Innovation Officer (NO-2), FT, #00108857, Dar Es Salaam - United Republic of Tanzania, ESAR

For every child, the right to digital opportunities.

UNICEF Tanzania's Country Programme leverages innovation and digital transformation — including data platforms, real-time monitoring tools and digital engagement channels — to improve outcomes for children and young people, particularly in the areas of data and evidence, service delivery, knowledge management and civic engagement. Building on the demonstrated results of digital platforms for adolescent and youth engagement, UNICEF Tanzania continues to scale up support to this area to strengthen programme effectiveness and efficiency.

How can you make a difference?

Within this context, the Innovation Officer, with a dedicated focus on adolescent and youth participation, serves as a cross-sectoral enabler for UNICEF Tanzania’s digital transformation and innovation agenda. Working within the Digital Impact & Innovation Unit, the post supports programme sections to adapt, implement and scale digital platforms, Technology for Development (T4D) solutions and digital public goods — including U-Report, RapidPro and other engagement and real-time monitoring tools — in ways that are safe, inclusive and responsive to the needs of children, adolescents and young people. The role also helps identify practical opportunities to strengthen meaningful youth voice, participation and feedback loops across UNICEF-supported programmes and partnerships in Tanzania.

Summary of the key functions, accountabilities and related duties or tasks include

• Enable continuous operation of ICT infrastructure and accessibility to ICT solutions and services;
• Provide help, support and assist with capacity building and knowledge management;
• Support operational and administrative tasks;
• Assist in the delivery of results.

Minimum requirements

• Proven skills in training, capacity building and strategic thinking, and a proven ability to conceptualize, plan and execute digital and innovation initiatives and to transfer knowledge and skills to others, are required.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills are required.
• Certification and/or proven experience in one or more of the following: digital/innovation programme design and management, human-centered design, data analytics for development, real-time monitoring and digital engagement platforms (e.g. RapidPro, U-Report), or ICT project management.

Desirables

• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language (Kiswahili) is an asset.
• Demonstrated knowledge of responsible artificial intelligence, data governance, digital ethics, emerging technologies and their application in development, humanitarian or public-sector settings is an asset.
• Familiarity with AI-enabled productivity tools, data analysis, automation, human-centered design and child-centered safeguards for digital and AI systems is desirable.
• Experience in a UN organization, or in the public sector is an asset.
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination, fraud, corruption and other forms of serious misconduct. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference, safeguarding and background verification checks. These checks may include verification of academic credentials and employment history, screening against relevant United Nations misconduct databases, and requests for misconduct disclosures from current and former employers, professional associations, other relevant organizations and participating organizations under inter-agency safeguarding initiatives, including the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS), where applicable. Appointment, selection and continued engagement are subject to the satisfactory completion of all required checks. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information and consent to enable UNICEF to undertake these checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments are conditional on the selected candidates willingness to comply with current or future vaccination requirements, should UNICEF mandate it for personnel. Failure to comply with such requirements, where applicable and without a duly approved medical exemption from the relevant UN authority, will result in the cancellation of the selection or may lead to other administrative measures, including separation from service.

Remarks

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants' bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF's Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

Visa residence requirements: i.e. UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.