Innovation Specialist (Ed. Tech Portfolio), P-3, Fixed-Term, Office of Innovation, Helsinki, Finland (Post #127456)

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, innovate

The UNICEF Global Learning Innovation Hub, under the UNICEF Office of Innovation (OOI) will be the home of the architects of the future of learning. The Hub, based in Helsinki has a goal of bringing together the global community to build game changing solutions in education that can help solve the learning crisis and innovate for the future of learning now. The UNICEF Learning Innovation Hub will support the UNICEF Reimagine Education initiative through accelerating equitable access to world-class digital learning solutions by testing and scaling frontier technologies and innovations hand-in-hand with UNICEF Country Offices. At the same time, it will create a safe playground for disruption, inviting UNICEF and the learning community to look for solutions outside the traditional sphere and join tech entrepreneurs, scientists, artists, data ninjas, fiction writers, designers, business leaders and others to explore new learning journeys, pedagogical approaches, spaces and artifacts that help unleash each child’s full potential. The UNICEF Learning Innovation Hub will bring to the front the voice of young people about the skills they want to acquire to become entrepreneurs of their own life and become forward-thinking powerhouse that re-imagines and builds bright alternative futures turning learning into a fascinating adventure for all children.

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of the Innovation Manager (Portfolio Learning), in UNICEF Learning Innovation Hub, you will identify and support a portfolio of digital learning innovations, acting as advisor and broker with the aim of supporting innovations to positively impact the lives of millions of children and young people in the global south.

1. Supporting the set-up and management of the Blue Unicorn Farm Learning Innovation Portfolio from designing the sourcing strategy, to the pilot, accelerate and scale-up stages. 

• Design and manage the sourcing strategy to the Blue Unicorn Farm Learning Innovation Portfolio to ensure diverse and high-quality pipeline cutting-edge EdTech solutions. This includes support to set-up the Learning Cabinet that will feature EdTech tools assessed using a comprehensive, rigorous criteria. The incumbent will support the curation of EdTech tools for the Learning Cabinet which serves as pipeline for the Blue Unicorn Farm Learning Innovation Portfolio; and also support the identification of other potential entry pathways such as innovation challenges and EdTech awards.
• Set-up and manage the application, due diligence and investment processes for the Blue Unicorn Farm in close coordination with the UNICEF Supply Division and with the Hub’s Education Team who works closely with UNICEF Country and Regional Offices and HQ Digital Learning Team. This includes support to set-up needed mechanisms such as eligibility criteria, application templates, KPIs, tracking dashboards, building on the best practices including from UNICEF’s Venture Fund and other impact driven Venture Capital funds, in alignment with UNICEF’s due diligence policies. The incumbent will support the due diligence processes for investments and use OOI’s 5D Innovation Model, and ensure that the EdTech tools match the needs of UNICEF Country Offices, which will be partners throughout the selection process.
• Support the pilot, accelerate, and transition to scale stages, including the project management and regular coordination with EdTech providers in the Blue Unicorn Farm. This includes working closely with the Hub’s Engine Room/Education team as well as Country Office teams implementing the EdTech tools from the Blue Unicorn Farm.
• Support setting-up of robust and agile monitoring system to measure and track the results of the Learning Innovation Hub in the area of sourcing and selection.

2. Supporting the scale-up of the Blue Unicorn Farm projects by providing technical guidance in business model design, product market fit best practices and growth strategies to ensure equitable access for all children.

• Provide technical expertise to inform investment strategy and investment decisions throughout the whole investment journey.
• Provide and broker technical advice for the projects within the portfolio, including frontier technologies, business models, product market fit, growth strategies, evidence building. This will include regularly meeting with portfolio projects and providing direct advice or technical assistance along with brokering support from other stakeholders within OOI / UNICEF / externally.
• Support the development of business cases for the Blue Unicorn Farm projects to support acceleration and scale-up in multiple countries.
• Provide technical inputs to the development of a scale-up strategy and pathways for  scale for Learning Innovation Hub and broader OOI portfolio investments.
• Contribute to the ongoing development of the Learning Innovation Hub investment focus and strategy and EdTech landscape analysis.

