Innovation and Technical Assistance Analyst – Job Opening at UNDP, 2024

Overview

Job Title: Innovation and Technical Assistance Analyst

Apply by May 9, 2024, at 06:59 A.M.

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

 

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The UNDP does not accept discrimination, any form of harassment, including sexual harassment, or sexual exploitation and abuse. As a result, thorough reference and background checks will be conducted on each chosen applicant.
UNDP Tanzania has reorganized its operational framework through a portfolio strategy, taking a methodical approach to its development initiatives. The goal of this strategic change is to support a cogent and integrated approach to realizing the anticipated consequences while facilitating a holistic picture of those impacts. One of the newly created portfolios is the Youth Catalyst Portfolio, which aims to enable young people to play a major role in driving national growth in a variety of fields. This portfolio includes the FUNGUO Innovation Programme as one of its anchor activities. It supports youth-led companies and early-stage innovative firms with the goal of promoting innovation, investment, and impact.

Through an integrated approach focused on fostering impact-driven startups and creative Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), the FUNGUO initiative is dedicated to furthering the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Tanzania. FUNGUO’s objective is to enable innovators and entrepreneurs by proactively tackling impediments in the innovation ecosystem. According to the program’s philosophy of effect, assisting and growing start-ups and creative MSMEs would boost income, create jobs, especially for women and young people, and promote inclusive and sustainable development.

FUNGUO, which is co-funded by the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), the European Union (via the BEGIN Program), and the British Government (through the Africa Technology and Innovation Partnerships, ATIP), is carried out by UNDP Tanzania. This multi-stakeholder, cooperative approach guarantees a thorough and significant engagement in Tanzania’s innovation ecosystem. By creating a welcoming atmosphere for new businesses and creative MSMEs, FUNGUO hopes to significantly contribute to Tanzania’s sustainable development goals in close collaboration with the Commission of Science and Technology of Tanzania (COSTECH) and other government organizations.

The main goal of the initiative is to bring about long-lasting change by addressing current issues and establishing the foundation for a flourishing innovation ecosystem that supports Tanzania’s goals for growth. Due to FUNGUO’s cooperative efforts with important partners, which highlight its dedication to generating beneficial and long-lasting effects, the nation is moving closer to inclusive development and growth driven by innovation.

Obligations and Liabilities:

• By offering strategic technical assistance and cultivating an environment that is supportive of innovation, the Innovation & Technical Assistance Analyst will lead the FUNGUO Innovation Programme’s efforts to accelerate the development of startups.
• Working closely with government agencies, higher education institutions, and other stakeholders, this role aims to improve the quality of business development services and contribute to the creation of policies that support Tanzania’s innovation ecosystem.
• He or she will be expected to lead the implementation of new and ongoing initiatives in collaboration with various innovation ecosystem actors, come up with creative strategies and interventions to support the portfolio of FUNGUO Investees, and work with and support a wide range of enterprise support organizations (ESOs).

The following tasks will be carried out by the Innovation & Technical Assistance Analyst under the direction of the Program Manager:

Planning and Execution of Strategic Initiatives

• Create and implement plans to assist Tanzanian innovators, startups, and other interested parties.
• Work with pertinent partners to pinpoint possibilities and problems in the startup ecosystem and create focused interventions

Technical Support and Enhancement of Capabilities

• In collaboration with pertinent partner innovation enablers, offer technical support and mentorship to FUNGUO investees on a range of business development topics, such as but not limited to market research, product development, financial management, information and learning sessions, induction workshops, investor readiness programs, scaling strategies, etc.
• Create and conduct training sessions, workshops, and capacity-building programs for innovators, entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders.
• Encourage networking and information sharing among ecosystem participants to promote cooperation and learning.

Strengthening the network of Tanzanian Enterprise Support Organizations

• Establish and preserve ties with Enterprise Support Organizations to improve the caliber and accessibility of business development services offered.
• Give the group professional advice on current trends and recommended procedures for assisting business support groups.
• Design in carrying out programs meant to improve the capabilities and services provided by enterprise support organizations.
• Take the lead in carrying out programs designed to assist ESOs in becoming better structured and creating a thriving community of practice.

Interaction with Universities and Colleges

• Work with universities to locate research and innovation projects that have the potential to be commercially successful.
• Encourage the commercialization of research results and establish collaborations between startups, industry, and academia.
• Oversee the execution of the #YouthIgnite Student Founders Fellowships, which are designed to help HLIs students and recent graduates launch and expand their firms.
• Provide support for programs that encourage students and recent graduates to start their own businesses and create jobs.

Collaborations and Resource Allocation

• Assist in creating and fostering strategic alliances for the program and UNDP in collaboration with the Partnerships Advisor, the Program Manager, and the larger program and UNDP Team.
• Periodically speak on behalf of the Program and UNDP in different events and establish a network of allies and supporters dedicated to promoting innovation in Tanzania.
• Provide unique and workable ideas that support the Youth Catalyst Portfolio and the UNDP’s broader goals in order to aid in resource mobilization efforts. Additionally, collaborate with the team to co-create interventions that address new opportunities.

Observation, Assessment, and Reporting

• Assisting in the creation and application of frameworks for monitoring and evaluating the results of the FUNGUO Innovation Program’s projects.
• Track and assess the results of programs for technical assistance.
• Preparing frequent reports and updates for internal and external stakeholders on program activities, results, and lessons learned.

Make sure that knowledge is managed and shared

• Determine and compile best practices and lessons learned that are closely related to the objectives and operations of the office.
• Make significant and reliable contributions to communities of practice and knowledge networks, such as corporate communications repositories.
• As needed, collaborate with your coworkers to make sure all knowledge products are recorded, updated, easily accessible, and in the proper order.

Organizational Structure

Reporting to the FUNGUO Programme Manager, the Innovation & Technical Assistance Analyst will play a crucial role in the UNDP’s Youth Catalyst Portfolio, which focuses on the FUNGUO Innovation Programme.

Fundamental Skills:

Obtain Outcomes: LEVEL 1: Arranges and oversees own work, is detail-oriented, and completes high-quality work by the deadline

Think Creatively: LEVEL 1: Is a practical problem solver, open to new concepts and acknowledged risks, and makes improvements

Continue to Learn: LEVEL 1: Inquisitive and broad-minded; shares knowledge, grows from errors, solicits criticism

LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively manages ambiguity and uncertainty, and possesses flexibility

Be Decisive in Your Actions: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates motivation and ambition, remains composed in the face of difficulty, and exudes confidence

Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Exhibits empathy and comprehension for others, cultivates constructive relationships

Facilitate Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Recognize and value individual differences, be cognizant of implicit prejudice, and address discrimination

UNDP Job Opening: Innovation and Technical Support Analyst

Competencies that are cross-functional and technical:

• Business Direction & Strategy: System Thinking: The capacity to apply unbiased problem analysis and judgment to comprehend how linked components coexist within a larger process or system and to take into account the potential effects of changing one component on other system components
• Digital & Innovation: Data analysis: Capacity to gather, examine, and present data, including real-time data, in order to generate insightful conclusions and facilitate deft decision-making
• Project management in business: the capacity to plan, coordinate, prioritize, and regulate resources, practices, and protocols in order to accomplish particular objectives
• Resource management in business refers to the capacity to deploy resources strategically or tactically while adhering to integrity and accountability standards
• Digital & Innovation: Digital innovation facilitation: Capacity to guide individuals and groups through a process of digital innovation
• The ability to locate money sources, connect funding opportunities with funding needs (programs, projects, or initiatives), and create a strategy to meet financial requirements is known as resource mobilization in partnership management.
• The ability to interact with a variety of public and private partners in order to establish, maintain, and/or improve working relationships, mutual trust, and understanding is known as partnership management or relationship management.

Essential Knowledge and Experience:

Academic:

• It is necessary to have an advanced degree from an accredited university (master’s degree or above) in business administration, economics, innovation management, or a similar discipline.
• In place of the advanced degree, consideration will be given to a first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the aforementioned disciplines with an extra two years of qualifying experience.

Required Experience:

• At least two years, or four years, if you have a bachelor’s degree, of professional experience in a leadership capacity within the innovation ecosystem, ideally in Tanzania in a setting comparable to Tanzania.

Necessary Competencies:

• A track record of successfully creating and implementing technical assistance programs.
• Strong familiarity with the legislative, regulatory, and policy frameworks that impact new businesses and innovation
• Experience managing an acceleration or venture development program in Tanzania or East Africa.

Required Competencies:

• Familiarity with crafting project proposals and/or organizing resources.
• Outstanding ability to handle stakeholders and form relationships.
• Demonstrated capacity to manage several projects at once and collaborate with a diverse team.
• A history of involvement by stakeholders in circles of the public, private, and development partners.
• Prior employment in Tanzania with a United Nations agency or other international organization is regarded as advantageous.

The Language(s) Required:

• Proficiency in written and oral communication in both English and Swahili is mandatory
• Familiarity with another international language will be deemed advantageous.

Notice of Disclaimer:

Application details pertaining to UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP retains the right to choose one or more applicants from this job posting. Applications for other similar posts with UNDP at the same grade level, with a similar job description, experience criteria, and educational background, may also be retained and given consideration.

Absence of bias

Regarding sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and misuse of authority, UNDP maintains a zero-tolerance policy. As a result, all chosen candidates will be subject to stringent reference and background checks, and they will be expected to uphold these values.

Employing people on the basis of race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, handicap, pregnancy, age, language, social origin, or any other status is not permitted at UNDP, which is an equal opportunity and inclusive workplace.

Warning about scams

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