Background
As a culmination of the introductory work that the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Sri Lanka began on innovation and foresight tools and approaches, the country’s – and the region’s first – social innovation lab, Citra, was established back in 2018. The Lab which started as a joint initiative between the then Ministry of Science, Technology and Research and UNDP Sri Lanka, is now anchored within the Prime Minister’s Office.
In 2023, an independent review of Citra was conducted with a focus on how best to evolve Citra Lab to support public sector transformation in Sri Lanka, including the social and financial conditions for success. The review highlighted that Citra Lab now occupies a unique position from which it has been, and is able to be, leveraged to drive benefits and opportunities for system reform in Sri Lanka. The findings highlighted that Citra Lab could be an effective and impactful lever for driving and enabling genuine and systemic transformation of both the government and economy in Sri Lanka, particularly in the immediate and urgent context of major fiscal and social pressures. In July 2024, The Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, convened a meeting with senior representatives from the Ministries of Education, Finance and Planning, Public Administration, and Technology on operationalizing Citra 3.0, a transformational public sector innovation lab and to explore the possibilities for furthering government investments and in August 2024, Citra 3.0 was formally approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
Under its new iteration, the Lab, given its position as a joint initiative between UNDP and the Prime Minister’s Office, will operate under three workstreams – systems transformation, public sector innovation, and policy coherence. This work will be driven by four key enablers – digital, data, innovation, and service design. Furthermore, Citra’s work will be guided by four lead Ministries, who will sit on the Lab’s Governance Board – namely, Education, Finance and Planning, Public Administration, and Technology. The Lab closely works under the guidance of the Regional Innovation and Digital Unit of UNDP in Asia Pacific as well as other arms of UNDP like the Strategic Innovation Unit, Chief Digital Office, Bureau of Policy and Programme Support etc. at the UNDP Headquarters.
Against this backdrop, UNDP seeks to recruit a Capability Development Analyst for Citra Lab’s next iteration.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Capability Development Analyst will be under the overall supervision of the Lab Manager and work under the overall guidance of the Team Leader, Strategic Engagement, Digital and Innovation Team.
The Capability Development Analyst will be responsible for effectively driving the learning and capability building initiatives of the Lab, contributing to the overall goal of public sector transformation and innovation in Sri Lanka.
Capacity Building Program Design and Delivery
Design and develop comprehensive capacity-building programmes and learning journeys for public sector officials, focusing on skills and competencies necessary for innovation and transformation. Deliver training sessions, workshops, and seminars to enhance the capabilities of government employees and other stakeholders. Create and update training materials, toolkits, and resources to support ongoing learning and development. Leverage digital tools and platforms to deliver online training and e-learning solutions.Needs Assessment and Skill Gap Analysis
Conduct regular needs assessments and skill gap analyses to identify priority areas for capability development within the public sector. Engage with stakeholders to understand their learning and development needs, and tailor programmes accordingly. Conduct user experience interviews/ feedback loop exercises for quality assurance and story-telling purposes to document the impact of various capacity building programmes led by Citra Lab.Programme Development and Instructional Design
Develop and implement programmes that addresses the specific needs of public sector officials in areas such as digital transformation, policy design, and service innovation. Apply best practices in instructional design to create engaging and effective learning experiences. Convert global knowledge and research related to new capabilities and apply them effectively.Knowledge Management and Dissemination
Establish a knowledge management system to capture and share best practices, lessons learned, and success stories from capacity-building initiatives. Create platforms for knowledge exchange among public sector employees, fostering a culture of continuous learning and innovation. Create/ contribute content/ activities to various in-country/ regional communities of policymakers aimed at building new capabilities within government officials.The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Competencies
Core competencies:
Achieve Results: Level 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline Think Innovatively: Level 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements Learn Continuously: Level 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback Adapt with Agility: Level 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible Act with Determination: Level 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident Engage and Partner: Level 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships Enable Diversity and Inclusion: Level 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discriminationCross-Functional & Technical competencies:
Business Direction & Strategy
Strategic Thinking. Develop effective strategies and prioritised plans in line with UNDP’s mission and objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, opportunities and potential risks; link the general vision to reality on the ground to create tangible targeted solutions; learn from a variety of sources to anticipate and effectively respond to both current and future trends; demonstrate foresight. Business Acumen. Ability to understand and deal with a business situation in a manner that is likely to lead to a good outcome Ability to make good judgments and quick decisions within such frameworks Knowledge and understanding of the operational frameworks in the organizationBusiness Management
Communication. Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels Digital Awareness and Literacy. Ability to monitor new and emerging technologies, as well as understand their usage, potential, limitations, impact, and added value. Ability to rapidly and readily adopt and use new technologies in professional activities, and to empower others to use them as needed. Knowledge of the usage of digital technologies and emerging trends.Business Development
Human-Centered Design. Ability to develop solutions to problems by involving the human perspective in all steps of the problem-solving process Knowledge and understanding of human centred design principles and practices.Partnership Management
Relationship Management. Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust, and mutual understandingRequired Skills and Experience
Education:
Advanced University degree (Master’s degree or equivalent)in development studies, social sciences, data, economics, innovation, public policy or a related area is required. OR A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.Experience:
Applicants with Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field of study are not required to have professional work experience. Applicants with a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) are required to have a minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional experience at the national or international level in innovation, management, project coordination or a related area. Experience in innovation and project management Experience in facilitating capacity development in the public sector is an asset Experience in skill building, public sector capacity will be an asset. Prior experience working in an innovation lab, design thinking and systemic design will be an asset. Prior work experience with UN entity or development organization will be an added advantage.Required languages:
Fluency in Sinhala and/or Tamil with excellent English communication skills.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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