Background
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UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Turkmenistan, being a long-term and strategic development partner of the country, together with the government and other development actors in Turkmenistan supports the country to address development challenges across a broad spectrum of issues relating to democratic governance, environment and energy, and inclusiveness of health and social protection services.
The digital transformation serves as a catalyst for economic diversification, improved public health, enhanced education, climate action, and gender equality. Through strategic interventions, the UNDP seeks to empower local communities and institutions, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement. The strategic objectives aim to create a world where people and the country thrive together to use digital and innovative tools and techniques, drive comprehensive digital transformation in all areas to archive SDGs.
UNDP Turkmenistan is dedicated to supporting the country’s sustainable development by leveraging cutting-edge digital and innovative solutions. Recognizing the pivotal role of digitalization in addressing development challenges, we prioritize expansion of our collaboration with the Government of Turkmenistan to accelerate its digital transformation. Our efforts aim to bolster digital capabilities to improve public services in critical sectors like statistics, banking, health, finance and trade. Together with key national institutions responsible for advancing digital transformation in public administration, we build fundamental blocs of e-governance.
For effective implementation of this commitment, the UNDP country office in Turkmenistan is investing in strengthening its digital capacities and expertise. To support this ambition the new position of Digital Transformation Analyst is created as part of the country office structure.
Position Purpose
Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative and in collaboration with programme staff, the Digital Transformation Analyst will advise UNDP CO on digitalization and innovation and be responsible for generating a strategic vision and programme for the office, aligned with the UNDP digital strategy. He/She will lead the integration of digital into the unit’s policy and programming and provide advisory support on strategic issues related to digital development; both on the utilization of digital technologies to drive development results as well as policy advisory on societal digital transformation and inclusive digital ecosystems.
UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing development needs of the country and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, Analyst is expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration. The Digital Transformation Analyst will play a crucial role in supporting a portfolio approach for all digital initiatives, driving comprehensive digital transformation within the UNDP country office.
The Digital Transformation Analyst may supervise and lead Project staff as designated by Senior Management in close collaboration with the Programme teams (and Operations teams, as it is needed) in the Country Office, programme staff in other UN Agencies in Turkmenistan, UNDP Innovation team in Regional Hub, Chief Digital office, external specialists, CSOs, development partners and the government to ensure the successful implementation of CO’s digitalization and innovation agenda.
Duties and Responsibilities
This comprehensive framework outlines the responsibilities of the Digital Transformation Analyst in advancing UNDP Turkmenistan’s digital and innovation agenda, ensuring alignment with organizational strategies and goals.
Contribute to the formulation and implementation of digital transformation strategies and policies.
- Analyze the political, social, and economic landscape to provide insights into digital and innovation opportunities and challenges.
- Contribute inputs to the UN Common Country Assessment (UNCCA) and Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), aligning with digital transformation goals.
- Operationalize UNDP’s digital strategy within the Country Programme Document (CPD), Integrated Work Plan (IWP), and other strategic documents.
- Ensure adherence to programme Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to streamline digital processes.
- Analyze and synthesize proposals to integrate digital technologies across assigned programme areas.
Coordinate and advise on digitalization efforts across various portfolios and projects.
- Lead the design and formulation of digital transformation initiatives aligned with UNDP priorities and local needs.
- In close collaboration with portfolio leads and project teams, facilitate the rollout of new digital initiatives and programmes through presentations and coordination with relevant stakeholders.
- Advise on implementation of digital components of the Programme with implementing partners, ensuring consideration of digital technology risks and opportunities.
- Apply results-based management tools to track and achieve strategic outcomes of digital initiatives.
- Contribute to trends analysis for future programming informed by digital transformation insights.
- Support audit preparations and implement management responses effectively for digitalization and innovation initiatives.
- Prepare inputs for comprehensive reporting, including donor and corporate reports for digitalization and innovation initiatives.
Support the creation of strategic partnerships and resource mobilization for digital initiatives.
- Develop partnerships with other UN agencies, international financial institutions (IFIs), government entities, donors, private sector, and civil society to advance digital transformation goals.
- Identify strategic areas for cooperation and joint programming in digital innovation.
- Research and analyze donor information to prepare substantive briefs on potential cooperation areas and funding opportunities.
- Support the development of portfolios and the Country Office pipeline through the design of Programme/Project documents, concept notes, and proposals, ensuring cross-sectoral coordination.
- Contribute to resource mobilization efforts for digitalization and innovation projects and initiatives.
Provide top-quality advisory services and facilitate knowledge management.
- Identify policy-driven issues related to digital transformation and compile best practices and lessons learned.
- Strengthen national and international advocacy networks, implementing impactful advocacy initiatives with key partners.
- Support the development of policies and institutions addressing digital challenges and opportunities in collaboration with the Government and strategic partners.
- Ensure policy advisory supports inclusive societal digital transformation, considering digital technology risks, opportunities, and future trends.
- Contribute expertise to knowledge networks, communities of practice, and digital knowledge platforms.
- Organize training sessions for operations and project staff on digital transformation and innovation-related matters.
The incumbent, in agreement with the management, performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization
Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: May supervise Project staff as designated by Senior Management to ensure effective implementation of digitalization and innovation initiatives and projects.
Competencies
Core Competencies
- Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies 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: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making
- People Management: UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies
- Business Management – Results-based Management
- Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programmes, and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results. Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools.
- Digital – Digital business analysis
- Ability to support digital business processes across a range of digital projects, programmes and activities
- Business Management – Portfolio Management
- Ability to select, priorities and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimizing return on investment. Knowledge and understanding of key principles of project, programme, and portfolio management.
- Business Management – Risk Management
- Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks
- Business Management – Working with Evidence and Data
- Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making
- Digital – Innovation management
- Being able to create the strategies, conditions, structures and systems to enable innovation at an organisational 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.
- Partnership management – Relationship Management
- Ability to engage with a wide rabge of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Information Technology and Systems, Information Technology Management or a related field is required, Or
- A first-level university degree (Bachelor´s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience, will be given due consideration in lieu of Master´s degree.
Experience:
- Applicants with a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field of study are not required to have professional work experience. Applicants with a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) are required to have a minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional experience at the national and/or international level in providing advisory services and hands-on experience in digital transformation and innovation management, digital business development, or related fields.
- Experience in providing strategic guidance on digitalization and innovation initiatives is required.
- Experience in fundraising, resource mobilization, and initiating new projects, in a development or business environment would be an asset.
- Experience in designing, monitoring, and evaluating development portfolios and projects, with a focus on digital technologies and innovation is an asset.
- Proficiency in the use of computers and office software packages, including but not limited to MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), project management tools tools (e.g., Microsoft Project), and collaboration platforms (e.g., Microsoft Teams, Slack).
- Experience in collaborating with diverse stakeholders including UN agencies, government partners, donors, businesses and civil society is an asset.
- Experience of working in a multidisciplinary and multicultural team environment, such as development agencies, international organizations, international private businesses is an asset.
Language:
- Fluency in English and Russian and Turkmen is required.
Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.
Disclaimer
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
Note: 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.
Non-discrimination
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
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