Digital Transformation Specialist (Homebased)

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. 

In addition to its presence in New York, RBAS has its main office in the Regional Hub based in Amman, Jordan with some staff based in Beirut (Lebanon) and Dubai (UAE). 

The Amman Regional Hub hosts regional initiatives under the Regional Programme for Arab States 2022-2025 which touches upon the following areas of work: governance and anti-corruption, regional cooperation for the reduction of poverty and inequality, knowledge economy, conflict prevention and peacebuilding, climate security, youth engagement and empowerment, gender equality, resilience building, among others. Through its regional projects, the Regional Programme generates and avails development knowledge, experience and expertise to countries across the region; supports the creation and development of inter-country initiatives and networks among governmental and non-governmental partners to address shared challenges at a sub-regional and regional levels; facilitates inter-country collaboration on cross-border issues, such as trade, environment, and migration; advances regional dialogues, and experience exchange on development issues that may be sensitive where regional level advocacy may enable country level engagement and action, such as with efforts to fight corruption and exclusionary practices targeting certain groups; and promotes experimentation and innovation to help overcome institutional, financial and knowledge barriers that may be too high for an individual country to surmount.

As the regional programme continues to grow in size and scope, it is essential to conceptualize and deliver high quality, relevant, innovative and scaled-up programming, strengthening strategic engagement with donors, enhancing visibility and improving the quality of results reporting.

Recognizing this, the digital team in the Regional programme launched the Digital for Sustainable Development Initiative (D4SD) at the UN General Assembly 78 in New York in September 2023to reinforce cooperation among international organizations, governments, and the private sector. By mobilizing key stakeholders from the digital society, the goal is to formulate a collective roadmap for advancing digital transformation and SDGs in the Arab States. 

As a result of this engagement, CEOs and leaders from the digital ecosystem, high-level country representatives, and partners joined forces to endorse a unified call to action, affirming their commitment to digital cooperation. UNDP RBAS aims to leverage the potential of this regional compact to propel the D4SD Initiative forward, fostering strategic collaboration with countries in the region and private sector partners.

In the Digital for Sustainable Development Initiative (D4SD) for the Arab States region, the Specialist plays a crucial role in aligning digital transformation with sustainable development goals. They work closely with governments and stakeholders to integrate digital strategies into national agendas, ensuring a smooth transition toward a digitally empowered sustainable future. By creating a repository of successful digital projects and best practices, they promote knowledge sharing and inspire impactful initiatives across the region.

Strategic Planning and Coordination:

• Develop comprehensive strategies to integrate digital solutions into sustainable development efforts, identifying key priorities and milestones;
• Coordinate with national governments, regional organizations, and relevant stakeholders to ensure cohesive planning and implementation of digital initiatives;
• Provide guidance and support to stakeholders in aligning their activities with overarching digital transformation objectives.

Policy Development and Advocacy:

• Research and analyze existing policies and regulatory frameworks related to digital technologies and sustainable development, identifying gaps and opportunities for improvement;
• Advocate for the adoption of policies that facilitate the use of digital tools for sustainable development, emphasizing the importance of equity, accessibility, and environmental sustainability;
• Engage with policymakers, industry leaders, and civil society organizations to build consensus and drive policy reforms in support of the digital transformation agenda.

Partnership Building and Stakeholder Engagement:

• Establish strategic partnerships with international development agencies, technology companies, academic institutions, and civil society organizations to leverage resources and expertise in advancing digital innovation for sustainable development;
• Facilitate multi-stakeholder dialogues and collaboration platforms to foster knowledge sharing, exchange best practices, and address common challenges in implementing digital solutions;
• Engage with local communities and grassroots organizations to ensure that digital initiatives are responsive to the needs and priorities of diverse populations, particularly those in underserved or marginalized areas.

Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Design and implement monitoring and evaluation frameworks to assess the effectiveness and impact of digital projects on sustainable development outcomes;
• Collect and analyze data on key performance indicators, such as access to digital services, digital literacy rates, and environmental sustainability metrics, to track progress and identify areas for improvement;
• Generate evidence-based insights and recommendations to inform decision-making by policymakers, donors, and other stakeholders involved in digital development initiatives.

Activately Participate to Effective Management and Implementation of the D4SD Initiative:

• Facilitate strategic oversight of projects and initiatives within the D4SD regional program (2022-2025) alongside the regional coordinator, ensuring alignment with program objectives and priorities;
• Contribute to the formulation of annual plans and mid-term reviews, providing valuable insights to enhance project effectiveness and address emerging challenges;
• Collaborate closely with the reporting and knowledge management specialist to ensure the comprehensive monitoring, reporting, and evaluation of projects, synthesizing key findings to inform strategic decision-making;
• Play a pivotal role in monitoring project delivery, identifying strategic opportunities and potential risks, and supporting the implementation of management corrective actions to optimize project outcomes;
• Promote knowledge building and sharing

INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENT 

The Digital Transformation Specialist will report directly to the Regional Programme Coordinator, operating under their supervision within the organizational structure. Both Digital Transformation Specialists will work collaboratively under the guidance of the Regional Programme Coordinator to ensure alignment with program objectives and priorities. A general overview or Organigram outlining this reporting structure will be provided in an Annex to offer clarity on the position’s placement within the office and unit structure.

• 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  

Business Direction & Strategy

• Strategic Thinking: 
  • Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions
  • Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP.
• 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 Management

• Partnerships Management: 
  • Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.

Digital & Innovation 

• Digital Ecosystems        
  • Knowledge of how they work, understanding of the opportunities and challenges for governments and society.
• Digital Thought Leadership        
  • Ongoing research into emerging technologies and digital trends and the applications, risks, and opportunities associated with digital adoption, combined with the ability to communicate this synthesis with a broad audience. 
• Portfolio Design & Management 
  • Ability to identify leverage points in systems and design interventions that address them. The value of the interventions is determined not in isolation, but as part of the overall portfolio and their coherence;
  • Ability to design processes that extract learning on an ongoing basis from existing portfolios, so that learning accrues over time and new options for action are continuously generated;
  • Build a learning ecosystem around a complex development challenge: being able to mobilise a variety of stakeholders and help them learn and work together;
  • Understand key principles of systems and complexity theory. 

2030 Agenda: 

• Engagement and Effectiveness               
  • Innovation :Technology and Innovation.