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Digitalization and Technology Analyst [Open to Tier 0, 1 & 2 applicants] Nationals Only
Better Than Cash
IT
Ethiopia · Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Posted on Mar 19, 2026
Tiered Approach
In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:
- Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
- Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
- Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
- Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates
Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.
Background
The UNDP Ethiopia Country Office is establishing a Development Innovation Hub as a flagship initiative to accelerate digital transformation, institutionalize innovation, and promote data-driven and evidence-based analytics towards strong thought leadership. The Development Innovation Hub will drive digital projects, foster cross-functional collaboration, and build institutional capacity to ensure measurable and sustainable development impact across all programme pillars.
The Hub is designed as a strategic driver for the Ethiopia Country Office, embedding digital transformation, innovation, and data-driven analytics at the center of its operations. Its primary focus is to advance the UNDP Strategic Plan 2026–2030 as well as the country program document (2026-2030) by accelerating technology adoption, strengthening evidence-based programming, and fostering cross-functional collaboration across program pillars. The Hub aims to enhance transparency, accountability, and monitoring by leveraging advanced analytics and digital platforms, while also building institutional capacity and promoting digital literacy. By engaging new partners and mobilizing diverse resources, the Hub seeks to ensure the Country Office remains agile, innovative, and well-positioned to deliver impact.
Building on the rich experience accumulated over the past six years while operating as accelerator lab, the hub will continue to play key roles in advancing the Country Office’s mission in testing, experimenting and adopting solutions relevant to accelerating development and solving complex problems. It will continue to play a catalytic role in advancing nationwide ecosystem development for innovation, technology transformation including AI and data driven development planning, monitoring and evaluation.
The hub and in particular the position holder is expected to drive technology adoption and digital transformation across the Country Office. This requires the position holder to 1) continuously scan, assess, and experiment with emerging technologies including AI, blockchain, IoT, and smart manufacturing to identify opportunities for transformative impact across all CPD pillars and 2) Develop digitization and technology integration strategies, to advance adoption and use of digital tools and emerging technology especially for advance technologies 3) Promote collaboration between universities, industry partners, and research institutions to establish a pipeline of technology startups for CO’s portfolio. In addition the designated hub lead is expected to support and promote portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve the CO’s strategic goals as outlined in the CPD.
Position Purpose
Under the direct supervision of the DRR – Programme and in close cooperation with the other Development Innovation Hub team members, the Digitalization and Technology Analyst at UNDP Ethiopia will be responsible for leading the strategic design and implementation of technology and digitalization initiatives that align with national priorities and global best practices. This role drives the adoption of advanced technologies, fosters university-industry partnerships, and supports the commercialization of research outputs. The Analyst oversees project management using agile methodologies, ensures compliance with ethical AI, digital governance, and cybersecurity standards, and builds capacity through training and mentorship. Additionally, the position is pivotal in developing strategic partnerships, mobilizing resources, and representing UNDP Ethiopia in forums to advocate for inclusive and sustainable tech and digital transformation, ensuring the organization remains at the forefront of leveraging emerging technologies for development impact. In addition, the Analyst will establish robust mechanisms for measuring and tracking the adoption, usage and integration of digitalization and technology in the CPD (Country Programme Document) and ensuring alignment with strategic priorities and results frameworks. They will enhance the use of technology and digital means by developing impact measurement tools and then develop knowledge products that enable timely, evidence-based choices across programming and policy interventions.
Duties and Responsibilities
Ensure Technology, Digitalization and Commercialization:
- Lead the design, development, and execution of a comprehensive technology and digitalization strategy/roadmap, ensuring alignment with UNDP Ethiopia’s Country Programme Document (CPD), national priorities (e.g., Digital Ethiopia 2030), and global best practices.
- Lead setup and maintenance of advanced manufacturing technologies relevant for acceleration of development interventions including for the ManuTech Hub.
- Mapping of digital solutions and technologies relevant to accelerate development interventions in various programs and then adopt and follow up the proper use of these digital solutions and technologies
- Provide technical workshops, prototyping support, and mentorship to help startups scale solutions for manufacturing industry challenges.
- Continuously scan and evaluate emerging technologies (AI, blockchain, IoT, cloud computing, etc.) for their potential to enhance programme delivery, operational efficiency, and impact.
- Champion the adoption of innovative digital solutions, experimenting with new approaches and scaling successful interventions across UNDP projects and initiatives.
- Monitor global and local trends in emerging technology and digital transformation, ensuring UNDP Ethiopia leverages technology for development.
- Provide expert guidance on operations for procurement and deployment of technology, machinery and digital solutions.
- Foster strong partnerships between UNDP and universities, industry, and research institutions, including active engagement with platforms such as Ai UniPod and ManuTech Hub.
- Facilitate the commercialization of research outputs, supporting the translation of academic innovations into practical solutions for development challenges.
- Organize and lead collaborative innovation events (hackathons, ideation workshops) to stimulate co-creation and knowledge exchange.
Ecosystem, Policy & Governance:
- Support the CO on the implementation of organizational policies on ethical AI use, digital governance, cybersecurity, and data privacy, ensuring compliance with UNDP standards and Ethiopian regulations.
- Support the development of frameworks for responsible AI adoption, including mechanisms for bias mitigation, transparency, and accountability.
- Liaise with local stakeholders including the Artificial Intelligence Institute and Ministry of Innovation and Technology to ensure alignment of UNDP’s work with national priorities such as the digital 2030 strategy.
- Provide expert guidance on regulatory compliance, donor requirements, and risk management related to digital and emerging technologies.
Knowledge Management & Capacity Building:
- Facilitate technical workshops, prototyping support, and mentorship to help startups scale solutions for manufacturing challenges.
- Design and deliver training programmes and workshops on emerging technologies (AI, data analytics, digital tools) for UNDP staff and partners.
- Support teams in integrating digital solutions into programme design, implementation, and monitoring.
- Document and disseminate case studies, lessons learned, and success stories on digital solutions to showcase impact and attract new partnerships and funding.
Partnerships, Project management and Coordination:
- Build and nurture strategic partnerships with technology firms, research institutions, innovation hubs, and government agencies to co-create and implement tech and digital solutions.
- Represent UNDP Ethiopia in national, regional, and global forums on digital transformation and emerging technology, advocating for inclusive and sustainable technology adoption.
- Support programme teams on the development of funding proposals, concept notes, and resource mobilization strategies for digital innovation projects.
- Facilitate partnerships with private sector, government and development partners to ensure cost-effective, scalable, and sustainable technology solutions are adopted
- Oversee the full lifecycle of technology and digitalization projects, from ideation to implementation, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within scope, and on budget.
- Coordinate cross-functional teams, including UNDP staff, implementing partners, and external stakeholders, to drive project success.
- Apply agile project management methodologies including portfolio approach to adapt to changing needs and maximize impact using digital and technologies products.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: may coordinate, lead and manage the digital hub as designated by the DRR - programs
Competencies
- Core Competencies
Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplify processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work
Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking
Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning
Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process
Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously
Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships
Enable diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making
People Management
UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.
- Cross Functional Competencies
Business Management - Project management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
Business Management - Partnership management: Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.
Business Management - Portfolio management
- Ability to select, prioritize and control the organization's programmes and projects in line with its strategic objectives and capacity.
- Ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives with regular activities for optimal return on investment.
- Knowledge and understanding of key principles of project, programme, and portfolio management
Business Direction & Strategy - Systems Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.
Digital - Innovation management:
- Being able to create strategies, conditions, structures and systems to enable innovation at an organizational level.
- Ability to navigate uncertainty and ambiguity, is able manage projects based principles of adaptation and emergence.
- Ability to shape demand for innovation services, navigate political constraints and make the case for allocation of resources to innovation, connect the appropriate innovation approaches based on business needs and make the case for innovation to be integrated at the planning level within their context. Having in-depth theoretical and experiential knowledge of innovation processes, methods, capabilities.
Digital - Prototyping
- Ability to make ideas tangible, at low costs early in the innovation process, to test and improve them through iteration. Using a “build first” approach, using visualising ideas and making things as a way of thinking.
- Ability to define what fidelity level is required for a test, define prototyping goals, or a hypothesis; evaluate results against these goals and reflect on unanticipated learning outcomes. Using prototypes to communicate a vision, develop shared understanding and create momentum around an idea.
Digital - Design thinking
- Solving problems by putting people at the centre, visualizing ideas and making them tangible in order to improve them through and iterative process of developing and testing. Strong empathy skills, being able to put yourself “in someone else's shoes”, understand needs, abilities, preferences, motivations, (everyday) experiences from different perspectives as well as their cultural, social, economical and political contexts.
- Ability to identify and challenge assumptions, (cognitive and social) biases and dominant mental models by generating new perspectives and frames that help redefine the problem, solution and opportunity space. Being able to work with incomplete information, ambiguity and opposing views, needs and constraints and synthesis them into solutions that are viable, technically feasible and useful.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Advanced degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Engineering, Design, Manufacturing Technology, Management Information System, Artificial Intelligence etc.
- A first-level university degree in the above fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience:
- Minimum 2 years (with master’s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience in technology promotion, innovation management, digital transformation, or ecosystem building, preferably in development or public sector contexts.
- Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing innovation projects, including digital solutions, Artificial Intelligence, advanced manufacturing, including rapid prototyping and startup support is required.
- Strong background and understanding of emerging technologies, digital technologies and their application to development challenges is desired.
- Strong background and understanding of the innovation and technology ecosystem and prior engagements with national and regional stakeholders is desired.
- Proven ability to build partnerships and ability to mobilize resources is desired.
- Excellent communication, facilitation, and project management skills is required
- Experience working in multicultural and multidisciplinary teams is desired.
- Experience of working in the UN and specifically in UNDP is desired
Language:
- Fluency in English required
- Working knowledge of Amharic or another local language is an advantage
Equal opportunity
As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.
UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.
Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority
UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.
Probation
For all new UNDP fixed term appointments (FTA), including for staff members being transferred or seconded to UNDP under the Inter-Organization Agreement concerning Transfer, Secondment or Loan of Staff, on an appointment of more than one year, continuation of the appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.
Right to select multiple candidates
UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
Use of AI by candidates
Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection
Scam alert
UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.
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Duties and Responsibilities