Digital Infrastructure Specialist (Open to all Applicants)

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:

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

In 2021, the UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa (RBA) launched the planning phase of the Timbuktoo Initiative, a bold venture aimed at engaging African youth as entrepreneurs and innovators. The initiative's core mission is to mobilize $1 billion, of which $350 million will serve as catalytic capital and over $650 million as commercial capital, to revitalize over 100 million livelihoods and generate 10 million new dignified jobs. The official launch of Timbuktoo took place in January 2024, featuring the Catalytic Pan-African Innovation Fund under the broader Timbuktoo Africa Innovation Fund umbrella. This fund was designed to bolster African startups across various thematic sectors, commencing with a strong backing of $50 million from world leaders and partners announced at the World Economic Forum in Davos, aimed at nurturing the entrepreneurial ecosystem across the continent through a blend of commercial and catalytic funding.

In January 2024, UNDP launched the Timbuktoo Initiative which includes a Catalytic Pan-African Innovation Fund designed to support African startups. Announced at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the Fund has already received a commitment of $3 million from the Government of Rwanda. The ambitious plan aims to mobilize and invest the targeted $1 billion to foster the growth and development of entrepreneurial ventures across the African continent. This focused approach, combined with a “blended capital” model that incorporates both commercial and catalytic funds, aims to reduce risks associated with private investment and foster a comprehensive startup ecosystem. The main target for the Execution Phase is to establish the institutional arrangements for the Fund, and crowd in additional investments on the catalytic side as well as kick off effective operationalization of the Initiative.

The Timbuktoo initiative will establish 11 thematic vertical Hubs in Accra, Cairo, Cape Town, Casablanca, Dakar, Kigali, Lagos, and Nairobi – to serve as critical intervention nodes with full innovation ecosystem support. Each hub will be sector-specific and engage with startups across Africa rather than only those based in the host country. These hubs will catalyze innovation for sustainable development transforming ideas into viable businesses critical for powering Africa’s transformation including through the African Continental Free Trade Area. The Timbuktoo initiative also features University Innovation Pods (UniPods) - bridging the gap between academic research and entrepreneurial application. The 26 UniPods already established within public universities, including in Benin, Guinea, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Liberia, will be linked to the above – mentioned hubs and act as a pipeline for the tech and tech-enabled innovation ventures that will receive ecosystem support and early-stage risk capital investment under the Hubs. The Timbuktoo initiative is multi-pronged, focused on supporting and growing innovative, scalable, and impactful entrepreneurship by African young people, while relying on a springboard of partners who together contribute meaningfully to building an African youth innovation and startup ecosystem. The Timbuktoo approach will be anchored in seeking, nurturing, and building African solutions forwarded by Africa’s youth that directly address one or more of the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Specific tasks will include, but are not limited to the following:

Specific tasks will include, but are not limited to the following:

• Leads the deployment, management, and continuous improvement of the Timbuktoo digital platform to support ecosystem operations;
• Ensures platform functionality supports the full innovation lifecycle (ideation to scale);
• Oversee key features including investor matchmaking, programme tracking, and stakeholder engagement tools;
• Coordinates with internal teams and external vendors to ensure platform performance, scalability, and usability.
• Assesses existing digital solutions and define the architecture for a scalable, modular, and cloud-based platform;
• Develops and implement system integration frameworks, user roles, and access protocols;
• Provide technical oversight on system design, vendor selection, and platform enhancements;
• Ensures alignment with UNDP digital standards and best practices.
• Designs and manage digital workflows supporting startup onboarding, tracking, and progression across programme stages;
• Ensures automation of processes across UniPods and hubs to improve efficiency and scalability;
• Enables real-time tracking of startup engagement, performance, and programme outcomes;
• Integrate digital tools to support matchmaking between startups, investors, and partners.
• Develops and manage data systems, dashboards, and visualization tools to track startup and ecosystem performance;
• Ensures data quality, integrity, and compliance with UNDP data governance standards;
• Generates actionable insights to inform programme delivery, investment readiness, and ecosystem strategy;
• Collaborates with internal teams and the Timbuktoo Foundation to align data systems and reporting.
• Strengthens cross-hub collaboration through digital communication and knowledge-sharing platforms;
• Oversees development of digital services enabling startups to access legal, financial, HR, and operational support;
• Facilitates integration of third-party solutions and ecosystem platforms;
• Ensures compliance with data protection standards and implementation of secure, scalable digital systems.
• Promotes adoption and effective utilization of the Timbuktoo digital platform across UniPods, hubs, and ecosystem partners;
• Designs and deliver user training, onboarding sessions, and capacity-building initiatives for different stakeholder groups;
• Develops user guides, toolkits, and knowledge resources to support platform usage and digital workflows;
• Provides ongoing technical support and troubleshoot user issues to ensure seamless platform experience.
• Gathers user feedback and translate it into continuous platform improvements.

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

The Digital Infrastructure Specialist will report to the Global Lead, Timbuktoo and work closely with Unipods, Tech Hubs, Policy and IMM section heads.

• Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need.
• Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations.
• 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
• Ability to design, lead or manage processes that help a collective to become smarter together by bringing together diverse groups of people, data, and technology. Ability to define and articulate why and how collective intelligence can add value to development programming (understanding problems; finding solutions; decision making and mobilising action; monitoring progress in real time, learning and adapting) Being able to integrate different types of data (real- time, ‘ground- truth’ and novel data) to unlock.

• Ability to build websites, platforms and apps that are effective and intuitive to use.
• Understand the potential as well as the limitations of using data driven innovation. Ability to use a mix of data sources (quantitative, qualitative or real time techniques) to develop understanding, identify patterns to inform decision making or identify opportunities for further exploration.

• Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Economics, Development Economics, Statistics, Data Science, or a closely related field combined with demonstrated strong data analytics and programming experience will be considered equivalent and is explicitly encouraged. Or
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree

Minimum 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience in data analytics, economic research, impact measurement, and knowledge management.

• Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and web-based management systems, and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages.
• Experience in innovation, entrepreneurship, private-sector development or startup ecosystems in Africa or other emerging markets would be an asset;
• Proven experience in designing and managing large-scale data systems or analytics platforms in multi-country programmes is desired;

Experience in Africa is a strong asset;

• Demonstrated track record of producing high-quality, publication-grade economic and innovation reports, policy briefs, dashboards, and data-driven storytelling for senior policymakers, investors, and the public is desired.
• Fluency in English is required;
• Knowledge of another UN language would be an asset.

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.

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.

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.

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