3. Brokering and working together with OOI teams/units: Ventures; Portfolio, Culture and Scale (PCS); WASH Hub and other potential hubs, to provide support to individual solutions within the portfolio, as well as the overall Blue Unicorn Farm portfolio. 

• Work closely with the OOI Ventures team to design and build structured pathways between Venture Fund investments and the Blue Unicorn Farm Learning Innovation Portfolio. Broker regular exchanges and facilitate exchange of learnings from OOI teams/units, that could be applied to the Blue Unicorn Farm and Hub investment processes and decisions.
• Contribute to the development of UNICEF OOI innovation processes, that outline stage gates, criteria and process for entry and exit into the innovation pipeline, and that ultimately drive uptake and adoption of critical innovations. Broker and facilitate mobilization of technical experts from other OOI teams/units that could serve as potential mentors to Blue Unicorn Farm projects and Country Offices implementing these projects.

4. Supporting partnerships building, effective knowledge management and monitoring and evaluation for the Blue Unicorn Farm and broader Learning Innovation Hub work Support identification and building partnerships with new networks, accelerators, thought leaders, entrepreneurial ecosystems, and other relevant stakeholders to support the search and selection of new cutting-edge solutions in the EdTech and Learning Innovation spaces, including in the Finnish ecosystem.

• Support potential innovation challenges and EdTech awards to be led by the Learning Innovation Hub and its partners.
• Support research on emerging technology areas in the EdTech and Digital Learning spaces and potential investment areas/companies for the Blue Unicorn Farm.
• Support the monitoring of the digital learning landscape, including focusing on the Hub’s problem statements. Support the maintenance of a database of innovators (start-ups, academy, etc.) from relevant markets working in cutting-edge EdTech solution areas as they relate to the needs of UNICEF’s Country Programmes.
• Support effective monitoring, evaluation and documentation of learnings linked to the Blue Unicorn Farm projects and implementation in countries. This could include field visits.
• Support the preparation of donor reports and proposals, as well as presentations about the Blue Unicorn Farm and the Learning Innovation Hub’s broader work, including review meetings with key stakeholders.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in finance, economics, entrepreneurship, business administration, social studies or other relevant field is required.
  *A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
• A minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience in entrepreneurship, portfolio management, startup accelerator, startup incubator, venture capital, innovation, some of which should be in an international setting.
• Experience in managing portfolios of innovations or investments into technology is required. Knowledge of entrepreneurial ecosystems and networks, particularly in edtech, including in UNICEF programme countries is required.
• Experience in managing large-scale application, selection and procurement processes for projects, investments or grants is an advantage. Understanding of frontier technologies, and their applications to UNICEF’s priorities in education is desired.
• Experience in facilitating engagements around innovations with UNICEF Country Offices and UNICEF Divisions, including experience working with UNICEF at country level is an advantage. Knowledge of and professional networks in the Finnish education, EdTech and broader ecosystem is an advantage.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills and the aptitude to handle competing priorities with multiple audiences.
• Experience in developing and maintaining partnerships.
• Knowledge of international development, technology for development and key challenges affecting children in developing countries desired.
• A strong understanding of UNICEF programmes, goals and principles, and experience in a UNICF programme country is an advantage.
• Experience working in complex, resource poor contexts is a plus.
• Technical competencies must be demonstrated in the following areas:
• Some understanding of the overall global developments in education and international engagement strategies, including the application of the equity lens and human rights perspectives to programming.
• Understanding of key principles and processes linked to digital technology innovations, including portfolio management, startup accelerators or incubators, etc.
• Some understanding of entrepreneurial ecosystems and networks.
• Some ability to support engagement with partners from different sectors, including from bilateral and multilateral organizations, INGOs, CSOs, academia, business, etc.
• Some understanding of gender, equity and inclusion issues in relation to education and development.
• 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

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others.

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.
We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.
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. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. 

Remarks:

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also 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 cancelled.

All selected candidates will 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.

Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government 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.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Contact: For any queries, please contact: [email protected]