Heritage impact assessment (hia) / archaeological consultancy
Role Summary
Join HAMAP Humanitaire as an Archaeologist/Heritage Specialist in Iraq to conduct UNESCO-aligned Heritage Impact Assessments and support cultural heritage protection during mine clearance.
Key Responsibilities
The main objective of this assignment is to conduct a Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) for one priority archaeological site in Dhi Qar Governorate, Iraq, in accordance with UNESCO standards and ICOMOS guidance for World Heritage and related contexts, and to support the integration of heritage protection requirements into mine action planning, quality management, and field implementation. Specifically, the assessment will aim to:
Through the HIA, the consultant will be expected to:
The consultant will work closely with HAMAP-Humanitaire’s Regional EOD Technical Advisor, mine action staff, and designated national counterparts to ensure that HIA findings are translated into practical operational requirements for heritage-sensitive clearance. The consultant will not be responsible for technical EOD decision-making, clearance supervision, or explosive ordnance disposal procedures; these responsibilities remain with the competent mine action actors under applicable national procedures and HAMAP technical oversight.
Note: The HIA shall follow a fit-for-purpose approach proportionate to site conditions and operational risks, and may require a multidisciplinary perspective as needed to ensure the assessment is complete and implementable.
The outputs and deliverables for this consultancy are presented as below:
Estimated duration: 1–2 days
Target due date: To be confirmed
Review and approvals required: HH + relevant national counterparts (as applicable)
Estimated duration: 5–10 days
Target due date: To be confirmed
Review and approvals required: HH + site authorities
Estimated duration: 7–10 days
Target due date: To be confirmed
Review and approvals required: HH + relevant authorities / technical reviewers
Estimated duration: 3–5 days
Target due date: To be confirmed
Review and approvals required: HH + validation entities as agreed
Note: Exact duration and sequencing will be confirmed at contracting stage based on access, permissions, and the specific site covered.
The operational coordination annex should set out practical interface arrangements between the archaeology/heritage advisor, HAMAP-Humanitaire technical staff, Civil Defense clearance teams, DMA/RMAC-S, and relevant heritage authorities. It should define, at minimum, decision points for excavation, exclusion zones, chance-find procedures, data-sharing arrangements, heritage-related hold points, stop-work triggers, and notification lines. The annex should also clarify that any archaeological observation, documentation, or intervention within or adjacent to a hazardous area shall be conducted only under applicable mine action safety controls, including access control, safety briefings, communications, medical support, and movement restrictions as defined by the competent mine action actor. Finally, it should describe how heritage-related risk assessment will be reviewed during field implementation, particularly where new archaeological features, human remains, associated artefacts, or unexpected subsurface conditions are encountered.
The consultancy is expected to start on the date of contract signature. The expected duration is to be defined, depending on the site, the level of baseline documentation available, stakeholder consultation requirements, and field access constraints.
The consultant should be in possession of and demonstrate experience in the following areas:
- Establish a robust heritage baseline for the site, with specific reference to attributes conveying its Outstanding Universal Value (OUV);
- Assess potential direct, indirect, cumulative, and accidental impacts of planned mine action activities on the site’s authenticity, integrity, and wider setting.
- Ensure that clearance operations are planned and implemented in a manner fully respectful of internationally recognized cultural heritage protection standards
- Define practical and proportionate avoidance, mitigation, and monitoring measures to prevent or minimize adverse impacts on archaeological remains; and
- Support the integration of heritage-sensitive requirements into operational planning, quality management, and field implementation of humanitarian mine action activities.
- Establish a clear heritage baseline for the assessment area, focusing on attributes that convey OUV and other nationally significant heritage elements.
- Identify and map sensitive heritage areas and constraints relevant to mine action operations (including physical remains, stratigraphy risk, visual/setting considerations where relevant, and access/visitor management sensitivities).
- Assess potential impacts of proposed mine action activities, including direct, indirect, cumulative, and accidental impacts, and consider whether impacts are temporary/permanent and reversible/irreversible.
- Propose a package of avoidance, mitigation, protection, and monitoring measures, including operational recommendations that can be implemented by mine action teams.
- Provide clear guidance on operational integration, including exclusion zones, adapted clearance methodologies and constraints, and quality management considerations.
- Develop a chance-find procedure adapted to humanitarian demining operations in archaeological contexts, including procedures for suspected archaeological remains, human remains, associated artefacts, structural remains, and other culturally or legally sensitive finds.
- Define clear heritage-related hold points and stop-work triggers to be applied during clearance activities, including the procedure for notifying HAMAP-Humanitaire, the Regional EOD Technical Advisor, Civil Defense clearance teams, DMA/RMAC-S, and the relevant heritage authority. These triggers should cover, at minimum, the discovery of suspected archaeological remains, unexpected subsurface features, human remains, culturally significant artefacts, structural remains, or any field condition requiring archaeological review before clearance activity continues.
- Support structured consultation and coordination with relevant Iraqi stakeholders (heritage authorities, mine action authorities, and other designated entities) as required for scoping, validation, and practical implementation.
- Deliver a final HIA report suitable for submission to project stakeholders and donors, including a non-technical summary and operational annexes.
- Expected Outputs and Deliverables
- Inception report (incl. scoping, methodology, study area definition, stakeholder consultation plan, workplan and timeline)
- Field mission(s) to the selected priority site(s) (including Eridu, Kisiga (Tell Al-Lahm) and Tell Zaid) and stakeholder consultations
- Final HIA report, revised based on comments, including final operational annexes (maps/tables/procedures) and an operational coordination annex covering archaeology–mine action interface arrangements
- Final HIA report, revised based on comments, including final operational annexes (maps/tables/procedures) and an operational coordination annex covering archaeology–mine action interface arrangements
- Primary duty station: Dhi Qar Governorate, Iraq
- The consultant may work remotely for desk-based research and report drafting but will be required to conduct field visits to the selected archaeological site(s) as necessary.
- The consultant must maintain regular coordination with HH and designated counterparts throughout the assignment.
- Advanced university degree (Master’s or PhD) in Archaeology, Cultural Heritage Management, or a related field.
- Minimum 10 years of professional experience in archaeology and/or heritage management (or equivalent demonstrated expertise relevant to the assignment scope).
- Proven experience conducting Heritage Impact Assessments (or closely comparable heritage assessment studies) in complex operational contexts.
- Strong knowledge of UNESCO World Heritage processes and ICOMOS HIA guidance, including OUV-based assessment logic.
- Demonstrated capacity to translate heritage requirements into practical operational recommendations.
- Experience working alongside operational field teams, such as mine action, EOD/UXO, engineering, construction, environmental, infrastructure, or security teams, is highly desirable, particularly where heritage protection requirements had to be translated into practical field procedures, constraints, or mitigation measures.
- Excellent research and analytical skills.
- Excellent report-writing skills in English.
- Experience in the Middle East, particularly Iraq, is highly desirable.
- Arabic and/or French is an asset.
Requirements
- degree in archaeology or related field
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible candidates should have expertise in archaeology and heritage management to work on site assessments in Iraq.
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