Entrepreneurship & Innovation Analyst

En Côte d’Ivoire, le programme de coopération du PNUD pour la période 2021-2025 (CPD) est arrimé sur les priorités nationales inscrites dans le Plan national de développement (PND) et le Plan-cadre de coopération des Nations Unies pour le développement durable (CCDD). A travers ce cadre d’intervention, le PNUD et ses partenaires se sont engagés à contribuer à rétablir la confiance dans les institutions, à créer les conditions pour que les populations vivent en paix, soient résilientes face aux crises et aux chocs et profitent des avantages d’une croissance inclusive et d’une prospérité partagée. Des projets et des programmes sont mis en œuvre en vue d’adresser ces défis de développement du pays.

Côte d'Ivoire, with an average economic growth of 6% between 2021 and 2024, is an economic driver in West Africa. Growth, mainly supported by private consumption and public investment, remained resilient despite the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy. The country is, however, facing structural challenges. Despite these performances, Côte d'Ivoire must meet the challenge of structural transformation of its economy, capable of inducing the transfer of means and resources to the most productive sectors and achieving sustainable, inclusive and job-creating economic growth. This perspective requires increased involvement of the private sector, which is an essential lever for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and economic transformation in Africa.
In a context of rapid population growth and accelerating technological innovation, businesses play a key role in creating jobs, investing in sustainable solutions, and strengthening the financial and economic inclusion of youth and women.
UNDP in Côte d'Ivoire, through its programmatic cooperation framework, is committed to mobilizing the private sector to drive inclusive, sustainable and resilient growth. Among its flagship initiatives is the Entrepreneurial Innovation Program for Youth and Women implemented in partnership with the Government of Côte d'Ivoire. UNDP-Côte d'Ivoire also intends to benefit from the Timbuktoo Programme, which aims to transform the African entrepreneurial ecosystem by attracting $1 billion in private and institutional investment, and the University Innovation Pods (UNIPODs), innovation hubs established in African universities to support startups and promote their access to finance.
As part of its innovation support program, UNDP Côte d'Ivoire is working to stimulate private investment in youth-led solutions. UNIPOD (University Innovation Pods) and the Timbuktoo program are major levers for catalyzing talent, supporting startups and promoting their access to financing. The mission is to strengthen the links between these university platforms and the private sector, to encourage co-innovation, incubation and the mobilization of impact financing.
In this context, the UNDP Country Office in Côte d'Ivoire is seeking for a UNV Entrepreneurship & Innovation Analyst to support private sector engagement in youth innovation and entrepreneurship through the UNIPOD and Timbuktoo initiatives. He/She will contribute to building strategic partnerships, mobilizing financing for startups, and designing CSR projects aligned with the SDGs. The volunteer will assist in organizing mentorship programs, facilitating business-university dialogues, and monitoring and evaluating the impact of activities. This assignment offers a hands-on learning opportunity in co-developing a dynamic, inclusive, and sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Under the direct supervision of Deputy Resident Representative, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:
1. Support for private sector mobilization around the UNIPOD and Timbuktoo initiatives
• Contribute to the design of a private sector engagement plan targeting technology, banking, and industrial stakeholders.
• Support the organization of business-university meetings for co-developing innovative solutions.
• Assist in the creation of privately funded mentorship programmes.
2. Support for the development of financing mechanisms for startups
• Participate in identifying funding opportunities through venture capital, impact loans, and grants.
• Contribute to the analysis of inclusive financial models for young entrepreneurs.
3. Promotion of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs)
• Assist in developing CSR projects focused on social innovation and the digital economy.
• Help document best practices in PPPs.
4. Monitoring and evaluation of initiatives
• Contribute to tracking performance indicators of business-university collaborations.
• Draft analysis notes and impact reports on private sector engagement.

In line with the recommended tandem approach, the International UN Volunteer will collaborate closely with a National UN Volunteer currently serving within the UNDP Country Office in Côte d’Ivoire, as Innovation and entrepreneurship Specialist. The National UNV is engaged on innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives and will provide complementary support to ensure synergies between local context knowledge and international best practices. While the International UN Volunteer’s assignment is designed to be fully operational independently, this collaboration is expected to maximize impact, facilitate learning exchange, and enhance the sustainability of interventions targeting youth entrepreneurship and private sector engagement.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to:
• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day);
• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;
• Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities;
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publica-tions/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.;
• Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers;
• Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.