Organization: UNICEF – United Nations Children’s Fund
Location: Remote | Nairobi
Grade: Consultancy – Consultant – Contractors Agreement
Occupational Groups:
Information Technology and Computer Science
Managerial positions
Marketing (Digital, Advertisement, Brand, Promotion)
Closing Date: 2024-09-29
The Digital Centre of Excellence (DCOE) is looking for a technically capable product expert with a passion for working with open-source Technology for development(T4D) projects. The successful candidate will be able to gather inputs and feedback to understand what features, content, and functionality are needed to engage end users sustainably. The Product Manager (dxint) may also liaise with counterparts at external organizations, as necessary, for building relationships, technical documentation for open-source projects and other initiatives related to ICTD DCOE. The Consultant will also support ICTD DCOE, country office and regional office teams in leveraging the technical documentation to successfully implement programme objectives as well as in the creation of materials for advocacy and sharing outcomes with a wider audience. The consultant may be required to represent UNICEF and ICTD at meetings, conferences, and other events, as well as attend meetings with colleagues based in the field.
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, a connected world
UNICEF’s role in planning, measuring, tracking, and reporting results for children requires the ability to gather, integrate, and share information between multiple actors. The overarching strategic goal of UNICEF’s Information and Communication Technology Division (ICTD) is to transform and build partnerships with our stakeholders to successfully implement UNICEF programmes globally through innovative technology-enabled solutions.
Over the last few years, there has been increasing recognition of the critical role of digital innovation and technology for development to UNICEF programming and accelerating support to the Sustainable Development Goals. With the global emergence of the coronavirus pandemic in early 2020, digital development has become an integral component of UNICEF’s work on national programmes, especially towards the acceleration of achieving the SDG goals.
As part of ICTD’s Transition and Transformation, the Digital Center of Excellence (DCOE) in Nairobi, Kenya will work with beneficiaries, partners, and stakeholders at global, regional and country levels to tailor, implement, track and provide insights on the success of scale up innovation and programmatic initiatives.
The DCOE provides the interface between the field and the Digital Core and headquarter teams in Valencia and New York, which drives the broader digital transformation/innovation agenda and coordination with headquarters divisions.
While UNICEF’s programme activities are increasingly digital, often programme officers in country offices have little understanding of a country’s ‘digital lay of the land’. As ICT colleagues are called on to support country offices’ digital transformation (DX) agendas, these colleagues are faced with significant manual work conducing desk reviews to present a ‘digital situation analysis’ to aid DX (Digital transformation) and programme planning processes. DCOE has developed a proof-of-concept tool ‘DXINT’ (‘digital transformation intelligence’) to automate the ingestion, transformation, and presentation of ‘digital transformation intelligence’ that can be used for these purposed. After quickly prototyping with regional and DCOE colleagues ahead of certain country visits, DCOE now wishes to move from ‘proof of concept’ (POC) to ‘minimal viable product’ (MVP). So, the Digital Centre of Excellence seeks a Product Manager to support the refinement of DXINT requirement specifications, develop documentation & communication materials, gather user feedback, create user guides/manuals, and case studies to drive better practices, advanced usage, and more effective use of DXINT to achieve results for children.
How can you make a difference?
We are looking for a technically capable product expert with a passion for working with open-source Technology for development(T4D) projects. The successful candidate will be able to gather inputs and feedback to understand what features, content, and functionality are needed to engage end users sustainably. The Product Manager (dxint) may also liaise with counterparts at external organizations, as necessary, for building relationships, technical documentation for open-source projects and other initiatives related to ICTD DCOE. The Consultant will also support ICTD DCOE, country office and regional office teams in leveraging the technical documentation to successfully implement programme objectives as well as in the creation of materials for advocacy and
sharing outcomes with a wider audience. The consultant may be required to represent UNICEF and ICTD at meetings, conferences, and other events, as well as attend meetings with colleagues based in the field.
The Product Manager is expected to support the deliverables:
1. Support DXINT product design and enhancement activities:
Work with regional Technology for Development (T4D) Business Analysts (BAs), country office (CO) colleagues, and other stakeholders to review data sources, charts & visualizations, information architecture, feedback mechanisms, and functionality of DXINT.
Consult ICTD Core, Programme Group, and DAPM colleagues to share progress, gather further feedback, and solicit ideas for shaping the product to provide value to other colleagues in addition end-users in regional and country offices.
Define metrics and observability requirements to allow granular measurement of user engagement so that the utility of various information/functionality to varying types of users can be well understood (e.g., understand what content likely resonates more with programme officers vs section chiefs and vice-versa, for example).
Work with DCOE team to consolidate and document new requirements. Participate in prioritization and planning activities.
2. Establish product documentation and related knowledge products:
Create and maintain product overview documents for DXINT and related technologies.
Create content to drive better usage and learning, such as feature overviews, tutorials, and tips/tricks.
Develop content to introduce and promote further exploration and analysis of DXINT datasets.
Update and maintain global SharePoint presence and content library for internal knowledge management and capacity building.
Create materials for advocacy, fundraising, and evidence generation for internal and external audiences.
3. Drive global recognition of DCOE DX capabilities:
Create web and social media content, key messages, fact sheets, blog posts, etc as needed.
Work with ICTD comms team, country and regional offices to develop human interest stories and/or support UNICEF programme staff in writing human interest stories related to DX in programmes.
Develop donor and fundraising content packages such as fact sheets, CO testimonies, interviews, etc.
Work Assignments Overview
Deliverables/Outputs
Delivery deadline
Review existing product, gather feedback from colleagues, and document proposed technical requirements for DXINT MVP.
Detailed report including user stories, specific datasets, wireframes, and technical specifications.
1 month after start date
Coordinate DXINT MVP delivery, user feedback and acceptance testing, and update requirements & documentation accordingly.
Detailed report outlining product vision, proposed functionality, and delivery timeline.
2 months after start date
Establish SharePoint site that provides background on the DXINT initiative, product details, and documentation.
Publish new SharePoint site for DXINT.
3 months after start date
Ongoing coordination of DXINT MVP delivery, user feedback and acceptance testing, and update requirements & documentation accordingly.
Updated report outlining product vision, proposed functionality, and delivery timeline.
4 months after start date
Analyse product metrics on user behaviour and product usage
Summary report explaining user adoption, engagement, and trends.
5 months after start date
Update and expand SharePoint site that provides background on the DXINT initiative, product details, and documentation.
Updated SharePoint site for DXINT, publish communications materials on internal channels.
6 months after start date
Gather feedback on DXINT MVP from colleagues, document any proposed requirements and enhancements.
Detailed report including user stories, specific datasets, wireframes, and technical specifications.
7 months after start date
Coordinate development of donor and fundraising content packages.
Polished content packages for internal and external resource mobilization
8 months after start date
Review MVP product, gather feedback from colleagues, and document proposed technical requirements for further enhancements or expansion of DXINT beyond MVP, with focus on advanced analytics and data science capabilities. Analyse product metrics on user behaviour and product usage
Detailed report including user stories, specific datasets, wireframes, and technical specifications.
Updated report explaining user adoption, engagement, and trends.
9 months after start date
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Business analysis, Data analysis, or Product management
A minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in product management, business analysis, requirements elicitation, technical writing, or data analysis; incl. ability to present complex technical topics for a non-technical audience.
Experience in producing product documentation and guidance (such as work aids and templates) for users.
Experience with human-centred design and cocreation methodologies as well as online tools for the same.
Experience in demand management and expectations management.
Strong analytic skills; incl. data analysis & visualization.
Experience using content management systems such as SharePoint, WordPress, Wikis, etc.
In addition, the following will be considered a strong asset:
Experience with JavaScript or Python charting and visualization tools (such as Plotly, Seaborn, Vega, D3) and Markdown.
Experience using wireframe, design tools.
Experience in developing tools and guidance for UNICEF users or similar contexts.
Knowledge of UNICEF digital platforms, T4D structures and processes.
Familiarity with humanitarian or development programmes
Experience working closely with software engineering teams
Ability to work in a team and in a diverse work environment
Experience working in low-resource settings and designing for multicultural audiences
Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
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 values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).
To view our competency framework, please visit 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.
UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.
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 also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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.
Remarks:
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.
The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.