Programme Associate

In 2021, UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Africa launched timbuktoo, a multi-pronged initiative aimed to galvanize African youth as entrepreneurs, innovators, and problem solvers. The initiative is 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 is anchored in seeking, nurturing, and building African solutions forwarded by Africa’s youth that directly address one or more of the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). timbuktoo is an explosive new entrant into UNDP Africa’s ambition to transform the African continent by harnessing on the African people themselves, particularly its ambitious, vibrant, youth, as the key to its development and path out of poverty. To achieve this bold ambition timbuktoo utilizes a hub and spoke model composed of 10 thematic nodes and University Innovation Pods (UniPods). University Innovation Pods (UniPods) are a groundbreaking initiative under timbuktoo located in a top technical public university with the objective of supporting youth innovation at the critical time in their life cycle, at ideation and prototyping. UniPods offer a unique blend of high-tech maker spaces, design labs, and technology transfer offices, providing a comprehensive environment for young innovators to develop their ideas, create prototypes, and receive guidance on market entry and intellectual property protection

The UN Volunteer will support effective programme implementation, coordination, and monitoring. He/she will contribute to the day-to-day management of projects, ensure compliance with UNDP rules and procedures, facilitate partnerships, and support knowledge management and reporting. The role is critical to ensuring timely delivery of programme results, strengthening operational efficiency, and enhancing the visibility and impact of UNDP’s work in sustainable energy, environment, and climate change in Rwanda.

Under the direct supervision of the Programme specialist and head of SEEDCC, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

• Project Planning and Implementation Support: Assist the team in compiling data for project work plans, drafting budgets, and preparing background materials. Help ensure project business processes are compliant with UNDP procedures.
• Administrative and Logistical Coordination: Support the organization of project events, workshops, and field missions, including coordinating procurement procedures, managing logistical arrangements, and maintaining project records and files.
• Monitoring and Reporting Assistance: Help collect and present information for project monitoring against targets. Assist in tracking project expenditures, supporting the preparation of financial reports, and drafting sections of progress reports as guided by the supervisor.
• Partnership and Communication Support: Assist in maintaining contact lists for partners and stakeholders. Support the team in preparing communication materials and visibility products to highlight project activities and results.
• Knowledge Management: Contribute to compiling and organizing project knowledge, lessons learned, and tools for dissemination within the team and to relevant partners.
 

During the first month of the assignment, the UN Volunteer will work closely with his/her direct supervisor to finalize an agreed-upon work plan. The work plan should outline key objectives and activities and include regular check‑ins with the supervisor to review progress and receive performance feedback.