Vacancy Announcement

UNECA - Economic Commission for Africa

Posting Title: Design of Origin - Africa’s premier research and innovation lab

Department/Office: Economic Commission for Africa

Duty Station: ADDIS ABABA

Posting Period: Until 23 February 2021

Duties and responsibilities of the consultant

Under the guidance and supervision of the Director of TCND, ECA and working closely with staff of partner organizations, the following activities will be undertaken during the consultancy:

• Prepare an inception report outlining the work plan, clear deliverables and timelines, approaches/methodologies that will be used as well as preliminary views and expectations.
• Undertake a detailed review of top research labs/organizations that mirror the concept of Origin paying special attention to their basic principles, organizational structures, governance arrangements, relationships, and support base.
• Highlight some of the factors that drive the performance of top interdisciplinary research and design labs, including the culture, challenges and opportunities they create.
• Taking into consideration the rapidly changing research and innovation environment in Africa, rigorously assess the potential gaps that Origin Lab should fill in to drive change in Africa.
• Identify and review institutional requirements including learning, research and innovation support, infrastructure (hard and soft), technical competencies, networks, human resources, finance and other key resources for the successful implementation of Origin.
• Propose criteria for selection of host institutions and a long list of potential institutions to be considered as Origin Centre hosts.
• Propose alternative funding models, levels of funding and sources that are likely to support Origin, including the advantages and disadvantages.
• Support the organization of consultative and crowd sourcing meetings and/or forums to identify an initial set of challenges to focus on and feasible approaches to develop solutions thereto.
• Refine the drafts, taking into account the inputs and comments received from the stakeholders and consultative meetings.
• Submit the final draft report to ECA and its partners

How to Apply

To apply please use the following link

Additional Information

The consultant will work from home and shall be supported by ECA. TCND will conduct regular consultations with key stakeholders.

Qualifications/special skills

Competency

The candidate or team must have the skills and knowledge in 1) product development and commercialization; familiar with managing or overseeing interdisciplinary teams; experience in both academia and industry or public institutions such as foundations; 2) general office and desktop publishing as well as online platforms and packages for compiling, organizing and analyzing data and information and; 3) delivering presentations to teams with strong differences of opinion and beliefs.

Academic Qualifications:

• Advanced university degree, (preferably PhD) in sciences, engineering, management and other social sciences or technology related fields is required.

Experience:

• A minimum of ten years of progressive experience in working with or managing interdisciplinary research and product development labs or innovation hubs or technology and innovation funds is required. Experience in good track record initiating, growing or managing independent research, development and innovation institutions or funding entities is desirable.

Language:

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this consultancy fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable.