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

The Regional Programme for Africa contributes to the UNDP Strategic Plan through three outcome areas:

  • African Union institutions and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) deliver on their mandates, particularly on cross-cutting issues related to resilience building, contributing to Strategic Plan Outcome 1;
  • Regional growth is inclusive, transformational and sustainable, with reduced economic inequalities and strengthened structural transformation, contributing to Strategic Plan Outcome 2; and
  • Regional institutions sustain peace and strengthen resilience to crises and shocks, contributing to Strategic Plan Outcome 3.

In 2021, UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Africa (RBA) commenced the development of a new initiative, Timbuktoo, aimed at galvanizing African youth as entrepreneurs, innovators and problem-solvers. Timbuktoo’s ambition is to mobilize US$1 billion, comprising US$350 million in catalytic capital and more than US$650 million in commercial capital, to transform over 100 million livelihoods and create 10 million dignified jobs. 

In January 2024, UNDP formally launched the Timbuktoo initiative, including a Catalytic Pan-African Innovation Fund designed to support African startups. Announced at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the Fund received an initial commitment of US$3 million from the Government of Rwanda. The initiative aims to mobilize and invest US$1 billion to foster the growth and development of entrepreneurial ventures across the African continent. Its blended-capital model combines catalytic and commercial financing to reduce the risks associated with private investment and strengthen Africa’s startup ecosystem. The execution phase focuses on establishing institutional arrangements for the Fund, mobilizing additional catalytic and commercial investment, and operationalizing the broader initiative. 

The Timbuktoo initiative is establishing 11 thematic vertical hubs across the continent to serve as critical intervention nodes offering comprehensive innovation ecosystem support. Each hub is sector-specific and engages startups from across Africa, rather than limiting support to enterprises based in the host country. Through this pan-African approach, the hubs seek to catalyze innovation for sustainable development and advance regional economic integration, including through the African Continental Free Trade Area. The initiative also includes University Innovation Pods (UniPods) established within public universities across the continent. The UniPods bridge academic research and entrepreneurial application and provide a pipeline of technology and technology-enabled ventures that can access ecosystem support and early-stage risk capital through the thematic hubs. 

The Timbuktoo MineTech Hub, based in Lusaka, Zambia, is the initiative’s pan-African thematic hub for mining technology and innovation. The Hub supports startups and innovators developing technology-based solutions for challenges across the mining value chain, including mineral exploration, artisanal and small-scale mining, mine safety, automation, environmental sustainability, critical-mineral development, artificial intelligence, data analytics and value addition. It brings together governments, mining companies, research institutions, universities, investors and innovation ecosystem actors to accelerate the development, piloting, commercialization and regional scaling of African mining technologies. Through its incubation and acceleration programmes, ecosystem partnerships, policy engagement and access to catalytic financing, the Hub seeks to strengthen the competitiveness, inclusiveness and sustainability of Africa’s mining sector while creating opportunities for young people, women and technology entrepreneurs. 

UNDP Zambia is seeking a highly qualified individual to serve as the Hub Manager of the Timbuktoo MineTech Hub (Lusaka, Zambia). The incumbent operates under a matrix reporting arrangement — supervised 50% by the Timbuktoo coordinator and 50% by the Timbuktoo Tech Hubs Section Lead (RBA) and provides strategic and operational leadership for the hub, ensuring it functions as a high-impact, efficient and sustainable platform for innovation, entrepreneurship and investment.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Hub Manager provides strategic and operational leadership for the Timbuktoo [Vertical] Hub, in full alignment with Timbuktoo's mission, KPIs and investment thesis, and ensures the hub delivers both its programmatic and its service-oriented outcomes. 

Beyond programme implementation, the Hub Manager develops and coordinates Development Services — structured interventions delivered to governments, private-sector actors and development partners through Development Services Agreements (DSAs) — positioning the hub as a catalytic platform for knowledge, advisory and ecosystem transformation.

The MineTech Hub Manager will perform the tasks and activities as follows:

