Education & Work Experience Master's Degree - 7 year(s) experience OR Bachelor's Degree - 9 year(s) experience
Job Description
Background
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Anchored in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and in line with the priorities outlined in the UNDP Strategic Plan, the Regional Bureau for Arab States (RBAS) supports the Arab States region to achieve sustainable development by eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, accelerating structural transformations for sustainable development, and building resilience to crises and shocks. Within this work, the Regional Bureau for Arab States responds to needs across development settings including Least Developed Countries, Middle Income Countries, Net Contributor Countries and countries affected by crisis, with a view to support the building of resilience, fight climate change, leverage the promise of innovation, and prioritize the advance of women, youth and vulnerable groups as part of its commitment to the principles of universality, equality and leaving no one behind in an increasing complex regional context.
The Regional Hub for Arab States in Amman focuses on thought leadership, crisis response and country office support. With a focus on effective, timely and responsive support in line with UNDP’s programme priorities and tailored to the emerging and changing needs and priorities in the region, the offer of support includes strategic policy advice, programme development and implementation, capacity development, policy research and analysis, knowledge services, and operations. The Amman Regional Hub also hosts the Regional Programme for Arab States which responds to emerging regional priorities through knowledge generation, regional initiatives, and projects.
In line with corporate priorities set out in the Digital Strategy 2022-25 digital transformation is an emerging area of demand that underpins UNDP’s long-term vision of creating a world in which digital is an empowering force for people and planet. In response to accrued interest among regional stakeholders, government, donor, and private sector partners, RBAS is strengthening its capacity within this area of work to amplify development outcomes by embedding digital across its programming and to empower digital ecosystems in the Arab States region. While the digitalization portfolio comprises of various cross-sector initiatives, it is anchored within the wider area of governance with an overall focus on public services and is implemented in close collaboration with all teams across the Hub in the design of regional initiatives and development solutions for country offices.
Under the Team Leader’s general guidance and direct supervision, the specialist will provide thought leadership and technical advice on the digitalization portfolio and lead on digital initiatives, such as the Digital for Sustainable Development Initiative (D4SD) as well as provide high-level technical support to Country Offices within the Arab States region. S/he will be guided by the principles set out in the Digital Strategy 2022-25, namely a human-rights centered approach that promotes inclusive, gender-sensitive approaches, leaving no one behind, while contributing to shared global standards and frameworks that protect people’s rights, advocating for open digital standards and open data, working to strengthen local digital ecosystems, and leveraging strategic partnerships.
Position Purpose
Reporting to the Team Leader – Governance, Peace Building and Crisis Response, the Digital Transformation Specialist leads on key priorities and milestones, ensuring interconnected planning and implementation of digital initiatives and mainstreaming of digitalization in other regional initiatives.
UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. This is a recognition of the interconnected nature of development risks & crises that the world is facing and that call for assembling of multidisciplinary teams for an integrated & systemic response. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across issues, units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams to enhance and enable cross-sectoral collaboration.
Duties and Responsibilities
Set the strategic direction on digital transformation policy, solutions and partnerships for RBAS
Liaise closely with the Chief Digital Office on the roll-out of corporate strategies and initiatives. Provide strategic advice and key liaison for Digital Transformation work within the UNDP Regional Bureau for Arab States. Ensure consistent advocacy for and driving of the vision and execution of the digital transformation agenda across the Arab States region, as a cross-cutting regional priority. Ensure strategic alignment of digital transformation service line activities with the overall direction and guiding principles set by the UN Corporate Digital strategy 2022-2025. Integrate and facilitate digital transformation mindset across policy, design, and technology deployment to inform key decision-making. Ensure inclusive and responsible digital solutions for sustainable development are leveraged strategically across all sectors and outputs are aligned with regional and global transformation trends.
Lead the delivery of technical advice and manage regional digital transformation programming of the Regional Bureau for Arab States
Lead the development and implementation of the D4SD initiative and inclusive, whole-of-society, digital transformation projects in the Arab states region in close collaboration with relevant teams. Provide digitally enabled programmatic and policy development support to country offices in the Arab States region helping to shape the digital transformation agenda. Oversee and strategically guide regional digital initiatives, including complex digital systems, in line with UNDP’s digital standards. Ensure close linkages with other GPN teams and regional initiatives to mainstream digital across all thematic areas of work. Supervise and manage project personnel and consultants in her/his area of work.
Promote thought leadership, including lessons learned and dissemination, and community of practice networking
Facilitate digital community building activities across the region, including capacity building, knowledge networking and knowledge sharing. Contribute to global digital policy discussions, promoting UNDP’s thought leadership on technology, digital transformation, and its impact on human development. Convene high-level strategic dialogues, fostering collaboration and alignment across teams and advisors to advance the regional digital transformation strategy. Initiate forward-looking knowledge generation through strategic reports and analyses.
Advocacy and partner engagement for effective policy positioning in the region
* Represent UNDP (and UN partner organizations) in the regional development arena under D4SD and at relevant major conferences and specialized technology working groups, as well as at official me
