Re-Advertisement) Innovation Officer, NO-B, UNICEF Thailand, Bangkok (Thai Nationals only

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.

Learn about what we do to create a fair chance for every child in Thailand, click here.

Innovation is a core UNICEF strategy for delivering better, faster and more impactful results for children. It has also been identified by the government as a key “game changer” under the Thailand 4.0 economic model, driving the country’s transition to upper-income status challenged by the "inequality, middle-income and imbalance traps". This has spurred significant public and private investment in technology, innovation and entrepreneurship, alongside a growing interest in digital and social innovation, and enterprise. Yet, despite the injection of new resources, few initiatives manage to deliver social impact at scale. Touchpoints between aspiring digital and social innovators and those with the greatest unmet needs are scarce, resulting in missed opportunities to develop solutions that truly improve the lives of children and youth.

As a global champion of child rights and well-being, UNICEF has a unique ability to convene partners from across both public and private sectors – offering a powerful opportunity to shape Thailand's innovation landscape around the greatest challenges facing children and young people.

How can you make a difference?

The post is staff contract for initially 364 days with possibility of extension.

The Innovation Officer will be responsible for developing the innovation portfolio and managing activities in a team under the cross-cutting innovation strategy. The officer will coordinate and provide ongoing technical support to each Programme team (e.g. Education, Child Protection, Adolescent Development and Participation, Social Policy, etc.) in mainstreaming digital innovations in the areas where UNICEF is best positioned to close those existing gaps. This, among others, includes identification, selection, co-creation, evaluation, concept design, deployment, piloting and evidence generation in partnerships of new or proven solutions assuring the governmental buy-in from early stages.

One of the key components of the job will be to provide cross-sectoral support to the Programme, Communications and Fundraising teams in UNICEF Thailand Country Office and key external partners to scout for new innovative ideas, "out-of-the-box" partnerships and funding opportunities to design and implement sustainable (business and demand wise) innovative digital intervention at national scale helping accelerate results for children in Thailand. This role includes a specific focus on engaging with the local Start-up ecosystem, local technology incubators and accelerators, corporate, civil society and government partners to catalyse greater innovation and investment in areas that impact child rights, development and wellbeing.

Major Responsibilities

1. Lead the Innovation/T4D efforts to support the UNICEF Thailand Country Office Programme

• Coordinate and provide support and technical assistance to the Country Office teams (Programme, Communications and Fundraising) in the identification, selection, concept design, deployment and sustainability of innovative and technological interventions to address bottlenecks towards the achievement of the Programme results with particular focus on EdTech, HealthTech for children and new-borns, digital civic society through youth engagement and digital participation.
• Co-create appropriate technology and innovative solutions with partners by applying Human-centered Design approach and in compliance with the Principles for Digital Development and UNICEF Innovation/T4D best practices.

2. Engage and maintain partnerships and networks

• Promote UNICEF as a major player in innovation in Thailand through participation and support to the Country Office in representation in external, inter-agency or partner forums on Innovation, Digital Development and Technology Innovation.
• Proactively scout for funding, partnership opportunities and build the space to nurture and test new and innovative ideas together with universities, youth networks and local entrepreneurs towards solving development challenges specific to UNICEF’s areas of work and to develop the next generation of thought leaders.
• Support the partner ecosystem mapping by documenting localized partners and their profiles, their areas of engagement to promote and enhance UNICEF goals for outcomes for children through the use of innovation.

3. Strategic planning for digitally enabled Programming

• Support implementation of the innovation/T4D strategy and the Action Plan for the current UNICEF Thailand Country Programme (2017-2021) in close collaboration with the Country Office Programme team, HQ innovation division and Regional Office when applicable.
• Support strategic planning and consultation activities with local entrepreneurs, local start-up ecosystem, academia, innovation and digital economy governmental counterparts, NGOs and communities for the next Country Programme (2022-2026).
• Help monitor development and quality assurance during planning and deployment of Innovation/T4D initiatives; participate in establishing and maintaining standards, documentation and support mechanisms for Innovation/T4D.

4. Knowledge management

• Help identify, capture, synthesize and share lessons learned from Innovation and T4D for integration into broader knowledge development planning, advocacy and communication efforts together with the Knowledge Management team.
• Maintain an inventory of Country Office innovation interventions.

5. Capacity Building

• Assist in developing staff awareness and capabilities on the appropriate use of Human-centred Design and frontier technology and innovations such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), wearables, Internet of Things (IoTs), mobile money, blockchain, etc.

Qualifications of Successful Candidate

• Advanced university degree in Business Analysis, Business Administration, Management Information Systems, Computer Science, International Affairs, Social Development, Community, Informatics, or relevant disciplines.

**A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.

• At least 2 years of professional working experience in areas related to innovations.
• Thai Nationality.
• Network experience within start up business, venture capitals, integrators is highly desired.
• Experience with ICT, mobile and web-based technologies, particularly designing or deploying tools appropriate to the country is highly desired.
• Knowledge of local technology / start-up ecosystem/scene is a plus.
• Proven ability to manage relationships with partners, including government ministries, youth coalitions, universities, intellectual leaders, UN organizations, NGOs and the private sector is a plus.
• Experience in Open Source, mobile and frontier technology applied to UNICEF programme areas is a plus.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills both in English and Thai, excellent technical communication.
• High fluency in English and Thai. Knowledge of another official UN language is considered as an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships.
• Good planning, organizational, and analytical skills.
• Tact, discretion, self-starter and good judgment.
• Meet UNICEF Core Value and Competencies.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in 1) Builds and maintains partnerships, 2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness, 3) Drive to achieve results for impact, 4) Innovates and embraces change, 5) Manages ambiguity and complexity, 6) Thinks and acts strategically, 7) Works collaboratively with others, and 8) Nurtures, leads and manages people (applicable for supervisor and manager’s role).

The functional competencies required for this post are…

• Analyzing (2); Applying Technical Expertise (2); Entrepreneurial thinking: (3); Formulating strategies and concepts (2); Leading and supervising (2); Persuading and influencing (2); Planning and Organizing (1); and Relating and Networking: (3)

View our competency framework at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

Successful candidate will be offered an attractive remuneration package under the UN system.

Only shortlisted candidates with pre-screening according to child safeguarding will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Please send application no later than 19 January 2021.

All UN including UNICEF candidates need to send an application letter together with Personal History (P-11) and Performance Evaluation Reports (PERs) of the last two years.

FORM P11.doc

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.

UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.

For gender balance in the workforce, Thai National male qualified candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

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