Individual Consultant (Local) - Programme Analyst - Innovation, New Delhi, India

Job title: Programme Analyst - Innovation   

Location:  New Delhi, India 

Full/Part-time: Full-time (approximately 40 hours per week)

Duration:  11 months - Local Individual Consultancy Contract

The Position:

Under the direct supervision of the Technology and Innovation Specialist at T&I Unit in the UNFPA India Office, the consultant will support efforts to accelerate the achievement of the ICPD Programme of Action and Agenda 2030 and 3 Transformative Goals by identifying opportunities to collaborate with program and policy units, ideating and designing strategies for piloting, scaling and monitoring solutions to address challenges, co-lead existing innovative programmes, document and disseminate outcomes (knowledge management) for outcome mapping. 

About UNFPA and How You Can Make a Difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s strategic plan focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction. 

UNFPA is seeking candidates who transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who uphold the values enshrined in the United Nations Charter, who are transparent, and exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Job Description:

Programme Management

Under the guidance of the Chief, Programmes and Technical Support and the Innovation & Technology Specialist (Unit Head), the consultant will: 

1. Provide essential programmatic and technical support to the Innovation Unit in delivering the objectives of the Innovation Unit, including tracking and updating KPIs aligned to yearly workplan.  
2. Provide technical support to internal and external stakeholders in response to needs assessments, ideation and development of solutions to address identified challenges in close collaboration with program and technical units.
3. Collaborate with programmatic units (Adolescent & Youth, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Gender & Human Rights, Communications and Population Dynamics) and business/ operations units to draft and process programmatic documents on innovation, ensuring adherence to UNFPA policies and procedures.
4. Manage day-to-day technical coordination of the development, implementation and monitoring of the programmes on the field and coordination with 4 State offices (Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Bihar).  

Innovation Pipeline Management

1. Maintain and strengthen the innovation pipeline by ideating ideas, developing or sourcing promising solutions, supporting in field implementation and tracking their progress.
2. Establish transparent criteria and for assessing innovations through innovation lifecycle management - incubation, piloting, and scaling phases.
3. Support portfolio management by monitoring performance, identifying bottlenecks, and proposing solutions.

Product Development - Prototyping and Scale Implementation

1. Contribute to the design and development of new products and digital solutions using human-centered design and agile methodologies.
2. Support testing and iterative prototyping in collaboration with technical experts, government partners, and end beneficiaries.
3. Document learnings and refine products based on user feedback and evidence.

Data Analytics and Insights Generation

1. Collect, clean, and analyze data from innovation programs, digital platforms, and program interventions.
2. Develop/ Manage outcome dashboards and derive analytics insights to inform decision-making.
3. Conduct trend analysis, market scans, and impact assessments to strengthen innovation programming.

Knowledge Management

1. Prepare concise knowledge briefs, case studies, and innovation profiles to capture learnings and highlight best practices.
2. Produce technical notes, concept papers, and presentations to support fundraising and partnership efforts.
3. Ensure dissemination of knowledge products through digital platforms, workshops, and partner networks.
4. Additional support to the knowledge management through a) management of KM portal; b) managing documents on the portal for dissemination among internal stakeholders; and c) supporting KM task force team in strengthening KM practices in office.

Innovative Financing & Impact Investment

1. Support development of proposals, concept notes, and investment cases to attract impact investment and donor support.
2. Research and analyze innovative financing models (e.g., blended finance, development impact bonds, venture philanthropy).
3. Support the partnerships and resource mobilization unit in liaisoning with partners, donors, and investors to build opportunities for leveraging resources for innovation.
4. Provide evidence-based inputs to align innovation initiatives with financing strategies. 

Key Deliverables

• Updated innovation pipeline tracker with clear status of online and new initiatives.
• At least 3 innovative programmes supported through technical support, monitoring and documentation of outcomes. 
• Quarterly data analytics reports and dashboards summarizing key findings of programmes.
• Knowledge briefs and case studies capturing innovations, lessons learned, and impact evidence.
• Concept notes and investment proposals prepared to mobilize impact investment and innovative financing.
• Development of 2026 Workplan and progress reports ensure alignment with organizational and donor priorities.

Education & Experience:

Education:

1. Advanced university degree in Public Health, Business Management, Health Economics, Health Financing, International Development, or a related field is required. 
2. An undergraduate degree with an additional 2 years of experience can be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.

Experience:

1. A minimum of 2 years (with advanced university degree) or 4 years (with undergraduate degree) of relevant professional experience in innovation management, digital health, public health especially SRH/ women’s health with expertise in program and partnership management.    
2. Demonstrated experience in workplan designing, programme management, reporting and mapping outcomes of the programmes 
3. Demonstrated experience in impact investment, proposal development and innovative financing approaches in related sector/s.  
4. Experience in knowledge management w.r.t writing project reports, and designing presentations for dissemination of findings to stakeholders. 
5. Strong experience in data analytics (Excel, Power BI, or similar tools) and ability to generate actionable insights will be an added advantage. 
6. Experience of working with the UN on donor projects will be an added advantage.
7. Experience of working on digital health projects w.r.t mobile applications, modern tech applications will be an added advantage.  
8. Good knowledge of the social sector and the development actors
9. Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment. 
10. Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and email/internet; familiarity with database management. 
11. Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines.
12. Open to travel (within India) as part of programme implementation.  

Languages:

Fluency in English is mandatory. Working knowledge of one of the Indian official languages is desirable. Knowledge of other UN languages is an asset.

Core Competencies And Values:

Values

• Accountability 
• Commitment and Motivation 
• Commitment to Continuous Learning 
• Communication 
• Ethics and Values 
• Integrity 
• Respect for Diversity 

Core Competencies

• Programme management 
• Works collaboratively with units/ teams 
• Innovates and Embrace Change 
• Agile and Flexible in work 
• Drive to Impactful results 
• Data and evidence oriented 
• Builds and Manages Partnerships (External and Internal)  
• Creates impactful stories out of programming data 

Unfpa Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.

Disclaimer:

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements. 

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts.