The Position:
The Innovation Unit leads the implementation of the UNFPAโs innovation strategy as outlined in the Strategic Plan. It acts as a creative, interactive, and agile team at a cross-divisional intersection. It works closely with all respective Business Units across the organization and connects the dots to enable, accelerate, and catalyze innovation at UNFPA.
The Programme and Technical Innovation Specialist reports to the Chief of the Innovation Unit. The holder will collaborate with Innovation Unit team members, relevant Working Groups, and Business Units throughout the organization. The specialist will also closely coordinate actions with external partners and networks, contributing to enhancing UNFPAโs innovation outreach and partnerships. This includes supporting initiatives like the Equalizer Accelerator Fund, Equity 2030 Alliance and the WomenX Collective.
The Programme and Technical Innovation Specialist will also provide day-to-day planning, managerial, technical, and coordination support to the Chief of the Innovation Unit, timely and effectively supporting and coordinating the office's various initiatives.
How you can make a difference:
UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPAโs strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to โbuild forward betterโ, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on womenโs and girlsโ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.
In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.
UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.
Job Purpose:
The Programme and Technical Innovation Specialist will play a vital role within the Innovation Unit portfolio, providing technical advice and support to business units across UNFPA on mainstreaming innovation, especially at the field level. The position will enable accelerated identification of programmatic and technical innovation-related needs, appropriate alignment with country, regional, and global level actors internally and externally, and foster the integration of innovation as an Accelerator in line with the UNFPA Strategic Plan and the innovation strategies.
In this regard, the key duties of the Programme and Technical Innovation Specialist will be:
You would be responsible for:
A. Providing programmatic and technical support
Under the Chief of Innovation Unitโs leadership, provide programmatic and technical support in delivering the objectives of the Innovation Unit, including tracking and updating major targets, milestones, and deliverables, with a particular focus on the Equalizer Accelerator Fund and its related initiatives, such as the Equity 2030 Alliance; Collaborate with Business Units to draft and process programmatic and partnership-related documents on innovation, ensuring adherence to UNFPA policies and procedures; Manage the technical coordination of the development, roll-out, and monitoring of the Global Innovation Strategy; Prepare and support the monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of information, aligning with the agreed performance indicators to enhance management efficiency and accountability for results on innovation as an accelerator.B. Strengthening UNFPAโs internal innovation capabilities
Provide technical and advisory support to Country Offices in response to needs assessments, including capacity development to strengthen the mainstreaming of innovative products at the program level in close collaboration with HQ and Regional office colleagues; Support Regional Innovation Focal Points in executing the regional innovation strategies and mainstreaming innovation within their regions. In particular, contribute to addressing programmatic and technical innovation bottlenecks to supporting current and planned innovations, and identifying pathways for scale-up phases; Support the facilitation and roll-out of innovation learning and capacity-building activities in UNFPA, as well as identify and flag the opportunities to showcase UNFPAโs innovation work; Plan and coordinate the collection of internal briefings and background materials on innovation topics for staff members, management and governing body meetings.C. Strengthening UNFPAโs external engagements on innovation
Support the design, coordinate and manage external innovation activities, such as innovation challenges, workshops and conferences, together with implementing and strategic partners; Preparation of briefing notes and related documents for external partner engagement and technical support in responding to queries from stakeholders; Prepare content for internal and external media and communications platforms, and campaigns, to advocate the UNFPA innovation initiatives and goals for external audiences.Any other tasks assigned by the supervisor.
Qualifications and Experience:
Education:
An advanced degree (Masterโs or equivalent) in business administration, social studies, public health, international development, or a related field is required.
Knowledge and Experience:
At least five years of increasingly responsible professional experience developing and implementing innovation and development programmes and building partnerships. Experience in developing and implementing corporate strategies and designing and coordinating stakeholder-led initiatives. Demonstrable experience in establishing and utilizing knowledge and innovation management platforms is an added advantage. Knowledge of the innovation ecosystem in development fora is an asset. Good analytical, written and verbal communication skills Familiarity with the UN system and knowledge of UNFPAโs work would be advantageous. Experience working in UNFPA program countries is highly desirable. Ability to network within the academic, development, and innovation communities.Languages:
Fluency in English is a requirement. Knowledge of another official UN language is an asset.
Required Competencies:
Values:
Exemplifying integrity, Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system, Embracing cultural diversity, Embracing changeCore Competencies:
Achieving results, Being accountable, Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen, Thinking analytically and strategically, Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships, Communicating for impact.Functional Competencies:
Advancing a policy-oriented agenda, Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners/ building strategic alliances and partnerships. Delivering results-based programme, Internal and external communication and advocacy for results mobilization, Facilitating quality programme results.Managerial Competencies:
Providing strategic focus, Engaging with internal/external partners and stakeholders, Leading, developing and empowering people, creating a culture of performance, Making decisions and exercising judgment.
Compensation and Benefits:
This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.
UNFPA Work Environment:
UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.
Disclaimer:
Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements.
UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts.
Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.
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