Please note the appropriate Tier indicated in the vacancy title and ensure that you are holding the applicable contract as defined below:
•    Tier 1: UNDP/ UNCDF/ UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed term (FTA) appointments (defined as “internal” candidates)  
•    Tier 2: UNDP/ UNCDF/ UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA) and personnel on regular PSA contracts 
•    Tier 3: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Office/Unit/Project Description  


At UNDP (United Nations Development Programme), we are on a mission to end poverty, build democratic governance, rule of law, and inclusive institutions around the world. UNDP is the United Nations' global sustainable development organization working across 170 countries with 17,000 staff. Digital technology is one of the most fundamental drivers of changes this century. Digital not only provides new opportunities and challenges for development, but it is also fundamentally changing the context in which development is taking place. Since the launch of its first Digital Strategy in 2019, UNDP has been on an ambitious transformation journey to harness the potential of digital technology for development. We are now in the next phase of our digital transformation, implementing the Digital Strategy 2022-2025, which puts forth a vision to create a world in which digital is an empowering force for people and planet. This vision is enshrined in the Digital, AI, and Innovation Hub in BPPS, where Digital technologies, AI, and innovation hold tremendous promise for supporting and advancing development, where UNDP is leveraging these capacities to shape smarter development for a fast-changing world.


Project Description:
Our mission is to nurture a space where novel ideas emerge and thrive, with transformative solutions by Africa’s innovators and start-ups to build AI foundations—in areas of green compute, data and talent. Connecting everyone into an ecosystem where they can grow together and advance prosperity for all is at the AI Hub's core. As Enrico Mattei, the inspiration for the Italy-Africa Mattei Plan, redefined international partnerships in the 1950s, Italy is once again driving an ecosystem of equal partnerships through the AI Hub. The AI Hub is aligned with the African Union’s AI Strategy and is anchored by 14 partner countries in Africa (Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Republic of the Congo, Senegal, Tanzania and Tunisia), catalyzing transformation across six key sectors–energy, agriculture, health, water, education & training, and infrastructure. Artificial Intelligence is poised to be the most transformative technology of our era, and its benefits must be accessible to all. For Africa, where 60% of Africans are under 25, AI presents a unique opportunity to leapfrog traditional development growth, delivering innovative and impactful solutions in healthcare, education, agriculture, finance, and governance.
 

Scope of Work

The Head of AI Hub  Programmes will serve as the implementation lead of the AI Hub for Sustainable Development programmes, managing a team of technical experts to design, deliver and measure the impact of AI Hub’s programmes.  The Head of AI Hub  Programmes will be responsible for delivering demand driven catalytic programmes, working closely with partners across the G7, Africa and relevant authorities in the 14 partner countries in Africa.  As Head of AI Hub  Programmes, she/he will ensure coherence with global AI and related programmes and initiatives managed under the Digital, AI, and Innovation Hub at the Bureau of Policy and Programmes, UNDP, and regional programmes in the Regional Bureau of Africa and Arab States.    

Lead AI Hub Programme Partnerships and Implementation Strategy
•    Lead the execution for AI Hub for Sustainable Development Programmes leading to successful delivery of AI Hub’s vision and objectives. 
•    As part of the AI Hub’s management team, build processes, methodologies, and scalable implementation approaches in partnership with G7, Africa and relevant authorities in the 14 partner countries in Africa. 
•    Lead support to country offices with AI Hub initiatives, with particular focus on incorporating AI solutions to catalyze AI foundations and infrastructure that can scale national development priorities and support private sector growth. 
•    Contribute to UNDP's ability to spot trends across our network to help UNDP stay ahead of the frontier issues of AI and digital development. 
•    Collaborate with AI Hub leadership team and the DAI leads to support the development of cohesive offers, proposals, programmes, and projects.

Lead AI Hub Programmes Implementation & Scale
•    Develop and execute the AI Hub programmes priorities, establishing touchpoints and processes for sourcing & implementing new AI ideas, tracking existing workstreams, and ongoing team management. 
•    Design and pilot new approaches for connecting countries and stakeholders to harness AI development opportunities and mitigate risks and challenges, playing to UNDP's strengths and value proposition. 
•    Collaborate closely with the AI Capability team of UNDP and other regional teams in Africa and Arab States at UNDP, ensuring collaboration and coordination between technical teams, policy advisors, and country offices.

