Re-advertisement - Technology for Development Specialist, NOC FT, UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia (Open to Nepali Nationals only)

Mid IT & Telecom

Overview

Support digital transformation and innovation strategies in South Asia region.

You have:

• A Master’s Degree in Innovation, Information Technology, International Development, Business Administration, International Relations, Change Management, or other related field.
• A Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field combined with at least seven (7) years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of a Master’s Degree.
• A minimum of five years of professional experience in information communication technology for development (ICT4D) in a large international/national organization and/or project is required.
• Experience identifying, designing and implementing solutions for large-scale projects with technical components.
• Experience with ICT, mobile and web-based technologies, particularly designing or deploying tools appropriate to South Asia.
• Fluency in English and the local working language of the duty station is required.

Contract

This is a NO-3 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-3 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, a future

How can you make a difference?

1. Purpose:

South Asia Region has many challenges to attain sustainable developmental goals. They range from the need for provision of basic needs such as clean energy, clean water, adequate and appropriate nutrition, health services, and enhancing access to education, livelihoods, economic opportunities, and broad societal goals such as removal of poverty, gender equality, peace and improved governance, and environmental sustainability. These challenges obviously are significant but fortunately new and improved technologies, combined with innovative delivery models, offer opportunities to address many of these challenges in a scalable manner. The COVID pandemic has presented a global challenge not just for UNICEF but for many organizations, private enterprises and individuals. UNICEF offices in the region had to contend with and rapidly apply measures not only to continue operating under alternative work modalities resulting from lockdowns but also to ensure that they are able to deliver on their mandate and that delivery of key services for children continues as much as possible. This has led to an almost exponential increase in demand for technology and digital solutions and services to support programme activities.

Inclusion of digital transformation and innovation as change strategies across all Goal Areas in the UNICEF Strategic Plan 2022-2025 will elevate the importance of these strategies and associated planning and governance processes. Concurrently, interest in digital and remote solutions that has become evident during the pandemic will continue, given the potential of such solutions to reach more stakeholders. Finally, availability of platforms such as INVENT to provide a view of the global portfolio of innovation and T4D initiatives will provide greater visibility of what is available and where gaps exist.

In view of the above, the position of the T4D and Innovation Support Specialist will support the coordination and advancement of the overall digital transformation and innovation agenda in the ROSA office and in the South Asia region through:

• Real-time Monitoring & Information Systems for improved programme and service delivery;
• Real Time Monitoring and programme management, particularly in the last mile with focus on social accountability;
• Access to right information at the right time for decision making;
• Supporting the Bridging the Digital Divide ROSA Acceleration Area;
• Supporting T4D and Innovation communities of practice in South Asia, including gathering evidence, success stories and lessons learnt on T4D and Innovation Initiatives in the region;
• Non-traditional Partnerships with Academia and Private Sector to stimulate research and development around solutions to the core challenges facing children and mothers in South Asia;
• Citizen Engagement, Participation & Feedback to ensure meaningful access by communities, particularly young people-to information, opportunity, and choice.

2. Key functions, accountabilities and related duties or tasks

Summary of the key functions, accountabilities and related duties or tasks include:

1. Technical assistance

Provide support and technical assistance to the Regional and Country Offices in the identification, selection, concept design and roll-out and sustainability of digital transformation/innovation / T4D interventions to address bottlenecks towards the achievement of programme results; Assist programme sections to identify and assess new digital transformation/innovation / T4D initiatives, or new phases of on-going initiatives, with immediate potential to improve UNICEF programming in service delivery and/or monitoring and evaluation; Work with stakeholders to help develop standards, procedures and partnerships for digital transformation/innovation / T4D interventions and their transition to relevant Government and Civil Society Institutions.

2. Capacity building

Capacity building and understanding of digital transformation/innovation/T4D projects, within the office and the region to ensure programmes maximize their use to improve UNICEF’s work. Build capacity of programme staff in analyzing the large amounts of data generated through digital transformation/innovation/T4D initiatives, including the use of data visualization techniques and analytics tools. Provide additional services to the regional and country offices to help define requirements, guidelines and sustainability for digital transformation/innovation/T4D projects.

3. Knowledge management

Support the collection of data, undertake analysis and prepare reports on existing initiatives, solutions, capture lessons learnt from Innovations and share resources available. Map all digital transformation/innovation/T4D investments and resources. Ensure documentation and clear monitoring and evaluation mechanisms for digital transformation/innovation/T4D projects including baseline data collection, necessarily on-going monitoring, as well as first phase data collection and analysis. Contribute and share to regional and global digital development and technology innovation networks and activities.

4. Support with governance and prioritization mechanisms

Contribute to the operationalization of global digital transformation and innovation strategies in various programme areas in ROSA office and within the South Asia Region. Conduct assessment of Innovations and T4D requirements, opportunities, standards and gaps within the ROSA office and the region. Support the digital transformation and innovation governance and prioritization processes within the region.

5. Support with development of partnerships

Raise awareness of potential partners and solutions to the UNICEF Programme community. Support development of a catalogue of potential region- and country-specific digital transformation/innovation/T4D partners and their profiles/areas of engagement to promote and enhance UNICEF’s goals. Support development of clear and concise concept notes of each agreed digital transformation/innovation/T4D initiatives and proposals for fund raising efforts in conjunction with programmes. Support development of partnerships with Mobile Network Operators.

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

Education:

A Master’s Degree in Innovation, Information Technology, International Development, Business Administration, International Relations, Change Management, or other related field.

A Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field combined with at least seven (7) years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of a Master’s Degree.

Experience:

A minimum of five years of professional experience in information communication technology for development (ICT4D) in a large international/national organization and/or project is required.

- Experience identifying, designing and implementing solutions for large-scale projects with technical components – including supervising external vendors and software developers; responsibility for business analysis, budgets, contracts, project management and procurement, etc.;

- Experience with ICT, mobile and web-based technologies, particularly designing or deploying tools appropriate to South Asia;

- Experience in Open Source, mobile and emerging technology applied to UNICEF programme areas is extremely desirable.

- Exposure to UNICEF, UN or other INGO programmatic areas, including (but not limited to) health, nutrition, child protection and/or education, and experience in applying technical solutions to address programmatic issues. - Experience with RapidPro, OpenSRP, DHIS2, ODK and other global public good technologies, and deploying, maintaining and scaling these technologies is highly desirable.

Language requirement:

Fluency in English and the local working language of the duty station is required. Mastery of another UN language is an asset.

Note: Qualified candidates from minority groups are strongly encouraged to apply. Those who already applied to this position need not reapply.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

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

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

Preferably have a hybrid background combining technical skills, strong conceptual ability to integrate the capabilities of available technologies to produce dashboards and other decision-support tools. Ability to interact diplomatically with high level officials, as well as experience working directly with community-level partners. Skills in Business Analysis and technical project management in technology-led initiatives.

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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.

Apply now

Potential interview questions

Added 4 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unicef.org