About the role
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 Regional Programme for Africa contributes to the UNDP Strategic Plan through three outcome areas: African Union institutions and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) deliver on their mandates, particularly on cross-cutting issues related to resilience building, contributing to Strategic Plan Outcome 1; Regional growth is inclusive, transformational and sustainable, with reduced economic inequalities and strengthened structural transformation, contributing to Strategic Plan Outcome 2; and Regional institutions sustain peace and strengthen resilience to crises and shocks, contributing to Strategic Plan Outcome 3. In 2021, UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Africa (RBA) commenced the development of a new initiative, timbuktoo, aimed at galvanizing African youth as entrepreneurs, innovators and problem-solvers. timbuktoo’s ambition is to mobilize US$1 billion, comprising US$350 million in catalytic capital and more than US$650 million in commercial capital, to transform over 100 million livelihoods and create 10 million dignified jobs. In January 2024, UNDP formally launched the timbuktoo initiative, including a Catalytic Pan-African Innovation Fund designed to support African startups. Announced at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the Fund received an initial commitment of US$3 million from the Government of Rwanda. The initiative aims to mobilize and invest US$1 billion to foster the growth and development of entrepreneurial ventures across the African continent. Its blended-capital model combines catalytic and commercial financing to reduce the risks associated with private investment and strengthen Africa’s startup ecosystem. The execution phase focuses on establishing the institutional arrangements for the Fund, mobilizing additional catalytic and commercial investment, and operationalizing the broader initiative. The timbuktoo initiative is establishing 11 thematic vertical hubs across the continent to serve as critical intervention nodes offering comprehensive innovation ecosystem support. Each hub is sector-specific and engages startups from across Africa, rather than limiting support to enterprises based in the host country. Through this pan-African approach, the hubs seek to catalyse innovation for sustainable development and advance regional economic integration, including through the African Continental Free Trade Area. The initiative also includes University Innovation Pods (UniPods) established within public universities across the continent. The UniPods bridge academic research and entrepreneurial application and provide a pipeline of technology and technology-enabled ventures that can access ecosystem support and early-stage risk capital through the thematic hubs. The timbuktoo MineTech Hub, based in Lusaka, Zambia, is the initiative’s pan-African thematic hub for mining technology and innovation. The Hub supports startups and innovators developing technology-based solutions for challenges across the mining value chain, including mineral exploration, artisanal and small-scale mining, mine safety, automation, environmental sustainability, critical-mineral development, artificial intelligence, data analytics and value addition. It brings together governments, mining companies, research institutions, universities, investors and innovation ecosystem actors to accelerate the development, piloting, commercialization and regional scaling of African mining technologies. Through its incubation and acceleration programmes, ecosystem partnerships, policy engagement and access to catalytic financing, the Hub seeks to strengthen the competitiveness, inclusiveness and sustainability of Africa’s mining sector while creating opportunities for young people, women and technology entrepreneurs. UNDP Zambia is seeking a highly qualified individual to serve as the Programme Analyst of the timbuktoo MineTech Hub (Lusaka, Zambia). The incumbent works under the general supervision of the Hub Manager, with functional guidance from the timbuktoo Tech Hubs Section, and drives the design, coordination and implementation of the hub's programmatic activities
