Design Advisor- timbuktoo Initiative (Home based)

Background

The Regional Programme for Africa contributes to the UNDP Strategic Plan by focusing on three outcome areas: 

• African Union and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) deliver on their mandate, especially cross-cutting issues related to resilience building (contributing to the Strategic Plan Outcome 2); 
• Regional growth is inclusive, transformational, and sustainable with reduced economic inequalities, and characterized by structural transformation (contributing to the Strategic Plan Outcome 2); and 
• Regional institutions sustain peace and build resilience to crises and shocks (contributing to the Strategic Plan Outcome 3).

  In 2021, UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Africa (RBA) commenced planning of a new initiative, timbuktoo, which aims to galvanize African youth as entrepreneurs, innovators, and problem solvers. timbuktoo’s ambition is to mobilize one billion dollars with US$ 350 million invested as catalytic and more than US$ 650 million crowded in as commercial capital to transform more than 100 million livelihoods and create 10 million dignified new jobs. 

  In January 2024, UNDP launched the timbuktoo Initiative which includes a Catalytic Pan-African Innovation Fund designed to support African startups. Announced at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the Fund has already received a commitment of $3 million from the Government of Rwanda. The ambitious plan aims to mobilize and invest the targeted $1 billion to foster the growth and development of entrepreneurial ventures across the African continent. This focused approach, combined with a “blended capital” model that incorporates both commercial and catalytic funds, aims to reduce risks associated with private investment and foster a comprehensive startup ecosystem. The main target for the Execution Phase is to establish the institutional arrangements for the Fund, and crowd in additional investments on the catalytic side as well as kick off effective operationalization of the Initiative. 

  The timbuktoo initiative will establish 10 thematic vertical Hubs in Accra, Cairo, Cape Town, Casablanca, Dakar, Kigali, Lagos, and Nairobi – to serve as critical intervention nodes with full innovation ecosystem support. Each hub will be sector-specific and engage with startups across Africa rather than only those based in the host country. These hubs will catalyze innovation for sustainable development transforming ideas into viable businesses critical for powering Africa’s transformation including through the African Continental Free Trade Area.  The timbuktoo initiative also features University Innovation Pods (UniPods) - bridging the gap between academic research and entrepreneurial application. The 13 UniPods already established within public universities in Benin, Guinea, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Liberia, will be linked to the above – mentioned hubs and act as a pipeline for the tech and tech – enabled innovation ventures that will receive ecosystem support and early-stage risk capital investment under the Hubs. The timbuktoo initiative is multi-pronged, focused on supporting and growing innovative, scalable, and impactful entrepreneurship by African young people, while relying on a springboard of partners who together contribute meaningfully to building an African youth innovation and startup ecosystem. The timbuktoo approach will be anchored in seeking, nurturing, and building African solutions forwarded by Africa’s youth that directly address one or more of the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  

  UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Africa is seeking a highly qualified individual to serve as Design Advisor for the timbuktoo initiative. The incumbent will report to timbuktoo Global Lead and work closely with the Unipods, and hubs section leads.

  Duties and Responsibilities

  The Design Advisor will promote the adoption of advanced technologies to enhance the efficiency, sustainability, and global competitiveness of the African start-up ecosystem.  He/She will drive timbuktoo's strategic growth through three interconnected streams of work: 

  1. Lead partnerships and resource mobilization 

  • Design comprehensive resource mobilization proposals, prospectuses and strategies that target diverse funding sources, including venture capital firms, tech corporations, international donors, and government bodies. 
  • Establishing strategic partnerships with leading innovation hubs across the Global South, to facilitate knowledge exchange and technology transfer.  This includes establishing cross unit partnerships linking Unipods and hubs
    • Unipods - to roll out bespoke skills building programmes (particularly AI and digital up-skilling) across the unipods network including identifying opportunities for research and development themes that are cross cutting and pan-African. 

      2. Lead the strengthening of programming and ecosystem-building within Unipods and Hubs

      A key component of the role involves strengthening the programming within Unipods and Hubs to ensure effective operations for timbuktoo. This includes supporting UNDP Unipod and hub focal points with technical support and advisory for effective establishment and roll-out of Uynipods and hub. 

