UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.
At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.
UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.
Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.
For every child, innovate
The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity
strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.
The UNICEF Venture Fund has been specifically designed to finance early stage, open-source technology that can benefit children. The core motivation of the Venture Fund is to identify "clusters" or portfolios of initiatives around emerging technology - so that UNICEF can both shape markets and also learn about and guide these technologies to benefit children. We invest in solutions that can impact the lives of the most vulnerable children. We find these solutions clustered around $100 billion industries in frontier technology spaces, such as: UAVs, virtual and augmented reality, artificial intelligence, nanosatellites, and human dynamics. With SD$35M (+ 2267 ETH + 8 BTC) raised to date, the Venture Fund is scaling its investment portfolio with the aim of investing in 20 start-ups every year and provides funding to CO-led projects. The current portfolio of companies consists of several cohorts developing and piloting solutions in virtual and augmented reality, data science and artificial intelligence, blockchain, UAVs, IoT, and in assistive technology.
How can you make a difference?
Under the leadership of the Programme Specialist, the Innovation Officer will coordinate new calls for applications, coordinate the selection strategy and conduct research on new potential areas of investment. In addition, the incumbent will work on strengthening the diversity outlook of UNICEF’s Venture Fund portfolio ensuring an equitable gender and geographic representation. They will also support the insight generation for Venture Fund alumni, to track and report on metrics and performance in alignment with the results framework.
Overall, this position will:
- Provide research and coordination support for each of the Fund’s call for applications
- Support the sourcing strategy of the Venture Fund to ensure diverse and high-quality pipeline of solutions
- Coordinate of the investment assessment process
- Conduct research on emerging technology areas and potential investment areas/companies for the Venture Fund
- Provide support to the tracking, monitoring and insight generation of Venture Fund alumni Provide research and coordination support for each of the Fund’s call for applications
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Prepare lists of potential eligible start-ups
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Develop content for social media strategy
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Based on inputs provided by Fund team and other relevant focal points, develop 2-pagers with investment focus areas
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Coordinate the sourcing strategy of the Venture Fund to ensure diverse and high-quality pipeline of solutions
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Identify new networks, accelerators thought leaders, and other relevant stakeholders for sourcing and follow-on collaborations
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Integrate the Smart Investing Initiative into the sourcing strategy, to build a diverse pipeline of startups, with a focus on women founded companies
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Measure and track the results of the Venture Fund in the area of sourcing and selection
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Collaborate with networks, accelerators, entrepreneurial ecosystems, UNICEF’s Country and Regional Offices and other stakeholders to source new solutions to the venture fund
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Coordinate of the investment assessment process
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Maintain and update systems needed for the application process, including unicefventurefund.org website, implement edits to submission forms and proposal templates as needed
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Identify opportunities to increase efficiency and inclusivity of the selection process and systems
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Coordinate and input into review of online applications received against eligibility criteria
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In close collaboration with UNICEF’s Supply Division, coordinate of proposal review process, including collecting inputs from team and subject matter experts, organizing start-up demos, developing summaries for decision, drafting selection matrices
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Conduct research on technology solutions as needed
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Handover key metrics and other company data of companies selected for funding to the portfolio management team
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Conduct research on emerging technology areas and potential investment areas/companies for the Venture Fund
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Maintain database of start-ups from relevant markets working in frontier technology areas
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Update 2-pagers on investment focus areas, with input from relevant team members
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Compile research on new focus areas for consideration by Fund team
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Identify strategies and support the Smart Investing Initiative
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Provide support to the tracking and monitoring of metrics and knowledge insights for the Venture Fund Alumni in alignment with the results framework
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Support Venture Fund team to track and monitor metrics from Venture Fund alumni
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In close collaboration with the Innovation Specialist (Knowledge Management and Insights), generate insights and support reporting of learnings and successes of portfolio solutions
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Coordinate the contributions of the Venture Fund to donor reporting
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Support the organization of donor meetings and other knowledge engagements
If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: 
Classified Job Descriptions - Innovation Officer.pdf
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Minimum requirements:
Education: University degree in finance, economics, entrepreneurship, business administration or other relevant field is required.
Work Experience:
- Minimum of two years of progressively responsible relevant professional experience, some of which should be in an international setting.
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Demonstrated experience in collecting and managing data and information collected from various sources.
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Knowledge of entrepreneurial ecosystems and networks, especially in UNICEF programme countries required.
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Experience in managing large scale application, selection and contracting processes for projects, investments or grants required
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Experience in entrepreneurship or supporting investments in start-ups desired.
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Experience in developing communications, outreach and representation campaigns/efforts.
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Experience in developing and maintaining partnerships.
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Understanding of open source and frontier technologies, and their applications to UNICEF strategic priorities.
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Strong verbal and written communication skills required.
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Knowledge of international development, technology for development and key challenges affecting children in developing countries desired.
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A strong understanding of UNICEF programmes, goals and principles, and experience in a UNICF programme country desired.
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Experience working in complex, resource-poor contexts is a plus.
- Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is desired.
Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
For every Child, you demonstrate...
UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values
The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…
(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (1)
(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (1)
(3) Drive to achieve results for impact (1)
(4) Innovates and embraces change (1)
(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)
(6) Thinks and acts strategically (1)
(7) Works collaboratively with others (1)
Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.
According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.
UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.
UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.
Remarks:
As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.
UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children.
Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.
UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.
Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.
Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.
In case of any questions, please contact swe-ooi-recruitments@unicef.org