Strategic leadership and planning

  • Lead the annual planning and operational management of the hub in close collaboration with the Timbuktoo coordinator, translating the Timbuktoo Implementation Manual and centralized methodologies into actionable local strategies aligned with the VIRAL Pathway and the Impact Measurement and Management (IMM) framework;
  • Support the development of the hub's strategic roadmap — its positioning, priorities and thematic focus in the vertical — as the reference document guiding the hub's programming and partnerships, shaped through ecosystem co-creation and validation events whose requirements are consolidated into the hub's annual events agenda and delivered by the Ecosystem Analyst; and develop the annual strategy and workplan (financial planning, KPI targets, partnership priorities), aligning them with the host country's national innovation strategy and the UNDP CPD / Country Programme Results Framework;
  • Define and operationalise the hub's value proposition toward startups, corporates, investors, universities and governments; report strategic progress and lessons to the Timbuktoo Central Team and Country Office;
  • Develop the hub’s annual strategy and workplan, including financial planning, KPI targets, and partnership engagement priorities;
  • Conduct regular risk assessments and implement mitigation plans for programmatic, financial, and operational areas;
  • Implement monitoring systems and performance dashboards to track KPIs and operational efficiency;
  • Ensure optimal utilization of the hub’s infrastructure and resources to deliver both programmatic and service-oriented outcomes.
  • Develop the hub’s annual strategy and workplan, including financial planning, KPI targets, and partnership engagement priorities;
  • Define and operationalize the hub’s value proposition toward key ecosystem stakeholders (startups, corporates, investors, universities, and governments).

Development Services and partnership coordination

  • Lead the design, structuring and coordination of Development Services Agreements (DSAs) in line with the standard DSA process and templates and support their approval through the relevant UNDP procedures; maintain a DSA pipeline of high-value services (advisory, innovation challenges, ecosystem mapping, policy analysis, training, corporate innovation);
  • Develop and maintain a pipeline of DSA opportunities, ensuring they align with Timbuktoo’s strategic objectives and the host country’s development priorities;
  • Coordinate with the Country Office to structure and finalise DSAs in compliance with UNDP procedures; oversee delivery, quality control and measurable outcomes; manage beneficiary relationships and report on DSA performance and revenues;
  • Coordinate with specialised service partners on legal, fiscal, ESG, governance and investor-readiness modules, ensuring that startups receive appropriate diagnostics and referrals at the relevant VIRAL levels;
  • Develop and continuously improve the hub's mentorship framework.

Operations and performance management

  • Supervise the hub's physical and digital operations in compliance with Timbuktoo SOPs; oversee the startup support pipeline (pre-incubation, incubation, acceleration) with the Programme Manager and partner incubators;
  • Maintain an up-to-date risk register and conduct quarterly operational reviews; manage hub assets, budgets and procurement plans in coordination with the Country Office; implement performance dashboards to track KPIs and operational efficiency.

Team leadership and capacity development

  • Directly supervise the Programme Analyst and the Ecosystem Analyst and other hub personnel (the AI Lab Manager/ Analyst, where present, reports to the Timbuktoo Tech Hubs Section Lead); build internal capacity on Timbuktoo methodologies (VIRAL, IMM, DSA management, digital tools) and cultivate a high-performance, inclusive and accountable culture;
  • Coordinate thematic experts, mentors and external trainers; run coordination meetings and ensure timely task completion against the workplan; lead onboarding and upskilling on Timbuktoo methodology and IMM tools;
  • Lead onboarding and upskilling sessions for internal staff and program partners on Timbuktoo’s methodology, IMM tools, and reporting systems;
  • Lead onboarding and upskilling sessions for internal staff and program partners on Timbuktoo’s methodology, IMM tools, and reporting systems.

Partnership and ecosystem leadership

  • Translate Timbuktoo's centralised methodology and curriculum templates into locally adapted execution plans, and develop and localise the hub's thematic core curriculum from the Timbuktoo core curriculum for the vertical, as a core deliverable of the role, shaped through expert input and validation workshops whose event requirements feed into the hub's annual events agenda for delivery by the Ecosystem Analyst;
  • Participate in national, regional and continental innovation forums; build and manage strategic partnerships with governments, corporates, universities, investors and development agencies, and coordinate the network of partner incubators in line with Timbuktoo standards;
  • Coordinate the network of partner incubators involved in decentralized incubation and ensure alignment with Timbuktoo standards;
  • Oversee the design and delivery of the startup support pipeline (pre-incubation, incubation, and acceleration) with the Program Manager and partner incubators; 
  • Integrate gender equality, youth empowerment, and inclusion objectives into partnership strategies, ecosystem engagement plans and events—ensuring measurable actions to broaden participation and leadership across hub activities.

Data, Impact Measurement and Governance

  • Oversee the collection, validation, analysis and integration of Hub-level data into the timbuktoo digital platform. Ensure consistent tracking of startup performance and progression along the VIRAL Pathway, and coordinate the application of the Impact Measurement and Management (IMM) framework and SDG-aligned indicators;
  • Produce timely inputs to quarterly and annual Hub reports, particularly on ecosystem development, stakeholder engagement, outreach, visibility and programme results;
  • Coordinate the establishment and effective functioning of the Hub’s Advisory Board or Steering Committee, ensuring that any sector-specific or AI-focused advisory group operates as a technical subcommittee rather than a parallel governance structure. Support the development and implementation of the Hub’s sustainability and revenue-diversification strategy, promote compliance with governance, financial accountability, risk-management and audit requirements, and facilitate knowledge exchange and learning across the Timbuktoo Hub network.

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

Institutional Arrangement

The MineTech Hub Manager operates under a matrix reporting arrangement, reporting equally to the Timbuktoo Country Office Coordinator and the Timbuktoo Tech Hubs Section Lead (RBA). The Hub Manager provides overall strategic and operational leadership for the Hub and leads its strategic roadmap, governance, annual work planning, budget, Development Services Agreements and strategic partnerships. The Hub Manager coordinates closely with the MineTech Programme Analyst, Community and Ecosystem Engagement Analyst and MineTech AI Analyst; the Programme Analyst leads programmes and cohorts, the Ecosystem Analyst leads community engagement, events and visibility, and the AI Analyst leads the sectoral AI layer within the AI Lab’s defined perimeter. Roadmap co-creation and validation activities are integrated into the Hub’s annual events agenda and delivered in close collaboration with the Ecosystem Analyst to ensure coherent planning and optimal use of resources. The role carries supervisory responsibilities for designated Hub personnel in accordance with the approved organizational structure.

Competencies

Core competencies: 

  • Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work 
  • Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking 
  • Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning 
  • Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process 
  • Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously 
  • Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships 
  • Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making  

People Management competencies:

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

Cross Functional & Technical competencies:

Business Management:    

  • Results-based Management    
    • Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programmes, and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results. Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools. 
  • Partnerships 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.
  • Monitoring and Evaluation    
    • Ability to systematically monitor results of strategies, programmes, and activities with a view to make sure that they are being implemented effectively; Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback and reporting on the consistency or discrepancy between planned activities and programme management and results. 
    • Ability to make independent judgment of the management and results of strategies, programmes and activities based on set criteria and benchmark, keeping in mind the needs and concerns of client, current and upcoming. 
    • Knowledge and understanding of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, concepts, methodologies, systems, processes, and tools.  
    • Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks. 
    • Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns. 

Business Development:    

  • Entrepreneurial Thinking    
    • Identify and seize opportunities to service and add value to clients, create clarity around UNDP value proposition to beneficiaries and partners, develop clear service offers responding to client needs in line with UNDP’s organizational priorities and mandate.

Business Direction and Strategy:    

  • Collective Intelligence Design    
    • Ability to bring together diverse groups of people, data, information, ideas, and technology to solve problems and design solutions or services. Knowledge and understanding of Collective Intelligence Design principles, methodology and 
      practices.

Digital:     

  • Innovation Management    
    • Being able to create the strategies, conditions, structures and systems to enable innovation at an organisational level.
    • Ability to navigate uncertainty and ambiguity, is able manage projects based principles of adaptation and emergence. 
    • Ability to shape demand for innovation services, navigate political constraints and make the case for allocation of resources to innovation, connect the appropriate innovation approaches based on business needs and make the case for innovation to be integrated at the planning level within their context. Having in-depth theoretical and experiential knowledge of innovation processes, methods, capabilities.
  • Innovation Ecosystem Curation    
    • Ability to identify key players in an ecosystem, engage with them and mobilize them to build a community and over time a movement around a common mission that can bring about changes at the system level; 
    • Ability to give sense of purpose and build trust, develop programmes of activities and platforms to build and strengthen relationships.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, International Development, Innovation Management, Engineering or a related field is required; OR
  • A first-level university degree (bachelor´s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of advanced university degree.

Experience:

  • Minimum 2 years (with Master’s degree) or 4 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of proven experience in the management of innovation hubs, incubators, accelerators or entrepreneurship ecosystems, including team leadership and operational management.

Required Skills

  • Strong sectoral and thematic experience in Mining/ Mining Technology.

Desired Skills

  • Experience with African innovation ecosystems and startup financing models (angel investing, blended finance, donor funding); and UN/UNDP system;
  • Excellent leadership, communication, representation and negotiation skills; proficiency with office software and web-based management systems;
  • Strong sectoral and thematic experience in Mining/ Mining Technology;
  • Demonstrated experience leading multi-stakeholder partnerships and delivering high-impact entrepreneurship or innovation programmes, with proven strategic-planning, budget and results-management skills;
  • Strong familiarity with African innovation ecosystems and startup financing models (angel investing, blended finance, donor funding); knowledge of the UN/UNDP system is an asset.

Required Language

  • Fluency in English is required.

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.

Use of AI by candidates

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

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.

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