      • Tech hubs – to quality assure and co-design bespoke incubation and acceleration programmes for cohorts across differeent thematic sectors (particularly local deep-tech & manufacturing ecosystems).  Spearhead and roll-out in collaboration with the Hubs section lead targeted capacity-building and community development initiatives.

        3. Promote South- South Cooperation

        • Create bilateral and multilateral cooperation frameworks, facilitate joint R&D initiatives, and develop mentorship programs that pair African startups with successful Global South entrepreneurs.
        • This will be supported by establishing robust platforms for sharing research and market insights across the network.  In additiona the specialist will contribute to the development of the virtual platform providing ecosystem support and business development programming for remote delivery.

          4. Lead knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing, and advocacy 

          • Provide substantive advice and technical support to the development and implementation of a capacity development/ learning plan on thematic area of the project for Country Office and participate in global/regional learning initiatives. 
          • Lead the process of knowledge capture of national and international know-how in relevant thematic areas and document project lessons, experiences, and best practices that may be useful in design and implementation of similar projects for organizational and external sharing and learning. Produce materials with lessons learned and best practices and other knowledge-based tools. 

            5. Provide advisory support to the Global Lead on Timbuktoo strategy development and programme implementation.

            📚 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯! 🌍🤝 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗨𝗡𝗛𝗖𝗥, 𝗪𝗙𝗣, 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗙, 𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗦𝗦, 𝗨𝗡𝗙𝗣𝗔, 𝗜𝗢𝗠 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀! 🌐

            ⚠️ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐰: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐍𝐎𝐖!

            • Lead effective programme implementation 
            • Ensure strategic partner mapping and engagement 
            • Structuring innovative funding arrangements
            • Facilitate vital connections between research institutions and industry partners. 
            • Contributing to creation and maintenance of knowledge-sharing platforms, organizing regular exchange events, and developing mechanisms for joint intellectual property development across the Global South
            • Advidsory and technical assistance to UNDP country office focal points withni both Uni [pods and hubs
            • Lead the timbuktoo strategy development and roll out of the AI programme – including pod casts, youth engagements on AI
            • Advising the timbuktoo Global Lead on key industry emerging trends and sectors for focus actross timbuktoo. 

              The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the timbuktoo Initiative overall both within UNDP and with the Foundation. 

              Institutional Arrangement

              The Advisor will report to the Global Lead, timbuktoo and work closely with Unipods and hubs section heads

              Competencies Core Competencies Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact  Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems  Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands  Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity Cross-Functional & Technical competencies Business Management Project Management  Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals. Business Management Partnerships Management Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies Business Management Results Based Management  Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programmes, and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results. Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools.  Business Management Risk Management Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactivvely managing risks Business Direction & Strategy Entrepreneurial Thinking Identify and seize opportunities to service and add value to clients, create clarity around UNDP value proposition to beneficiaries and partners, develop clear service offers responding to client needs in line with UNDP’s organizational priorities and mandate. Business Direction & Strategy Systems Thinking  Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system Digital  Data storytelling and communications Skilled in building a narrative around a set of data and its accompanying visualizations to help convey the meaning of that data in a powerful and compelling fashion.

              Required Skills and Experience Min. Education requirements

              • Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Finance, Economics, Business Management, Statistics, or other related discipline is required. OR
              • A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas stated above, in combination with an additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree. Min. years of relevant work experience 
                • Minimum of 10 years (with master’s degree) and 12 years (with bachelor’s degree) of experience required in mobilizing venture capital, running incubators, accelerators, or working with startup ecosystems in developing countries, venture capital, or related areas is required. Required skills 
                  • Proven experience in comprehensive computer knowledge 
                  • Demonstrate experience in high-level strategic thinking skills and business analytical skills.
                  • Demonstrated excellent experience in communication and proven leadership and team skills. Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section
                    • Good experience with incubators and accelerators as business development services
                    • Demonstrated experience and knowledge in financial inclusion Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Development and Impact Investment
                    • Proven excellent relationship management skills Required Language(s) 
                      • Fluency in English (writing and speaking) is required. 
                      • Working knowledge of another UN language is an asset. 

                        Equal opportunity

                        As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

                        UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

                        Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

                        UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

                        Right to select multiple candidates

                        UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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