Technology for Development Officer (NOB), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia #122911 (Open for Malaysians only)

The T4D role will assist programme teams in the identification, assessment and integration of ICTs and digital innovation into UNICEF programming

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, hope

Together with the Malaysian government and others who are truly passionate about child rights, UNICEF works in Malaysia to ensure every child has the opportunity to grow healthy and happy; live safely; and achieve their full potential.

With the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the 12th Malaysia plan as our guides, we endeavor to change minds, change policies, and in turn change the lives of all children in Malaysia.

https://www.unicef.org/malaysia/

How can you make a difference? 

Purpose for the job
The purpose of this role is to lead and support demand for Technology for Development (T4D) programmatic support. UNICEF Programmes increasingly leverage digital means and platforms for effective programme implementation and to facilitate access to services for the most vulnerable children. The T4D role will assist programme teams in the identification, assessment and integration of ICTs and digital innovation into UNICEF programming; identifying and engaging with key partners; developing relevant business relationships and partnerships ; applying reusable and replicable technical buildings blocks; and maximizing potential for the scale-up and sustainability of technology and digital innovation for innovation of services for children .

The T4D Officer is directly supervised by the ICT Specialist, but works closely with Programme staff and in close liaison with the East Asia Pacific Regional Office (EAPRO) ICT and Digital Innovation Unit, the central ICT Division and UNICEF Innovation where applicable.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties or tasks

1.Lead the T4D function and provide technical and programmatic support

• Business Relationship Management – Liaise with regional office to manage Business and Programme Relationship services to define high-level requirements; document and match requirements and guide the design, development and deployment of appropriate T4D solutions.
• Portfolio Coordination – Work closely with regional office in deploying a portfolio approach, adapting common solutions prioritised for UNICEF programming (e.g. Digital Public Goods). 
• Support and assist design of T4D interventions – Provide support and technical assistance to the Country Office in the identification, selection, concept design, deployment and sustainability of T4D interventions to address bottlenecks towards the achievement of programme results. 
• Identify and assess new Technology and Digital Innovations – Assist programme sections to identify and assess new T4D initiatives, or new phases of on-going initiatives, with immediate potential to improve UNICEF programming. 
• Solution procurement and evaluation – Assist the review of technical solutions to ensure UNICEF standards are followed; contribute to project management processes, generation and review of terms of reference and vendor selection. 
• Deployment advice and support – Assist with implementation strategy of digital technology initiatives. Including technical oversight, troubleshooting and the documentation of challenges and resolutions.
• Design thinking – Support human/user-centred design methods to enable user-acceptance testing, evaluation, documentation and analysis.

2.Policy and Strategic Development for Technology-enabled Programming

• Digital Development and Technology Innovation Strategy – Support implementation of the technology and digital innovation strategy for the country office; bring visibility to T4D gaps, opportunities and scale-up strategy in support of CO priorities.
• Participation in programme and management processes – Work closely with PME to integrate digital development and technology innovation into the programme planning lifecycle. Align with programme priorities (AWP etc.) and attend planning meetings (PCM).
• Leadership and Quality Assurance – Help monitor development and quality assurance during planning and deployment of T4D initiatives; participate in establishing and maintaining standards, documentation and support mechanisms for T4D. 
• Convene and guide compliance with T4D best practices – Participate in CO T4D Governance Committee and support compliance of T4D initiatives with the Principles for Digital Development (http://digitalprinciples.org/) and UNICEF T4D best practices.

3.Engage and maintain partnerships and networks

• Engage and maintain partnerships and networks – Support the development of partnerships and networks with local solution providers, innovators, NGOs, cultural and religious organisations, the private sector, local media and academia to build and provide a space to nurture and test new and innovative technologies and build local capacity.
• Advocacy and communications – Participate and support Country Office representation in external, inter-agency or partner forums on Digital Development and Technology Innovation.
• Proposal and partnership development – Help identify opportunities for resource mobilisation and new partnerships and assist proposal and partnership development efforts.
• Provide advice and support to programme partners – Provide inputs to technical and operational support to a wide range of stakeholders and partners on UNICEF policies, practices, standards and norms on technology for development.
• Standards and procedures for ownership – Work with stakeholders to help develop standards, procedures and partnerships for T4D interventions and their transition to relevant Government and Civil Society Institutions.
• Transfer and skill-sharing for programme partners – Help maintain partnerships with government counterparts and national stakeholders through active sharing and transfer of knowledge, skills and tools to foster and facilitate technology-enabled programming. 
• Document localized partners and profiles – Contribute updates to a catalogue of country specific T4D partners and their profiles/areas of engagement to promote and enhance UNICEF goals for outcomes for children through the use of Technology for Development.

4.Knowledge Management

• Share lessons learned – Help identify, capture, synthesize and share lessons learned from T4D for integration into broader knowledge development planning, advocacy and communication efforts.
• Landscape mapping – Maintain an inventory of Technology and Innovation interventions, assets, resources and networks.
• Monitoring, evaluation and learning – Work with PME to ensure documentation and clear monitoring and evaluation mechanisms for innovation and T4D projects including baseline data collection, on-going monitoring, as well as first phase data collection and analysis.
• Contribute to Peer Support Networks – Contribute and share to regional and global digital development and technology innovation networks and activities.

5.Capacity Building

• Data analysis for evidence generation – Build capacity of programme staff and partners in analysing the large amounts of data generated through T4D initiatives including the use of data visualization techniques and analytics tools.
• Co-create appropriate solutions – Work directly with programme teams and partners to adapt technology and innovative solutions appropriate to the country programme.
• Provide training to stakeholders and end-users
• Participate as resource person in capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies, capacity and knowledge within the programmes on digital development; train UNICEF staff, partners, government counterparts and other end users in digital development and technology innovation.
• Build awareness around Innovation & Frontier Technology – Assist developing staff capabilities in appropriate use of frontier technology and innovations such as UAVs, wearables, IoTs, mobile money, blockchain etc.

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: A university degree is required in Business Analysis, ICT Management, Computer Science, Innovation, Digital Development, International Development or another relevant technical field
• Work Experience: At least minimum of two years of professional experience in technology for development (T4D) in a large organization and/or corporation is required.
• Experience identifying, designing and implementing solutions for large-scale projects with technical components – including supervising external vendors and software developers; responsibility for business analysis, budgets, contracts, project management and procurement, etc.
• Experience with ICT, mobile and web-based technologies, particularly designing or deploying tools appropriate to Asia and Pacific is desirable
• Experience in Open Source, mobile and emerging technology applied to UNICEF programme areas is extremely desirable
• Exposure to UNICEF, UN or other INGO programmatic areas, including (but not limited to) health, nutrition, child protection and/or education, and experience in applying technical solutions to address programmatic issues are considered an asset.
• Experience with RapidPro, OpenSRP, DHIS2, ODK and other digital public good technologies, and deploying, maintaining and scaling these technologies is highly desirable.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English and Malay is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or local language of the duty station is considered as an asset.

Desirables:

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency. 

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s compensation, benefits and wellbeing.

(https://www.unicef.org/careers/compensation-benefits-and-wellbeing)

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s salary scale & structure.

(https://www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/salaries_allowances/salaries/malaysia.htm)

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

(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 

(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

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 measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. 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.

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. For this position, eligible and suitable candidate are encouraged to apply.

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.

UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.

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.