Vacancy announcement
Home-based
CS/2022/019

Consultant - Digital Technology Expert

Vacancy type Consultant/Individual Contractor
Duration of the contract
6 months
Deadline for submission of applications
11 December 2022
Organizational Unit
Public Finance and Trade Programme Unit (PFTPU)
Number of job positions
1
Areas of Specialization/Thematic Areas

Digital Technology, Innovation and Transformation, Training and Development, Building inclusive digital eco-systems

Overview

The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) is a training arm of the United Nations System and a strategic driver in today’s global and essential role of the UN by empowering individuals, governments and organizations through knowledge and learning to effectively overcome contemporary global challenges. UNITAR serves over 350,000 beneficiaries annually by conducting close to 900 capacity development and research activities around the world.

Within UNITAR, the institute is organized around four of the five thematic pillars of the 2030 Agenda - Division for Prosperity, Division for People, Division for Planet and Division for Peace. In addition, the cross-cutting nature of our work on strengthening multilateral diplomacy, satellite analysis and applied research (UNOSAT) and Accelerating SDG Implementation are also organized in Division for Multilateral Diplomacy and Division for Satellite Analysis and Applied Research.

The Division for Prosperity delivers training across six thematic areas to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, including: Leadership and Empowerment; Entrepreneurship and Private Sector Development; Finance and Trade; Anti-Corruption and Combatting Financial Crime; Frontier Technologies; and Hiroshima and Peace.

For the past few years, the Division for Prosperity has been supporting people in distressed situations such as women and youth in Afghanistan, Iraq and the Sahel region to help them gain digital skills and become job ready. The Division for Prosperity aims to capture lessons learned from the past activities and establish an Africa Digital Technology Hub to scale-up its support in the region. This hub will also cover various aspects of digital technologies including fintech, IoT, blockchain, big data, and application of digital technologies for development.

General Objectives of the Contract

The incumbent will help the Division for Prosperity establish a digital technology hub in Africa, based on lessons learned and latest thinking in the field. S/he/they will work closely with the Director of the Division for Prosperity and other team members of the Division. Specific activities are listed below.

Responsibilities/Description of Professional Services

In close coordination with the Director of Division for Prosperity and other team members, S/he/they will support in:

  • Identifying learning pathways on digital technologies required in key thematic areas in Africa including:

    • Identifying core digital technology skills needed to be job-ready and get employment as digital technology expert.
    • Designing progressive pathways for digital technology learning including skills needed at the entry-, mid- and advanced-level digital technology expert.
  • Developing/curating learning content including:
    • Reviewing available content and curating learning content appropriate for the progressing learning pathways.
    • Consulting with stakeholders in the field and customize learning content to the local context.
    • Consulting closely with UNITAR experts to make sure that the learning content comply with effective adult learning methodologies and UNITAR quality assurance guideline.
  • Identifying appropriate learning platform including:

    • Reviewing available learning platforms and select appropriate systems to support technology-enhanced training in Africa.
    • Developing an online system to facilitate mentoring and coaching between the diaspora community and practitioners in developing countries.
  • Supporting the establishment of strategic partnerships in the areas of digital technologies.
    • Assessing the landscape of key players in the field of digital technologies at the global and regional levels.
    • Identifying possible entry points to establish partnerships with key stakeholders.
  • Providing advice and guidance to the Director of Division for Prosperity on other issues related to digital technologies.
Measurable outputs/deliverables/schedule of deliverables
  • Core skills needed for digital technology experts identified.
  • Progressive pathways for learning for digital technology experts defined.
  • Learning materials identified and curated in a way appropriate to the context of Africa
  • Development of an online platform to facilitate mentoring and coaching between the diaspora community and practitioners in developing countries.
  • List of possible partners identified in the field of digital technology at the global and regional levels.
Performance indicators for evaluation of results
  • Quantity, quality, and timeliness of outputs produced,
  • Deep knowledge and experience on subject matters, and
  • Good communication with colleagues, partners, resource persons, mentors, coaches, and fellows.
Competencies

Professionalism: Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations; takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals and solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required and allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently; ability to follow up on project work-plan.

Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients ” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Interpersonal competencies: Able to communicate and interact effectively with all stakeholders; is able to work both independently and as part of a team; is able to work under pressure and with limited resources; demonstrates high level of discipline.

Minimum requirements

Education: Advanced university degree in one of the following fields: information technologies, communications, management and economics, knowledge management, organizational development, international development, entrepreneurship, training and capacity development or other related field.

Experience: Relevant experience at the national or international level in developing and delivering digital technology training programmes and leading digital transformation processes. Relevant experience in research and development of projects related to developing course content on frontier technologies. Work experience with UN or other international/donor agencies is an asset.

Additional desirable competencies: Has a good to excellent understanding of one or several thematic fields related to livelihood development, entrepreneurship, SME development, frontier technologies, leadership and women empowerment, capacity development, and passion for social impact.

Language Requirement: Fluency in oral and written English language is mandatory; working level of other UN languages is an asset.

Other: Knowledge of basic gender and inclusivity concepts; excellent computer skills (Microsoft Office Suite) are required.

Special Notice

UNITAR shall place no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs (Charter of the United Nations - Chapter 3, article 8).  Priority will be given to applicants from under-represented regions at UNITAR.

How to apply

Please submit your application along with a motivation letter as soon as possible and well before the deadline stated in the vacancy announcement.

Due to the high number of expected applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.