Innovation Officer, NO-2, Dar-es-salaam, Tanzania

Contract

This is a NO-2 contract. This kind of contract is known as National Professional Officers. It is normally only for nationals. It's a staff contract. More about NO-2 contracts.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, innovation

Guided by the global priority areas and ESA region priority areas of focus the UNICEF Tanzania innovation strategy aims at delivering the results of the country programme, 2016-2021. The strategy seeks to leverage technology and other innovative approaches to improve the lives of children and women especially in the areas of data, provision of vital information, improvement to service delivery and knowledge management. Given the success of a number of innovative platforms especially focused on digital and non-digital engagement of young people and the increasing focus on the young people agenda, UNICEF Tanzania is looking to scale up support to this area for programme effectiveness and efficiency. The Innovation Officer, with a portfolio including adolescent participation, will work with the innovation unit in UNICEF Tanzania providing cross-sectoral support to implement the innovation strategy in line with the 2016-2021 country programme. The Innovation Officer will report to the Knowledge Management Specialist, P3. S/He will support innovative digital platforms including U-Report, RapidPro, Internet of Good Things and others and also proactively seek out new ways for meaningful adolescent participation in Tanzania.

How can you make a difference?

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Support to programme development, planning and implementation
   • Coordinate various activities for the implementation of the country office innovation strategy with a special focus on the online and offline meaningful participation of adolescents.
   • Support work planning, bimonthly, annual reports and monitoring of results for the T4D initiatives and other innovative initiatives in the country.
   • Prepare required programme documentations, reports, materials and data to facilitate programme review and approval processes.
   • Support country office with the scale of innovative initiatives (RapidPro, U-Report, etc) including providing sectoral support to leverage innovation and T4D for meaningful participation of adolescent boys and girls.
   • Collaboratively work with colleagues and partners to identify implementation issues, provide solutions, recommendations to alert officials and stakeholders of higher-level interventions or decisions.
   • Provide support towards RFP, TA and contracting processes and coordinate with external suppliers for T4D and innovation projects
2. Knowledge management

• Continuously scan, curate and share best and cutting-edge innovative approaches for identifying and responding to emerging youth and adolescent issues more effectively.
• Contribute to and ensure that innovations knowledge base is up to date including research, analysis documents, and reports.
• Provide support to sections to develop mechanisms to effectively moderate existing or new forums for adolescents to ensure their meaningful participation.
• Manage content and user activity on various forums for adolescents including recommending, planning and implementing an effective mechanism for outreach to users by various sections.

• Support the documentation of learnings from innovative programming and pilots for the country programme by identifying, capturing, synthesizing and sharing lessons learned

  3. Capacity building and training

• Prepare one-pagers and presentation materials for various tools including RapidPro, T4D platforms and innovative programmes for orientation of staff and partners including government.

• Facilitate workshops together with UNICEF programs and partners, introducing RapidPro and developing real-time monitoring solutions.
  4. Networking and partnership building
• Support in building partnerships with government, national stakeholders, and private sector to facilitate scale and sustain results from innovation and T4D initiatives.
• Proactively research information on potential donors and contribute to the preparation of resource mobilization and fundraising efforts.
• Draft communication materials for country office programme advocacy to promote awareness and utilization of various innovative platforms for meaningful participation of adolescent boys and girls

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• A university degree in Information System Management, Computer Science, International Affairs, International Relations, International Development, Business Management, or related practical experience
• Minimum two years’ experience managing, designing and implementing solutions for large-scale innovation/T4D projects, including supervising engineers and software developers contractors, responsibility for budgets, contracts and procurement, etc.

• Experience with technology-related projects in a development context and/or the UN.

  Proven skills in training, management, and strategic thinking.

  Proven ability to conceptualize, plan, and execute ideas as well as transfer knowledge and skills

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language is an asset

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

Builds and Maintains partnerships [Level 1], Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness, [Level 1]Drive to achieve results for impact [Level 1],Innovates and embraces change [Level 1],Manages ambiguity and complexity [Level 1],Thinks and acts strategically [Level 1],Works collaboratively with others [Level 1], Nurtures, leads and manages people [Level 1]

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.