Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

  • Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
  • Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
  • Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
  • Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

 Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

Office/Unit/Project Description

At UNDP (United Nations Development Programme), we are on a mission to end poverty, build democratic governance, rule of law, and inclusive institutions around the world. UNDP is the United Nations' global sustainable development organization working across 170 countries with 17,000 staff. Digital technology is one of the most fundamental drivers of changes this century. Digital not only provides new opportunities and challenges for development, but it is also fundamentally changing the context in which development is taking place. Since the launch of its first Digital Strategy in 2019, UNDP has been on an ambitious transformation journey to harness the potential of digital technology for development. We are now in the next phase of our digital transformation, implementing the Digital Strategy 2022-2025, which puts forth a vision to create a world in which digital is an empowering force for people and planet. This vision is enshrined in the Digital, AI, and Innovation Hub in BPPS, where Digital technologies,

Project Description:

Our mission is to nurture a space where novel ideas emerge and thrive, with transformative solutions by Africa’s innovators and start-ups to build AI foundations—in areas of green compute, data and talent. Connecting everyone into an ecosystem where they can grow together and advance prosperity for all is at the AI Hub's core. As Enrico Mattei, the inspiration for the Italy-Africa Mattei Plan, redefined international partnerships in the 1950s, Italy is once again driving an ecosystem of equal partnerships through the AI Hub. The AI Hub is aligned with the African Union’s AI Strategy and is anchored by 14 partner countries in Africa (Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Republic of the Congo, Senegal, Tanzania and Tunisia), catalyzing transformation across six key sectors–energy, agriculture, health, water, education & training, and infrastructure. Artificial Intelligence is poised to be the most transformative technology of our era, and its benefits must be accessible to all. For Africa, where 60% of Africans are under 25, AI presents a unique opportunity to leapfrog traditional development growth, delivering innovative and impactful solutions in healthcare, education, agriculture, finance, and governance.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work

The AI Hub Programme Specialist (2) on data, talent and compute - will support the delivery of AI Hub’s programmes, responsible for supporting AI Hub’s network of start-ups and innovators to build partnerships, talent, data and compute capabilities to grow their ventures for sustainable development. The Specialist/s will be working closely with partners across the G7, Africa and relevant authorities in the 14 partner countries in Africa.

1. AI Hub Programme Implementation

  • Support the execution for AI Hub for Sustainable Development Programmes leading to successful delivery of AI Hub’s vision and objectives.
  • Lead the thinking on AI foundations for industrial growth, with ability to spot trends and maximize impact during programme implementation.
  • Support the AI Hub Head of Programmes to build processes, methodologies, and scalable implementation approaches in partnership with G7, Africa and relevant authorities in the 14 partner countries in Africa.
  • Support to countries with AI Hub initiatives, with particular focus on incorporating AI solutions to catalyze AI foundations and infrastructure that can scale national development priorities and support private sector growth.
  • Contribute to UNDP's ability to spot trends across our network to help UNDP stay ahead of the frontier issues of AI and digital development.
  • Develop and execute the AI Hub programmes priorities, establishing touchpoints and processes for sourcing & implementing new AI ideas, tracking existing workstreams, and ongoing team management.
  • Design and pilot new approaches for connecting countries and stakeholders to harness AI development opportunities and mitigate risks and challenges, playing to UNDP's strengths and value proposition.
  • Collaborate closely with the AI Capability team of UNDP and other regional teams in Africa and Arab States at UNDP, ensuring collaboration and coordination between technical teams, policy advisors, and country offices.

2. AI Hub Programmes Programme Management:

  • Guide to manage resources and donor reporting, ensuring timely reporting and results.
  • Manage the current pipeline and work with other teams to ensure the overall financial sustainability of the AI Hub.

3. AI Hub Programmes Partnerships Operations and Management:

  • Support the AI Hub’s Executive Steering Group and the AI Hub’s Private Sector Advisory Groups.
  • Support to partnership expectations, agreements, and visibility of partners.

4. Facilitate knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing, and advocacy relevant to the assigned thematic areas.

  • Identify capacity building needs and opportunities. Ensure appropriate training, workshops and other relevant activities are organized and implemented in a consultative manner.
  • Ensure reports capture results, lessons learned and good practices for possible wider application.
  • Participate in and ensure sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice on development and project related issues.
  • Support establishment of knowledge platforms for the project, facilitate innovative mechanisms for dissemination of knowledge from the project, and develop knowledge resources and products to share with partners and to support UNDP’s engagement in this area.
  • Promote advocacy for UNDP’s work and opportunities for collaboration in addressing development trends in coordination with partners, stakeholders, and UNDP staff.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

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

People Management 

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.  

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

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 understanding.

Data- Data Analysis

  • Ability to extract, analyse and visualize data (including Real-Time Data) to form meaningful insights and aid effective decision making.

Digital - Digital product management

  • Ability to design and lead digital product development including testing ongoing product iteration, product strategy and delivery.

Digital -  Data privacy and digital ethics

  • Knowledge of ethical usage of digital technology (e.g. AI, robotics, automation) and data. Ability to assess ethical implications when using, combining or sharing data, when building or implementing AI systems, and when advising on robotisation and automation etc. Ability to design privacy protocols to ensure data is protected and used for legitimate purposes without unnecessary privacy risks.

Digital & Innovation - Data governance

  • Knowledge of data science, skills to develop data management tools, organize and maintain databases and operate data visualization technologies.

Business Management - Project Management 

  • Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.

Business Management - Systems Thinking

  • Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • An advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Design, Business Administration, Engineering, Information Technology management, Education, or a relevant technical field is required, or
  • A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas stated above in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree

Experience:

  • A minimum of 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of experience working in implementation know-how in AI infrastructure, compute, talent and data.  
  • Proven track record of experience in project managing catalytic initiatives and scaling. 
  • Deep understanding of AI applications, data governance, and digital public infrastructure, with experience in LDCs, Africa, and other underserved regions. 
  •  Understanding of different contexts and experience working with developing countries. 
  • Knowledge of international development and key challenges affecting developing countries

Language:

  • Fluency in English is required.   
  • Working knowledge of another official UN language or a local language from partner countries is advantageous

The following documents shall be required from the applicants:

  • Complete online P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.
  • A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.
  • Managers may ask (ad hoc) for any other materials relevant to pre-assessing the relevance of their experience, such as  reports, presentations, publications, campaigns or other materials.

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.

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.

At Impactpool we do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.
Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.