Lead AI Hub Programmes Programme & Budget Management 
•    Refining, streamlining, and scaling our talent for AI and digital programmes. 
•    Working closely with the Director of the AI Hub and Digital, AI and Innovation Hub’s Head of Strategic Resources, and the UNDP Rome Centre to manage resources and donor reporting, ensuring timely reporting and results. 
•    Ensure excellent talent pipeline and hiring for AI roles, including resource optimization working with other parts of digital transformation areas which prioritizes utilisation of existing resources. 
•    Manage the current pipeline and work with other teams to ensure the overall financial sustainability of the AI Hub.

AI Programme Advocacy ,  Thought Leadership and Knowledge Management  
•    Design creative approaches to identifying target audiences and devising grassroots and/or digital campaigns to communicate AI Hub’s work, working closely with the AI Hub Public Campaign Lead. 
•    Lead on frontier AI issues, distilling uncovered trends to shape the future of AI for development. 
•    Support the AI Hub Director in participating the AI Hub in global AI forums, conferences, and high-level discussions to position the AI Hub as a thought leader in responsible private sector role in AI for development. 
•    Manage stakeholder events to spotlight attention to the opportunities and challenges of AI development and set directions for the future. 
•    Actively participate in and make substantive contributions to external networks andcommunities of practice to promote advocacy for UNDP’s work and opportunities for collaboration in addressing development trends.


•    The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization
    

Institutional Arrangement

This incumbent will report directly to AI Hub Director.


Expected Demonstration of Competencies
 

Core Competencies

Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact 
Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems 
Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands  
Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
Enable Diversity and Inclusion LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies
 

Thematic Area                            Name                                                             Definition 
Partnership Management    Multistakeholder engagement and funding       Knowledge and ability to forge multi-stakeholder partnerships, and remove any obstacles to resource
mobilization and multi-stakeholder funding platforms.

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.

Digital & Innovation    Digital transformation design    Practical and strategic skills in digital transformation for governments and organizations.
Digital & Innovation    Innovation ecosystem curation    Ability to identify key players in an ecosystem, engage with them and mobilise them to build a community and over time a movement around a common mission that can bring about changes at the system level. Ability to give sense of purpose and build trust, develop programmes of activities and platforms to build and strengthen relationships.
Digital & Innovation    Data governance    Knowledge of data science, skills to develop data management tools, organize and maintain databases and operate data visualization technologies.
Digital & Innovation    Data strategy & Management    Knowledge to draft or execute a data strategy or a data management framework.
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.

Required Education, Experience, Skills and Competencies
 

Minimum Education requirements
 

An advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Design, Business Administration, Engineering, Information Technology management, Education, or a relevant technical field is required. 
or
A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas stated above in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Minimum years of relevant work experience
 

Minimum of 10 years (with master’s degree) or 12 years (with bachelor’s degree) of experience in of progressive experience in AI, digital transformation, or sustainable development, with at least 3 years in a senior leadership role is required. 
 

Required skills 
•    Proven track record of leading impactful multi-stakeholder initiatives focused on countries, building strategic partnerships in the global development and diverse technology sectors.
•    Proven track record of designing partnerships and impactful initiatives with the private sector.  
•    Proven track record of deep understanding of AI infrastructure, AI use cases and applications, data governance, and digital public infrastructure, with experience in LDCs, Africa, and other underserved regions. 
•    Proven exceptional leadership, strategic vision, and stakeholder engagement skills, with a demonstrated ability to influence global policy and drive organizational change.

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section
•    Demonstrated ability to navigate unstructured or evolving work environments in a composed and professional manner.
•     Proven experience in making progress even when specific outcomes or processes aren’t clear.
•    Proven ability to adapt and learn quickly in dynamic environments. 
•    Experience in adaptable with the ability to confidently shift priorities or stakeholder needs.
•    Demonstrated experience in effectively manage competing priorities while also maintaining quality and speed.
•    Demonstrated ability to communicate solutions clearly and work in a highly coordinated way, collaboratively across different teams to implement them.
 

Required Language (s): 
•    Fluency in English is required.    
•    Working knowledge of another official UN language, or a local language from partner countries is advantageous.   
 

Equal opportunity
•    As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 
•    UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.
 

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority
•    UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 
Right to select multiple candidates
•    UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
 

Equal opportunity
•    As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 
•    UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.
 

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority
•    UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 
Right to select multiple candidates
•    UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
 

Scam alert
•    UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.
 

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