International Innovation Consultant — UNICEF Ethiopia (Addis Ababa) | 6-Month Consultancy for Non-Ethiopian Nationals

🌍 Job Title: International Innovation Consultant — UNICEF Ethiopia (Addis Ababa) | 6-Month Consultancy for Non-Ethiopian Nationals

Duty Station: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Contract Type: Consultancy (6 Months)
Category: Innovation
Application Deadline: 8 December 2025

🔎 Overview

UNICEF Ethiopia is seeking an experienced International Innovation Consultant to provide technical leadership in designing, implementing and integrating innovative and digital solutions across UNICEF programmes. This consultancy plays a critical role in driving data-enabled programming and scaling digital innovations that improve outcomes for children and communities across Ethiopia.

This role is open only to non-Ethiopian nationals.

🌟 About UNICEF

UNICEF operates in over 190 countries and territories with a mission to protect children’s rights, ensure their well-being, and help them reach their full potential from early childhood through adolescence. In Ethiopia, UNICEF supports millions of children and families through programmes in Child Protection, WASH, Nutrition, Health, Education and Social Policy.

Joining UNICEF means contributing to meaningful, high-impact work in one of Africa’s most important humanitarian and development settings.

🎯 Purpose of the Assignment

The Innovation Consultant will provide specialized technical expertise to identify, design, pilot, and scale innovative solutions within UNICEF Ethiopia Country Office. The consultant will closely support digital transformation efforts and ensure technology solutions are ethical, scalable, secure, and aligned with programme priorities.

📌 Key Responsibilities

1️⃣ Innovation Portfolio Leadership

• Coordinate UNICEF Ethiopia’s innovation portfolio with programme teams.
• Support identification, design and scaling of digital and frontier technology solutions.
• Provide oversight for pilots, risk management, sustainability planning and vendor coordination.

2️⃣ Digital Strategy & Policy Advisory

• Advise on national digital transformation and innovation strategies.
• Monitor milestones, achievements and KPIs for innovation initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with data security standards and Principles for Digital Development.

3️⃣ Data and Technology Solutions

• Advise on the use of digital tools to strengthen real-time data systems.
• Promote open standards, reusability and cost-efficient solutions for UNICEF programmes.
• Support partner alignment on data governance and digital investments.

4️⃣ Partnerships & Collaboration

• Lead and maintain partnerships with technology actors, private sector, academia and innovation hubs.
• Represent UNICEF Ethiopia in relevant innovation and ICT4D networks at national, regional and global level.
• Facilitate knowledge transfer and capacity building to partners and counterparts.

5️⃣ Knowledge Management & Reporting

• Maintain an updated database of innovation initiatives.
• Contribute to regional and global learning platforms to share evidence, results and solutions.
• Submit monthly progress reports and a final assignment completion report.

📚 Required Qualifications

🔑 Highly Desirable Skills

• Experience working in humanitarian or fragile contexts
• Experience with mobile/web application development and scaling
• Experience in service design and field deployment of ICT4D solutions
• Software development experience and familiarity with CI/CD platforms (GitHub, Jenkins, CircleCI, etc.)

🌈 UNICEF Core Values

• Care
• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust
• Accountability
• Sustainability

UNICEF promotes a diverse and inclusive workplace. Female candidates and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

📨 How to Apply

Submit your application online through the UNICEF recruitment system via the link below:

🔗 Apply here:
https://secure.dc7.pageuppeople.com/apply/671/cw/applicationForm/initApplication.asp?lJobID=588421&sLanguage=en-us&sSourcePointer=cw&lJobSourceTypeID=796

⏰ Application Deadline: 8 December 2025 — East Africa Time
⚠ Applications submitted without a consultancy fee rate will not be considered.

Why Work with UNICEF Ethiopia?

• Opportunity to drive innovation that transforms children’s lives
• Collaborative and multicultural work environment
• Professional learning and development opportunities