Digital Innovation Officer

Mission and objectives

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. And we never give up. UNICEF Malawi Country Programme (2019-2023) is aligned with the Government of Malawi’s Growth and Development Strategy (MDGS III) and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF). The programme supports the Government of Malawi to meet its commitment to respect, protect and fulfil children’s rights in line with international conventions and standards. The country programme is guided by the principles of children’s rights, equity, gender equality, inclusion and resilience, and supports evidence-based, integrative and innovative programming. The vision is that ”all girls and boys in Malawi especially the most disadvantaged and deprived, realize their rights”. The programme focuses on early childhood (parenting, high-impact social services, early stimulation and learning), middle childhood and adolescence (learning, multi-sectoral services, active citizenship), communities (decentralized services and systems, community ownership, social norms), programme effectiveness (monitoring, evaluation, HACT, Innovation, Social Protection and Social Policy and External Communication. The programme is based on “leaving no child behind”, realizing ‘rights for all children in Malawi’.

Context

The Country Programme envisages the progressive fulfilment of the rights to survival, development, education, protection and participation of all children, including adolescents, especially the most vulnerable and those at risk of being left behind, in an inclusive, resilient and protective environment. The programme and operational effectiveness and efficiency imperatives support all components. Risk-informed programming across the humanitarian and development nexus in all three outcome areas will strengthen disaster preparedness, enhance climate adaptation/mitigation and response, and increase the resilience capacity of institutions, communities and young people. Programming aligns with UNICEF Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action and the Inter-Agency Standing Committee’s Transformative Agenda. The Innovation function falls under Programme Effectiveness. As part of the CPD 2024-2028, piloting and scaling innovation and digital technology have been identified as key drivers to accelerate programme delivery and effectiveness, addressing emerging national challenges such as the climate crisis. Following stakeholder consultations, the Innovation Unit has identified three key innovation portfolios to prioritize: 1. Youth and Social Innovation Portfolio 2. Technology for Development (T4D) and Digitalization Portfolio 3. Data Innovation Portfolio Regarding the government’s priorities, the Malawi Government’s overarching development agenda, Vision2063, has emphasized the need for bolstering human capacity development around digital skills and innovation not only as alternative learning and socio-economic methods but as core strategies to sustain growth and resilience. In the United Nations May 2023 Policy Brief on Vision2063, the paper cites “sustained investment in enterprise and SME development, innovation, and digital technologyRegarding the government’s priorities, the Malawi Government’s overarching development agenda, Vision2063, has emphasized the need for bolstering human capacity development around digital skills and innovation not only as alternative learning and socio-economic methods but as core strategies to sustain growth and resilience. In the United Nations May 2023 Policy Brief on Vision2063, the paper cites “sustained investment in enterprise and SME development, innovation, and digital technology”. Given this background, an exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Innovation Unit to support mainstreaming Innovation and T4D into the UNICEF programming, identifying, testing, and scaling up innovative solutions for children in Malawi. Under the close supervision and guidance of the Innovation Specialist, with a secondary reporting line to the Monitoring Specialist in the Programme Planning and Monitoring Unit, the incumbent will assist in planning, implementing, and monitoring key projects within the Data and Technology Innovation portfolio. The role also involves supporting the Innovation Unit in critical areas, including partnership development, resource mobilization, capacity building, and knowledge management. These are vital to accelerating UNICEF Malawi’s programme delivery for children and young people in the country.

Task description

Under the supervision of the Innovation Specialist, with secondary supervision from the Monitoring Specialist, the UN Volunteer Digital Innovation Officer will:

Digital Innovation Programme Planning, Implementation, and Monitoring (40%):

• Support the data and technology innovation portfolio, including planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting on all innovation-led or supported programmes.
• Strategize, roll out and build capacity for the geospatial data platform (e.g., GeoSight and Geo Data Catalogue) to enable UNICEF and government data-driven programming.
• Support Sections to enhance and expand geospatial data collection, management and visualization, including identifying opportunities.
• Contribute to the strategic scaling of flagship digital initiatives by identifying challenges, documenting lessons learned, and supporting evidence generation.

Knowledge Management, Sharing, and Capacity Building (30%):

• Ensure the innovation knowledge base (e.g., INVENT and SharePoint) is up to date, including research, analysis, documents, and reports.
• Capture, synthesize, and share lessons from innovative programming and pilot projects to enhance the country’s programme learning.
• Identify and support opportunities for awareness, capacity building, and training related to Innovation and T4D.

Partnership Building and Resource Mobilization (30%):

• Strengthen engagement and build partnerships within Malawi’s digital ecosystem, identifying collaboration opportunities to advance child rights outcomes.
• Conduct proactive research on potential donors and contribute to resource mobilization and fundraising efforts.

Results/expected outputs: As an active UNICEF team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNICEF and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including:

• Support for Digital Innovation Programme: Efficient planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of the data and technology innovation portfolio, including the strengthening of geospatial data collection, management and use and the rollout of geospatial data platforms like GeoSight and Geo Data Catalogue.
• Knowledge Management and Sharing: Ensuring the innovation knowledge base (e.g., INVENT and SharePoint) is up to date with research, analysis, relevant documents, and sharing lessons learned from innovative programming and pilot projects.
• Strengthening Malawi’s Digital Ecosystem: Building and strengthening partnerships within the Malawian digital ecosystem to advance child rights outcomes and foster collaboration in the digital innovation space.
• Community Engagement and Volunteerism: Participating in UN Volunteers activities, promoting volunteerism, and contributing to the UNV Buddy Programme and online volunteering initiatives. Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment.

Required experience

3 years

Nationality

Candidate must be a national or legal resident of the country of assignment.

Skills and experience

• At least 3 years of professional experience at the national and/or international level in incubators, accelerators, private or public sector innovation hubs, or research institutes.
• Proven experience in supporting the implementation of projects related to technology innovation, data innovation, digitalization, and/or product innovation at the national or international level.
• Experience with geospatial data, data management, and analysis is required.
• Experience in working with and supporting the private or public sector on Digital Government/Public Sector Innovation is required.
• Knowledge of the Malawian tech, digital, and innovation ecosystem is desirable.
• A demonstrated interest in or affinity with volunteerism as a mechanism for sustainable development, and familiarity with the UN System
• A master’s degree as highly recommended

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