Innovation Specialist, Strategic Coordination, UN 2.0, Innovation and Transformation Branch (ITB), Office of the Executive Director, New York, P-3

The Position:

The Innovation and Transformation Branch plays a pivotal role in guiding UNFPA towards a future of heightened efficiency, impact, and relevance, by shaping and executing strategic initiatives through cultivating innovation. Through the Equalizer, UNFPA Accelerator Fund, UNFPA’s Innovation and Transformation Branch leverages innovation, research, and technology to deliver at the scale and pace needed to achieve its transformative results by 2030. 

The Innovation Specialist is located in the Innovation and Transformation Branch (ITB), which plays a pivotal role in guiding UNFPA towards a future of heightened efficiency, impact, and relevance, by shaping and executing strategic initiatives through cultivating innovation and change initiatives across the organization in line with UN 2.0. The post reports to the Chief, Innovation and Transformation Branch. S/he will work with internal partners including OED, DHR, DMS, Regional Offices, Country Offices and technical staff to ensure coherent work of Office. Work with the external partners include UN agencies, donor and programme countries in order to maintain and foster collaboration and exchange, build and consolidate internal capacity, accelerate action and promote transparency and accountability.

This role collaborates with  Innovation and Transformation Branch team members, relevant Working Groups, and Business Units throughout the organization. The specialist will also closely coordinate actions with external partners and networks, helping to strengthen UNFPA's partnerships. This includes supporting initiatives like the Equalizer Accelerator Fund, Equity 2030 Alliance, and the WomenX Collective.

The Innovation Specialist, Strategic Coordination, UN 2.0 will also provide day-to-day planning, managerial, technical, and coordination support to the Chief of the Innovation and Transformation Branch, effectively supporting and coordinating the office's various initiatives.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.  UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), outlines the strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

The UN is undergoing a significant transformation to better address the complex challenges of the 21st century. This transformation, known as UN 2.0, focuses on strengthening the organization's capabilities in data, digital technologies, innovation, behavioral science, and strategic foresight. These core capabilities are essential for the UN to effectively support Member States and deliver on its mandates, particularly in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. As the UN 2.0 Strategic Coordination Specialist, you will play a pivotal role in driving this transformation within UNFPA. You will be a key agent of change, ensuring that UNFPA is equipped to leverage the power of UN 2.0 to achieve its strategic goals, particularly the three transformative results: ending preventable maternal deaths, ending unmet need for family planning, and ending gender-based violence and harmful practices. Your expertise in UN 2.0 methodologies and your ability to foster collaboration and innovation will be crucial in ensuring that UNFPA is at the forefront of this transformative process.

You would be responsible for:

• Lead the strategic implementation of UN 2.0 within UNFPA:
  •  Support operationalizing of the UN 2.0 Action Plan in alignment with the UNFPA Strategic Plan.
  •  Identifying opportunities to integrate data analysis, digital technologies, innovative approaches, foresight, and behavioral science into UNFPA programmes and interventions     
  •  Giving overa