Amman, Jordan
UNDP Iraq, Amman
Job ID: 22382
Practice Area – Job Family: Poverty Reduction – SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Vacancy End Date: (Midnight New York, USA) 23/12/2019
Duty Station: Amman, Jordan
Education & Work Experience: I-Master’s Level Degree – 5 year(s) experience
Languages: English
Arabic, French
Grade: P3
Vacancy Type: FTA International
Posting Type: External
Bureau: Development Policy
Contract Duration: 1 Year with possibility for extension
Innovation Specialist – P3
Background
UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy and programme work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels, forms a continuous spectrum of knowledge, from deep local insights to cutting-edge global perspectives. Within this context, UNDP invests in a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan.
The Innovation Specialist is based in the Amman Regional Hub and reports to the Regional Innovation Specialist. S/he will support the Regional Innovation Specialist in providing intellectual and strategic leadership on innovation issues in the region; providing technical guidance in service line development and delivery; supporting programme portfolio management and communications; and contributing substantively to the wider innovation community of practice, including with UN system, bilateral partners, and external experts.
Under the supervision of the Regional Innovation Specialist, and in close collaboration with other advisors and specialists in the Regional Hub, HQ, Country Offices, Global Policy Centers, and rosters of external advisors, s/he is responsible for supporting the provision of technical expertise and policy and programme advisory services to Country Offices and, where appropriate, with key UN and external partners. S/he contributes to team outputs and deliverables by responding to requests from Country Offices under the guidance of the Regional Innovation Specialist, and with support from other regional innovation teams and in collaboration with corporate support providers, such as the Effectiveness, SDG Integrator, and Engagement teams. Working to ensure quality and coherent policy and programme advisory services within their region and across other regions, as well as alignment with the Strategic Plan, the Innovation Specialist contributes to regional efforts to advance the credibility and recognition of UNDP’s capabilities in this knowledge domain and associated communities of practice.
Summary of Key Functions:
1. Delivery of technical advice and support on policy development and programme management
2. Development and delivery of innovation service lines, tools and resources, from across UNDP’s network of expertise
3. Knowledge management, including lessons learned and dissemination, and community of practice networking
4. Advocacy and partner engagement for effective policy positioning in the region
Duties and Responsibilities
1. Delivery of technical advice and support on policy development and programme management
- Provide programming and policy advisory services to COs in the Arab States region in response to Country Office needs, including through the provision of capacity building and backstopping to COs and UNCTs;
- Work at the direction of the Regional Innovation Specialist and in conjunction with relevant regional advisors and specialists to contribute to the delivery of relevant, timely and multi-disciplinary response to Country needs for policy services – Based on demand from the COs, contribute technical input, such as portfolio diagnostics, innovation needs assessments, programme and project formulation, technical support to implementation of activities, partnering and resource mobilization;
- Collaborate substantively with COs and the Regional Programme on their innovation agendas, including developing and testing new concepts, products, tools and resources;
- Contribute to the design of innovation activities and initiatives by developing prototypes, analyzing and reporting their impact;
- Contribute to scaling up of successful prototypes at country and sub regional levels;
- Provide support to COs in innovation project design, planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and results reporting in line with RBM guidelines, and support quality assurance, risk management and due diligence processes;
- Provide support to the management, implementation, and reporting of Innovation Facility awardees in the region;
- Support the monitoring and management of risks across the portfolio of advisory engagements in the innovation knowledge domain;
- Contribute to developing the capacity of national counterparts as it relates to the innovation knowledge domain in support of achieving the Strategic Plan and other nationally and internationally agreed development goals.
2. Substantive development and delivery of innovation services lines, tools and resources, from across UNDP’s network of expertise
- Provide technical expertise in identifying and developing service lines, tools and methodologies linked to innovation engagement;
- Manage innovation service line(s) by collaborating with Country Offices, experts and partners;
- Keep abreast of regional discussions, developments and main events as they relate to the innovation knowledge domain within UNDP and broader networks.
- Support the maintenance of updated knowledge of priorities and programmes at country level in innovation knowledge domain, establish synergies and linkages;
- Support on-demand, real time knowledge sharing by connecting internal and external expertise and potential solution providers. Support platform, network, and event dialogues where UNDP can position itself both as knowledge seeker and knowledge provider;
- Model behaviors of ‘working out loud’, knowledge networking and collaboration by contributing actively to Communities of Practice, blogs, social media and UNDP´s internet;
- Provide technical expertise on the content development for regional/CO knowledge products through the analysis of data, case evidence, and research findings in accordance with corporate standards;
- Work closely with policy teams in the Regional Hubs and HQ to advance research, test and roll-out of newly commissioned policy/business development initiatives, by providing the regional perspective/specificities as well as experience-based insights on what is of most practical value for national counterparts and regional leaders;
- Design and deliver training on programming tools including by developing training packs for COs to facilitate innovation learning, foster and encourage policy innovation and continuous improvement to enhance programme delivery.
3. Knowledge management, including lessons learned and dissemination, and community of practice networking
- Support knowledge management activities across the region, helping to ensure that they foster knowledge networking, knowledge sharing and exchange over corporate channels and communities of practice.
- Provide technical expertise in identifying tools and developing methodologies linked to innovation engagement;
- Contribute to the continuous analysis, documentation, codification of regional results/lessons learned from innovation initiatives as well as other cross region initiatives, including South-South Cooperation, which directly contribute to spreading innovation uptake across the region.
- Contribute regional perspective to corporate analytical efforts leveraging data derived from the Results Oriented Annual Report (ROAR) and other sources.
- Review regional data, case evidence and research findings to distill pivotal lessons for UNDP globally;
- Facilitate CO access to information, key players and evidence in the area of innovation as it pertains to UNDP’s main area of work, keeps COs updated on latest developments and topical discussions;
- Support capacity development of UNDP staff in application of innovation tools and practices, including support to staff exchanges and twinning initiatives between COs and the Regional Hub, and conducting training / organization of learning events;
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- Support the development and strengthening of linkages with innovation community of practice, both inside and outside of the UN system.
4. Advocacy and partner engagement for effective policy positioning in the region
- Support advocacy for the application of innovation approaches for development, especially as an integrated approach to achieving the SDGs, in various regional and country fora with a view to deepen related political commitment and related reforms;
- Provide technical support with relationship management of regional partners and resource mobilization in line with regional priorities and corporate guidelines;
- Provide technical support on mobilizing and fostering external partnerships on innovation behind regional initiatives;
- Support UNDP/BPPS Representatives at inter-agency meetings, academic conferences, donor consultations and other events.
Competencies
Core
- Innovation: Ability to make new and useful ideas work.
- Leadership: Ability to persuade others to follow
- People Management: Ability to improve performance and satisfaction.
- Communication: Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform.
- Delivery: Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement
Technical/Functional
- Design Thinking: Knowledge of design thinking models and facilitation approaches and ability to apply in diverse settings.
- Knowledge Management: Ability to capture, develop, share and effectively use information and knowledge.
- Knowledge Curation and Packaging: Ability to turn raw information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to stated need
- Sustainable Development Goals: Knowledge of the Sustainable Development Goals and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations.
- Substantive Networking: Ability to substantively engage and foster networks with academia, research institutions, and think tanks.
- Collaboration & Partnerships: Ability to develop, maintain, and strengthen partnerships with others inside (Programmes/projects) or outside the organization who can provide information, assistance, and support. Sets overall direction for the formation and management of strategic relationships contributing to the overall positioning of UNDP
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- A Master’s degree, preferably in international development, international affairs, business administration, development economics, or other relevant field, or extensive compensating experience in relevant, technical fields.
Experience:
- A minimum of 5 years of experience working on innovation in either the public (national or multilateral, including UN) or private sector (academia, non-governmental sector, corporate), with increasing level of responsibility
- Experience in applying innovation methodologies, including design thinking
- Familiarity with a broad range of innovation approaches and methodologies, including but not limited to alternative finance, behavioral insights, and data innovation
- Experience managing innovation programmes or initiatives;
- Excellent communication skills and ability to mobilize support from a wide range of partners (public, private, academic, civil society, business community leaders)
- Strong problem-solving skills;
- Demonstrates creativity, curiosity and eagerness to learn;
- Ability to work flexibly;
- Ability to take initiative.
Language Requirements:
- English Proficiency, Arabic desirable. French is considered an asset.
Disclaimer
Important information for US Permanent Residents (‘Green Card’ holders)
Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.
UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.
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