Background
In 2021, the UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa (RBA) launched the planning phase of the timbuktoo Initiative, a bold venture aimed at engaging African youth as entrepreneurs and innovators. The initiative's core mission is to mobilize $1 billion, of which $350 million will serve as catalytic capital and over $650 million as commercial capital, to revitalize over 100 million livelihoods and generate 10 million new dignified jobs. The official launch of timbuktoo took place in January 2024, featuring the Catalytic Pan-African Innovation Fund under the broader timbuktoo Africa Innovation Fund umbrella. This fund was designed to bolster African startups across various thematic sectors, commencing with a strong backing of $50 million from world leaders and partners announced at the World Economic Forum in Davos, aimed at nurturing the entrepreneurial ecosystem across the continent through a blend of commercial and catalytic funding.
Further expanding its geographic and sectoral reach, timbuktoo plans to set up 10 thematic vertical Hubs in major African cities including Accra, Cairo, and Nairobi, which will function as vital nodes providing comprehensive innovation ecosystem support. The initiative has spearheaded the launch of four critical thematic hubs (Fintech, Healthtech, Greentech, and Minetech) across the region and aims to multiply the efforts this year 2025. 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 initiative also introduces University Innovation Pods (UniPods) in 25 public universities across Africa, linking them to the thematic hubs to funnel university-level innovations into market-ready ventures. These hubs and UniPods are integral to transforming inventive ideas into sustainable businesses that contribute to Africa’s broader economic transformation and adherence to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), thereby fostering a vibrant and impactful startup ecosystem spearheaded by the continent’s youth.
UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Africa spearheading this initiative has established a timbuktoo service centre for which it provides advisory and technical assistance to the timbuktoo initiatives through rapid monitoring, operations support, and programme coordination. Under this framework, the Africa Service Centre for timbuktoo – a UNDP–managed facility is now offering a position for a highly qualified individual to serve as a Programme and Liaison Specialist which will provide development services and collaboration support between UNDP and the timbuktoo Africa Innovation Foundation.
Position Purpose
The Programme and Liaison Specialist role exercises the responsibility to contribute to the facilitation of key strategies and alignment with regional and corporate priorities, tracks thematic hub performance against corporate standards and results, manages the alliance between UNDP and timbuktoo Africa Innovation Foundation under the directives of the Head of timbuktoo. To achieve these, effective communication of development results, representing UNDP in high-level forums, and managing stakeholder relationships especially as it relates to the timbuktoo Africa Innovation Foundation's scope of work. Additional duties may be assigned to facilitate UNDP's strategic goals in the host countries of each thematic hub for which regular integration support would be required.
UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.
Duties and Responsibilities
Ensure Liaison support across key corporate/thematic bodies of the timbuktoo programme.
Liaise UNDP, the Africa Service Centre, with timbuktoo Africa Innovation Foundation and contribute to advancing the credibility and recognition of UNDP’s capabilities in this knowledge domain while ensuring that the achievements and results of this spotlight Initiative are expanded and sustained. Develop a synergistic matrix that ensures comprehensive follow-up support and tracks thematic hub performance against corporate standards and results.Substantive delivery of programme support and advice.
Provide support under the guidance of the Head of timbuktoofor the design and implementation of strategic objectives and priorities including linkages to policies and partnership systems in accordance with UNDP’s strategic plan. Provide technical inputs for the design, development, and implementation of UNDP timbuktoo programmes across thematic levels. Participate in field missions to countries in support of programme formulation, implementation, and monitoring. Support the establishment of partnerships and activities with UN agencies, regional NGOs, regional institutions, and academic bodies as necessary.Advise and support on substantive development of tools and resources, from across UNDP’s network of expertise.
Contribute technical expertise on the content development for timbuktoo knowledge Provide technical inputs on products necessary for inter-agency/multistakeholder engagements such as reviewing background documents, providing briefs, and presentations related to the thematic area, and advising on strategic engagement with those mechanisms and key actors.Lead Knowledge management and community of practice networking
Advise and support the identification, development, and delivery of tools, methodologies reporting, lessons learning, and knowledge management products to strengthen the uptake of requirements necessary to drive the timbuktoo programme. Advocate and enable thematic Hub office facilitation of exchanges and experiences sharing where valuable.Coordinate Advocacy and partner engagement for effective positioning
Contribute to the development and nurturing of partnerships within the framework of the UN agencies and the timbuktoo Africa Innovation Foundation. Partnership strengthening through attendance in regular meetings, contributions to joint knowledge products, and joint conferences and workshops. Proactive coordination with other unit teams to support the thematic Hubs. Support timbuktoo engagement in partnership through reporting and developing briefing notes and background information when required. A coordinated report developed in collaboration with various sections/units to ensure alignment and synergy with quarterly progress showcasing achievements, challenges, and areas requiring further collaboration.The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: None
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 CompetenciesPartnership 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 understanding.
Business Management - Portfolio Management: Ability to select, prioritize, and control the organization's programmes and projects in line with its strategic objectives and capacity. Ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives with regular activities for optimal return on investment. Knowledge and understanding of key principles of project, programme, and portfolio management.
Business Direction and Strategy - Systems Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgment to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact other parts of the system.
Business Direction & Strategy - Strategic thinking: 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 Development - Knowledge Facilitation: Ability to animate individuals and groups, internally and externally, and to design and facilitate activities, to share and exchange knowledge, information and ideas. Knowledge of tools and approaches to stimulate active participation, contribution, and exchange.
Business Management - Partnership 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.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in Business Administration, Public Administration, International Development, Project Management, Social Sciences, or related field is required, or A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the above fields in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.Experience:
Minimum 5 years (with Master’s degree) or 7 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible work experience at the national or international level in the design, planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of relevant programmes/projects is required. A good knowledge of the UN system, in particular UNDP is desired. Demonstrated experience in liaising and managing stakeholder relationships with high level implementing partners is an advantage. A proven knowledge of African’s context is desired Proven track record of strong collaboration skills, with experience working in cross-functional teams and integrating diverse perspectives into program design and implementation is desired Proven Skills in creating knowledge management tools, writing technical documents, and supporting inter-agency collaboration through the development of resources is desired Proven track record of excellent analytical skills, with a strong drive for results and capacity to work independently is an asset A project/programme management certification would be an assetLanguage:
Fluency in (English) 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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