Background
The Regional Programme for Africa contributes to the UNDP Strategic Plan by focusing on three outcome areas:ย
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);ย Regional growth is inclusive, transformational, and sustainable with reduced economic inequalities, and characterized by structural transformation (contributing to the Strategic Plan Outcome 2); andย Regional institutions sustain peace and build resilience to crises and shocks (contributing to the Strategic Plan Outcome 3).In 2021, UNDPโs Regional Bureau for Africa (RBA) commenced planning of a new initiative, timbuktoo, which aims to galvanize African youth as entrepreneurs, innovators, and problem solvers. timbuktooโs 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.ย
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 โblended capitalโ 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.ย
The timbuktoo initiative will establish 10 thematic vertical Hubs in Accra, Cairo, Cape Town, Casablanca, Dakar, Kigali, Lagos, and Nairobi โ 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 Africaโs transformation including through the African Continental Free Trade Area.ย 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 โ mentioned hubs and act as a pipeline for the tech and tech โ enabled innovation ventures that will receive ecosystem support and early-stage risk capital investment under the Hubs.ย 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 Africaโs youth that directly address one or more of the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). ย
UNDPโs Regional Bureau for Africa is seeking a highly qualified individual to serve as Hub Design Advisorย for the timbuktoo initiative.ย The incumbent will report to timbuktoo Global Lead and work closely with the Unipods and hubs section leads.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Innovation & Ecosystem Engagement Advisor is responsible for developing high-impact physical and digital spaces for innovation, fostering research collaborations, and driving ecosystem engagement through knowledge-sharing and R&D initiatives. This role ensures that all timbuktoo hubs serve as cutting-edge innovation centers by integrating smart infrastructure, R&D alliances, and ecosystem-driven knowledge exchange.:ย
Annual Innovation & Infrastructure Strategy-ย Develop a comprehensive roadmap outlining hub development, research priorities, and corporate innovation initiatives.
Research & Development Partnerships Report-ย Document and track collaborations with universities, think tanks, and corporate R&D units, focusing on joint research and sector insights.
Innovation Labs Performance Report-Monitor and report on startup engagement, prototype success rates, and commercialization outcomes within innovation labs.
Physical Hub Optimization Plan-Create a structured framework for optimizing hub space utilization, integrating smart infrastructure, and measuring workspace impact.
Ecosystem Engagement & Thought Leadership Calendar-ย Plan and execute a strategic calendar for summits, mentorship programs, and knowledge-sharing events to enhance community engagement and position the hub as a thought leader.
Key Success Indicators
Innovation Labs Impact โ Number of startups engaged, successful prototypes developed, and research projects translated into ventures. Physical Hub Optimization โ Utilization rate of workspaces, sustainability metrics, and startup satisfaction with infrastructure. Research & Development Collaborations โ Number and quality of partnerships with universities, think tanks, and corporate R&D teams. Corporate Innovation & Tech Transfer โ Number of startups working on industry-driven innovation challenges and successful commercialization cases. Ecosystem Engagement โ Attendance and impact of summits, mentorship initiatives, and community-building programs.Collaboration with Other Roles
Tech Hubs Lead โ ย To align infrastructure development, research strategies, and ecosystem-building with timbuktooโs broader vision. Startup & Portfolio Development Specialist โย To ensure research, innovation, and ecosystem efforts support startup growth and portfolio development. Hub Operations & Sustainability Specialist โย To integrate smart infrastructure solutions and optimize workspace functionality. Digital Infrastructure Specialist โย To incorporate digital tools, data analytics, and knowledge-sharing mechanisms into hub infrastructure. Impact Measurement & Data Analytics Specialist โย To define impact measurement frameworks for research, innovation, and infrastructure initiatives.Key Responsibilities:
To ensure effective implementation, theย Advisor will undertake several core activities, including :
A. Advise on Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI)
Develop and oversee innovation labs that facilitate experimentation, prototype development, and applied research for startups; Advise and manage strategic partnerships with universities, think tanks, and R&D institutions to drive cutting-edge research and sector intelligence; Implement and advise on corporate innovation programs that enable startups to work closely with industry leaders on real-world challenges; Design mechanisms for technology transfer and commercialization, ensuring research findings are translated into scalable ventures; Oversee market intelligence efforts, ensuring hubs remain at the forefront of emerging trends in their thematic areas.B. Lead Physical Infrastructure & Space Design
Lead the site selection and strategic planning for timbuktoo hubs, ensuring optimal locations for ecosystem accessibility and impact; Design functional, inspiring, and adaptable spaces that cater to startups, researchers, and corporate partners; Implement smart and sustainable infrastructure solutions, integrating energy efficiency, digital connectivity, and eco-friendly design principles; Develop workspace models that foster collaboration, creativity, and deep tech innovation; Define KPIs for measuring the impact of hub infrastructure, ensuring alignment with startup needs and ecosystem growth.C. Lead Ecosystem Engagement & Community Building
Organize and curate high-level networking events, conferences, and summits that connect startups with investors, corporates, and policymakers; Lead the development of a mentorship network, engaging industry experts to guide startups through different growth phases; Strengthen and manage alumni networks, ensuring long-term engagement and value exchange between graduated startups and new cohorts; Facilitate educational and outreach programs, positioning hubs as thought leaders and knowledge hubs in their respective industries.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.ย
Institutional Arrangement
The Advisor will report to the Global Lead, timbuktoo and work closely with Unipods and hubs section heads.
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Competencies
CORE
Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impactย Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problemsย 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 demandsย 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 inclusivityCross-Functional & Technical competencies
Business Management:ย
Project Management ย ย ย Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goalsย Partnerships Managementย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Ability to 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 policiesBusiness Direction & Strategyย ย
Entrepreneurial Thinkingย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Ability to create clarity around UNDPโs value proposition to beneficiaries and partners and to develop service offers responding to client needs based on UNDPโs organizational priorities and mandate System Thinking ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 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 systemDigital & Innovationย ย ย ย ย ย ย
Innovation managementย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Being able to create the, strategies, conditions, structures and systems to enable innovation at an organizational level. Ability to navigate uncertainty and ambiguity, is able manage projects based principles of adaptation and emergence. Ability to shape demand for innovation services, navigate political constraints and make the case for allocation of resources to innovation, connect the appropriate innovation approaches based on business needs and make the case for innovation to be integrated at the planning level within their context. Having in depth theoretical and experiential knowledge of innovation processes, methods, capabilities Lean start-upย ย ย ย Knowledge of Lean Start-up methodologies and ability to apply them practically.Required Skills and Experience
Education:
Advanced university degree (masterโs degree or equivalent) in Social Sciences, International Development, or other relevant social science fields is required. ORย A first-level university degree (bachelorโs degree) in the areas mentioned above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.Experience:
Minimum 10 years (with masterโs degree) or 12 years (with bachelorโs degree) of professional work experience in establishing or running incubators or accelerators or work with startup ecosystems in developing countries, venture capital, digital entrepreneurship, or relevant related fields is required.ยRequiredย skillsย
Extensive experience in working with youth entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial ecosystems.Desired skillsย
Good knowledge of the UN system is desired; Good knowledge of UNDP is desired;ย Good experience and knowledge of Africa, would be an asset; Excellent communication skills and proven leadership and team skills.ยLanguage Requirements
Proficiency in English is required;ย Working knowledge of French is desirable.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.ย
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.ย
Right to select multiple candidates
UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.ย 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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