Innovation and Enterprise Support Officer

Volunteering Communications & PR IT & Telecom Innovation

Overview

Support the Timbuktoo initiative and enhance youth-led innovation and entrepreneurship.

You have:

• Experience in project reporting, knowledge management, M&E, or strategic communications.
• Experience working with innovation initiatives or international development organizations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Understanding of cultural and creative industries.

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

The assignment is situated within UNDP South Africa’s support to the national implementation of the Timbuktoo initiative, a pan-African movement to foster youth-led innovation and entrepreneurship. The UN Volunteer will support two flagship interventions: the Creatives Hub in Cape Town, which focuses on accelerating startups in the cultural and creative industries (CCIs), and the UniPod at the University of Johannesburg, a makerspace bridging academic innovation and early-stage enterprise development. The UN Volunteer will be embedded within the Accelerator Lab Unit and will contribute to the coordination, documentation, and communication of these projects. The primary focus will be on supporting national-level reporting, stakeholder knowledge capture, and communications that demonstrate the outcomes, lessons learned, and impact of the Timbuktoo interventions. This role will provide critical support to strengthen programme accountability, facilitate adaptive management, and enhance UNDP South Africa’s thought leadership in inclusive innovation ecosystems.

Under the direct supervision of Heads of Accelerator Lab Unit, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: Under the direct supervision of the Accelerator Lab Unit, the UN Volunteer will: • Develop, coordinate and manage an integrated reporting framework for both the Timbuktoo Creatives Hub and UniPod, aligning with UNDP's corporate results-based management tools; • Prepare timely and evidence-based reports, presentations, donor updates, knowledge briefs and other analytical products highlighting progress, achievements and lessons learned; • Design and maintain a reporting calendar aligned to hub milestones (e.g. boot camps, grant disbursements, innovation challenges, etc.) and track all deliverables accordingly; • Consolidate and synthesise data and insights from diverse stakeholders (private sector, academia, implementing partners, and youth-led startups); • Support the development of internal dashboards or visual tools to track progress and promote learning; • Provide technical inputs to support monitoring frameworks for activities under the Creatives Hub and UniPod, ensuring quality assurance in results reporting; • Liaise with technical and communications colleagues to ensure alignment of messages and outputs; • Contribute to the drafting of strategic communication products that position the Timbuktoo initiatives in South Africa as high-value, impact-driven platforms.

Accountability, Commitment and Motivation, Communication, Creativity, Ethics and Values, Judgement and Decision-making, Working in Teams

Project reporting, Knowledge management, M&E, or strategic communications. Experience working with innovation initiatives or international development organizations is a strong asset.

The security situation in South Africa is currently stable, though high crime rates exist in certain areas. The UNV is expected to adhere to security guidelines issued by UNDSS. Pretoria offers adequate infrastructure, including reliable healthcare, banking, and communication services. Load-shedding (electricity rationing) and water restrictions may occur. Accommodation options are available and can be supported through UNDSS recommendations. The cost of living is moderate and transport options are accessible.

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Potential interview questions

Added 1 year ago - Updated 11 months ago - Source: unv.org