Mentorship for Frontier Tech Leaders Programme

Details

Mission and objectives

Istanbul International Center for Private Sector in Development (IICPSD) supports the private sector and foundations to become transformative partners in development through research, advocacy for inclusive business, facilitation of public-private dialogue and brokering partnerships. IICPSD, established in 2011 in partnership with the Government of Turkey, is one of UNDP’s six Global Policy Centres. It leads UNDP’s global work on private sector and foundations and supports UNDP’s offices all over the world. The Center focuses on four thematic areas:
1. Inclusive Business;
2. Private Sector Engagement in Skills Development;
3. Impact investing;
4. Resilience and Crisis Response.
The Center also hosts four global initiatives: Business Call to Action, SDG Philanthropy Platform, Global Islamic Finance and Impact Investing Platform and Connecting Business Initiative.

Context

This assignment is part of UNDP ICPSD’s Frontier Tech Leaders Programme. The Programme aims to raise a new generation of tech specialists to strengthen local capacities and develop digital solutions for the LDCs (Least Developed Countries) towards achieving the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals). The first implementation of the Programme is ongoing for the LDC students who are studying at the Turkish universities. Over the following months, the Programme will be implemented in several LDCs and developing countries, including but not limited to Djibouti, Bangladesh, Seychelles etc.
The Programme includes a Mentorship Programme for participants. The Frontier Tech Leaders (FTL) Mentorship Programme aims to provide the participants with guidance and professional support, fostering their growth throughout their training and beyond. Through mentorship, the programme aims to empower individuals to excel in the tech industry, bridging the gap between potential and opportunity. The volunteer mentors can contribute to the Mentorship programme in three ways; as a mentor who guides 3-5 mentees regularly in a span of 2 months, as a guest speaker, or as a community member.

Task description

The volunteer mentors are expected to contribute to the Mentorship programme in three ways;
1- Mentoring (Regular Meetings with Mentee Groups):
Mentors engage in regular meetings with mentee groups, providing structured guidance and support. This format facilitates in-depth learning and fosters strong mentor-mentee relationships.
Conduct monthly or biweekly meetings with 3-5 people mentee groups within the span of 2 months.
Provide consultation and practical advises to the Frontier Tech Leaders participants on the subjects below, during the sessions:
-Successful career development in the field of Frontier Technologies,
-Useful tips on recruitment & interview processes of tech staff,
-Best practices on professional CV writing, LinkedIn profile writing & optimization, cover letter writing,
-Best practices on LinkedIn job seeking and networking,
-Other useful tips on career development in the tech industry.
2- Being Guest Speaker:
Industry experts will be invited to share their insights and experiences with participants. These sessions offer a broader perspective and expose participants to a diverse range of expertise within the tech industry.
3- Joining the Community:
Mentors will have the opportunity to establish local FTL chapters and join the Global FTL community, connecting with like-minded individuals and gaining access to additional networking and learning opportunities within their community.