Innovation Specialist at UNICEF, Nairobi, Kenya

Deadline: 2 June 2023

United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) is currently seeking applications from eligible applicants for the post of Innovation Specialist in Nairobi, Kenya.

UNICEF works for a world in which every child has a fair chance in life.

Key Jobs Responsibilities

The Innovation Specialist will perform the following functions:

• Creating and innovating
  • Support the implementation of the office-wide innovation strategy to accompany the Country Programme in close coordination with programme sections and national partners.
  • Proactively scout for new innovative ideas and opportunities that promote and enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of UNICEF Kenya’s program objectives. Creative projects and ideas may include concrete action regarding climate change, young people, mental health, digitalization, and operational efficiencies.
  • Advice sections on conceptualization, design, development, adaptation implementations, monitoring, and evaluations of innovations, including steps to take promising initiatives to scale and fostering the use of creative problem-solving approaches such as design thinking.
  • Train UNICEF staff, partner staff, government counterparts, and other end-users in the country to use innovative products and processes. Ensure the country office incorporates human-centered design in conceptualizing innovation initiatives to achieve UNICEF priorities.
  • Contribute to the mapping/catalogue of the country’s innovation landscape, including the country office innovation portfolio, focusing on those relevant to UNICEF priorities for children and ensuring relevant sections are informed of initiatives of interest.
• Research, evidence generation and development of business cases
  • Support high-quality evidence generation from innovations for advocacy to strengthen systems at national and county levels in close consultation with Government and relevant stakeholders.
  • Support the development of feasibility studies and plans, develop related business cases and scale-up plans for innovations to influence government investments in priority areas for children and young people, including learning, protection, and automation.
• Developing and nurturing partnerships and networks
  • Develop and nurture strong partnerships with key government partners and other stakeholders to galvanize support for scaling innovations for children and young people.
  • Identify opportunities for resource mobilization and new partnerships, including contributing to proposal and partnership development efforts that tap into innovation as a change strategy.

Eligibility Criteria

• Advanced university degree in one of the following fields: Social Sciences, International Relations, Public Policy, Social Policy, Information Technology, Business Administration or other related disciplines.
• First-level university degree in a relevant field combined with five years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
• Minimum 5 years of professional experience in the implementation of Innovation and large-scale development initiatives in international development/humanitarian agency, resource mobilization or communication field handling development issues.
• Experience in a UN organization is an asset.
• Strong writing and communication skills and the aptitude to handle competing priorities with multiple stakeholders.
• Experience in project management and rolling out of large scale projects at the national or international level.
• Experience in establishing and using data systems to inform decision making and identification of needs.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

How to Apply

Applicants must submit their applications through online process.

For more information, visit UNICEF.