices indicating number of hours spent on each individual work assignment.
Copyright
The United Nations shall be entitled to all intellectual property and other proprietary rights including, but not limited to, patents, copyrights and trademarks, with regard to products, processes, inventions, ideas, know-how or documents and other materials which the Contractor has developed for the United Nations under the Contract and which bear a direct relation to or are produced or prepared or collected in consequence of, or during the course of, the performance of the Contract.
The Contractor acknowledges and agrees that such products, documents and other materials constitute works made for hire for the United Nations. However, to the extent that any such intellectual property or other proprietary rights consist of any intellectual property or other proprietary rights of the Contractor: (a) that pre-existed the performance by the Contractor of its obligations under the Contract, or (b) that the Contractor may develop or acquire, or may have developed or acquired, independently of the performance of its obligations under the Contract, the United Nations does not and shall not claim any ownership interest thereto, and the Contractor grants to the United Nations a perpetual license to use such intellectual property or other proprietary right solely for the purposes of and in accordance with the requirements of the Contract.
At the request of the United Nations, the Contractor shall take all necessary steps, execute all necessary documents and generally assist in securing such proprietary rights and transferring or licensing them to the United Nations in compliance with the requirements of the applicable law and of the Contract. Subject to the foregoing provisions, all maps, drawings, photographs, mosaics, plans, reports, estimates, recommendations, documents and all other data compiled by or received by the Contractor under the Contract shall be the property of the United Nations, shall be made available for use or inspection by the United Nations at reasonable times and in reasonable places, shall be treated as confidential, and shall be delivered only to United Nations authorized officials on completion of work under the Contract.
How to apply
The applicant should submit:
- Cover letter (with the per hour rate)
- PDF of a UN Administrative Profile created via Inspira (guide).
- At least two samples of work
- Name and contact details of three references.
Applications should be sent as email attachments, with the subject line “Application: Photographer/Videographer” to unidir.recruitment@un.org. No applications will be accepted by post. Deadline for submission of applications is 20 February 2026. The closing date is midnight Geneva time.
Please note
Please note that incomplete or late applications will be automatically disregarded. Also, please note that due to the high volume of applications received, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Should you move forward in the process, you may be contacted for further assessment.
UNIDIR promotes the core values of the United Nations: Integrity, Professionalism, and Respect for Diversity. Women are encouraged to apply.