Programme Support Associate: Innovation and Enterprise

Volunteering Admin Innovation

Overview

Support programme coordination and implementation related to innovation and enterprise development.

You have:

• Candidates must be between 18 and 34 years of age at the time of application.
• Demonstrated interest or experience in innovation, entrepreneurship or enterprise development.
• Demonstrated interest or experience in development programmes, project coordination or programme support.
• Demonstrated interest or experience in stakeholder engagement, partnerships and collaboration.
• Demonstrated interest or experience in reporting, knowledge management and inter-agency coordination.
• Demonstrated interest or experience in creative industries, cultural economy, innovation ecosystems or enterprise development in the creative sector.

Contract

This is a UNV contract. More about UNV contracts.

UNDP South Africa’s timbuktoo programme forms part of a pan-African initiative that seeks to build, connect and strengthen innovation ecosystems across the continent through a network of UniPods and sector-focused Hubs. The initiative supports young innovators, entrepreneurs and ecosystem actors by providing access to innovation infrastructure, technical support, partnerships, pre-incubation and enterprise development pathways that contribute to inclusive growth, decent work and sustainable development.

In South Africa, the timbuktoo portfolio is implemented through two main delivery vehicles. The UniPod at the University of Johannesburg supports early-stage innovation, student entrepreneurship, ideation, prototyping and pre-incubation. The timbuktoo Creatives Hub in the Western Cape focuses on the creative and cultural industries through three priority lanes: animation, gaming and digital media. The Hub is specifically focused on IP development, serious games, venture development and IP-generating digital content businesses, and does not cover film, television, music or fashion.

The UN Volunteer will support active programmes under the timbuktoo South Africa portfolio, including the Animation Studio Accelerator Programme, which supports a cohort of animation studios towards IP development and investment readiness, and the Games Development Venture Lab, an emerging programme being developed in partnership with the Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism. The assignment will also support broader ecosystem and partnership functions, including coordination with public sector, cultural economy, innovation and enterprise development stakeholders.

In addition to its programme responsibilities, UNDP contributes to United Nations Country Team coordination, including through the Youth Theme Group and related inter-agency platforms that support youth employment, skills development, entrepreneurship and inclusive economic participation. This assignment offers an opportunity for a young professional to gain practical experience in programme coordination, innovation programming, stakeholder engagement, reporting, knowledge management and UN coordination, while receiving structured mentoring, workplace learning and regular guidance from the supervisor.

Under the direct supervision of the designated UNDP Supervisor, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

1. Support programme coordination and implementation ● Support the planning, coordination and implementation of programmes that promote innovation, entrepreneurship, enterprise development, youth employment and inclusive economic growth. ● Assist with coordinating programme activities, meetings, workshops, consultations and stakeholder engagements, ensuring effective logistical and administrative support. ● Contribute to the implementation of approved work plans and support the timely delivery of programme outputs. ● Support coordination of timbuktoo Creatives Hub activities, including the Animation Studio Accelerator Programme, the Games Development Venture Lab and related creative and cultural industries ecosystem engagements with government, industry, innovation and enterprise development partners.

2. Support UNCT internal coordination mechanisms ● Support UNDP's participation in the Programme Management Team (PMT) by assisting with the coordination of meetings, preparation of agendas and background documentation, recording minutes, maintaining action trackers and following up on agreed action points. ● Contribute to information sharing, coordination and collaboration among participating UN agencies to support joint programming and implementation of the UNSDCF. ● Support the documentation and coordination of PMT activities that strengthen inter-agency programme planning, reporting and knowledge sharing.

3. Conduct research, data collection and basic analysis ● Conduct desk research and compile information on innovation, entrepreneurship, enterprise development, youth employment and sustainable development. ● Assist with data collection, compilation and basic analysis to support programme planning, implementation and evidence-informed decision-making. ● Support the preparation of background papers, briefing notes, concept notes, presentations and other technical documentation.

4. Support monitoring, reporting and results tracking ● Assist in monitoring programme implementation by maintaining activity trackers, compiling programme information and supporting the collection of performance data. ● Contribute to the preparation of programme reports, PMT updates and other reporting requirements by compiling administrative and technical inputs. ● Support results tracking and documentation of programme achievements against approved work plans and expected outputs.

5. Support knowledge management and documentation ● Organize and maintain programme documentation, electronic filing systems and information repositories. ● Document lessons learned, good practices and programme achievements to support institutional learning and knowledge sharing. ● Assist in maintaining accurate programme and coordination records that facilitate information sharing within UNDP and across the UN Country Team.

6. Support stakeholder engagement and operational coordination ● Assist in coordinating engagement with government institutions, development partners, private sector organizations, innovation hubs, academia, civil society organizations and other stakeholders. ● Support the organization of meetings, consultations, workshops and partnership engagements, including logistical and operational arrangements. ● Maintain stakeholder databases, partnership records and follow up on agreed collaborative actions.

7. Support communication and visibility ● Assist in compiling programme information, activity highlights and supporting documentation for internal updates, reports and other communication products. ● Support the documentation of meetings, workshops, consultations and programme events by preparing event summaries, maintaining activity records and compiling supporting information where appropriate. ● Assist in preparing presentations, briefing materials and other information products that support programme implementation, stakeholder engagement and knowledge sharing.

8. Provide general administrative support ● Provide administrative support for programme operations, including meeting logistics, travel arrangements, procurement documentation, records management, filing systems and correspondence. ● Assist with maintaining financial and administrative documentation in accordance with UNDP policies and procedures. ● Perform other programme support and administrative duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Accountability, Adaptability and Flexibility, Building Trust Client Orientation, Commitment and Motivation Commitment to Continuous Learning, Communication Ethics and Values, Integrity, Knowledge Sharing, Planning and Organizing, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity Self-Management, Technological Awareness, Working in Teams.

Demonstrated interest or experience in: ● Innovation, entrepreneurship or enterprise development. ● Development programmes, project coordination or programme support. ● Stakeholder engagement, partnerships and collaboration. ● Reporting, knowledge management and inter-agency coordination.
● Creative industries, cultural economy, innovation ecosystems or enterprise development in the creative sector.      
Skills in: ● Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Microsoft Teams). ● Project administration, report writing and meeting coordination. ● Planning, organization and records management. ● Stakeholder engagement and professional communication. ● Research, information management and analytical skills.  

*Mastercard Foundation Alumni and Youth with Disabilities are encouraged to apply.

*Candidates must be between 18 and 34 years of age at the time of application.   

Bigger cities in South Africa can be highly cosmopolitan. In Johannesburg and Pretoria, you will find an abundance of world class gyms, restaurants, bars, recreational classes, galleries, parks etc. The bigger shopping malls host a large selection of international brands. There is a plethora of international cuisine to be sampled, and quirky independent cinemas to be discovered. OR Tambo International Airport is a world class airport, offering highly sophisticated facilities. It is located just outside of Johannesburg, in Kempton Park. It has many international airlines that fly into this airport. Crime rates in South Africa are ranked on the high end, petty theft and opportunistic crimes are common, and armed robberies, smash & grabs and hijackings are also fairly frequent in certain areas. One needs to remain vigilant especially at night and at road intersections. There are usually sign posts that indicate such hot spots. Periodic security information updates are sent via email providing information at national level, with regards to circumstances such as incidents of civil unrest, transport security, computer and networking safety and trends in criminality. UNDSS sends weekly security updates via email. Updates from wardens are on an ad hoc basis, following security related events in your residential area. Updates from UNDSS are provided weekly.

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Added 2 days ago - Updated 2 hours ago - Source: unv.org