Title: Accelerator Programme Coordinator Position (UNHCR Innovation)
Level:P2 equivalent (UNOPS contract)
Duty station:Nairobi, Kenya based, with occasional short missions to the field
Duration: 4 months (with possible extension)
Reporting to:Learn Lab Manager, UNHCR Innovation and Senior Education Advisor, Division of International Protection
About the Accelerator
One of the key outputs of UNHCR’s Global Education Strategy 2012-2016 is to seek innovative means of enhancing and expanding educational opportunities for refugees. To help achieve this goal, the Education Unit, within the Division of International Protection, partnered with UNHCR Innovation in late 2012 to form the Learn Lab. This lab has created an enabling environment for testing new approaches to ensure quality education for displaced communities.
As part of this work, UNHCR has entered into a new programme in collaboration with the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) and UNICEF. This programme has two components: 1) The Amplify Programme (Phase I), approved in October 2014, is currently active and is sourcing and testing innovations that respond to the challenge of maintaining and improving learning in conflict contexts; and 2) The Take to Scale (TTS) Programme (Phase 2), which aims to build on lessons learned from the Amplify Programme by evaluating promising emergent approaches –proposed by innovation/implementation teams1 - and generating lessons on the process of their scaling up. The second phase will launch a Take to Scale Accelerator for education in emergencies. This phase will seek to embed evaluative practice into the scaling process enlist expertise from external evaluators to build a robust evidence base of effective innovations. It will also identify factors that enable effective scaling-up of small-scale successes to meet the large-scale education demands that governments and partners currently face. Within Phase 2, UNHCR is responsible for coordinating partnership grants and overseeing the mentorship and training provided to grantees. UNHCR will work in partnership with UNICEF, who will be responsible for contracting an Evaluation Services Provider (ESP) - a firm or a consortium. This organisation will be responsible for building the 1 1 They may include NGOs, UNICEF COs, UNHCR COs, Government Agencies generation of evidence component, for the five innovative interventions selected in the programme and for the overall Phase 2 approach.
The consultant will therefore serve as the programme coordinator for UNHCR Innovation’s Learn Lab and will work in close collaboration with the Learn Lab Manager and the UNICEF and DFID team for the Phase 2 of the DFID-UNICEF-UNHCR Programme. In particular, she/he will support the preparation and implementation of the accelerator component of the programme. Their focus will be on coordinating the application and review process, managing the grant provision to each of the grantees, arranging three training bootcamps, and coordinating the mentorship programme for grantees. The consultant will also regularly liaise with UNICEF and the ESP to disseminate project updates both internally and externally.
About UNHCR Innovation
We’re constantly rethinking the way UNHCR works, while tapping in to the spirit of innovation that already exists within the organization. We aim to empower staff to work together with refugee communities to design innovative solutions to the challenges they face. We do this in three ways: 1. We amplify innovations already happening within UNHCR. 2. We connect innovators within UNHCR to time, resources, and each other. 3. We explore innovations happening outside UNHCR. Rather than reinvent the wheel, we look for ways to adapt them to refugee challenges.
UNHCR Innovation is a fast moving entity located within UNHCR to create an enabling environment in order to foster innovation and change in the areas of shelter, connectivity, learning, renewable energy, and emergency response. UNHCR Innovation works through five pillars: a thematic lab structure (Energy Lab, Home Lab, Learn Lab, Link Lab and Emergency Lab (launching in March 2015)); an Innovation Fellowship program; a digital engagement sandbox (web and social media and UNHCR Ideas); an external advisory board – the Innovation Circle; and the Innovation Fund.
Responsibilities
The consultant will be responsible for the following deliverables:
- Website content generated and provided to the Engagement Officer for publishing;
- Accelerator call for applicants coordinated with support from the Engagement Officer;
- Selection of the innovation/implementation teams for Phase 2 completed;
- Innovation/Implementation teams of Phase 2 matched with mentors;
- Phase 2 programme management supported;
- Agreements for Innovation/Implementation teams finalised;
- Initiation bootcamp planned for January;
- Relevant UNHCR Field Operations and implementing partners consulted.
Deliverables
- Provide content for the Accelerator launch page and the final website (October 1 2015);
- Coordinate the Accelerator call for applications, in collaboration with the Engagement Officer to manage distribution and outreach (October 1 2015);
- Manage the review of applicants, the selection process, and grantee notification (September 15- December 15 2015);
- Coordinate the matching of grantees to mentors (November 15, 2015-December 31, 2015);
- Support Phase 2 programme management (technical management of the Accelerator program) (September 15- December 31 2015);
- Support the drafting and finalization of partnership agreements for relevant grantees and coordinate support and approvals with relevant operations and offices (December 1-31 2015);
- Plan and coordinate logistics for the initiation bootcamp in January 2016 (December 1-31 2015).
Qualifications Essential
- Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in project management, business administration, international development, international relations, or relevant studies;
- At least 3 years of experience in applying research, evidence and data-driven decision making to medium and large-scale programmes with an appreciation for practical and logistical constraints;
- Experience with various research and evaluation design concerns, including experimental and quasi-experimental methods;
- Strong interpersonal and communications skills, and experience working effectively with geographically dispersed teams;
- Proven ability to manage demands from multiple stakeholders while adhering to program deadlines and priorities;
- Fluency in English.
Desirable
- Demonstrated interest in communication with crisis-affected communities, and the use of mobile technology as a tool in promoting accountability to them;
- Experience with digital communication platforms and social media;
- Field experience in a refugee / forced displacement setting;
- Previous UNHCR experience;
- A second UN language.
HOW TO APPLY:
Qualified candidates are requested to submit a cover letter, CV and P 11 form (which can be downloaded from www.unhcr.org/recruit/p11new.doc) to innovation@unhcr.org with the subject line “Accelerator Programme Coordinator” by August 31, 5:00pm EAT.
