Consultant for Digital Inclusion Programme

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established in 1946, operates in over 190 countries and territories with a mission to save children's lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential. The organization is committed to promoting the rights of every child and offers diverse opportunities for professional and personal development. UNICEF employs a large workforce dedicated to serving children and communities globally, fostering a culture of inclusivity and passion for their mission.

Job Overview:
The Consultant for the Digital Inclusion Programme will play a crucial role in supporting the design and implementation of a strengthened Digital Inclusion programme model. This position involves collaboration across multiple teams and functions to develop a coherent offering for the Digital Inclusion element of an internal development initiative. The consultant will be responsible for articulating a structured approach to academic and research collaboration, providing change support for a matrix-based team model, and enhancing project management practices for cross-functional work. The work will be iterative, resulting in practical frameworks, tools, and reference materials that can be sustained by internal teams. The consultant will also be tasked with delivering various outputs over the contract period, ensuring that activities run in parallel where appropriate, and will be expected to engage in continuous monitoring and feedback to adapt the programme as necessary.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant's duties will include the following:

• Development of a refined workplan and confirmation of sequencing and stakeholders within the first month.
• Setting up digital repositories for the four work streams (A, B, C, D) and implementing them once approved.
• Designing the Digital Inclusion element framework and conducting asset mapping and synthesis to curate an inventory of existing learning assets.
• Mapping existing academic collaborations and analyzing them to inform future deliverables.
• Planning participation and progression structures, articulating a structured progression model and contribution taxonomy.
• Conducting a rapid intake of academic collaboration-relevant needs and developing a framework for academic collaboration focused on Digital Inclusion.
• Releasing and communicating Digital Inclusion Elements progression pathways globally.
• Gathering data on implementation and identifying gaps in the matrix model.
• Analyzing and synthesizing data to identify areas for practical guidance and applied support. 1
• Matching needs to potential collaboration opportunities and brokering connections to develop these. 1
• Running review mechanisms for academic collaborations and preparing insights and lessons learned for future planning. 1
• Supporting the completion and review of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and preparing lessons learned for matrix changes.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires an advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in business-related fields, Public Policy, Public Administration, or International Development. Candidates must have a minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience in areas such as business operations, systems-level design, academic collaboration, or digital initiatives. Extensive experience in stakeholder engagement, facilitation, and management is essential, along with demonstrated experience in applied research and academic collaborations. Candidates should also have experience in project management across distributed teams and multiple functions, with tech sector experience being desirable.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in relevant fields such as business, Public Policy, Public Administration, or International Development. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of the Digital Inclusion programme and effectively contributing to its goals.

Experience:
A minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience is required, particularly in business operations, systems-level design, academic collaboration, or digital initiatives. Candidates should have extensive experience working across multiple functions and organizational contexts, including strategy, research, and product development. Experience in stakeholder engagement and project management across distributed teams is also necessary.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position. Knowledge of another official UN language, such as Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish, is considered an asset and may enhance a candidate's application.

Additional Notes:
This consultancy is based in Geneva, and the consultant will be responsible for their own health and travel insurance, as well as arranging their own travel, including visa requirements. Payment of professional fees will be based on the submission of agreed deliverables, and UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment if the deliverables do not meet the required standards. The consultant will also need to adhere to UNICEF's core values and competencies, which include building partnerships, demonstrating self-awareness, driving results, innovating, managing ambiguity, thinking strategically, and collaborating with others. UNICEF promotes an inclusive workforce and encourages applications from all qualified candidates, including those with disabilities.