Partnerships & Ecosystem Specialist

Job title:

Partnerships & Ecosystem Specialist

Company

United Nations Development Programme

Job description

Establish and maintain Strategic Partnership Development

• Lead Partnership Strategy: Develop and execute a comprehensive partnership strategy that aligns with UNDP’s Strategic Plan 2025-2028 and the objectives of the Timbuktoo initiative. This strategy will focus on expanding collaboration with private sector firms, public institutions, universities, investor networks, and entrepreneurial support organizations(accelerators/incubators).
• Engagement with Key Stakeholders: Foster relationships with academia, governments, investors, philanthropies, and corporations to create synergies that contribute to a thriving African innovation ecosystem. Actively engage in high-level meetings, negotiations, and collaborations to secure impactful and long-term partnerships.
• Public-Private Partnerships (PPP): Design and implement models for shared value partnerships that mobilize capital and resources. These partnerships will support the development of innovation hubs and UniPods, providing financing, mentorship, and market entry opportunities for African startups.

Lead Ecosystem Building and Strengthening

• Innovation Ecosystem Engagement and Mapping: Lead the systematic engagement activities and mapping of the Pan-African innovation ecosystem, identifying key players, resources, and gaps. Ensure comprehensive coverage across regions and thematic areas (e.g., FinTech, HealthTech, ClimateTech) while building strategic partnerships.
• Derisking and Financing Structures: Develop innovative financing models to derisk investments in African startups, facilitating blended finance structures and partnerships with development finance institutions (DFIs), venture capitalists (VCs), and philanthropic foundations.
• Support Hubs and UniPods: Oversee the integration of thematic hubs and UniPods into the broader ecosystem, ensuring they have access to capital, technology, and talent. Drive initiatives that support startups across all stages, from ideation to scaling.

Support Resource Mobilization and Fundraising efforts

• Private Sector Resource Mobilization: Support efforts to secure financial commitments from the private sector. This includes developing customized engagement strategies, preparing pitches, and crafting compelling investment cases for corporations, family offices, and venture capitalists.
• Innovative Financing Mechanisms: Collaborate with UNDP financial experts and the Timbuktoo Foundation to establish new financing mechanisms (e.g., impact investment funds, outcome-based financing) that support the innovation ecosystem.
• Monitoring and Reporting: Regularly report on fundraising targets and resource mobilization progress, providing data-driven insights into the success of partnership efforts.

Support Programmatic Leadership and Coordination

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Collaborate closely with UNDP departments, including HQ, regional hubs, and country offices, to ensure a coordinated rollout of ecosystem-building activities. Provide leadership in integrating the Timbuktoo initiative with existing UNDP programs.
• Knowledge Sharing and Best Practices: Establish communities of practice across ecosystem players, facilitating the sharing of knowledge, case studies, and best practices in innovation and entrepreneurship. Promote South-South cooperation and capacity-building efforts for African entrepreneurs.
• Impact Measurement and Accountability: Develop frameworks for monitoring and evaluating the impact of partnerships and ecosystem interventions. Ensure measurable progress toward key development and innovation goals, regularly assessing the economic and social impact of these efforts.

Ensure provision of Quality Advocacy and Strategic Communications

• Advocate for Ecosystem Growth: Serve as the primary advocate for the African innovation ecosystem within UNDP and external forums. Promote Africa as a global destination for innovation, positioning UNDP as a thought leader in sustainable, inclusive ecosystem building.
• Represent UNDP in Key Forums: Represent UNDP and the Timbuktoo initiative at global innovation and entrepreneurship events, showcasing the initiative’s impact and success. Participate in advisory boards, strategic panels, and other high-level forums relevant to African startups.
• Communications and Outreach: Oversee the development of communications materials that highlight the impact of partnerships, ecosystem-building activities, and the progress of the Timbuktoo initiative. Create presentations, reports, and case studies for internal and external stakeholders.

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

• Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact.

Think Innovatively

• Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems.

Learn Continuously

• Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences.

Adapt with Agility

• Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands.

Act with Determination

• Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results.

Engage and Partner

• Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration.

Enable Diversity and Inclusion

• Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:Business Direction & Strategy: System Thinking

• 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.

Business Direction & Strategy: Strategic Thinking

• Develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s mission and objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, opportunities, and potential risks; link the general vision to reality on the ground to create tangible targeted solutions; learn from a variety of sources to anticipate and effectively respond to both current and future trends; demonstrate foresight.

Business Management: Resource-based Management

• Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programmes, and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results.
• Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools.

Business Management: Customer Satisfaction/Client Management

• Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers’ needs. Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy. Look for ways to add value beyond clients’ immediate requests.
• Ability to anticipate client’s upcoming needs and concerns.

Partnership Management: Resource mobilization

• Ability to identify funding sources, match funding needs (programmes/projects/initiatives) with funding opportunities and establish a plan to meet funding requirements.

Business Management: Portfolio Management

• Ability to select, prioritise and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimising return on investment.

Partnership management: Emerging partnerships

• Ability to engage with emerging partners, develop and manage a strategy and develop approaches to developing and managing these new strategic partnerships.

Required Skills and ExperienceEducation:

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Business Administration, Public Administration, Finance, Economics, or related field is required 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.

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience at the national or international level in providing operational, project and programme management advisory services.
• Proven track record of experience in designing and executing strategic partnerships in innovative projects collaborating with different stakeholders and industries is required.
• Experience in implementing youth and start-up initiatives with national and regional stakeholders is required.
• Experience in working across countries/continents with multicultural teams to deliver strategic insights on emerging issues is required.
• Prior experience in UN/UNDP and knowledge of its strategic teams including the Accelerator Labs, Chief Digital Office, Strategic Innovation Unit is a strong advantage.
• Experience working in the business development field is an asset.
• Experience in fundraising for venture capital in Africa is a strong asset.
• Entrepreneurial experience as a founder is a strong asset.
• Experience in strategic communication and advocacy is an asset.
• Experience in monitoring of resource mobilization progress and donor reporting is desired.

Language:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of other UN language is desired.

DisclaimerUnder US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

Expected salary

Location

New York

Job date

Sat, 21 Dec 2024 05:08:18 GMT

To help us track our recruitment effort, please indicate in your email/cover letter where (un-jobs.net) you saw this job posting.